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.
Automotive service technician responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real automotive service technician resumes:
- 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.
- Train in Honda, Saturn, and Audi automotive service and diagnostics.
- Perform automotive servicing on Toyota, Mazda, Hyundai, Chevrolet, Nissan and BMW vehicles.
- Perform routine safety and preventative maintenance inspections, troubleshoot, repair and replace parts as needed.
- Read and interpret work orders and detail repair instructions in order to properly test and troubleshoot discrepancies.
- Perform full service maintenance and repairs on new and used Honda vehicles including factory, warranty, recalls and defects.
- Preform routine preventive maintenance on equipment.
- Maintain cleanliness and follow sanitation practices as required.
- Obtain ASE certifications and become master certify in several repair categories.
- Maintain all ASE certifications and education on new and upcoming vehicle diagnostic information.
Automotive service technician skills and personality traits
We calculated that 30% of Automotive Service Technicians are proficient in Customer Service, Hand Tools, and Dexterity. They’re also known for soft skills such as Detail oriented, Dexterity, and Mechanical skills.
We break down the percentage of Automotive Service Technicians that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Customer Service, 30%
Provided excellent customer service to incoming and outgoing customers to include complimentary shuttle service throughout a 50-square mile major metropolitan area.
- Hand Tools, 12%
Used computerized shop equipment and work with electronic components while maintaining skills with traditional hand tools.
- Dexterity, 9%
Use of carpentry tools-manual, power & air Mechanical aptitude, manual dexterity, creativity.
- Customer Satisfaction, 5%
Maintained constant dedication to quality, maximum level of accuracy and customer satisfaction.
- ASE, 5%
Performed duties as an ASE certified Automotive Technician specializing in computer/ electrical system diagnosis and HVAC troubleshooting and repair.
- Automotive Repair, 4%
Diagnose vehicle problems and perform required automotive repair and maintenance services in accordance with American Honda guidelines.
"customer service," "hand tools," and "dexterity" are among the most common skills that automotive service technicians use at work. You can find even more automotive service technician responsibilities below, including:
Detail oriented. One of the key soft skills for an automotive service technician to have is detail oriented. You can see how this relates to what automotive service technicians do because "service technicians must be aware of small details when inspecting or repairing vehicle systems, because mechanical and electronic malfunctions are often due to misalignments or other easy-to-miss causes." Additionally, an automotive service technician resume shows how automotive service technicians use detail oriented: "detailed, washed, and done lube maintenance on vehicles. "
Dexterity. Another essential skill to perform automotive service technician duties is dexterity. Automotive service technicians responsibilities require that "service technicians perform many tasks that require steady hands and good hand–eye coordination, such as assembling or attaching components and subassemblies." Automotive service technicians also use dexterity in their role according to a real resume snippet: "installed lift kits, performed preventive maintenance, mechanical repairs and electrical/electronic diagnosis. "
Mechanical skills. automotive service technicians are also known for mechanical skills, which are critical to their duties. You can see how this skill relates to automotive service technician responsibilities, because "service technicians must be familiar with engine components and systems and know how they interact with each other." An automotive service technician resume example shows how mechanical skills is used in the workplace: "performed electrical and mechanical diagnosis. "
Physical strength. For certain automotive service technician responsibilities to be completed, the job requires competence in "physical strength." The day-to-day duties of an automotive service technician rely on this skill, as "service technicians must sometimes lift and maneuver heavy parts such as engines and body panels." For example, this snippet was taken directly from a resume about how this skill applies to what automotive service technicians do: "learned physical and technical knowledge of gasoline engine performance characteristics. "
Troubleshooting skills. Another crucial skill for an automotive service technician to carry out their responsibilities is "troubleshooting skills." A big part of what automotive service technicians relies on this skill, since "service technicians use diagnostic equipment on engine systems and components in order to identify and fix problems in increasingly complicated mechanical and electronic systems." How this skill relates to automotive service technician duties can be seen in an example from an automotive service technician resume snippet: "united states provides technical diagnosis, servicing, troubleshooting and repairs on over 100 vehicle fleet. "
Customer-service skills. Lastly, "customer-service skills" is an important element of what an automotive service technician does. Automotive service technician responsibilities require this skill because "service technicians discuss automotive problems—along with options to fix them—with their customers." This resume example highlights how automotive service technician duties rely on this skill: "utilized diagnostic equipment to test electrical and engine components to provide proper diagnosis and solutions to customers"
The three companies that hire the most automotive service technicians are:
- Tire Discounters106 automotive service technicians jobs
- AutoNation74 automotive service technicians jobs
- Lia Honda Albany29 automotive service technicians jobs
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Compare different automotive service technicians
Automotive service technician vs. Mechanic helper
The job of a mechanic helper is to support lead mechanics and perform a variety of duties and responsibilities. You will be assisting in the maintenance of cars, such as changing tires and oils, replacing brakes, and diagnosing vehicle issues. In addition, you will be responsible for logging labor costs and inventory use and take vehicles for test drives. Other duties include replacing belts and hoses, assisting the lead mechanic in major projects, and repairing and maintaining cars.
