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The differences between automotive mechanics and lube 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 a lube technician. Additionally, an automotive mechanic has an average salary of $42,864, which is higher than the $29,959 average annual salary of a lube technician.
The top three skills for an automotive mechanic include customer service, work ethic and hand tools. The most important skills for a lube technician are work ethic, customer service, and hand tools.
| Automotive Mechanic | Lube Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $42,864 | $29,959 |
| Hourly rate | $20.61 | $14.40 |
| Growth rate | 1% | 1% |
| Number of jobs | 95,703 | 131,008 |
| Job satisfaction | 5 | 4.5 |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 38% | High School Diploma, 53% |
| 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.
A Lube Technician specializes in automotive repairs and maintenance, focusing on lubricating particular engine parts. However, Lube Technicians can also conduct necessary inspection and maintenance of vehicles, change oil or filter, replace parts such as engines and batteries, and perform tire changes or inflation. A Lube Technician usually works as a member of a team or company, so it is essential to have efficient communication, coordination, attention to detail, and build rapport with clients to establish a client-base.
Automotive mechanics and lube technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Automotive Mechanic | Lube Technician | |
| Average salary | $42,864 | $29,959 |
| Salary range | Between $30,000 And $59,000 | Between $23,000 And $37,000 |
| Highest paying City | Greeley, CO | Denver, CO |
| Highest paying state | Colorado | Washington |
| Best paying company | Eversource Energy | Martin Marietta |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Retail |
There are a few differences between an automotive mechanic and a lube technician in terms of educational background:
| Automotive Mechanic | Lube Technician | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 38% | High School Diploma, 53% |
| Most common major | Automotive Technology | Automotive Technology |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between automotive mechanics' and lube technicians' demographics:
| Automotive Mechanic | Lube Technician | |
| Average age | 40 | 40 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 96.4% Female, 3.6% | Male, 93.7% Female, 6.3% |
| 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, 9.3% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 20.4% Asian, 5.4% White, 59.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 2% | 2% |