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Become An Auto Mechanic

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Working As An Auto Mechanic

  • Getting Information
  • Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment
  • Making Decisions and Solving Problems
  • Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment
  • Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge

  • Outdoors/walking/standing

  • Make Decisions

  • $48,560

    Average Salary

What Does An Auto Mechanic Do

An Auto Mechanic performs routine servicing work such as replacing car parts, maintaining a vehicle's performance, or inspecting vehicle engine and mechanical/electrical components. They explain defects to customers and provide estimates for unanticipated repairs.

How To Become An Auto Mechanic

Employers prefer that automotive service technicians and mechanics complete a formal training program at a postsecondary institution. Industry certification is usually required once the person is employed.

Education

High school courses in automotive repair, electronics, computers, and mathematics provide a good background for prospective service technicians. However, high school graduates typically need further training to become fully qualified.

Completing a vocational or other postsecondary education program in automotive service technology is considered the best preparation for entry-level positions. Programs usually last 6 months to a year and provide intensive career preparation through classroom instruction and hands-on practice. Short-term certificate programs in a particular subject, such as brake maintenance or engine performance, are also available.

Some service technicians get an associate’s degree. Courses usually include mathematics, electronics, and automotive repair. Some programs add classes in customer service and other necessary skills.

Various automobile manufacturers and dealers sponsor associate’s degree programs. Students in these programs typically spend alternating periods attending classes full time and working full time in service shops under the guidance of an experienced technician.

Training

Service technicians who have graduated from postsecondary programs in automotive service technology generally require little on-the-job training.

Those who have not completed postsecondary education, however, generally start as trainee technicians, technicians’ helpers, or lubrication workers. They gradually acquire more knowledge and experience by working with experienced mechanics and technicians.

Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requires all technicians who buy or work with refrigerants to be certified in proper refrigerant handling. No formal test preparation is required, but many trade schools, unions, and employer associations offer training programs designed for the EPA exam.

Certification from the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) is the standard credential for service technicians. Certification demonstrates competence and usually brings higher pay. Many employers require their service technicians to become certified.

ASE certification is available in nine different automobile specialty areas: automatic transmission/transaxle, brakes, light vehicle diesel engines, electrical/electronic systems, engine performance, engine repair, heating and air-conditioning, manual drive train and axles, and suspension and steering.

To become certified, technicians must have at least 2 years of experience (or relevant schooling and 1 year of experience) and pass an exam. Technicians who achieve certification in all of the foregoing areas (light vehicle diesel engine certification is not required) may earn ASE Master Technician status.

Important Qualities

Customer-service skills. Service technicians must discuss automotive problems—along with options to fix them—with their customers. Because workers may depend on repeat clients for business, they must be courteous, good listeners, and ready to answer customers’ questions.

Detail oriented. Service technicians must be aware of small details when inspecting or repairing vehicle systems, because mechanical and electronic malfunctions are often due to misalignments or other easy-to-miss causes.

Dexterity. Service technicians perform many tasks that require steady hands and good hand-eye coordination, such as assembling or attaching components and subassemblies.

Mechanical skills. Service technicians must be familiar with engine components and systems and know how they interact with each other. They often must take apart major parts for repairs and be able to put them back together properly.

Organizational skills. Service technicians must keep workspaces clean and organized in order to maintain safety and ensure accountability of parts.

Physical strength. Service technicians must sometimes lift and maneuver heavy parts such as engines and body panels.

Troubleshooting skills. Service technicians must be able to use diagnostic equipment on engine systems and components in order to identify and fix problems in increasingly complicated mechanical and electronic systems. They must be familiar with electronic control systems and the appropriate tools needed to fix and maintain them.

