High Performance and Custom Engine Technician/Mechanic Degrees (2026 stats)
TL;DR
High Performance and Custom Engine Technician/Mechanic maps to BLS occupations averaging about $72,596, with roughly 549,800 workers nationwide in those roles. Median in-state published tuition is about $4,320; common paths include Engine and Other Machine Assemblers and Outdoor Power Equipment and Other Small Engine Mechanics.
Key Statistics
High Performance and Custom Engine Technician/Mechanic: what the data shows
Common questions about high performance and custom engine technician/mechanic degrees, answered from IPEDS, College Scorecard, BLS OEWS, and O*NET in this repository—not program marketing copy.
What is a high performance and custom engine technician/mechanic degree?
A High Performance and Custom Engine Technician/Mechanic program is classified under NCES CIP 47.0617 in the Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians field family (47.06).
A program that prepares individuals to apply technical knowledge and skills to increase the power of diesel and automotive engines; enhance the performance of automobiles; and repair, service, and maintain high performance vehicles. Includes instruction in adding performance accessories; modifying powertrains; tuning custom engines, suspension, and exhaust systems; and using dynamometers and other diagnostic equipment
Types of high performance and custom engine technician/mechanic degrees and related programs
Other NCES program codes in the 47.06 family with pages on EDsmart Data:
- Aircraft Powerplant Technology/Technician (CIP 47.0608)
- Airframe Mechanics and Aircraft Maintenance Technology/Technician (CIP 47.0607)
- Alternative Fuel Vehicle Technology/Technician (CIP 47.0614)
- Autobody/Collision and Repair Technology/Technician (CIP 47.0603)
- Automobile Mechanics Technology (CIP 47.0604)
- Avionics Maintenance Technology/Technician (CIP 47.0609)
- Bicycle Mechanics and Repair Technology/Technician (CIP 47.0610)
- Diesel Mechanics Technology/Technician (CIP 47.0605)
- Engine Machinist (CIP 47.0615)
- Marine Maintenance/Fitter and Ship Repair Technology/Technician (CIP 47.0616)
- Medium/Heavy Vehicle and Truck Technology/Technician (CIP 47.0613)
- Motorcycle Maintenance and Repair Technology/Technician (CIP 47.0611)
- Recreation Vehicle (RV) Service Technician (CIP 47.0618)
- Small Engine Mechanics and Repair Technology/Technician (CIP 47.0606)
- Vehicle Emissions Inspection and Maintenance Technology/Technician (CIP 47.0612)
How long does it take to get a high performance and custom engine technician/mechanic degree?
Award levels reported to IPEDS for CIP 47.0617 in our file:
- 278 Associate (100.0% of IPEDS total)—about two years of full-time study
Time to completion depends on enrollment intensity and transfer credits; figures above describe credential type, not calendar time for every student.
What degree do you need?
For Engine and Other Machine Assemblers (top mapped occupation), O*NET incumbent surveys in our career profile report these education credentials most often: Some college (29%), High School or Equivalent (27%), Bachelors Degree (22%).
O*NET education distributions describe incumbent workers, not minimum legal or employer requirements.
What jobs can you get with a high performance and custom engine technician/mechanic degree?
Our degree→occupation mapping links High Performance and Custom Engine Technician/Mechanic to the BLS roles below. Employment is U.S. OEWS; median wage is national May 2024 where published in our extract.
| Occupation | U.S. employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Engine and Other Machine Assemblers | 38,420 | $52,540 |
| Outdoor Power Equipment and Other Small Engine Mechanics | 34,240 | $46,560 |
| Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists | 287,230 | $60,640 |
| Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians | 136,390 | $78,680 |
| Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters | 43,640 | $39,270 |
| Brickmasons and Blockmasons | 53,520 | $60,800 |
See Careers & Jobs for mean wages and industry context.
Is a high performance and custom engine technician/mechanic degree worth it?
About 6.1% of graduates in this field family were not working and not enrolled one year after completion in Scorecard's national program medians.
Among schools reporting in our Scorecard extract, median published in-state tuition is $4,320 and median net price is $8,868.
We do not score "worth" on opinion—compare debt, earnings, wages for mapped occupations, and completion data above against your cost and career target.
