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How to hire an Automotive Technician

Automotive technician hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring automotive technicians in the United States:

  • HR departments typically spend 15% of their expenses on recruitment.
  • It usually takes about 12 weeks for a new employee to reach full productivity levels.
  • It typically takes 36-42 days to fill a job opening.
  • The median cost to hire an automotive technician is $1,633.
  • Small businesses spend an average of $1,105 per automotive technician on training each year, while large companies spend $658.
  • There are currently 92,598 automotive technicians in the US and 142,840 job openings.
  • Las Vegas, NV, has the highest demand for automotive technicians, with 82 job openings.
  • Houston, TX has the highest concentration of automotive technicians.

How to hire an automotive technician, step by step

To hire an automotive technician, you need to identify the specific skills and experience you want in a candidate, allocate a budget for the position, and advertise the job opening to attract potential candidates. To hire an automotive technician, you should follow these steps:

Here's a step-by-step automotive technician hiring guide:

  • Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
  • Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
  • Step 3: Make a budget
  • Step 4: Write an automotive technician job description
  • Step 5: Post your job
  • Step 6: Interview candidates
  • Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new automotive technician
  • Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does an Automotive Technician do?

An automotive technician is responsible for maintaining the condition of automotive equipment. The duties of an automotive technician include repairing defective automotive components and inspecting and ensuring the auto's performance, stability, and safety. A tech is also responsible for upgrading the electrical systems to boost efficiency, conducting oil changes and tire checks, and installing batteries. An automotive technician also runs quality checks and improves system designs based on clients' specifications. An automotive technician must have excellent knowledge of the mechanical industry and automotive systems to assist clients with their inquiries and concerns.

Learn more about the specifics of what an automotive technician does
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Post An Automotive Technician Job For Free, Promote It For A Fee

  1. Identify your hiring needs

    Before you post your automotive technician job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find an automotive technician for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

    Determine Employee vs Contractor Status
    Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

    An automotive technician's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, automotive technicians from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

    Here's a comparison of automotive technician salaries for various roles:

    Type Of Automotive TechnicianDescriptionHourly Rate
    Automotive TechnicianAutomotive service technicians and mechanics, often called service technicians or service techs, inspect, maintain, and repair cars and light trucks.$13-27
    Mechanic HelperThe 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... Show More$11-19
    Light Wheel MechanicA 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... Show More$12-32
    Show more

  2. Create an ideal candidate profile

    Common Skills:
    • Work Ethic
    • Computer System
    • Customer Service
    • Taking Care
    • Preventive Maintenance
    • ASE
    • Automotive Repair
    • Customer Satisfaction
    • Oil Changes
    • Dependability
    • Maintenance Services
    • Vehicle Inspections
    • Customer Vehicles
    • Vehicle Repairs
    Check All Skills
    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
    • complete overhaul of cummins engines and mopar gasoline engines.
    • Perform maintenance in accordance with FAA and OSHA regulations.
    More Automotive Technician duties

  3. Make a budget

    Including a salary range in your automotive technician job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. An automotive technician salary can vary based on several factors:
    • Location. For example, automotive technicians' average salary in hawaii is 38% less than in district of columbia.
    • Seniority. Entry-level automotive technicians earn 49% less than senior-level automotive technicians.
    • Certifications. An automotive technician with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
    • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in an automotive technician's salary.

    Average automotive technician salary

    $40,910yearly

    $19.67 hourly rate
    Entry-level automotive technician salary
    $29,000 yearly salary
    Updated January 14, 2025

    Average automotive technician salary by state

    RankStateAvg. SalaryHourly Rate
    1California$48,230$23
    2Maryland$48,212$23
    3Washington$48,045$23
    4Virginia$46,121$22
    5Oregon$43,510$21
    6Colorado$42,190$20
    7New York$41,779$20
    8Illinois$41,590$20
    9Massachusetts$41,511$20
    10Pennsylvania$40,941$20
    11Arizona$40,765$20
    12Michigan$40,643$20
    13New Hampshire$40,295$19
    14Minnesota$40,078$19
    15Nevada$40,044$19
    16Georgia$39,339$19
    17Texas$39,110$19
    18Ohio$38,975$19
    19Wisconsin$38,423$18
    20North Carolina$38,415$18