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Auto Mechanic Demographics

Gender

  • Male

    93.5%

  • Female

    5.0%

  • Unknown

    1.5%

Ethnicity

  • White

    77.5%

  • Hispanic or Latino

    13.1%

  • Asian

    7.1%

  • Unknown

    1.7%

  • Black or African American

    0.5%
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Languages Spoken

  • Spanish

    57.7%

  • French

    7.7%

  • Russian

    5.8%

  • Korean

    2.9%

  • Carrier

    2.9%

  • Chinese

    2.9%

  • Hmong

    1.9%

  • Mandarin

    1.9%

  • Ukrainian

    1.9%

  • Tagalog

    1.9%

  • Italian

    1.9%

  • Portuguese

    1.9%

  • Dakota

    1.9%

  • Icelandic

    1.0%

  • Cherokee

    1.0%

  • Indonesian

    1.0%

  • Hungarian

    1.0%

  • Thai

    1.0%

  • Filipino

    1.0%

  • Cantonese

    1.0%
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Auto Mechanic

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Auto Mechanic Education

Auto Mechanic

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Real Auto Mechanic Salaries

Job Title Company Location Start Date Salary
Auto Mechanic AZEE Auto Repair Chantilly, VA Jan 03, 2008 $53,740
Auto Mechanic Katonah Gas & Auto Service Inc. Katonah, NY Sep 08, 2016 $52,686
Auto Mechanic Car Magic Auto Repair Inc. NY Feb 11, 2015 $51,168
Auto Mechanic MSQ Auto Clinic, LLC Wall, NJ May 22, 2008 $48,898
Auto Mechanic King St. Collision Silver Spring, MD Apr 12, 2010 $48,815
Auto Mechanic Kings Park Auto Care, Inc. Springfield, VA Jun 22, 2015 $48,360
Auto Mechanic A&G Auto Service, Inc. Rockville, MD Apr 27, 2010 $48,189
Auto Mechanic King St. Collision Silver Spring, MD Apr 28, 2009 $48,189
Auto Mechanic The Car Outlet, Inc. Arlington, VA Oct 28, 2008 $47,980
Auto Mechanic High Point Service Center Inc. Beltsville, MD Aug 02, 2016 $47,757
Auto Mechanic Fred's Automotive LLC CO Apr 25, 2016 $46,987
Auto Mechanic Hassan & Sons, Inc. Cerritos, CA Feb 02, 2011 $45,802
Auto Mechanic Goodluck Service Station Inc. Baldwin, NY Jun 15, 2011 $43,971
Auto Mechanic Queens Medallion Leasing, Inc. Islandia, NY Apr 15, 2015 $43,264
Auto Mechanic Olympic Auto Group Los Angeles, CA Sep 03, 2010 $39,319
Auto Mechanic A.N.S.S. LLC D/B/A A.N.S. Towing Irvington, NJ Dec 14, 2010 $39,298
Auto Mechanic E R Auto Service, Inc. Jersey City, NJ Jul 27, 2016 $39,236
Master Auto Mechanic and Auto Electician Kishi Auto Repair Lawndale, CA Dec 10, 2016 $38,776 -
$40,863
Auto Mechanic T & N Karimi Inc. DBA Eastland Repair & Tire West Covina, CA Sep 18, 2015 $38,750
Auto Mechanic Four Seasons Used Cars, Inc. Richmond, NY Jun 09, 2009 $38,443
Auto Mechanic Montebello Auto Craft Inc. Montebello, CA Mar 07, 2012 $38,397
Auto Mechanic Adams Tire & Auto Center Los Angeles, CA Jul 12, 2012 $38,397
Auto Mechanic Star Tech San Clemente, CA May 01, 2008 $33,434
Auto Mechanic Quality Paving Company CO Nov 28, 2007 $33,392
Auto Mechanic Ko-Am Motors, Inc. Philadelphia, PA Jan 16, 2008 $32,349
Auto Mechanic 7900 Ogontz Car Wash, Inc. Philadelphia, PA Mar 30, 2009 $31,994
Auto Mechanic Sarmen, Inc. DBA Studio Cutom Auto Body and Paint CA Dec 23, 2009 $31,305
Auto Mechanic NOK Auto Repairs, Inc. New York, NY Jul 09, 2008 $31,305
Auto Mechanic Jegal Canter International DBA Goodwill Body Shop Lynwood, CA Nov 20, 2009 $31,305
Auto Mechanic Lymans Automotive Services Inc. Los Angeles, CA Feb 26, 2008 $31,201

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Top Skills for An Auto Mechanic

VehicleProblemsEngineRepairOilChangesEngineTune-UpsGeneralAutoRepairDiagnosticDevicesCustomerServicePreventiveMaintenanceTireRotationDiagnosisElectricalSystemsMalfunctionsTroubleshootWheelBearingsFrontEndMaintenanceServicesFuelSystemsA/CImportantPartsRoutineMaintenanceAutomobileBrakeSystems

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Top Auto Mechanic Skills

  1. Vehicle Problems
  2. Engine Repair
  3. Oil Changes
You can check out examples of real life uses of top skills on resumes here:
  • Provided customer service by troubling shooting vehicle problems and recommending repairs.
  • General laborer / maintenance/ small engine repairs
  • Handled all oil changes, tune ups and flushes.
  • Performed engine tune-ups, oil changes, brake removal and installation, engine overhauls, and engine swaps.
  • General auto repair, anything needed

Top Auto Mechanic Employers

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Auto Mechanic Videos

One Day in the Life of a F1 Engineer and Mechanic

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