Post job

Automotive service technician vs lube technician

The differences between automotive service technicians 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 service technician and a lube technician. Additionally, an automotive service technician has an average salary of $43,077, which is higher than the $29,959 average annual salary of a lube technician.

The top three skills for an automotive service technician include customer service, hand tools and dexterity. The most important skills for a lube technician are work ethic, customer service, and hand tools.

Automotive service technician vs lube technician overview

Automotive Service TechnicianLube Technician
Yearly salary$43,077$29,959
Hourly rate$20.71$14.40
Growth rate1%1%
Number of jobs177,784131,008
Job satisfaction-4.5
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 35%High School Diploma, 53%
Average age4040
Years of experience22

What does an automotive service technician do?

Automotive service technicians, often called service technicians, have a duty to inspect, maintain, and repair cars and even light trucks. It is their job as automotive service technicians to find problems, often by computerized diagnostic equipment. They do test parts and systems to guarantee that they work properly and follow checklists to ensure that every critical part is examined. Performing basic care and maintenance is also part of their main tasks, including changing oil, rotating tires, and checking fluid levels.

What does a lube technician do?

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 service technician vs lube technician salary

Automotive service technicians and lube technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.

Automotive Service TechnicianLube Technician
Average salary$43,077$29,959
Salary rangeBetween $25,000 And $74,000Between $23,000 And $37,000
Highest paying CityAlexandria, VADenver, CO
Highest paying stateMarylandWashington
Best paying companyCypressMartin Marietta
Best paying industryHealth CareRetail

Differences between automotive service technician and lube technician education

There are a few differences between an automotive service technician and a lube technician in terms of educational background:

Automotive Service TechnicianLube Technician
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 35%High School Diploma, 53%
Most common majorAutomotive TechnologyAutomotive Technology
Most common college--

Automotive service technician vs lube technician demographics

Here are the differences between automotive service technicians' and lube technicians' demographics:

Automotive Service TechnicianLube Technician
Average age4040
Gender ratioMale, 95.6% Female, 4.4%Male, 93.7% Female, 6.3%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 9.6% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 19.5% Asian, 5.0% White, 60.9% 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 Percentage2%2%

Differences between automotive service technician and lube technician duties and responsibilities

Automotive service technician example responsibilities.

  • Inspect cars, service and repairs specializing in BMW repairs, manage shop, price and order parts, customer service
  • Perform basic care and maintenance including oil changes, lube and tune ups.
  • Start immediately after college as a lube technician doing oil changes, tires, and light duty repairs.
  • Experience with ADP write up programming.
  • Inspect, repair, and maintain Toyota vehicles.
  • Perform general service and repairs on Chevrolet and Chrysler vehicles.
  • Show more

Lube technician example responsibilities.

  • Operate multiple types of forklifts and cranes.
  • Perform maintenance and trouble shooting of HVAC systems.
  • Work with ASE certify, world class technician as apprentice.
  • Reset TPMS systems, and perform alignments on most cars.
  • Study and learned with ASE technicians to perform quality service in a timely manner.
  • Consult with customers to troubleshoot vehicle problems and discuss potential work to be perform.
  • Show more

Automotive service technician vs lube technician skills

Common automotive service technician skills
  • Customer Service, 30%
  • Hand Tools, 12%
  • Dexterity, 9%
  • Customer Satisfaction, 5%
  • ASE, 5%
  • Automotive Repair, 4%
Common lube technician skills
  • Work Ethic, 15%
  • Customer Service, 13%
  • Hand Tools, 11%
  • Oil Changes, 6%
  • Air Pressure, 6%
  • Air Filters, 6%

Browse installation, maintenance and repair jobs