Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics
Diagnose, adjust, repair, or overhaul automotive vehicles. Includes mechanics who work on engines, transmissions, brakes, suspension, electrical systems, and other vehicle components.
Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics diagnose, adjust, repair, or overhaul automotive vehicles. Includes mechanics who work on engines, transmissions, brakes, suspension, electrical systems, and other vehicle components. The role reports a median annual salary of $49,670 in the US with the middle 80% earning between $30,490 and $78,400 and is projected to grow 4% over the next decade (about as fast as average). Entry typically requires a Postsecondary nondegree award, and shows moderate AI exposure (0.43 on a 0-1 scale) — some tasks are being automated but the role adapts. The most in-demand skills for the role include Troubleshooting, Repairing, Critical Thinking, Complex Problem Solving, Active Listening.
Salary distribution (US)
Real salary data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The p10–p90 spread tells you more than the median alone.
Top skills
Knowledge you'll build
- Mechanical
- Customer and Personal Service
- Computers and Electronics
- Engineering and Technology
- English Language
- Mathematics
- Administration and Management
- Public Safety and Security
A day in the life
You clock in and check the service bay schedule—a check-engine light diagnosis, a brake job, and an oil change are all on the board before lunch. You hook up an OBD-II scanner to a car throwing a misfire code, interpret the data, and trace the problem to a failed ignition coil that you swap out in under an hour. Mid-morning might involve pulling a transmission, replacing worn clutch plates, and reinstalling everything with torque specs from the shop manual. Afternoons could include aligning a suspension, explaining a repair estimate to a customer, or staying late to figure out an electrical gremlin that has everyone stumped. Modern cars are rolling computers, so the job blends old-school wrench-turning with high-tech diagnostics, and the satisfaction of hearing an engine purr after a tough repair is hard to beat.
Frequently asked questions
What does Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics do?
Diagnose, adjust, repair, or overhaul automotive vehicles. Includes mechanics who work on engines, transmissions, brakes, suspension, electrical systems, and other vehicle components.
What does a typical day look like in Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics?
You clock in and check the service bay schedule—a check-engine light diagnosis, a brake job, and an oil change are all on the board before lunch. You hook up an OBD-II scanner to a car throwing a misfire code, interpret the data, and trace the problem to a failed ignition coil that you swap out in under an hour. Mid-morning might involve pulling a transmission, replacing worn clutch plates, and reinstalling everything with torque specs from the shop manual.
How much does Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics earn?
The median annual salary for Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics in the US is $49,670. The middle 80% of workers earn between $30,490 and $78,400 annually. Entry-to-mid-career earners typically fall between $36,370 and $62,620.
What is the job outlook for Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics?
The role is projected to grow 4% over the next decade (about as fast as average). Current US employment is approximately 805,600 workers.
How do I become automotive service technicians and mechanics?
The typical entry education is a Postsecondary nondegree award. Building a foundation in the top skills below will strengthen your application.
What skills does Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics need?
The most in-demand skills for this role include Troubleshooting, Repairing, Critical Thinking, Complex Problem Solving, Active Listening, Operation Monitoring. These are the skills O*NET identifies as most important for competent performance.
Will AI replace Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics?
Our AI-durability model gives Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics a score of 0.43 on a 0-1 scale (higher = more exposure). That places it at moderate AI exposure — some tasks are being automated but the role adapts. Learning to work with AI tools rather than against them is the path forward.
How hard is it to enter this field?
Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics has low barrier to entry — generally accessible — you can enter with basic credentials and on-the-job learning.
Is Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics right for you?
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