Skilled Trades
Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics
Diagnose, adjust, repair, or overhaul automotive vehicles.
Median salary (BLS)
$50,620
10th–90th percentile (BLS)
$35k – $82k
Job outlook
+4% (faster than average)
AI exposure
Early-career check: graduates of the matching programs below typically earn $70,000 ten years after starting college — an early-career figure, vs. the all-experience BLS median above. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard.
Plan a path to Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics
Education
Typical entry: No degree (trade/license)
Plan my path to this →Typical progression
Junior Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics
Entry / Junior
$34,660
~2 yrs to advance
Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics
Established
$50,620
~3 yrs to advance
Senior Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics
Senior
$66,205
Key skills
A typical day
- •Inspect vehicles for damage and record findings so that necessary repairs can be made.
- •Test drive vehicles and test components and systems, using equipment such as infrared engine analyzers, compression gauges, and computerized diagnostic devices.
- •Test and adjust repaired systems to meet manufacturers' performance specifications.
- •Repair, reline, replace, and adjust brakes.
- •Review work orders and discuss work with supervisors.
Fields of study
Any field
Top colleges for Skilled Trades
Explore all- Purdue University50% admit · $78,000 grad pay
- Ohio State University53% admit · $68,000 grad pay
- Pennsylvania State University55% admit · $70,000 grad pay
Reputation-based selection; stats shown are outcome data per school.