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How to become an auto mechanic
Auto technicians typically complete a program in automotive service technology or a related field; some enter the occupation with a high school diploma and learn on the job, and certification may be required. Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics earned a median $50,620 a year in May 2025, and BLS projects 5% growth in the job count from 2025 to 2035, with about 66,200 openings a year. Typical entry education: postsecondary nondegree award.
The steps
- Take an automotive service technology program. High schools, community colleges and technical institutes offer programs that usually combine classroom instruction with hands-on practice and may end in a certificate or an associate's degree. Some are sponsored by automobile manufacturers or dealers and focus on one type of vehicle; others may focus on a subject such as brake maintenance or engine performance.
BLS wording
“High schools, community colleges, and technical institutes offer programs in automotive service technology and related fields. These programs usually provide intensive career preparation through classroom instruction and hands-on practice, and they may result in earning a certificate or an associate's degree. Some programs are sponsored by automobile manufacturers or dealers and focus on repairing a specific type of vehicle; others may focus on a particular subject, such as brake maintenance or engine performance.”
- Train on the job. Technicians typically get at least some on-the-job training, and the amount varies. Program graduates may need a relatively short period; those without a program usually train longer and may start as trainee technicians, technicians' helpers or lubrication workers.
BLS wording
“Automotive service technicians and mechanics typically receive at least some training on the job. The amount of training can vary. Those who have graduated from automotive service technology programs may require a relatively short period of on-the-job training. Workers who enter the occupation without having completed a program in automotive service technology usually require longer training periods. These workers may start as trainee technicians, technicians' helpers, or lubrication workers.”
- Get EPA refrigerant certification if you buy or work with refrigerants. The EPA requires every technician who buys or works with refrigerants to be certified in proper refrigerant handling. No formal test preparation is required, but many trade schools, unions and employer associations offer training for the exam.
BLS wording
“The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requires all technicians who buy or work with refrigerants to be certified in proper refrigerant handling. No formal test preparation is required, but many trade schools, unions, and employer associations offer training programs designed for the EPA exam.”
- Earn industry certification where employers want it. Employers may require or prefer that technicians become certified, some pay for it, and certification may bring higher pay. Specialty areas include automatic transmission/transaxle, brakes, and electrical/electronic systems. To become certified, technicians typically need previous experience and must pass an exam.
BLS wording
“Employers may require or prefer that their service technicians become certified, and some employers will pay for their workers to earn relevant certifications. Having industry certifications demonstrates competence and may bring higher pay. There are multiple automobile specialty areas for certification, such as automatic transmission/transaxle, brakes, and electrical/electronic systems. To become certified, technicians typically must have previous experience and must pass an exam.”
Steps follow the Occupational Outlook Handbook: Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics, read 2026-09-23.
How long it takes
The Handbook gives no length. Technicians typically complete a program in automotive service technology or a related field, which may end in a certificate or an associate's degree, and the amount of on-the-job training can vary: program graduates may need a relatively short period, and workers who enter without completing a program usually need longer.
What it costs
No state license fee is sourced here for auto mechanics. Some employers pay for their technicians' certifications.
License requirements by state
Do you need a license? The Handbook names no license for auto technicians. The EPA requires technicians who buy or work with refrigerants to be certified in proper refrigerant handling, and employers may require or prefer that their technicians become certified. No state licensing records are sourced here for auto mechanics; the 51 state pages carry pay and employment.
Apprenticeships
Some workers may complete an apprenticeship program, which usually combines paid on-the-job training with technical instruction. The federal Apprenticeship Finder searches apprenticeship openings by occupation and by city, state or ZIP code. Apprenticeship Finder →
BLS wording
“Some workers may complete an apprenticeship program, which usually combines paid on-the-job training with technical instruction.”
U.S. Department of Labor records list 4,074 registered apprentices active across the 50 states and DC in fiscal year 2024 under the occupation titles DOL maps to automotive service technicians and mechanics; the state pages give each state's count and, where enough apprentices carry a wage DOL counts, the median starting and completing wages (how they are counted). Apprentice counts and wages in every state → · what those wages come to at your hours a week →
What auto mechanics earn, by state
Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics (SOC 49-3023) earned a national median of $50,620 a year in May 2025, $24.34 an hour, with 704,640 employed. District of Columbia paid the most, $68,660, 36% above the national median.
