Automotive service technician
Automotive service technicians and mechanics inspect, maintain, and repair cars and light trucks.
What the job is
- The work
- Automotive service technicians and mechanics inspect, maintain, and repair cars and light trucks.
BLS
Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics — Summary (Quick Facts)U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OOH)- Checked
- 20 Oct 2026
- How people get in
- Auto technicians usually complete a certificate or associate degree program in automotive service technology, then work toward voluntary ASE certification, which needs documented work experience and a test per area.
- Good fit for
- Students who want to diagnose and repair cars and light trucks.
- Career cluster
- Supply Chain & Transportation
- Paying for it
- File the FAFSA (opens by October 1) for grants, work-study and federal loans; a Pell Grant pays up to $7,395 a year (2026–27). Average public four-year tuition and fees: $11,950 in-state vs $31,880 out-of-state (2025–26). Residency rules and regional discounts · Save with 2+2 transfer
- Your state
-
StateChoose a state
- AlabamaState guide
- AlaskaState guide
- ArizonaState guide
- ArkansasState guide
- CaliforniaLicense rules
- ColoradoState guide
- ConnecticutState guide
- DelawareState guide
- District of ColumbiaState guide
- FloridaState guide
- GeorgiaState guide
- HawaiiState guide
- IdahoState guide
- IllinoisState guide
- IndianaState guide
- IowaState guide
- KansasState guide
- KentuckyState guide
- LouisianaState guide
- MaineState guide
- MarylandState guide
- MassachusettsState guide
- MichiganLicense rules
- MinnesotaState guide
- MississippiState guide
- MissouriState guide
- MontanaState guide
- NebraskaState guide
- NevadaState guide
- New HampshireState guide
- New JerseyState guide
- New MexicoState guide
- New YorkState guide
- North CarolinaState guide
- North DakotaState guide
- OhioState guide
- OklahomaState guide
- OregonState guide
- PennsylvaniaState guide
- Rhode IslandState guide
- South CarolinaState guide
- South DakotaState guide
- TennesseeState guide
- TexasState guide
- UtahState guide
- VermontState guide
- VirginiaState guide
- WashingtonState guide
- West VirginiaState guide
- WisconsinState guide
- WyomingState guide
Key numbers
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, pay for May 2025.
- Median pay
- $50,620 a year ($24.34 an hour)
BLS
Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics — Summary (Quick Facts)U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OOH)- Checked
- 20 Oct 2026
- Jobs in 2025
- 825,800
- Typical entry
- Postsecondary nondegree award
- Training after hire
- Short-term on-the-job training
Job outlook, 2025–35
- Projected growth
- +5%, which BLS calls "faster than average"
BLS
Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics — Summary (Quick Facts)U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OOH)- Checked
- 20 Oct 2026
- Jobs added
- +40,900 over 2025–35
- All U.S. jobs
- 3.5% over the same period, for comparison
Tools overview
BLS does not publish what a starter tool set costs. Ask the school or apprenticeship sponsor which tools you must buy before you enrol.
- Technicians typically own their common hand tools; power tools usually belong to the employer.
BLS
Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics — What They DoU.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OOH)- Checked
- 20 Oct 2026
Step-by-step roadmap
The routes, step by step, the national certifications and the state licensing rules are on one page.
Automotive service technician: training to ASE Master
See the roadmap
Route 1: Program, experience, ASE tests · Route 2: Apprenticeship
Every number links to the BLS page it came from, checked 20 Oct 2026. Education Margdarshan does not recommend paid courses. All trades