Institutions
Information about the types of higher education institutions that grant degrees in High Performance and Custom Engine Technician/Mechanic and the types of students that study this field.
Tuition Costs for Common Institutions
$4,320 Median In-State Public
$16,757 Median Out of State Private
Tuition costs for High Performance and Custom Engine Technician/Mechanic majors are, on average, $4,320 for in-state public colleges, and $16,757 for out of state private colleges.
Tuition costs comparison for High Performance and Custom Engine Technician/Mechanic programs.
Degrees Awarded Over Time
100,000 Total Degrees Awarded in 2023
This chart shows the number of degrees awarded in High Performance and Custom Engine Technician/Mechanic from 2015 to 2023.
Historical trend of degrees awarded in High Performance and Custom Engine Technician/Mechanic.
Top 5 Schools by Enrollment
| # | School | State | Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ivy Tech Community College | IN | 58,267 |
| 2 | Ivy Tech Community College | IN | 58,267 |
| 3 | Liberty University | VA | 50,012 |
| 4 | Liberty University | VA | 50,012 |
| 5 | Miami Dade College | FL | 46,182 |
Schools with the largest enrollment offering High Performance and Custom Engine Technician/Mechanic programs.
Top 5 Most Affordable Tuition
| # | School | State | Tuition |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Barstow Community College | CA | $1,104 |
| 2 | Barstow Community College | CA | $1,104 |
| 3 | Antelope Valley Community College District | CA | $1,124 |
| 4 | Antelope Valley Community College District | CA | $1,124 |
| 5 | Antelope Valley Community College District | CA | $1,124 |
Schools with the lowest tuition costs for High Performance and Custom Engine Technician/Mechanic programs.
Top 5 Lowest Net Price
| # | School | State | Net Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Mexico State University-Grants | NM | $68 |
| 2 | New Mexico State University-Grants | NM | $68 |
| 3 | Fort Peck Community College | MT | $400 |
| 4 | Fort Peck Community College | MT | $400 |
| 5 | College of the Sequoias | CA | $480 |
Schools with the lowest average net price for High Performance and Custom Engine Technician/Mechanic programs.
Graduation Rates
Graduation rate data is not available for this degree program.
Graduation/completion rates for High Performance and Custom Engine Technician/Mechanic programs across institutions.
Related specializations
Other NCES program codes in the 47.06 CIP family with dedicated pages on EDsmart Data.
- Aircraft Powerplant Technology/Technician CIP 47.0608
- Airframe Mechanics and Aircraft Maintenance Technology/Technician CIP 47.0607
- Alternative Fuel Vehicle Technology/Technician CIP 47.0614
- Autobody/Collision and Repair Technology/Technician CIP 47.0603
- Automobile Mechanics Technology CIP 47.0604
- Avionics Maintenance Technology/Technician CIP 47.0609
- Bicycle Mechanics and Repair Technology/Technician CIP 47.0610
- Diesel Mechanics Technology/Technician CIP 47.0605
- Engine Machinist CIP 47.0615
- Marine Maintenance/Fitter and Ship Repair Technology/Technician CIP 47.0616
- Medium/Heavy Vehicle and Truck Technology/Technician CIP 47.0613
- Motorcycle Maintenance and Repair Technology/Technician CIP 47.0611
- Recreation Vehicle (RV) Service Technician CIP 47.0618
- Small Engine Mechanics and Repair Technology/Technician CIP 47.0606
- Vehicle Emissions Inspection and Maintenance Technology/Technician CIP 47.0612
Degree Levels (IPEDS)
Completions reported to IPEDS for CIP 47.0617 in the survey year used in our extract (278 total across levels below).
- 278 Associate (100.0% of IPEDS total)
Source: IPEDS Completions (c2024_a), summed by award level for this CIP.
Careers & Jobs
Occupations linked to this major in our degree→career mapping, with wages and employment from processed BLS career profiles in this repo.
Across these BLS occupations, employment-weighted mean pay is about $72,596. Figures are national OEWS estimates for the occupation—not earnings of High Performance and Custom Engine Technician/Mechanic graduates alone.