Top five by median annual wage: District of Columbia ($68,660), California ($64,980), Colorado ($61,280), Alaska ($60,840), Massachusetts ($60,760). Lowest five: West Virginia ($37,660), Mississippi ($37,820), Arkansas ($44,160), Kentucky ($44,890), Alabama ($45,640).
| # | State | Median annual | Median hourly | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employed | Per 1,000 jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | $68,660 | $33.01 | $46,230 | $89,960 | 310 | 0.4 |
| 2 | California | $64,980 | $31.24 | $38,180 | $95,280 | 65,420 | 3.6 |
| 3 | Colorado | $61,280 | $29.46 | $39,550 | $93,830 | 12,300 | 4.3 |
| 4 | Alaska | $60,840 | $29.25 | $44,060 | $94,600 | 1,420 | 4.4 |
| 5 | Massachusetts | $60,760 | $29.21 | $38,370 | $95,090 | 12,710 | 3.5 |
| 6 | Connecticut | $60,220 | $28.95 | $38,430 | $79,930 | 6,960 | 4.1 |
| 7 | Virginia | $59,330 | $28.53 | $36,540 | $92,570 | 17,880 | 4.4 |
| 8 | New Hampshire | $59,020 | $28.38 | $38,310 | $82,250 | 4,840 | 7.1 |
| 9 | Montana | $58,740 | $28.24 | $38,170 | $78,460 | 2,900 | 5.7 |
| 10 | Oregon | $58,520 | $28.14 | $39,590 | $92,090 | 6,990 | 3.6 |
| 11 | Delaware | $58,410 | $28.08 | $36,700 | $82,280 | 1,910 | 3.9 |
| 12 | Minnesota | $58,390 | $28.07 | $38,310 | $83,180 | 11,980 | 4.1 |
| 13 | Maryland | $57,520 | $27.66 | $35,940 | $84,420 | 14,230 | 5.2 |
| 14 | North Dakota | $57,360 | $27.58 | $37,610 | $83,860 | 2,140 | 5.0 |
| 15 | Washington | $57,270 | $27.54 | $39,470 | $95,620 | 12,930 | 3.6 |
| 16 | New Jersey | $56,610 | $27.22 | $33,500 | $91,210 | 17,640 | 4.1 |
| 17 | Wisconsin | $54,350 | $26.13 | $36,590 | $78,140 | 12,270 | 4.2 |
| 18 | Michigan | $54,120 | $26.02 | $36,110 | $79,060 | 22,280 | 5.1 |
| 18 | New York | $54,120 | $26.02 | $35,470 | $91,490 | 32,020 | 3.3 |
| 20 | Hawaii | $52,160 | $25.08 | $36,360 | $79,090 | 2,710 | 4.3 |
| 21 | Maine | $52,040 | $25.02 | $38,420 | $74,650 | 3,390 | 5.3 |
| 22 | Rhode Island | $51,770 | $24.89 | $31,860 | $80,780 | 2,530 | 5.0 |
| 23 | Vermont | $51,630 | $24.82 | $40,500 | $78,690 | 1,610 | 5.3 |
| 24 | Wyoming | $51,330 | $24.68 | $34,200 | $79,470 | 1,560 | 5.5 |
| 25 | South Dakota | $51,160 | $24.60 | $38,670 | $80,500 | 2,010 | 4.4 |
| 26 | Nebraska | $50,560 | $24.31 | $36,770 | $79,990 | 4,560 | 4.5 |
| 27 | Iowa | $50,510 | $24.28 | $36,100 | $77,400 | 7,610 | 4.9 |
| 28 | Tennessee | $50,290 | $24.18 | $34,820 | $79,930 | 16,210 | 4.9 |
| 29 | Pennsylvania | $49,800 | $23.94 | $35,600 | $77,630 | 29,400 | 4.8 |
| 30 | Arizona | $49,570 | $23.83 | $34,660 | $79,330 | 16,400 | 5.1 |
| 31 | Indiana | $49,360 | $23.73 | $35,800 | $78,580 | 16,480 | 5.1 |
| 32 | Illinois | $49,170 | $23.64 | $34,190 | $91,200 | 29,510 | 4.8 |
| 33 | Missouri | $49,160 | $23.63 | $34,950 | $76,870 | 17,210 | 5.9 |
| 34 | Georgia | $49,060 | $23.59 | $33,580 | $84,360 | 22,070 | 4.5 |
| 35 | Ohio | $48,710 | $23.42 | $34,110 | $79,690 | 22,640 | 4.1 |
| 36 | Idaho | $48,420 | $23.28 | $34,570 | $77,710 | 5,030 | 5.9 |
| 37 | Texas | $48,310 | $23.23 | $29,360 | $81,720 | 69,750 | 5.0 |
| 38 | Nevada | $48,290 | $23.22 | $33,500 | $81,180 | 7,420 | 4.8 |
| 39 | Florida | $48,260 | $23.20 | $31,970 | $79,180 | 49,930 | 5.0 |
| 40 | North Carolina | $48,200 | $23.17 | $31,500 | $79,610 | 26,510 | 5.4 |
| 41 | South Carolina | $48,100 | $23.12 | $31,200 | $78,030 | 13,420 | 5.8 |
