Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics

Median salary

$50,620

Average salary

$56,420

Employment

704,640

Projected growth

4.2% growth

Annual openings

70,000

Typical entry education

Postsecondary nondegree award

What Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics Do

Diagnose, adjust, repair, or overhaul automotive vehicles.

See full salary breakdown & percentiles →

Career Outlook

National employment outlook, 2024–2034.

Related work experience: None
On-the-job training: Short-term on-the-job training
Self-employed: 13.8%

Source: BLS Employment Projections — 2024-2034.

How Much Preparation Does This Take?

Job Zone 3 of 5

Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed

Experience: Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations.
Education: Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Job training: Employees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.

Source: O*NET Job Zones.

Key Knowledge Areas

Subject-matter areas this occupation draws on most, per O*NET.

Mechanicalimportance 4.8/5
Customer and Personal Serviceimportance 3.3/5
Computers and Electronicsimportance 3.3/5
Engineering and Technologyimportance 3.0/5
English Languageimportance 2.9/5
Transportationimportance 2.8/5
Education and Trainingimportance 2.8/5
Public Safety and Securityimportance 2.7/5

Work Environment

What the day-to-day work setting is like, per O*NET.

Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls4.9/5
Exposed to Contaminants4.8/5
In an Enclosed Vehicle or Operate Enclosed Equipment4.8/5
Frequency of Decision Making4.6/5
Spend Time Standing4.6/5
Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams4.6/5

Careers With Similar Skills

Occupations whose Transferable Skills profile most closely matches this one — a mathematical comparison, not observed data about people actually moving between these careers.

Electric Motor, Power Tool, and Related Repairers96% skill match
Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians95% skill match
Audiovisual Equipment Installers and Repairers94% skill match
Millwrights94% skill match
Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers94% skill match
Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers94% skill match
Signal and Track Switch Repairers94% skill match
Radio, Cellular, and Tower Equipment Installers and Repairers93% skill match

Transferable Skills

Cross-functional skills this occupation draws on most, per O*NET — the kind that carry over to other careers.

Repairingimportance 3.8/5
Troubleshootingimportance 3.6/5
Operations Monitoringimportance 3.5/5
Equipment Maintenanceimportance 3.4/5
Operation and Controlimportance 3.3/5
Judgment and Decision Makingimportance 3.3/5
Complex Problem Solvingimportance 3.1/5
Quality Control Analysisimportance 3.1/5

Software & Technologies

Tools and software used in this occupation, per O*NET.

Hot Technologies

Other Software Used

Alliance Automotive Shop Controller
Amcom AUTOS2000
AutoZone ALLDATA
Blue Streak Electronics Buell Diagnostic
CODA Engine Analysis System
Database software
Estimating software
Genisys Fast Fixes

Work Style

Personal work characteristics that matter most for this occupation, per O*NET.

Attention to Detail
Dependability
Perseverance
Integrity
Cautiousness
Stress Tolerance
Achievement Orientation

Career Interests

This occupation’s RIASEC interest profile, per O*NET — how strongly it fits each of the six Holland interest types.

RealisticHigh
ConventionalMedium
InvestigativeMedium
EnterprisingLow
SocialLow
ArtisticLow

This page includes information from the O*NET 30.3 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.

Where This Career Is Most Concentrated

Metro areas where automotive service technicians and mechanics make up the largest share of local employment, relative to the national average (BLS location quotient).