Auto garage mechanic vs alignment technician

The differences between auto garage mechanics and alignment technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both an auto garage mechanic and an alignment technician. Additionally, an auto garage mechanic has an average salary of $42,369, which is higher than the $38,020 average annual salary of an alignment technician.

The top three skills for an auto garage mechanic include CDL, hand tools and hoists. The most important skills for an alignment technician are customer service, hand tools, and power steering.

Auto garage mechanic vs alignment technician overview

	Auto Garage Mechanic	Alignment Technician
Yearly salary	$42,369	$38,020
Hourly rate	$20.37	$18.28
Growth rate	1%	1%
Number of jobs	38,612	143,585
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 38%	High School Diploma, 40%
Average age	40	40
Years of experience	2	2

Auto garage mechanic vs alignment technician salary

Auto garage mechanics and alignment technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Auto Garage Mechanic	Alignment Technician
Average salary	$42,369	$38,020
Salary range	Between $24,000 And $72,000	Between $25,000 And $57,000
Highest paying City	San Antonio, TX	-
Highest paying state	California	-
Best paying company	WEC Energy Group	-
Best paying industry	-	-

Differences between auto garage mechanic and alignment technician education

There are a few differences between an auto garage mechanic and an alignment technician in terms of educational background:

	Auto Garage Mechanic	Alignment Technician
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 38%	High School Diploma, 40%
Most common major	Automotive Technology	Automotive Technology
Most common college	-	-

Auto garage mechanic vs alignment technician demographics

Here are the differences between auto garage mechanics' and alignment technicians' demographics:

	Auto Garage Mechanic	Alignment Technician
Average age	40	40
Gender ratio	Male, 97.5% Female, 2.5%	Male, 95.9% Female, 4.1%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 8.5% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 18.6% Asian, 5.6% White, 62.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%	Black or African American, 8.4% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 18.9% Asian, 5.8% White, 61.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9%
LGBT Percentage	2%	2%

Differences between auto garage mechanic and alignment technician duties and responsibilities

Auto garage mechanic example responsibilities.

Diagnose, repair and replace hydraulic controls, engine components, loader attachments, brakes and bearings using cranes and hoists.
Document repairs, modifications and inspections in accordance with FAA requirements on both paper and in an automate maintenance information database.
Install, repair, and service many kinds of garage doors and door openers.

Alignment technician example responsibilities.

Repair wheels using grinders, sanders and paint equipment.
Straighten bend or damage alloy wheels.
Assist with MIG welding and exhaust work.
Perform all general lube and oil filter changes.
Used a grinder and DA sanders to remove damage from rims.
Clean and resize bearing fillet and dust guard seat using various grinders.

Auto garage mechanic vs alignment technician skills

Common auto garage mechanic skills

CDL, 35%
Hand Tools, 29%
Hoists, 12%
Diesel Engines, 6%
Diesel Trucks, 5%
Electrical Systems, 4%

Common alignment technician skills

Customer Service, 39%
Hand Tools, 34%
Power Steering, 10%
Customer Vehicles, 6%
Customer Satisfaction, 4%
Diagnosis, 1%

Auto Garage Mechanic vs. similar jobs

Auto Garage Mechanic related careers

Auto Garage Mechanic related jobs

What similar roles do

Zippia Careers
Installation, Maintenance and Repair Industry
Auto Garage Mechanic
Auto Garage Mechanic vs Alignment Technician

Updated January 8, 2025

Browse installation, maintenance and repair jobs