Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between service writers and mechanics can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 6-12 months to become a service writer, becoming a mechanic takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a mechanic has an average salary of $47,149, which is higher than the $39,016 average annual salary of a service writer.
The top three skills for a service writer include customer service, repair orders and warranty claims. The most important skills for a mechanic are hand tools, preventive maintenance, and customer service.
| Service Writer | Mechanic | |
| Yearly salary | $39,016 | $47,149 |
| Hourly rate | $18.76 | $22.67 |
| Growth rate | -4% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 163,441 | 100,534 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4.25 |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 33% | High School Diploma, 42% |
| Average age | 40 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 2 |
A service writer is an employee who acts as an informative middleman between a business owner and its customers in the automotive sector. To develop this relationship, service writers must provide successful management of product or service delivery to their customers. Service writers must correctly manage their scheduled appointments to avoid overwhelming their mechanics with incoming vehicular repairs while monitoring the service progress to avoid delivery delays. They must also know how to encode customer profile information into the computer system.
Mechanics are professionals responsible for assembling, maintaining, and repairing vehicles and types of machinery. They are knowledgeable of various tools and equipment, machinery, electrical systems, and other components. They can usually be seen indoors, garages in particular. Due to the advancement of technology, they are also required to be familiar with computer and software programs that can be used in auto shops and vehicles. They always work in safety precautions.
Service writers and mechanics have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Service Writer | Mechanic | |
| Average salary | $39,016 | $47,149 |
| Salary range | Between $24,000 And $61,000 | Between $35,000 And $63,000 |
| Highest paying City | College Park, MD | San Jose, CA |
| Highest paying state | Maryland | Connecticut |
| Best paying company | American Institute of Physics | Anheuser-Busch |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between a service writer and a mechanic in terms of educational background:
| Service Writer | Mechanic | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 33% | High School Diploma, 42% |
| Most common major | Business | Automotive Technology |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between service writers' and mechanics' demographics:
| Service Writer | Mechanic | |
| Average age | 40 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 62.7% Female, 37.3% | Male, 95.7% Female, 4.3% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 10.6% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 18.4% Asian, 5.8% White, 59.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% | Black or African American, 8.5% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 17.1% Asian, 2.4% White, 65.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 7% | 2% |