Perhaps due to the financial difficulties of the last few years, when choosing a career, people no longer focus on the moral satisfactions they can obtain, and only pay attention to the financial rewards – for example, an aspiring auto mechanic no longer cares about the pleasure of fixing engines and hearing them purr, but about the ever increasing auto mechanic salary. Are the salaries high enough to make it worth discovering how to become a mechanic? Let’s find out!
Typical Auto Mechanic Salary
The automotive technician salary usually varies between $30,000 and $60,000 a year. The actual value is directly proportional with one’s experience, skills and number of working hours. For example, the starting auto mechanic salary rarely exceeds $30,000, and usually involves lower end jobs, like changing oil, changing tires, or other light works. Of course, the salary may vary from one company to another, from one state to another, or more importantly, based on one’s training level. In some cases, the basic salary is substantially increased with bonuses. Another factor influencing one’s compensation is specialization: for example, the Diesel mechanic salary is usually higher than the regular automotive technician salary.
As far as the job requirements are concerned, they can vary greatly from shop to shop, and they constantly change. In order to keep up with the latest car models and associated technologies mechanics are constantly learning as they go. The days of the shade tree or back yard mechanics are long gone, the career is beginning to have more in common with IT than with old school grease monkey mechanics.
The work schedule is around 40 hours a week or more, often including Saturdays or Sundays. The best job opportunities come from auto dealerships with the automotive tech salary they offer usually reaching towards the higher end. Repair shops and tire shops tends to pay towards the lower end of the salary structure and tend to have higher turnover.
The work conditions are not among the greatest, and even when the work takes place indoors, rarely is air conditioning provided. Dirt and grease are also part of the everyday routine, so plan on coming home filthy and ready for a shower. From this point of view, the healthy auto mechanic salary may not represent a sufficient motivation for people who don’t like repairing cars, working with oils, and getting dirty, but for someone who has the “bug”, it is a chance to turn a hobby into a career. Besides, all people need to have their cars repaired sooner or later. Mechanics get to repair theirs for free and to save money doing something they like.
Becoming a Certified Auto Mechanic
A decade ago, you could still get a job as a mechanic with a little ambition and a garage owner willing to give you a chance. As time went by and the industry grew stronger and smarter, new requirements began to be associated with the job. Today employers are more and more reluctant to hire someone with little or no skills, and they all require proof of formal training. The A.S.E. Certification is usually the most valued, the most difficult to obtain, but also the one that can give access to the highest auto mechanic salary levels. There are several national schools that offer training programs that can help you earn your A.S.E. Certification to pave your path to a rewarding new career and becoming an auto mechanic and earning a terrific auto mechanic salary!
For More Info on a Career as an Auto Mechanic Check Out These Great Schools!
Get a hands-on education at Lincoln College of Technology. Designed for today’s tough job market, our in-depth programs cover many fields including: Health Sciences, Business and Information Technology, Hospitality, Automotive Technology, HVAC Technology and Electrical Systems Technology. Financial Aid is available for those who qualify. Programs vary by campus
Programs:
- Automotive Technology
Programs:
- Auto Repair Technician
- Diesel Mechanics
- Motorcycle Repair Technician
- And more...
Programs:
- Auto Mechanics
- Small Engine Repair
Get a hands-on education at Lincoln College of Technology. Designed for today’s tough job market, our in-depth programs cover many fields including: Health Sciences, Business and Information Technology, Hospitality, Automotive Technology, HVAC Technology and Electrical Systems Technology.
Financial Aid is available for those who qualify. Programs vary by campus
Programs:
- Coursework - Automotive Technician
Programs:
- Auto Mechanics
- Motorcycle Mechanics
Programs:
- Automotive Technology - Diploma
- Diesel/Heavy Vehicle Technology - Associate's
- Diesel/Heavy Vehicle Technology - Diploma
- And more...