Automotive Service Technician
Salary, job outlook, education and requirements
Diagnose, adjust, repair, or overhaul automotive vehicles.
Also called: Auto Drivability Tech (Automotive Drivability Technician) · Auto Mechanic (Automobile Mechanic) · Auto Mechanic (Automotive Mechanic) · Auto Service Tech (Automotive Service Technician) · Auto Tech (Automobile Technician) · Auto Tech (Automotive Technician) · Automatic Transmission Technician (Auto Transmission Tech) · Heavy Line Technician (Heavy Line Tech)
O*NET-SOC 49-3023.00 (Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics)
Automotive Service Technician salary
Wages for automotive service technicians and mechanics across all employers, 2025 data. The 10th percentile is typical entry-level pay; the 90th percentile reflects the most experienced and highest-paid workers.
National median hourly wage: $24.34.
Automotive Service Technician pay by state
Ten largest states by population, annual wages.
| State | 10th percentile | Median | 90th percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $38,180 | $64,980 | $95,280 |
| Texas | $29,360 | $48,310 | $81,720 |
| Florida | $31,970 | $48,260 | $79,180 |
| New York | $35,470 | $54,120 | $91,490 |
| Pennsylvania | $35,600 | $49,800 | $77,630 |
| Illinois | $34,190 | $49,170 | $91,200 |
| Ohio | $34,110 | $48,710 | $79,690 |
| Georgia | $33,580 | $49,060 | $84,360 |
| North Carolina | $31,500 | $48,200 | $79,610 |
| Michigan | $36,110 | $54,120 | $79,060 |
Automotive Service Technician job outlook
- Employment is projected to go from 825,800 jobs in 2025 to 866,700 in 2035 (5% change).
- About 66,200 openings are projected each year, including jobs that open up as workers retire or change occupations.
- CareerOneStop outlook rating: Average.
How to become an automotive service technician
- Typical entry education
- Postsecondary certificate
- Work experience
- No work experience
- On-the-job training
- Less than 1 month on-the-job training
Education level of current workers
- Less than high school diploma15.8%
- High school diploma or equivalent43.4%
- Some college, no degree22.1%
- Associate's degree13.3%
- Bachelor's degree4.6%
- Master's degree.5%
- Doctoral or professional degree.3%
Related training programs
- Alternative Fuel Vehicle Technology/Technician
- Automobile/Automotive Mechanics Technology/Technician
- Automotive Engineering Technology/Technician
- High Performance and Custom Engine Technician/Mechanic
- Medium/Heavy Vehicle and Truck Technology/Technician
- Motorsports Engineering Technology/Technician
- Vehicle Emissions Inspection and Maintenance Technology/Technician
- Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technology/Technician, General
What does an automotive service technician do?
Common tasks
- Follow checklists to ensure all important parts are examined, including belts, hoses, steering systems, spark plugs, brake and fuel systems, wheel bearings, and other potentially troublesome areas.
- Test and adjust repaired systems to meet manufacturers' performance specifications.
- Perform routine and scheduled maintenance services, such as oil changes, lubrications, and tune-ups.
- Inspect vehicles for damage and record findings so that necessary repairs can be made.
- Repair, reline, replace, and adjust brakes.
- Align wheels, axles, frames, torsion bars, and steering mechanisms of automobiles, using special alignment equipment and wheel-balancing machines.
- Repair, replace, or adjust defective fuel injectors, carburetor parts, and gasoline filters.
- Align vehicles' front ends.
- Repair and service air conditioning, heating, engine cooling, and electrical systems.
- Review work orders and discuss work with supervisors.
Most important skills
- Troubleshooting
- Figuring out what is causing equipment, machines, wiring, or computer programs to not work.
- Repairing
- Repairing machines or systems using the right tools.
- Equipment Maintenance
- Planning and doing the basic maintenance on equipment.
- Critical Thinking
- Thinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.
- Operations Monitoring
- Watching gauges, dials, or display screens to make sure a machine is working.
- Installation
- Installing equipment, machines, wiring, or computer programs.
- Active Listening
- Listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.
- Complex Problem Solving
- Noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it.
Automotive Service Technician certifications
8 of 69 certifications CareerOneStop maps to this occupation. Requirements vary by employer and state.
- Automotive Transmission Rebuilders Association · Advanced
- Emergency Vehicle Technician Certification Commission, Inc. · Core
- Emergency Vehicle Technician Certification Commission, Inc. · Advanced
- National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence · Specialty
- Safety and Pollution Prevention · Core
- National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence · Specialty
- National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence · Specialty
- Emergency Vehicle Technician Certification Commission, Inc. · Core
See all 69certifications in CareerOneStop's Certification Finder
Automotive Service Technician jobs
Current federal openings from USAJOBS. For more skilled trades & maintenance jobs, including private-sector listings, see the Skilled Trades & Maintenance jobs hub.
Job data from USAJOBS.gov. Careers.org is not affiliated with or endorsed by OPM.
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This page includes information from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (DOLETA), and the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED).
Source: CareerOneStop occupation profile for Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics. Wages are from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program; projections are national long-term projections.