| 42 | Kansas | $47,790 | $22.98 | $31,970 | $77,340 | 6,240 | 4.3 |
| 43 | New Mexico | $47,300 | $22.74 | $30,390 | $77,850 | 5,080 | 5.8 |
| 44 | Utah | $46,570 | $22.39 | $30,460 | $77,320 | 9,350 | 5.4 |
| 45 | Oklahoma | $46,560 | $22.38 | $29,410 | $81,480 | 8,870 | 5.2 |
| 46 | Louisiana | $46,400 | $22.31 | $30,230 | $77,790 | 8,620 | 4.5 |
| 47 | Alabama | $45,640 | $21.94 | $31,030 | $79,230 | 9,040 | 4.3 |
| 48 | Kentucky | $44,890 | $21.58 | $30,210 | $73,910 | 11,140 | 5.6 |
| 49 | Arkansas | $44,160 | $21.23 | $30,320 | $75,600 | 7,310 | 5.6 |
| 50 | Mississippi | $37,820 | $18.18 | $28,650 | $74,000 | 7,410 | 6.4 |
| 51 | West Virginia | $37,660 | $18.11 | $28,270 | $65,520 | 4,490 | 6.4 |
"Per 1,000 jobs" is how concentrated the trade is in that state's workforce. A state can pay well and still have few openings; the employment column and this one together say how much of a market there is.
As files: pay by state (CSV) · pay by metro area (CSV) · all files and how to credit them.
Job outlook, 2025 to 2035
BLS projects 5% growth in employment from 2025 to 2035 (825,800 to 866,700 jobs) and about 66,200 openings a year over the decade, counting growth and replacement.
| Figure | 2025 | 2035 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Employment | 825,800 | 866,700 | +40,900 (5%) |
| Openings a year, average | 66,200 | ||
| Typical entry education | Postsecondary nondegree award | ||
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program, Table 1.2 Occupational projections, 2025–35, and worker characteristics, 2025, retrieved 2026-10-03. Openings count growth plus the workers who leave the occupation.
Common questions
How long does it take to become an auto mechanic?
The Handbook gives no length. Technicians typically complete a program in automotive service technology or a related field, which may end in a certificate or an associate's degree, and the amount of on-the-job training can vary: program graduates may need a relatively short period, and workers who enter without completing a program usually need longer.
How much does it cost to become an auto mechanic?
No state license fee is sourced here for auto mechanics. Some employers pay for their technicians' certifications.
Do you need a license to be an auto mechanic?
The Handbook names no license for auto technicians. The EPA requires technicians who buy or work with refrigerants to be certified in proper refrigerant handling, and employers may require or prefer that their technicians become certified.
How much do auto mechanics make?
Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics earned a median $50,620 a year in May 2025 ($24.34 an hour). The 10th to 90th percentile range is $34,660 to $81,790; District of Columbia pays the most at $68,660.
What is the job outlook for auto mechanics?
BLS projects 5% growth in employment from 2025 to 2035 (825,800 to 866,700 jobs) and about 66,200 openings a year over the decade, counting growth and replacement.
Sources
- Occupational Outlook Handbook: Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics, read 2026-09-23: the steps, training length and licensing pattern.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates, retrieved 2026-10-03: every wage and employment figure. How the numbers are built.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program, Table 1.2, retrieved 2026-10-03: growth, openings and entry education.