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Career profile · Skilled trades

Automotive Technician

Pay, outlook, entry requirements and what the work is like.

O*NET-SOC 49-3023.00Automotive Service TechnicianLocal occupation match
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United States facts

Pay, opportunity and entry

United States figures: BLS OEWS May 2025 and 2024–34 employment projections.

Median annual earnings$49,670May 2025 / 2024–2034
Median annual earnings$49,670May 2025 / 2024–2034
Projected growth4%May 2025 / 2024–2034
Annual openings70KMay 2025 / 2024–2034
Typical educationPostsecondary nondegree awardMay 2025 / 2024–2034
Training / credentialIndustry certification valuedMay 2025 / 2024–2034

Missing, suppressed and stale facts are never replaced with another country’s values. Annualised figures and benchmarks are identified in their labels and source notes.

Work characteristics

What the work is like

Occupation percentiles, not ratings. Work signals are native O*NET occupation percentiles.

Social interaction45
contact, teamwork and public-facing work
Physical demand80
movement, posture and hands-on activity
Pressure exposure62
time pressure, conflict and consequences
Analytical content60
analysis, reasoning and problem-solving
People-oriented40
helping, service and relationship work
Technical content75
technology, systems and troubleshooting

Useful foundations

  • Diagnostics
  • Repairing
  • Electronic systems

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Choices worth considering

Technical fault-finding across building and vehicle systems.Automotive Technician vs ElectricianCompare these careers →Mechanical diagnostic careers across buildings and vehicles.Automotive Technician vs HVAC TechnicianCompare these careers →Metal fabrication versus vehicle diagnosis and repair.Automotive Technician vs WelderCompare these careers →Hands-on technical careers across construction and transport.Automotive Technician vs CarpenterCompare these careers →Diagnostic problem-solving in physical and digital systems.Automotive Technician vs Software DeveloperCompare these careers →

Career changes

Where this option could lead

See transferable strengths, qualification gaps and the realities of making each switch.

Technical fault-finding transferred across building and vehicle systems.Electrician → Automotive TechnicianView career change →A mechanical diagnostic move from vehicles toward building climate systems.Automotive Technician → HVAC TechnicianView career change →A high-change path from physical diagnostics into organisational information systems.Automotive Technician → Systems AnalystView career change →A high-change path connected by diagnostic problem-solving and technical systems.Automotive Technician → Software DeveloperView career change →

Explore another career

Electrician→Plumber→HVAC Technician→Welder→

Other countries

Sources and dates

What this profile uses

See the complete data-source register and OccupationHQ methodology.