Post job

What is a journeyman/mechanic and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read

The general responsibilities of a journeyman/mechanic are to conduct maintenance procedures and repairs on light vehicles. They use a variety of tools and methods to identify vehicle problems and determine the best way to solve them, which include checking the vehicle's computer systems, conducting visual inspections, and test driving the vehicle.

A journeyman/mechanic is also responsible for ensuring compliance with legal guidelines on workplace safety and environmental responsibility. Moreover, they may serve as a supervisor for apprentices and mechanics-in-training, which entails inspecting their work and helping them build their skills.

Before one can become a journeyman/mechanic, one must first have at least a high school diploma and a certificate from an accredited apprenticeship program in automotive repair or maintenance. Apprenticeships usually include 144 hours of classroom instruction and around six months of on-the-job training wherein an apprentice will learn the basics of automotive repair.

The average salary of a journeyman/mechanic ranges from $33,000 to $66,000. One can increase their job opportunities and earning potential by acquiring more skills through national certifications, or additional experience through internships.

ScoreJourneyman/MechanicUS Average
Salary
4.1

Avg. Salary $52,442

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
6.3

Growth rate 4%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
10.0
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 1.06%

Asian 2.39%

Black or African American 8.08%

Hispanic or Latino 18.32%

Unknown 4.99%

White 65.17%

Gender

female 2.93%

male 97.07%

Age - 42
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 - 42
Stress level
6.3

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity level
5.8

Complexity level is intermediate

7 - challenging

Work life balance
6.3

Work life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

Journeyman/mechanic career paths

Key steps to become a journeyman/mechanic

  1. Explore journeyman/mechanic education requirements

    Most common journeyman/mechanic degrees

    Associate

    36.4 %

    High School Diploma

    31.0 %

    Diploma

    11.7 %
  2. Start to develop specific journeyman/mechanic skills

    SkillsPercentages
    HVAC8.57%
    Mechanical Troubleshooting8.31%
    Preventative Maintenance8.21%
    Hand Tools8.01%
    Mechanical Equipment6.54%
  3. Complete relevant journeyman/mechanic training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 1-2 years on post-employment, on-the-job training. New journeyman/mechanics 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 a journeyman/mechanic based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real journeyman/mechanic resumes.
  4. Research journeyman/mechanic duties and responsibilities

    • Maintain and manage shop for parts, supplies and priority in jobs and cleanliness.
    • Used mig, arc, stick, welding.
    • Head of International-TSC OSHA safety.
    • Build and repair ladders, catwalks, and stairways.
  5. Prepare your journeyman/mechanic resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your journeyman/mechanic 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 a journeyman/mechanic resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose from 10+ customizable journeyman/mechanic resume templates

    Build a professional journeyman/mechanic 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 journeyman/mechanic resume.
    Journeyman/Mechanic Resume
    Journeyman/Mechanic Resume
    Journeyman/Mechanic Resume
    Journeyman/Mechanic Resume
    Journeyman/Mechanic Resume
    Journeyman/Mechanic Resume
    Journeyman/Mechanic Resume
    Journeyman/Mechanic Resume
    Journeyman/Mechanic Resume
  6. Apply for journeyman/mechanic jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a journeyman/mechanic job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

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

How did you land your first journeyman/mechanic job

Zippi

Are you a journeyman/mechanic?

Share your story for a free salary report.

Average journeyman/mechanic salary

The average journeyman/mechanic salary in the United States is $52,442 per year or $25 per hour. Journeyman/mechanic salaries range between $38,000 and $71,000 per year.

Average journeyman/mechanic salary
$52,442 Yearly
$25.21 hourly

What am I worth?

salary-calculator

How do journeyman/mechanics rate their job?

-/5

5 stars

4 stars

3 stars

2 stars

1 star

Journeyman/mechanic reviews

profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Feb 2024
Pros

Hard work but good pay (105,000) last year

Cons

Dealing with management and unqualified coworkers


profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Dec 2022
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.


profile
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


Working as a journeyman/mechanic? Share your experience anonymously.
Overall rating*
Career growth
Work/Life balance
Pay/Salary

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

Browse installation, maintenance and repair jobs