Related occupations (BLS OEWS)
| Occupation | Mean annual wage | U.S. employment |
|---|---|---|
| Engine and Other Machine Assemblers | $55,362 | 38,420 |
| Outdoor Power Equipment and Other Small Engine Mechanics | $54,799 | 34,240 |
| Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists | $72,247 | 287,230 |
| Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians | $88,062 | 136,390 |
| Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters | $53,312 | 43,640 |
| Brickmasons and Blockmasons | $74,538 | 53,520 |
Open each occupation for full career profile charts and industry breakdowns on EDsmart Data.
Program outcomes (College Scorecard)
National medians across bachelor's programs in the Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians CIP family (n/a programs reporting debt). Not specific to every High Performance and Custom Engine Technician/Mechanic graduate.
- $80,809 median earnings four years after enrollment (national program median)
- 6.1% of graduates not working and not enrolled one year out (program cohort)
Source: College Scorecard program-level outcomes aggregated by 4-digit CIP family.
Employment
Wages and industry mix below use BLS OEWS data for occupations linked to this major in our mapping—not a graduate earnings survey.
Yearly Income for Common Jobs
$74,127 Average Wage in Workforce
The average salary for High Performance and Custom Engine Technician/Mechanic majors is $74,127.
Average annual salaries of the most common occupations for High Performance and Custom Engine Technician/Mechanic majors.
Occupations by Share
549,800 2023 Workforce
The number of High Performance and Custom Engine Technician/Mechanic graduates in the workforce has been growing.
Various jobs filled by those with a major in High Performance and Custom Engine Technician/Mechanic by share of the total number of graduates.
Diversity
Demographic information for those who earn a degree in High Performance and Custom Engine Technician/Mechanic in the United States.
Workforce Age
N/A Average Age in 2023
This chart shows distribution of ages for employees with a degree in High Performance and Custom Engine Technician/Mechanic.
Age distribution for High Performance and Custom Engine Technician/Mechanic degree holders in the workforce.
Gender Distribution
470 Total Degrees Awarded
446 Male (94.89%)
24 Female (5.11%)
Gender distribution of High Performance and Custom Engine Technician/Mechanic degree recipients.
Race and Ethnicity Distribution
268 White (57.02%)
69 Asian (14.68%)
49 Hispanic or Latino (10.43%)
49 Two or More Races (10.43%)
15 Black or African American (3.19%)
Racial and ethnic distribution of High Performance and Custom Engine Technician/Mechanic degree recipients.
Degrees Awarded
The most common degree types awarded to students graduating in High Performance and Custom Engine Technician/Mechanic are Bachelors Degree, Masters Degree, and Associates Degree.
Distribution of degree types awarded in High Performance and Custom Engine Technician/Mechanic.
Skills
Data on the critical and distinctive skills necessary for those working in the High Performance and Custom Engine Technician/Mechanic field from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Required Skills
High Performance and Custom Engine Technician/Mechanic majors need many skills, but most especially Critical Thinking, Active Listening, and Reading Comprehension.
Rating of how necessary various skills are for High Performance and Custom Engine Technician/Mechanic majors.
Skills Bar Chart
This bar chart shows the same information as the radar chart, displaying the importance of each skill.
Skill importance ratings for High Performance and Custom Engine Technician/Mechanic majors.
About
A program that prepares individuals to apply technical knowledge and skills to increase the power of diesel and automotive engines; enhance the performance of automobiles; and repair, service, and maintain high performance vehicles. Includes instruction in adding performance accessories; modifying powertrains; tuning custom engines, suspension, and exhaust systems; and using dynamometers and other diagnostic equipment
In 2023, 100,000 degrees were awarded across all undergraduate and graduate programs in High Performance and Custom Engine Technician/Mechanic.
CIP Code
47.0617 - High Performance and Custom Engine Technician/Mechanic
What the data shows
Men earned 5.1% of 470 High Performance and Custom Engine Technician/Mechanic completions in the IPEDS file used here.
Mapped BLS occupations show employment-weighted mean pay of about $72,596. The largest mapped role by headcount is Engine and Other Machine Assemblers (38,420 U.S. jobs in OEWS).
Published tuition medians in College Scorecard land at $4,320 in-state at public colleges and $16,757 at private institutions for programs in this field.
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology
Data for this profile is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard dataset, IPEDS completion data, and Bureau of Labor Statistics employment data.
All financial figures are adjusted for inflation and represent the most recent available data. Employment and wage data are from the most recent Census Bureau ACS PUMS estimates.