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What is a service mechanic and how to become one
Service mechanics are responsible for inspecting vehicle engines and mechanical components to diagnose issues accurately. They also inspect vehicle computer and electronic systems to repair, maintain, and upgrade them. They conduct routine maintenance work that aims at maintaining vehicle functionality and longevity, schedule future maintenance sessions, and advise motorists on good vehicle use. Service mechanics earn a median sum of $42,000 annually or $20 per hour.
Service technicians are professionals who oversee maintenance inspections, monitor inventory, assemble mechanical components, and perform repairs. They monitor inventory, inspect vehicles, and assemble machinery. They are also responsible for designing a plan of action for all maintenance tasks and upgrades. A great service technician has strong attention to detail and possesses excellent communication and customer service skills.
Service technicians typically hold a high school diploma or its equivalent. They are expected to have certification from a vocational or trade school and some years of experience in a similar role. Some employers prefer candidates with in-depth knowledge of vehicle diagnostic equipment and mechanical systems.
What general advice would you give to a service mechanic?
Julia Johnson
Professor, Automotive Technology, Skyline College
Avg. Salary $47,240
Avg. Salary $59,228
Growth rate 4%
Growth rate 0.3%
American Indian and Alaska Native 1.06%
Asian 2.37%
Black or African American 7.89%
Hispanic or Latino 18.71%
Unknown 4.98%
White 64.99%
Genderfemale 3.23%
male 96.77%
Age - 42American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%
Asian 7.00%
Black or African American 14.00%
Hispanic or Latino 19.00%
White 57.00%
Genderfemale 47.00%
male 53.00%
Age - 42Stress level is manageable
7.1 - high
Complexity level is intermediate
7 - challenging
Work life balance is fair
6.4 - fair
Service mechanic career paths
Key steps to become a service mechanic
Explore service mechanic education requirements
Start to develop specific service mechanic skills
Skills Percentages Customer Service 9.31% Preventative Maintenance 8.44% Hydraulic Systems 5.34% Mechanical Equipment 5.28% HVAC 5.25% Complete relevant service mechanic training and internships
Accountants spend an average of 1-2 years on post-employment, on-the-job training. New service 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 service mechanic based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real service mechanic resumes.Research service mechanic duties and responsibilities
- Maintain and manage shop for parts, supplies and priority in jobs and cleanliness.
- Redesign and modify existing heavy machine shop equipment to meet or exceed strict OSHA requirements.
- DOT inspect various types of vehicles and do the repairs or adjustments on them.
- Perform troubleshooting and diagnosis, provide suggestions to superiors for a cost effective and safe repair.
Prepare your service mechanic resume
When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your service 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 service 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 service mechanic resume templates
Build a professional service 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 service mechanic resume.
Apply for service mechanic jobs
Now it's time to start searching for a service mechanic 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 service mechanic job
Are you a service mechanic?
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Average service mechanic salary
The average service mechanic salary in the United States is $47,240 per year or $23 per hour. Service mechanic salaries range between $33,000 and $66,000 per year.
What am I worth?
How do service mechanics rate their job?
Service mechanic reviews
Dealing with management and unqualified coworkers
Great pay, plus there's plenty of room for career advancement.
Love the challenge to diagnose those insane offbeat issues that just don't fit into the everyday problems
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.
Updated January 8, 2025
