Automobile Mechanic

Featured Auto Mechanic Schools

Also Called: Automotive Technician

Job Description: Automobile Mechanics identify and fix problems that occur in all vehicles. Some repair jobs require only minor computerized adjustments, and others require getting one’s hands into the grease of a vehicle’s internal components. A technician must develop extensive technical and analytical skills in order to service the many different brands of cars and tackle the most diverse problems an automobile may have.

Working Environment: Most automobile mechanics work 40 hours a week at a repair shop, and many choose to supplement their income by doing extra repair jobs on nights and weekends as self-employed workers.

Automobile mechanics often work in high-tech repair shops where they use sophisticated software and sensors to get to the root of a car’s problems. A wide range of tools — everything from air wrenches to welding equipment to basic hand-tools — allow the mechanic to repair, replace, or readjust malfunctioning parts as needed.

Education and Training Requirements: Most automobile mechanics used to learn their trade through a three or four year apprenticeship at a repair shop. The technological progress in the automotive field, however, has made post-secondary training programs a necessary requirement. The best programs are usually taught at a vocational school or community college. At a vocational school, the training lasts between six months and one year. A community college, on the other hand, spreads the training over two years, because courses in other subjects are required. During this instruction, students typically alternate six or twelve weeks of classroom learning with six or twelve weeks of working hands-on at a dealership or training facility.

With two years of job experience, voluntary certification by the ASE (National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence) becomes an option. A year spent at technical school counts as a year of work experience. This national standard of achievement can be obtained in areas such as engines, drivetrain, brakes, suspension, body systems, and other areas. See the ASE section of this website for more details.

In addition, automobile manufacturers such as Porsche, BMW, Jaguar, and many others are now offering advanced programs that accept gifted graduates of certain training programs who wish to jumpstart their career. Schools such as Lincoln Tech offer manufacturer programs to qualified graduates of their regular automotive programs. Promotion to journey-level technician usually takes two to five years, but postsecondary training, and especially these advanced programs, can cut this time in half.

Salary Range:

* Entry Level Pay: $25,000-35,000
* Mid-Range Pay: $35,000-45,000
* Experienced Pay: $45,000-55,000
* Top Level Pay (Master Mechanic): $60,000-100,000

Job Outlook: Good to Excellent. Through the year 2010, employment in the automotive repair field is expected to increase about 10-20%. The ever-increasing number of cars on the roads ensures the need for good mechanics, and job security will be good because the automotive repair business is little affected by general economic trends.

Schools Offering Automotive Mechanic Programs

Featured School
Universal Technical Institute (Multiple Campus Locations) - Automotive Technology, Automotive / Diesel and Industrial Technology, Ford FACT Technology, Collision Repair & Refinish Technology, Diesel/Industrial Technology, Automotive Technology w/SMOG (California Emissions), BWM FastTrack
Penn Foster Career School - Auto Body Repair Technician, Auto Detailer, Auto Repair Technician

Arizona
Universal Technical Institute (UTI) (Avondale) - Automotive & Diesel Technology w/ BMW FastTRACK, Automotive & Diesel Technology w/ Ford FACT, Automotive / Diesel & Industrial Technology, Automotive / Diesel Technology, Diesel / Industrial Technology, Diesel / Industrial Technology w/Cummins
Arizona Automotive Institute (Glendale) - Automotive / Autotronics, Automotive / Diesel Technology, Automotive / Shop Management (AAS Degree), Automotive Technology

California
Universal Technical Institute (UTI) (Rancho Cucamonga, Sacramento) - Automotive / Ford FACT Technology, Automotive Technology, Automotive Technology w/BMW FastTrack, Collision Repair & Refinish Technology, Automotive Technology, Automotive / Diesel & Industrial Technology
Wyotech (Fremont, Long Beach, West Sacramento) - Automotive technology, Chassis Fabrication and High Performance Engines, Collision/Refinishing Technology, Street Rod and Custom Fabrication, Trim and Upholstery

