Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics
SOC code 49-3023 · O*NET-SOC 49-3023.00 · Medium preparation needed · Skilled trades
Auto repair is certification-led: ASE certifications in brakes, electrical, engine and so on map directly to pay, and manufacturer training opens dealership work. Entry can be as short as a six-month certificate.
Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics pay
U.S. national figures, May 2025 BLS survey · How we got this number
Median pay
$50,620
a year
Hourly
$24.34
per hour
The solid band is the middle 50% of workers; the bar spans the 10th to 90th percentile.
Average pay
$56,420
$27.13 per hour
Middle 50%
$38,900 – $70,430
25th to 75th percentile
Full spread
$34,660 – $81,790
10th to 90th percentile
People employed
704,640
nationwide
National U.S. figure, May 2025. Local pay can be higher or lower.
- 10th percentile
- $34,660
- $16.66/hr
- 25th percentile
- $38,900
- $18.70/hr
- Median percentile
- $50,620
- $24.34/hr
- 75th percentile
- $70,430
- $33.86/hr
- 90th percentile
- $81,790
- $39.32/hr
Job outlook · federal projection 2024–34
+4%
Growing faster than average
805,600
jobs in 2024
839,200
projected for 2034
About 33,600 more jobs
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics employment projections, 2024–34. Projections describe the broader occupation group and are estimates, not guarantees.
What do automotive service technicians and mechanics do?
Diagnose, adjust, repair, or overhaul automotive vehicles.
The tasks that matter most day to day
- 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.
- Align wheels, axles, frames, torsion bars, and steering mechanisms of automobiles, using special alignment equipment and wheel-balancing machines.
- Repair, reline, replace, and adjust brakes.
- Repair, replace, or adjust defective fuel injectors, carburetor parts, and gasoline filters.
- Align vehicles' front ends.
How to qualify for this work
Preparation level: zone 3 — Medium preparation needed
- Education
- Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
- Experience
- Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the 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.
The federal survey did not capture education levels for this specific occupation, so the preparation-level card above is the best guide to the entry route.
Common questions
How much does an automotive service technicians and mechanics earn?
The national median is $50,620 a year. The full range runs from $34,660 at the 10th percentile to $81,790 at the 90th — entry pay sits closer to the lower figure, and experience, licensing and specialisation move you up the range.
Can you become an automotive service technicians and mechanics without a degree?
Yes — this occupation sits in preparation zone 3, meaning the typical entry route is most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree. A four-year degree is not the standard requirement, though licensing or certification may still apply.
Is automotive service technicians and mechanics in demand?
Federal projections expect employment to grow by about 4% between 2024 and 2034 — growing faster than average. Openings also come from people retiring or changing jobs, which the growth figure does not count.
Skills and knowledge you need
Core skills
- Critical Thinking3.5/5
- Active Listening3.3/5
Knowledge areas
- Mechanical4.6/5
- Engineering and Technology3.5/5
- Computers and Electronics3.4/5
- Customer and Personal Service3.2/5
- English Language3.2/5
- Mathematics3.1/5
- Education and Training2.9/5
- Physics2.6/5
Transferable strengths: Troubleshooting, Repairing, Equipment Maintenance, Operations Monitoring, Complex Problem Solving, Installation.