How long does it take to become a Lube Technician?

It takes 2 years of professional experience to become a lube technician. That is the time it takes to learn specific lube technician skills, but does not account for time spent in formal education.

How To Become A Lube Technician: What It Is and Career Path

What is a lube technician and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Quoted expert

Julia Johnson

A lube technician performs basic maintenance and repairs on vehicles, such as changing oil and filters, inspecting and topping off fluids, rotating tires, and performing basic safety checks. They also provide recommendations for additional services based on their inspections. Lube technicians typically work in automotive service centers or dealerships, using specialized tools and equipment to complete their tasks efficiently and safely. They must have basic knowledge of vehicle systems and be able to follow specific procedures and guidelines.

What general advice would you give to a lube technician?

Julia Johnson

Professor, Automotive Technology, Skyline College

You will be starting out as a Lube Tech for your first job in the automotive industry. You will be expected to perform maintenance services accurately and within the industry standard timeframe. It may seem like it’s not challenging enough or too repetitive, but you will be expected to prove yourself at this level before you can advance.

ScoreLube TechnicianUS Average

Salary

2.3

Avg. Salary $29,959

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

7.7

Growth rate 1%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

8.6

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.83%

Asian 5.40%

Black or African American 9.27%

Hispanic or Latino 20.36%

Unknown 4.32%

White 59.82%

Gender

female 6.32%

male 93.68%

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

8.4

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance

3.2

Work life balance is poor

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being a lube technician?

Pros

Steady demand for lube technicians
Flexible scheduling
Good job for those who like hands-on work
Opportunities to work in different locations
Can be a good starting point for a career in automotive repair

Cons

Dirty work environment
Exposure to hazardous chemicals
Difficult to find full-time employment with benefits
Limited opportunities for professional development
Working in extreme weather conditions

Key steps to become a lube technician

Explore lube technician education requirements

Most common lube technician degrees

High School Diploma

52.8 %

Associate

18.4 %

Diploma

16.0 %

Start to develop specific lube technician skills

Skills	Percentages
Work Ethic	15.34%
Customer Service	12.95%
Hand Tools	10.60%
Oil Changes	6.04%
Air Pressure	5.86%

Complete relevant lube technician training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New lube 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 a lube technician based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real lube technician resumes.

Gain additional lube technician certifications

Lube 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 lube technician certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

The most common certifications for lube technicians include EPA Amusement Operators Safety Certification (EPA) and Emergency Medical Technician (EMT).

More About Certifications

Research lube technician duties and responsibilities

Operate multiple types of forklifts and cranes.
Perform maintenance and trouble shooting of HVAC systems.
Work with ASE certify, world class technician as apprentice.
Reset TPMS systems, and perform alignments on most cars.

Prepare your lube technician resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your lube 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 a lube 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 lube technician resume templates

Build a professional lube 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 lube technician resume.

Apply for lube technician jobs

Now it's time to start searching for a lube 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 did you land your first lube technician job

Brendan Whitlow

Lube Technician, Haselwood Chevrolet-Buick-GMC

I have always had an interest in the automotive industry, but I was daunted by going into a career that is so complex, I worried how people would look at me as a green tech that knew nothing. In 2016 I decided to join the Army right out of high school, due to some other issues I got out in 2020. After trying to figure out what career path I was going to choose I interviewed for a sales position, did that for about 6 weeks before realizing I love cars and not so much working directly with people. I applied for a lube technician position at Haselwood Chevrolet-GMC-Buick and interviewed shortly after. I started in March of 2022 as a lube tech, after about 6 months as a lube tech, my lead decided to do the apprenticeship and moved to a line tech, and I was asked to take his position as a lead, which also came with a decent raise in my hourly pay. After about a year they asked me to move my toolbox into the main shop and that I was being moved up to line tech. Again, this change brought a small increase in hourly pay. After 2 years, I have several certifications paid for by the auto group, several thousand dollars worth of tools and skills I can bring anywhere.

How do lube technicians rate their job?

4.5/5

Out of 2 Lube Technician reviews, 100% were positive.

5 stars

4 stars

3 stars

2 stars

1 star

Based on 2 ratings

Pay / salary

4.0

Work/life balance

2.0

Overall rating

4.5

Career growth

5.0

Lube technician reviews

A zippia user wrote a review on Feb 2024

Cons

Dealing with management and unqualified coworkers

4.0

A zippia user wrote a review on Oct 2023

Pros

Great pay, plus there's plenty of room for career advancement.

Cons

Long hours, and it tends to be a messy job.

A zippia user wrote a review on Jul 2020

Cons

If I have to rebuild it again cause I didn't do a responsible job.

What is a lube technician and how to become one

What general advice would you give to a lube technician?

What are the pros and cons of being a lube technician?

Lube technician career paths

Key steps to become a lube technician

Explore lube technician education requirements

Most common lube technician degrees

Start to develop specific lube technician skills

Complete relevant lube technician training and internships

Gain additional lube technician certifications

Research lube technician duties and responsibilities

Prepare your lube technician resume

Choose from 10+ customizable lube technician resume templates

Apply for lube technician jobs

How did you land your first lube technician job

Average lube technician salary

How do lube technicians rate their job?

Lube technician reviews

Lube technician FAQs

How long does it take to become a Lube Technician?

Search for lube technician jobs

Lube technician jobs by state