Colorado
Westwood College (Denver) - automotive technology
IntelliTec Colleges (Colorado Springs, Grand Junction) - automotive technician

Connecticut
Lincoln Technical Institute (Hamden, New Britain, Shelton, East Windsor) - Autobody Technician, Automotive Technician

Florida
ATI Career Training Center (Fort Lauderdale, Miami, Oakland Park) - automotive service technician
Wyotech (Daytona Beach) - BMW Motorcycle Mechanic, Ducati Motorcycle Mechanic, Harley-Davidson Motorcycle Mechanic, Honda Motorcycle Mechanic, Kawasaki Motorcycle Mechanic, Marine Mechanics, Suzuki Motorcycle Mechanic, Yamaha Motorcycle Mechanic
Lincoln Technical Institute (Fern Park, Seminole) - Autobody Technician, Automotive Technician

Illinois
Universal Technical Institute (UTI) (Glendale Heights) - Automotive & Diesel Technology w/ Ford FACT or Toyota TPAT, Automotive / Diesel & Industrial Technology w/ Ford FACT or Toyota TPAT, Automotive / Diesel and Industrial Technology, Automotive Technology, Automotive / Diesel & Industrial Technology w/ International ITEP

Indiana

Maryland

Massachusetts
Universal Technical Institute (UTI) (Norwood) - Automotive Technology, Automotive / Diesel & Industrial Technology, Automotive / Diesel & Industrial Technology w/ Ford FACT, Diesel / Industrial Technology
Lincoln Technical Institute (Brockton, Lowell, Somerville) - Autobody Technician, Automotive Technician

New Jersey
Lincoln Technical Institute (Edison, Mahwah, Moorestown, Paramus, Union, South Plainfield) - Autobody Technician, Automotive Technician

New York
Lincoln Technical Institute (Queens) - Autobody Technician, Automotive Technician

North Carolina
NASCAR Technical Institute (Mooresville) - Automotive & NASCAR Technology, Automotive & Ford FACT Technology w/ NASCAR Engines I & II, Automotive & NASCAR Technology w/ Pit Crew, Automotive / NASCAR / Ford FACT Technology w/ Pit Crew, Automotive Technology w/ NASCAR Engines I & II

Pennsylvania
Universal Technical Institute (UTI) (Exton) - Automotive / Diesel & Industrial Technology w/ Ford FACT, Automotive / Diesel and Industrial Technology, Automotive / Ford FACT Technology, Automotive Technology, Diesel / Industrial Technology, Automotive / NASCAR / Ford FACT Technology, Automotive Technology w/ NASCAR Engines I & II + Pit Crew
New Castle School of Trades (Pulaski) automotive Technology
York Technical Institute (York) motorcycle technology
Lincoln Technical Institute (Allentown, Center City, Northeast Philadelphia, Philadelphia) - Autobody Technician, Automotive Technician

Rhode Island
Lincoln Technical Institute (Lincoln) - Autobody Technician, Automotive Technician

Tennessee
Nashville Auto-Diesel College (Nashville) auto body repair technology (diploma and Associate Degree), automotive and diesel technology (diploma and Associate Degree)

Texas
Universal Technical Institute (UTI) (Houston) - Automotive & Diesel Technology w/ Ford FACT, Automotive / Diesel & Industrial Technology w/ Ford FACT, Automotive / Diesel and Industrial Technology, Automotive / Diesel Technology, Automotive Technology, Collision Repair & Refinish Technology, Collision Repair & Refinish Technology w/ Toyota TPAT, Diesel / Industrial Technology
ATI Career Training Center (Garland, Stemmons, Houston, North Richland Hills) - automotive service technician

Virginia
Advanced Technology Institute (Virginia Beach) Automotive Technology I, Automotive/Diesel Technology, Ford Motor Co. MLR Training