While similarities exist, there are also some differences between automotive service technicians and mechanic helper. For instance, automotive service technician responsibilities require skills such as "customer service," "dexterity," "manual dexterity," and "customer satisfaction." Whereas a mechanic helper is skilled in "strong work ethic," "preventive maintenance," "safety equipment," and "routine maintenance." This is part of what separates the two careers.
Mechanic helpers earn the highest salaries when working in the professional industry, with an average yearly salary of $36,229. On the other hand, automotive service technicians are paid more in the health care industry with an average salary of $38,929.On average, mechanic helpers reach similar levels of education than automotive service technicians. Mechanic helpers are 0.8% less likely to earn a Master's Degree and 0.0% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Automotive service technician vs. Mechanic
Mechanics are professionals responsible for assembling, maintaining, and repairing vehicles and types of machinery. They are knowledgeable of various tools and equipment, machinery, electrical systems, and other components. They can usually be seen indoors, garages in particular. Due to the advancement of technology, they are also required to be familiar with computer and software programs that can be used in auto shops and vehicles. They always work in safety precautions.
Each career also uses different skills, according to real automotive service technician resumes. While automotive service technician responsibilities can utilize skills like "dexterity," "manual dexterity," "customer satisfaction," and "automotive repair," mechanics use skills like "preventive maintenance," "electrical systems," "ladders," and "hydraulic systems."
Mechanics earn a higher average salary than automotive service technicians. But mechanics earn the highest pay in the manufacturing industry, with an average salary of $51,758. Additionally, automotive service technicians earn the highest salaries in the health care with average pay of $38,929 annually.Average education levels between the two professions vary. Mechanics tend to reach similar levels of education than automotive service technicians. In fact, they're 0.1% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.0% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for automotive service technicians in the next 3-5 years?
Trish Serratore
Senior VP Communications, ASE
Automotive service technician vs. Light wheel mechanic
A light wheel mechanic is responsible for maintaining the optimal performance and efficiency of light-wheeled vehicles used for industrial operations, especially in a military setting. Light wheel mechanics inspect the condition of the vehicle's engine, perform preventive maintenance, replace defective components, assemble upgrade systems based on schematics and blueprints, and create resolution reports for reference. They must have excellent knowledge of the auto-mechanic industry to determine faults and identify repairs, avoiding delays, complications, and hazards during operations.
The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, automotive service technicians are more likely to have skills like "customer service," "hand tools," "dexterity," and "manual dexterity." But a light wheel mechanic is more likely to have skills like "electrical systems," "equipment systems," "mos," and "track vehicles."
Light wheel mechanics typically earn similar educational levels compared to automotive service technicians. Specifically, they're 1.0% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.1% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Automotive service technician vs. Shop mechanic
A shop mechanic is responsible for maintaining and repairing defective machinery and vehicles. Shop mechanics identify the disrupted components by inspecting and running diagnostic tests and informing the owner of the necessary procedures they need to take. They discuss the costs and expenses, the materials to be used, and the duration to fix the machine upon analyzing its complexity. A shop mechanic monitors the shop inventory, assemble parts, and upgrade engines and machinery for optimal performance.
Even though a few skill sets overlap between automotive service technicians and shop mechanics, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, an automotive service technician might have more use for skills like "manual dexterity," "customer satisfaction," "ase," and "automotive repair." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of shop mechanics require skills like "preventative maintenance," "hydraulic systems," "cdl," and "electrical systems. "
The government industry tends to pay the highest salaries for shop mechanics, with average annual pay of $43,954. Comparatively, the highest automotive service technician annual salary comes from the health care industry.shop mechanics reach similar levels of education compared to automotive service technicians, in general. The difference is that they're 0.6% more likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.0% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Types of automotive service technician
Updated January 8, 2025
