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How to hire a car mechanic

Car mechanic hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring car mechanics in the United States:

  • In the United States, the median cost per hire a car mechanic is $1,633.
  • It takes between 36 and 42 days to fill the average role in the US.
  • Human Resources use 15% of their expenses on recruitment on average.
  • On average, it takes around 12 weeks for a new car mechanic to become settled and show total productivity levels at work.

How to hire a car mechanic, step by step

To hire a car mechanic, consider the skills and experience you are looking for in a candidate, allocate a budget for the position, and post and promote the job opening to reach potential candidates. Follow these steps to hire a car mechanic:

Here's a step-by-step car mechanic hiring guide:

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

    The car mechanic hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

    Determine employee vs contractor status
    Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

    A car mechanic's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, car mechanics 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 car mechanic salaries for various roles:

    Type of Car MechanicDescriptionHourly rate
    Car MechanicAutomotive service technicians and mechanics, often called service technicians or service techs, inspect, maintain, and repair cars and light trucks.$13-23
    Instrument Technician ApprenticeAn instrument technician apprentice is responsible for performing installation and repairs on various electrical equipment and instruments such as control panels and motors, all while under the supervision and directives of a senior or master technician. Typically, their tasks revolve around conducting regular maintenance checks, coordinating with other technicians, organizing supplies, operating electrical tools, and understanding various electronic principles... Show more$12-27
    Automotive Service TechnicianAutomotive 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... Show more$12-35
  2. Create an ideal candidate profile

    Common skills:
    • Diagnostic Tools
    • ASE
    • Engine Repair
    • Brake Pads
    • Customer Vehicles
    • Oil Changes
    • Routine Maintenance
    • Battery
    • FRA
    • MIG
    • AAR
    • General Maintenance
    • Torches
    • Engine Tune-Ups
    Check all skills
    Responsibilities:
    • Adjust and set mowing heights for all mowers per the superintendant.
    • Sharpen all mowing blades for greens mowers, rough mowers and fairway mowers.
    • Perform diagnostics on vehicle ECUs in addition to vehicle services such as oil, brakes, and filter changes.
    • Weld broken frames and battery boxes.
    • Preform tune-ups and A/C, and electrical repairs.
    • Fabricate new parts using gas torches, welder and various measuring tools.
  3. Make a budget

    Including a salary range in your car mechanic job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A car mechanic can vary based on:

    • Location. For example, car mechanics' average salary in louisiana is 44% less than in california.
    • Seniority. Entry-level car mechanics 43% less than senior-level car mechanics.
    • Certifications. A car mechanic with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
    • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a car mechanic's salary.

    Average car mechanic salary

    $37,369yearly

    $17.97 hourly rate

    Entry-level car mechanic salary
    $28,000 yearly salary
    Updated December 14, 2025
  4. Writing a car mechanic job description

    A car mechanic job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. Below, you can find an example of a car mechanic job description:

    Car mechanic job description example


    Do What You Love: Work on cars while we take care of everything else: appointments, support, parts, warranty.

    Set Your Own Schedule: You set your own service area and INDrs (weekends, evenings, weekdays).

    Earn Great Money: Earn 2-3x what auto shops and dealers pay you.

    Work Directly with Customers: Get to know your customers, speak to them directly about repairs, and show them what a great experience auto repair can be.

    YourMechanic offers car repair services at our customers' homes and offices.

    With no shop overhead, we pass the savings on to our customers and provide our technicians better pay. We handle all the marketing, appointmentscheduling, parts ordering, invoicing and customer support for our technicians, leaving the technicians to do what they love--fix cars.

    What do you need to get started?

    • Minimum of 5 years of recent professional automotive repair experience

    • Valid driver's license, clean background, and reliable transportation

    • A complete set of basic automotive tools

    • A desire to provide an extraordinary customer experience

    • ASE certifications or technical school is a plus



    Want to learn more about YourMechanic?
    Check out our website

    **Disclaimer: The pay is based on location and meeting certain car repair and diagnostic skill levels in addition to other requirements. This opportunity is for an INDepenINDt contractor.

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  5. Post your job

    To find the right car mechanic for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

    • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
    • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with car mechanics they would recommend.
    • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit car mechanics who meet your education requirements.
    • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.
    Post your job online:
    • Post your car mechanic job on Zippia to find and recruit car mechanic candidates who meet your exact specifications.
    • Use field-specific websites.
    • Post a job on free websites.
  6. Interview candidates

    To successfully recruit car mechanics, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.

    You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete 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 car mechanic

    Once you've decided on a perfect car mechanic candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your agreement with a contract.

    You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

    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 a car mechanic?

There are different types of costs for hiring car mechanics. One-time cost per hire for the recruitment process. Ongoing costs include employee salary, training, onboarding, benefits, insurance, and equipment. It is essential to consider all of these costs when evaluating hiring a new car mechanic employee.

You can expect to pay around $37,369 per year for a car mechanic, 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 car mechanics in the US typically range between $13 and $23 an hour.

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