What is an automotive technician and how to become one

Q: Do automotive technicians make good money?

Yes, automotive technicians make good money, with a median salary of around $45,000 a year. This salary depends on several factors, including experience, employer, demand and location. Automotive technicians are responsible for diagnosing, maintaining, repairing and inspecting cars, trucks and other types of vehicles. They play an important role in keeping the vehicles that help fuel our economy on the road.

Q: How long does it take to become an auto body technician?

It takes two to four years of practical training to become an auto body technician. While most employers will require at least a high school diploma, additional education is not necessary as most of the work of the auto body technician is learned through practical training.

Q: Is auto technician a good career?

Yes, being an auto technician is a good career. For people with the right skills and aptitude, this career is very promising. There is a high demand for good auto technicians, and career earnings are higher than average, especially in specialized fields.

Q: Is being an automotive technician worth it?

Yes, being an automotive technician is worth it. For people with the right skills and aptitude, the career has a lot to offer, from good salaries to high growth, to interesting work. One of the most worthwhile parts of being an auto technician is the importance of the work. We are increasingly reliant on their cars to get us where we need to go and get what we need. Both individuals and the economy, on the whole, rely on good auto technicians to keep us moving.

Q: What does an automotive technician do?

Automotive technicians repair, inspect, and maintain vehicles. In addition to performing maintenance and repair services, they meet with customers to explain the mechanical issues with their cars and keep them in the loop throughout the repair process.

Q: Automotive Technician vs. Mechanic

An automotive technician uses computers and technology to perform a diagnosis on a vehicle and extract data to identify issues, while a mechanic takes a more hands-on approach and usually takes things apart and looks for signs of a problem.

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Quoted expert

Caid Kroeger

An automotive technician is a trained professional who specializes in diagnosing, repairing, and maintaining vehicles. They work on various types of vehicles such as cars, trucks, and motorcycles. Automotive technicians use diagnostic tools to identify problems and work with their hands to fix them. They also perform routine maintenance tasks such as oil changes, tire rotations, and brake inspections. In addition, they may work with electronic systems and computer programs to troubleshoot problems.

What general advice would you give to an automotive technician?

Caid Kroeger

Associates Degree Coordinator/Instructor, Weber State University

As the automotive industry continues to develop and manufacture EVs and hybrids, technicians with expertise in high-voltage systems, battery management, and electric powertrains will find their skills in great demand. Alongside this, a deep understanding of Advanced Driver-Assistance Systems (ADAS), including adaptive cruise control, collision avoidance, autonomous driving, and lane assist, will be necessary. This evolution in vehicle technology emphasizes the need for technicians to be well-versed in both EV/hybrid technologies and ADAS. Such a combination of diagnostic and analytical skills will be key to thriving in the constantly evolving automotive industry.

ScoreAutomotive TechnicianUS Average

Salary

3.2

Avg. Salary $40,910

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

7.7

Growth rate 1%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

8.5

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.81%

Asian 4.99%

Black or African American 9.67%

Hispanic or Latino 19.54%

Unknown 4.24%

White 60.75%

Gender

female 4.24%

male 95.76%

Age - 39

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 39

Stress level

7.7

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level

8.5

Complexity level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work life balance

3.2

Work life balance is poor

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being an automotive technician?

Pros

High demand
Ability to work on a variety of vehicles
Constantly learning about new technologies and advancements
Job stability
Independence in work

Cons

High stress environment
Often requires working in uncomfortable positions or tight spaces
Possibility of injury or accidents
Constantly changing industry and technology requires constant learning and training

Key steps to become an automotive technician

Explore automotive technician education requirements

Most common automotive technician degrees

Associate

34.1 %

High School Diploma

31.8 %

Diploma

14.8 %

Start to develop specific automotive technician skills

Skills	Percentages
Work Ethic	11.04%
Computer System	10.17%
Customer Service	9.84%
Taking Care	8.47%
Preventive Maintenance	6.69%

Complete relevant automotive technician training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New automotive technicians learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as an automotive technician based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real automotive technician resumes.

Gain additional automotive technician certifications

Automotive technician certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific automotive technician certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

The most common certifications for automotive technicians include Automotive Sales Professional and Commercial Driver License (CDL).

More About Certifications

Research automotive technician duties and responsibilities

Inspect cars, service and repairs specializing in BMW repairs, manage shop, price and order parts, customer service
Repair, maintenance, and major overhaul of many type cummins diesel engines.
Require to have great attention to detail and have manual dexterity in both arms and hands.
Utilize diagnostic equipment to test electrical and engine components to provide proper diagnosis and solutions to customers

Prepare your automotive technician resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your automotive technician resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on an automotive technician resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose from 10+ customizable automotive technician resume templates

Build a professional automotive technician resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your automotive technician resume.

Apply for automotive technician jobs

Now it's time to start searching for an automotive technician job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

Browse job boards for relevant postings
Consult your professional network
Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
Watch out for job scams

How do automotive technicians rate their job?

3.5/5

Based on 2 ratings

5 stars

4 stars

3 stars

2 stars

1 star

Automotive technician reviews

2.0

A zippia user wrote a review on Dec 2022

Pros

Love the challenge to diagnose those insane offbeat issues that just don't fit into the everyday problems

Cons

Pay is minimal for your knowledge. Hours are better for white collar professionals. Have to buy your own tools with witch you could have bought your home with and no one cares. Treated as a second rate individual because you said "I'm an automotive mechanic." Expected to be perfect from customers who wonder why you didn't get it fixed on the first try when MD's almost never get it right. Expected to be an expert on over 60k types of automobiles that change every friggan year.....want more? If I had the choice to do it all over again I'd go into politics so I could rip off ppl every day and get rich and no one would ever complain.

A zippia user wrote a review on Jul 2022

Pros

Hands on /weld/electric/mech/plumbing……

Cons

People looking over me when they can’t do the jobs

A zippia user wrote a review on Mar 2022

Pros

Satisfaction of fixing, repairing broken vehicles and challenge of finding problems and correcting them properly.

What is an automotive technician and how to become one

What general advice would you give to an automotive technician?

What are the pros and cons of being an automotive technician?

Automotive technician career paths

Key steps to become an automotive technician

Explore automotive technician education requirements

Most common automotive technician degrees

Start to develop specific automotive technician skills

Complete relevant automotive technician training and internships

Gain additional automotive technician certifications

Research automotive technician duties and responsibilities

Prepare your automotive technician resume

Choose from 10+ customizable automotive technician resume templates

Apply for automotive technician jobs

How did you land your first automotive technician job

Average automotive technician salary

How do automotive technicians rate their job?

Automotive technician reviews

Automotive technician FAQs

Do automotive technicians make good money?

How long does it take to become an auto body technician?

Is auto technician a good career?

Is being an automotive technician worth it?

What does an automotive technician do?

Automotive Technician vs. Mechanic

Search for automotive technician jobs

Automotive technician jobs by state