How to become an automotive technician

Find out what the average Automotive Technician salary is

Entry level positions start at $55,000 per year while most experienced workers make up to $70,000 per year.

Generally, mechanics make a decent living, earning a median annual salary of $36,600. But most are paid according to a “flat-rate” system, meaning that they only make money when there is actual work to be done. He makes $12 per hour for every hour he is at work, regardless of the workload.

If you love working with your hands, building, and problem solving, becoming an automotive technician is a great option. To make matters easier, it requires less formal education than most other jobs, yet still has the potential to become a rewarding career. Start your search for an automotive technician job today.

Many mechanics are around heavy equipment. They have to constantly lift items which can have a strain on their back over time. Also, they may spend long amounts of time bent over or lying on their back. They must use various tools that put them in awkward positions.

Job Satisfaction

A job with a low stress level, good work-life balance and solid prospects to improve, get promoted and earn a higher salary would make many employees happy. Here’s how Auto Mechanics job satisfaction is rated in terms of upward mobility, stress level and flexibility.

Sales jobs can bring in six figures depending on commission (the industry average for sales is $43,000 a year, according to the Dealers Association), and technicians or painters can earn between $70,000 and $100,000 a year at a busy location.

The median wage for an auto mechanic in the US is quite low unless you have credentials, own the shop, or work as a heavy equipment mechanic. The typical year is 2000 hours, so making 6 figures means earning $50 per hour, or about double the 90th percentile of mechanics wages.

Becoming a mechanic can be well worth the effort if you stick with it, and you can make good money doing it, but if you don’t plan on doing it for a living, then just stick to your own car repairs.

You’re never too old if you still want to learn. Look at how many in their 50’s, 60’s and into their 70’s have went to college to get their degree. If that’s what you want to do, then go for it and don’t let anyone stop you.

The career experts at Myplan.com surveyed its job-seekers and master auto mechanics scored #104 out of 300 jobs. Of mechanics surveyed, the majority said they were very happy. What is satisfying about working on vehicles? These results may run counter to how you feel about your current job.

Flat rate screws over mechanics. Complexity and technology have made it much more difficult to properly repair and diagnose. You also don’t get paid for diagnostic or administrative time. Your rate does not pay any of the personal overhead you experience and the shop or dealership sucks it all up.

Most experienced mechanics get their work done faster than the flat rate because of their experience. A mechanic might bill 12 hours in an 8 hour work day, which can pay him very well. Mechanic’s do have high overhead – they buy their own tools and tool boxes which are extremely expensive.

Compared to an office job, mechanic careers are much more physically demanding. You spend much of your day on your feet or in uncomfortable positions when completing repairs. You also typically work routinely with tools and greasy car parts, which is uncomfortable, and often wearing on your hands and arms.

Working Conditions

Most mechanics work between forty and forty-eight hours per week, but many work longer hours during busy periods. Mechanics frequently get paid at higher rates for overtime. Most mechanics work indoors, in shops with good ventilation, lighting, and heat.

Automotive mechanics and technicians like Michael Gerhart are in high demand as a blue-collar worker shortage is expected to continue this year. “In the U.S., more than most other advanced economies, the American dream is to go to a four-year college and not have a manual job.

Auto mechanics are needed now more than ever. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics has estimated that there will be a need for more than 76,000 new auto mechanics by the year 2026.

Mechanics use mathematics all the time in their daily routine of repairing and modifying internal-combustion automobiles. Their use of numbers takes on many forms; from determining the size of the wrench they need to loosen a bolt to calculating torque, today’s mechanics need to have a good head for numbers.

Best-Paying States for Auto Mechanics

The states and districts that pay Auto Mechanics the highest mean salary are District of Columbia ($61,350), Alaska ($53,110), New Jersey ($50,960), Connecticut ($50,860), and California ($50,230).

In a flat rate system, newer mechanics may take longer on jobs and may be paid less overall than if they were in an hourly rate pay system. For technicians who have extensive experience and certifications, the value of flat rate pay may also be lower than what they might earn in an hourly rate pay system.

How much does a Lube Technician make? The national average salary for a Lube Technician is $29,272 in United States.

The typical Walmart Tire and Lube Technician salary is $13. Tire and Lube Technician salaries at Walmart can range from $9 – $18. This estimate is based upon 81 Walmart Tire and Lube Technician salary report(s) provided by employees or estimated based upon statistical methods.