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The differences between automotive 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 automotive mechanic and an automotive technician. Additionally, an automotive mechanic has an average salary of $42,864, which is higher than the $40,910 average annual salary of an automotive technician.
The top three skills for an automotive mechanic include customer service, work ethic and hand tools. The most important skills for an automotive technician are work ethic, computer system, and customer service.
| Automotive Mechanic | Automotive Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $42,864 | $40,910 |
| Hourly rate | $20.61 | $19.67 |
| Growth rate | 1% | 1% |
| Number of jobs | 95,703 | 142,840 |
| Job satisfaction | 5 | 3.5 |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 38% | Associate Degree, 34% |
| Average age | 40 | 40 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
An automotive mechanic is responsible for inspecting the vehicle's engine, identifying defects and inconsistencies, and repairing malfunctioning components through diagnostic tests. Automotive mechanics diagnose problems and inform the customers of troubleshooting procedures and provide cost estimates for maintenance. They may also offer additional services to boost the engine's optimal performance and efficiency, at the same time, to generate more revenues for the business. An automotive mechanic must have excellent knowledge of the automotive industry, especially in responding to the inquiries and concerns of the customers regarding their vehicles and schedule regular repairs as necessary.
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.
Automotive mechanics and automotive technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Automotive Mechanic | Automotive Technician | |
| Average salary | $42,864 | $40,910 |
| Salary range | Between $30,000 And $59,000 | Between $29,000 And $57,000 |
| Highest paying City | Greeley, CO | Los Angeles, CA |
| Highest paying state | Colorado | California |
| Best paying company | Eversource Energy | Orange County Sheriff's Office |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Automotive |
There are a few differences between an automotive mechanic and an automotive technician in terms of educational background:
| Automotive Mechanic | Automotive Technician | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 38% | Associate Degree, 34% |
| Most common major | Automotive Technology | Automotive Technology |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between automotive mechanics' and automotive technicians' demographics:
| Automotive 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, 9.7% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 20.1% Asian, 5.0% White, 60.2% 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% |