Automotive Technician
Impact: Ensuring vehicle safety and reliability, customer satisfaction
Diagnose, adjust, repair, or overhaul automotive vehicles, ensuring they run safely and efficiently.
What the day looks like
- People interaction
- Moderate
- Team vs solo
- 60% Team / 40% Solo
- Client facing
- Sometimes
- Impact visibility
- High
- Travel
- Minimal
- Schedule flexibility
- Structured
- Remote work
- On-site Only
- Typical work hours
- 40-50 hours/week
- Stress level
- Moderate
At a glance
- Median salary
- $65,000
- Entry-level
- $45,000 - $55,000
- Senior
- $80,000 - $100,000+
- Growth by 2033
- 4% (as fast as average)
- Demand
- Stable
- Freelance potential
- Moderate
- Salary growth potential
- High to 60-80% growth from entry to senior
- Typical student debt
- $10,000 - $20,000
Skills you'll use
Hard skills
- Vehicle Diagnostics
- Engine Repair
- Brake Systems
- Electrical Systems
- HVAC Systems
- Suspension Repair
Soft skills
- Problem Solving
- Active Listening
- Critical Thinking
- Time Management
- Communication
- Attention to Detail
Technical complexity: High
How to get there
- Minimum education
- Postsecondary nondegree award
- Licensing
- Varies by State
- Years to mid-career
- 3-5 years
- Years to senior
- 7-10 years
- Career switching
- Moderate
Where this career leads
How people arrive here
Where you can go from here
Typical progression
- Entry-Level Technician
- Certified Technician
- Master Technician
- Shop Foreman/Service Manager
Future outlook
- Automation probability
- 18% to some tasks can be automated, but diagnostic and complex repair requires human expertise.
- AI disruption risk
- Low
- Demand trend
- Stable
How people feel about it
- Overall satisfaction
- 3.2/10
- Meaning
- 3.5/10
- Work-life balance
- 3/10
- Prestige
- 5.5/10
- Social perception
- Moderate