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The differences between auto mechanics and automotive 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 mechanic and an automotive technician. Additionally, an auto mechanic has an average salary of $41,683, which is higher than the $40,910 average annual salary of an automotive technician.
The top three skills for an auto mechanic include customer vehicles, customer service and diagnosis. The most important skills for an automotive technician are work ethic, computer system, and customer service.
| Auto Mechanic | Automotive Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $41,683 | $40,910 |
| Hourly rate | $20.04 | $19.67 |
| Growth rate | 1% | 1% |
| Number of jobs | 95,553 | 142,840 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 3.5 |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 47% | Associate Degree, 34% |
| Average age | 40 | 40 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
An auto mechanic's role is to repair and maintain automotive vehicles, ensuring that they function efficiently and safely. They are primarily responsible for discussing issues with clients, inspecting vehicles to identify the root of problems, performing test drives, and conducting corrective measures. Sometimes this is done in collaboration with other mechanics to ensure accuracy and speed. They can also replace oil, brakes, and even other fluids. Moreover, an auto mechanic must inform the extent of repairs to clients, letting them know which parts need replacement or fixes.
An automotive technician is responsible for maintaining the condition of automotive equipment. The duties of an automotive technician include repairing defective automotive components and inspecting and ensuring the auto's performance, stability, and safety. A tech is also responsible for upgrading the electrical systems to boost efficiency, conducting oil changes and tire checks, and installing batteries. An automotive technician also runs quality checks and improves system designs based on clients' specifications. An automotive technician must have excellent knowledge of the mechanical industry and automotive systems to assist clients with their inquiries and concerns.
Auto mechanics and automotive technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Auto Mechanic | Automotive Technician | |
| Average salary | $41,683 | $40,910 |
| Salary range | Between $29,000 And $59,000 | Between $29,000 And $57,000 |
| Highest paying City | Boston, MA | Los Angeles, CA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | California |
| Best paying company | City of Detroit | Orange County Sheriff's Office |
| Best paying industry | Government | Automotive |
There are a few differences between an auto mechanic and an automotive technician in terms of educational background:
| Auto Mechanic | Automotive Technician | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 47% | Associate Degree, 34% |
| Most common major | Automotive Technology | Automotive Technology |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between auto mechanics' and automotive technicians' demographics:
| Auto Mechanic | Automotive Technician | |
| Average age | 40 | 40 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 96.4% Female, 3.6% | Male, 95.8% Female, 4.2% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.9% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 19.6% Asian, 5.0% White, 60.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% | Black or African American, 9.7% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 19.5% Asian, 5.0% White, 60.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 2% | 2% |