How to Become an Auto Mechanic

What an Auto Mechanic Does

BLS describes automotive service technicians and mechanics as workers who inspect, maintain and repair cars and light trucks. The day is a mix of diagnosis and repair: finding the problem, often with computerized diagnostic equipment, testing parts and systems, and then repairing or replacing what is worn.

Routine care is part of the job too, including oil changes, fluid checks and tire rotation, along with documenting the repair, the parts used, the hours worked and the condition of the vehicle, and explaining problems and repairs to the customer. Traditional mechanical systems such as engines, transmissions and drive belts are still central, but technicians also need to be familiar with electronic systems and sensors, such as those used for braking, transmission and accident avoidance.

Some technicians focus on electric vehicles. BLS says they perform routine maintenance and identify issues related to battery performance, regenerative braking systems and electric motor efficiency.

• Identify problems, often with computerized diagnostic equipment
• Repair or replace worn parts such as brake pads, wheel bearings and sensors
• Perform basic care, including oil changes, fluid checks and tire rotation
• Document repairs and explain them to clients

Work Environment and Tools

BLS says service technicians usually work in well-ventilated and well-lit repair shops, and that they commonly work with greasy parts and tools, sometimes in uncomfortable positions. Most work full time, which may include evenings or weekends.

Employers usually own the larger tools, such as computerized diagnostic tools, pneumatic wrenches, welding torches and hoists. Technicians typically buy their own common hand tools, such as wrenches, pliers and sockets.

Training Paths

How to become a mechanic depends on the route a person takes, and this section sets out the training the Bureau of Labor Statistics describes.

BLS says automotive service technicians typically complete a program in automotive service technology or a related field, though some workers enter with a high school diploma and learn on the job. High schools, community colleges and technical institutes offer these programs, which combine classroom instruction with hands-on practice and may result in a certificate or an associate degree.

Graduates of automotive service technology programs may need a relatively short period of on-the-job training afterward, according to BLS. Some workers instead complete an apprenticeship, which usually combines paid on-the-job training with technical instruction.

Manufacturer-sponsored programs are a third route. ASE lists Ford ASSET, Toyota T-TEN, Honda PACT, GM ASEP, Chrysler CAP, Mercedes-Benz DRIVE and BMW ADP as examples of ASE-accredited OEM-sponsored co-op programs, in which the student takes part in a hands-on work experience portion alongside the classroom.

Accredited Programs That Train for This Job

The school route to this job runs through accredited programs, and these ranked lists compare them.

• Auto Mechanic Schools ASE accredited automotive programs, ranked nationally 415
• Automotive Associate Degrees Ranked automotive programs that award an associate degree 280
• Manufacturer-Sponsored Programs Accredited programs with a manufacturer training partnership 120
• Cheapest Mechanic Schools Accredited schools by published tuition and fees, lowest first 497

ASE Certification for Auto Mechanics

ASE, the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence, certifies individuals. It is an independent nonprofit that assesses and certifies current and future industry professionals, and a certification belongs to a person, not to a school or a program.

To become ASE certified, a technician passes an ASE test and has relevant hands-on work experience. For the A1 through A9 automobile and light truck tests the requirement is two years of full-time experience, or the part-time equivalent. ASE credits completion of an ASE-accredited automobile program as one year of that experience, and completion of an ASE-accredited OEM-sponsored co-op program as both years. A student can take tests before meeting the experience requirement and receive a score report, but certification follows only once the experience is met.

A technician certified in tests A1 through A8 is recognized as an ASE Certified Master Automobile Technician. Certifications are valid for five years and are renewed by passing a recertification test. The ASE Education Foundation, a separate body, accredits programs; that accreditation is the entry bar for the programs ranked on this site.

BLS notes that employers may require or prefer certified technicians, that some pay for certification, and that certification demonstrates competence and may bring higher pay.

EPA Section 609 Certification

Anyone who repairs or services a motor vehicle air conditioning system for payment must be trained and certified under section 609 of the Clean Air Act by an EPA-approved program. BLS makes the same point for refrigerants generally: technicians who buy or work with them must be certified in proper handling, and many trade schools, unions and employer associations offer training for the exam.

ASE runs one of the EPA-approved 609 programs. Its lifetime certificate counts only as an EPA certification and is not equivalent to ASE technical certification.

Auto Mechanic Pay

BLS reports a May 2025 median of $50,620 a year for automotive service technicians and mechanics (SOC 49-3023). The lowest-paid tenth earned under $34,660 and the highest-paid tenth over $81,790. Percentiles are points in the wage distribution, not stages of a career, and OEWS counts wage and salary jobs only.

Among states with at least 500 jobs in the occupation, the highest medians are in California ($64,980) , Colorado ($61,280) , and Alaska ($60,840) .

The auto mechanic salary page has the full state and metro tables, and the salary hub compares all five trades.

Job Outlook

BLS projects employment of automotive service technicians and mechanics to grow 5 percent from 2025 to 2035, faster than the average for all occupations, with about 66,200 openings a year. BLS adds that the number of vehicles in use is expected to keep rising through the projection decade, and that service technicians will be needed to maintain and repair them.

Related Pages

• Auto Mechanic SalaryMedian $50,620, BLS May 2025
• Diesel Mechanic CareerRepairs and overhauls buses, trucks and other diesel vehicles. Median $61,770, BLS May 2025.
• Aircraft Mechanic CareerDiagnoses and repairs aircraft, with an FAA A&P certificate. Median $79,870, BLS May 2025.
• Collision Repair Technician CareerRestores damaged vehicle bodies and frames and refinishes them. Median $54,890, BLS May 2025.
• Heavy Equipment Mechanic CareerRepairs construction, farm and rail equipment. Median $65,510, BLS May 2025.