Auto Technician
Repair and maintenance
Vehicles still need physical diagnosis, repair, inspection, and customer trust, even as tools get smarter.
- BLS median pay
- $49,670 (May 2024)
- Job outlook
- 4% growth, 2024-34
- Training path
- Certificate or on-the-job, 6-24 months
- Entry education
- Postsecondary nondegree award
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- Physical demand
- High
- Category
- Repair and maintenance
- AI resilience
- Moderate
Why This Role Is More Resilient
This career has moderate AI resilience. Some aspects may be affected by automation over time, but physical presence, local trust, or licensing still provide meaningful protection.
Best For
Mechanical thinkers who like troubleshooting tangible systems.
Avoid If
You want clean, quiet work or dislike changing technology and tight labor times.
First Step to Research
Look into ASE-aligned programs, apprenticeships, and entry-level shop roles.
How to Start: First Jobs, Common Mistakes, and Fit
Distilled from how working people and job postings describe the entry path. Use it for direction, then verify licensing, pay, and program details locally.
First job titles to search
Entry roles often aren't posted under "Auto Technician." Search and apply under these titles too:
- Lube technician
- Express technician
- Apprentice auto technician
- Automotive technician trainee
- Tire technician
- Fleet maintenance helper
- Service technician
Common beginner mistakes to avoid
- Searching only "Auto Technician" and missing the real beginner titles: Lube technician, Express technician, Apprentice auto technician, Automotive technician trainee.
- Paying for training before verifying local employer demand and official eligibility.
- Assuming national wage data equals local first-year pay.
- Buying tools, products, equipment, or supplies before receiving a real list.
- Ignoring schedule, commute, physical strain, and first-setting realities.
Signs this could be a good fit
- You like diagnostics and mechanical/electrical systems.
- You can tolerate dirty work, tools, callbacks, and customer pressure.
- You can learn from repeated failures without taking them personally.
- You can manage tool spending carefully.
Warning signs it may not be
- You want high pay before developing diagnostic skill.
- You cannot manage tool costs.
- The first employer offers little supervision.
- Flat-rate/commission pressure would make you miserable.
What This Pays in Your State
Auto Technician salary & licensing by state
Real state and metro wages, license steps, and where to train as an auto technician in every state we cover:
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Sources and Verification
Pay, education, training, and outlook data sourced from Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook: Automotive service technicians and mechanics. Verified 2026-06-09. Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) 49-3023 / Occupational Information Network (O*NET) 49-3023.00.
View BLS Occupational Outlook · View O*NET Profile
National median pay is a starting point only. State licensing, local wages, training costs, clinical placement rates, and local employer demand vary. Always verify with the Bureau of Labor Statistics, O*NET, state licensing boards, and local training providers before making a decision.