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The differences between automotive mechanics and tire technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become an automotive mechanic, becoming a tire technician takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, an automotive mechanic has an average salary of $42,864, which is higher than the $38,376 average annual salary of a tire technician.
The top three skills for an automotive mechanic include customer service, work ethic and hand tools. The most important skills for a tire technician are customer service, commercial vehicles, and customer satisfaction.
| Automotive Mechanic | Tire Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $42,864 | $38,376 |
| Hourly rate | $20.61 | $18.45 |
| Growth rate | 1% | 1% |
| Number of jobs | 95,703 | 110,586 |
| Job satisfaction | 5 | 5 |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 38% | High School Diploma, 56% |
| Average age | 40 | 36 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 12 |
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.
Tire technicians typically work in car dealerships and automotive repair shops to inspect, replace, install and repair tires on trucks, cars, and other vehicles. They tend to work alongside the mechanics with a focus on ensuring that tires are reliable, safe, and work with other car systems. To be qualified in this position, you should be very attentive to detail as you typically will examine for signs of tire failure and wear. Tire technicians are also responsible for giving recommendations to customers about tire care and replacement.
Automotive mechanics and tire technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Automotive Mechanic | Tire Technician | |
| Average salary | $42,864 | $38,376 |
| Salary range | Between $30,000 And $59,000 | Between $27,000 And $53,000 |
| Highest paying City | Greeley, CO | Washington, NJ |
| Highest paying state | Colorado | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | Eversource Energy | State Street |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Retail |
There are a few differences between an automotive mechanic and a tire technician in terms of educational background:
| Automotive Mechanic | Tire Technician | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 38% | High School Diploma, 56% |
| Most common major | Automotive Technology | Automotive Technology |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between automotive mechanics' and tire technicians' demographics:
| Automotive Mechanic | Tire Technician | |
| Average age | 40 | 36 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 96.4% Female, 3.6% | Male, 96.5% Female, 3.5% |
| 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, 8.1% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 20.7% Asian, 2.1% White, 63.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 2% | 4% |