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What is a master mechanic and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
3 min read
The average master mechanic salary is $45,455. The most common degree is a associate degree degree with an automotive technology major. It usually takes 1-2 years of experience to become a master mechanic. Master mechanics with a Commercial Driver License (CDL) certification earn more money. Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow 1% and produce 10,600 job opportunities across the U.S.
ScoreMaster MechanicUS Average
Salary
3.6

Avg. Salary $45,455

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
8.1

Growth rate 1%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
8.5
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.80%

Asian 4.93%

Black or African American 9.39%

Hispanic or Latino 18.89%

Unknown 4.23%

White 61.76%

Gender

female 3.45%

male 96.55%

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
8.1

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level
7.0

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance
3.4

Work life balance is poor

6.4 - fair

Master mechanic career paths

Key steps to become a master mechanic

  1. Explore master mechanic education requirements

    Most common master mechanic degrees

    Associate

    32.0 %

    High School Diploma

    27.4 %

    Bachelor's

    18.0 %
  2. Start to develop specific master mechanic skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Preventative Maintenance11.83%
    Hand Tools7.16%
    Electrical Systems6.33%
    Diagnosis6.24%
    Plumbing4.83%
  3. Complete relevant master mechanic training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 1-3 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New master 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 master mechanic based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real master mechanic resumes.
  4. Research master mechanic duties and responsibilities

    • Maintain all HVAC and refrigeration equipment and replace units as needed
    • Document repairs, modifications and inspections in accordance with FAA requirements on both paper and in an automate maintenance information database.
    • Document repairs, modifications and inspections in accordance with FAA requirements on both paper and in an automate maintenance information database.
  5. Prepare your master mechanic resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your master 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 master 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 master mechanic resume templates

    Build a professional master 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 master mechanic resume.
    Master Mechanic Resume
    Master Mechanic Resume
    Master Mechanic Resume
    Master Mechanic Resume
    Master Mechanic Resume
    Master Mechanic Resume
    Master Mechanic Resume
    Master Mechanic Resume
    Master Mechanic Resume
  6. Apply for master mechanic jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a master 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 master mechanic job

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Average master mechanic salary

The average master mechanic salary in the United States is $45,455 per year or $22 per hour. Master mechanic salaries range between $32,000 and $63,000 per year.

Average master mechanic salary
$45,455 Yearly
$21.85 hourly

What am I worth?

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How do master mechanics rate their job?

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Master mechanic reviews

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A zippia user wrote a review on Feb 2024
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.


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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


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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.

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