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Automotive Technician

Diagnose and repair cars and light trucks, increasingly with computer diagnostics.

What it pays in the U.S.

Diagnose, adjust, repair, or overhaul automotive vehicles.

Median pay (national)$50,620about $24.34 an hour
Typical range$34,660 – $81,790lowest to highest tenth of earners
Usual way inPostsecondary certificatethen less than 1 month on-the-job training

Wage figures are 2025 survey data for United States, shown nationally because no state figure was reported. They describe what people in this job earn now, not what any one person will be offered.

Demand in United States

Employment is projected to change 4% between 2024 and 2034. About 70,000 openings are projected each year.

What the work actually is

  • Disassemble units and inspect parts for wear, using micrometers, calipers, and gauges.
  • Install, adjust, or repair hydraulic or electromagnetic automatic lift mechanisms used to raise and lower automobile windows, seats, and tops.
  • Test and adjust repaired systems to meet manufacturers' performance specifications.
  • Install, adjust, or repair hydraulic or electromagnetic automatic lift mechanisms used to raise and lower automobile windows, seats, and tops.
  • Repair or replace parts such as pistons, rods, gears, valves, and bearings.
  • Troubleshoot fuel, ignition, and emissions control systems, using electronic testing equipment.

Read the full Occupational Outlook Handbook entry from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Licensing, by state

Licensing is set by each state, so there is no national answer. Choose a state above to see which licenses it requires for this career, or look one up with the CareerOneStop License Finder.

Certifications employers recognize

These are national certifications, issued by industry bodies rather than a state. Most are optional, but they are how you prove skill to an employer.

Apprenticeships, by state

Registered apprenticeships pay you while you train. Each state runs its own registration office, which is where to start when you want to find an open program.

Choose a state above to see the offices that register apprenticeships there.

Search open programs directly at apprenticeship.gov.

Now find the schools.

4Thought101 tracks the programs that train for this, their deadlines, and what you owe when. This page stays free whether you sign up or not.

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