    Average automotive technician salary by company

  4. Writing an Automotive Technician Job Description

    A job description for an automotive technician role includes a summary of the job's main responsibilities, required skills, and preferred background experience. Including a salary range can also go a long way in attracting more candidates to apply, and showing the first name of the hiring manager can also make applicants more comfortable. As an example, here's an automotive technician job description:

    Automotive Technician job description example

    Our auto techs typically work Monday-Friday, 40+ hours per week . This position comes with a competitive salary of $60,000-$100,000+ per year , based on experience and certifications. We provide great benefits and perks , including paid vacations, paid holidays, and a workweek with no weekends . If this sounds like the right opportunity for you, apply today! DO NOT CALL - WE WILL CONTACT YOU.

    ABOUT A&O AUTO CARE

    A&O Auto Care is a family-owned company that treats its clients with respect while taking care of their auto needs from beginning to end. With nearly 30 years of combined experience, our knowledgeable team is happy to use their skills to help others. We are passionate about customer service as well as ensuring a properly working and safe vehicle.

    To provide outstanding service to our customers, we first invest in our employees. Through a positive work environment and opportunities for growth our team is motivated to put in the effort to satisfy our clients and grow within the company. With state-of-the-art equipment and management that isn't afraid to help its employees succeed it's no wonder, our team loves working here!

    QUALIFICATIONS FOR AN EXPERIENCED AUTOMOTIVE TECHNICIAN

    • Valid and current driver's license
    • Ability to pass a background check upon hire
    • Ability to work 40+ hours per week

    Are you willing to expand your knowledge of the latest and greatest technology? Do you have strong communication skills? Is being dependable, professional, and a team player at the heart of all you do? Do you enjoy problem-solving? Are you positive, upbeat, and energetic? Can you represent our company in a professional manner? If so, you might just be perfect for this auto tech position! Apply now using our initial 3-minute, mobile-friendly application.

    Location: 75076



    Job Posted by ApplicantPro

  5. Post your job

    To find automotive technicians for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

    • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
    • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any automotive technicians they would recommend.
    • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level automotive technicians with the right educational background.
    • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.
    Post your job online:
    • Post your automotive technician job on Zippia to find and recruit automotive technician candidates who meet your exact specifications.
    • Use field-specific websites.
    • Post a job on free websites.

  6. Interview candidates

    During your first interview to recruit automotive technicians, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

    It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match your ideal candidate profile. If you think a candidate is good enough for the next step, you can move on to the technical interview.

    The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

  7. Send a job offer and onboard your new automotive technician

    Once you've selected the best automotive technician candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.

    It's also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

    To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is created.

  8. Go through the hiring process checklist

    • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
    • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
    • Define job responsibilities and requirements
    • Establish budget and timeline
    • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
    • Write job description
    • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
    • Promote the job internally
    • Process applications through applicant tracking system
    • Review resumes and cover letters
    • Shortlist candidates for screening
    • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
    • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
    • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
    • Conduct background checks on top candidates
    • Check references of top candidates
    • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
    • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
    • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
    • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
    • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
    • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)
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How much does it cost to hire an automotive technician?

Recruiting automotive technicians involves both the one-time costs of hiring and the ongoing costs of adding a new employee to your team. Your spending during the hiring process will mostly be on things like promoting the job on job boards, reviewing and interviewing candidates, and onboarding the new hire. Ongoing costs will obviously involve the employee's salary, but also may include things like benefits.

You can expect to pay around $40,910 per year for an automotive technician, as this is the median yearly salary nationally. This can vary depending on what state or city you're hiring in. If you're hiring for contract work or on a per-project basis, hourly rates for automotive technicians in the US typically range between $13 and $27 an hour.

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Updated January 14, 2025

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