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The differences between service mechanics and service advisors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become a service mechanic, becoming a service advisor takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, a service mechanic has an average salary of $47,240, which is higher than the $46,308 average annual salary of a service advisor.
The top three skills for a service mechanic include customer service, preventative maintenance and hydraulic systems. The most important skills for a service advisor are customer service, product knowledge, and basic math.
| Service Mechanic | Service Advisor | |
| Yearly salary | $47,240 | $46,308 |
| Hourly rate | $22.71 | $22.26 |
| Growth rate | 4% | -4% |
| Number of jobs | 116,383 | 222,424 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4 |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 36% | Bachelor's Degree, 33% |
| Average age | 42 | 40 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 12 |
A service mechanic, or often known as a service technician, is an individual who inspects, maintains, and repairs cars and light trucks. Service mechanics must identify the vehicle's problems by using computerized diagnostic equipment and test parts and systems to ensure that they work properly. They must perform basic vehicular care and maintenance such as changing oil, checking fluid levels, and rotating tires. Service mechanics should also explain automotive problems to customers and perform repairs according to the manufacturer ad customer specifications.
Service Advisors specialize in customer service in a car dealership or automotive shop. Acting as a front-desk representative, it is the Service Advisor's responsibility to greet clients and offer assistance, provide necessary and accurate information to customers regarding the automotive issues and needed repairs, respond to inquiries, and introduce the clients to the available mechanics. Moreover, Service Advisors must inform clients regarding the costs and warranties, keep the clients updated with the status of the repairs, coordinate with suppliers, and as well as manage the schedule of the mechanics.
Service mechanics and service advisors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Service Mechanic | Service Advisor | |
| Average salary | $47,240 | $46,308 |
| Salary range | Between $33,000 And $66,000 | Between $26,000 And $79,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Jose, CA | New York, NY |
| Highest paying state | California | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | Sandia National Labs | BP America Inc |
| Best paying industry | Energy | Finance |
There are a few differences between a service mechanic and a service advisor in terms of educational background:
| Service Mechanic | Service Advisor | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 36% | Bachelor's Degree, 33% |
| Most common major | Automotive Technology | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between service mechanics' and service advisors' demographics:
| Service Mechanic | Service Advisor | |
| Average age | 42 | 40 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 96.8% Female, 3.2% | Male, 69.4% Female, 30.6% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 7.9% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 18.7% Asian, 2.4% White, 65.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1% | Black or African American, 10.8% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 21.1% Asian, 6.1% White, 56.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% |
| LGBT Percentage | 2% | 7% |