Best Jobs For Former Mechanics [2026]

In 2026, the landscape for mechanics continues to evolve, with many professionals in the field reconsidering their career paths. As technology advances and the automotive industry shifts towards electric and autonomous vehicles, the traditional role of a mechanic is undergoing significant transformation.

While educational programs for aspiring mechanics remain steady, the number of individuals entering the profession is declining, leading to a challenging workforce environment. This raises an important question:

What career paths are former mechanics pursuing now?

To explore this, we analyzed the resumes of thousands of former mechanics to identify the most common jobs they transitioned into after leaving the field. We compiled a list of the top 100 occupations based on this data.

Below is a quick overview of the top ten most common jobs for former mechanics:

These roles leverage the skills and experience gained as a mechanic, while also offering new opportunities for growth and advancement.

While the list above presents expected job transitions, there are also some surprising and diverse options that former mechanics are exploring. Here are a few of the most intriguing career paths:

While some positions are more appealing than others, it’s clear that former mechanics are finding diverse opportunities that may surprise you.

How We Determined the Most Common Jobs of Former Mechanics

Our analysis utilized data from over 7 million resumes, focusing on those that identified mechanic as part of their work history. We tracked the jobs that appeared in their employment history following their time as mechanics and ranked them based on frequency.

To identify the most intriguing job transitions, we filtered the ranked list to highlight positions that:

Appeared in fewer than 1% of all new job listings
Were not included in the top 100 most common jobs within our database

Below, you’ll find the detailed ranking of the most common jobs for former mechanics.

Detailed Ranking of the Most Common Jobs of Former Mechanics

Rank	Job Title	%
1	Maintenance Technician	3.13%
2	Technician	2.18%
3	Diesel Mechanic	1.39%
4	Welder	1.39%
5	Service Technician	0.94%
6	Maintenance Supervisor	0.83%
7	Field Service Technician	0.82%
8	Lead Mechanic	0.82%
9	Truck Driver	0.82%
10	Supervisor	0.81%
11	Machine Operator	0.8%
12	Driver	0.79%
13	Heavy Equipment Mechanic	0.7%
14	Owner	0.68%
15	Forklift Operator	0.61%
16	Sheet Metal Mechanic	0.6%
17	Millwright	0.58%
18	Machinist	0.56%
19	Mechanical Technician	0.56%
20	Sales Associate	0.54%
21	Owner/operator	0.51%
22	Diesel Technician	0.5%
23	Electrician	0.5%
24	Shop Foreman	0.5%
25	Customer Service Representative	0.49%
26	Manager	0.49%
27	Assembler	0.47%
28	Lead Technician	0.46%
29	Material Handler	0.46%
30	Aircraft Mechanic	0.46%
31	Operator	0.45%
32	Equipment Operator	0.44%
33	Maintenance Manager	0.43%
34	Service Manager	0.42%
35	Heavy Equipment Operator	0.41%
36	Farm Hand	0.41%
37	Accounts Payable Clerk	0.37%
38	Automotive Technician	0.37%
39	Assistant Manager	0.36%
40	Security Officer	0.35%
41	Electronics Technician	0.35%
42	Operations Manager	0.34%
43	Team Leader	0.34%
44	Vehicle Mechanic	0.34%
45	Mobile Equipment Mechanic	0.34%
46	Engineer	0.33%
47	Warehouse Worker	0.33%
48	Foreman	0.33%
49	Delivery Driver	0.31%
50	Project Manager	0.31%
51	Sales Representative	0.31%
52	Fleet Mechanic	0.31%
53	Mechanical Assembler	0.3%
54	Production Supervisor	0.29%
55	Engineering Technician	0.28%
56	Field Mechanic	0.28%
57	Structures Mechanic	0.27%
58	Cook	0.26%
59	Painter	0.26%
60	Installer	0.25%
61	Warehouse Associate	0.25%
62	Equipment Mechanic	0.25%
63	Carpenter	0.25%
64	Quality Control Inspector	0.25%
65	Service Mechanic	0.25%
66	Auto Mechanic	0.24%
67	Store Manager	0.24%
68	Field Technician	0.23%
69	Specialist	0.23%
70	Internship	0.23%
71	Maintenance Engineer	0.22%
72	Computer Numerical Controller Machinist	0.21%
73	Shop Supervisor	0.2%
74	General Manager	0.2%
75	Shop Mechanic	0.2%
76	Mechanical Engineer	0.19%
77	Numerical Control Operator	0.19%
78	Shop Manager	0.19%
79	Inspector	0.19%
80	Avionics Technician	0.19%
81	Senior Mechanic	0.19%
82	Security Guard	0.19%
83	Automotive Mechanic	0.19%
84	Manufacturing Engineer	0.19%
85	Truck Mechanic	0.18%
86	Service Advisor	0.18%
87	Press Operator	0.18%
88	HVAC Technician	0.18%
89	Lube Technician	0.18%
90	Generator Mechanic	0.18%
91	Repair Technician	0.17%
92	Associate	0.17%
93	Operation Supervisor	0.17%
94	Installation Technician	0.17%
95	Handyman	0.17%
96	Floor Hand	0.17%
97	Senior Technologist	0.16%
98	Correction Officer	0.16%
99	Head Mechanic	0.16%
100	Helper	0.16%

As you can see, former mechanics have a wealth of opportunities available to them, spanning various industries and roles. Transitioning from a mechanic to another career can be a fulfilling journey, leveraging existing skills while exploring new horizons.

Author

Chris Kolmar

Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.

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