Auto mechanic career

What auto mechanics do

• Follow checklists to ensure all important parts are examined, including belts, hoses, steering systems, spark plugs, brake and fuel systems, wheel bearings, and other potentially troublesome areas.
• Test and adjust repaired systems to meet manufacturers' performance specifications.
• Perform routine and scheduled maintenance services, such as oil changes, lubrications, and tune-ups.
• Inspect vehicles for damage and record findings so that necessary repairs can be made.
• Repair, reline, replace, and adjust brakes.
• Align wheels, axles, frames, torsion bars, and steering mechanisms of automobiles, using special alignment equipment and wheel-balancing machines.
• Repair, replace, or adjust defective fuel injectors, carburetor parts, and gasoline filters.
• Align vehicles' front ends.

The most important tasks, as rated by workers in the occupation. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.

Job outlook

BLS projects auto mechanic jobs will grow 5% from 2025 to 2035, faster than the 3.5% for all U.S. jobs, with about 66,200 openings a year as people join, retire, and change careers.

Jobs in 2025

825,800

Projected for 2035

866,700

Openings a year

66,200

Self-employed

14.6%

Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035. Job counts include self-employed workers.

Training

Typical education to start

Postsecondary nondegree award

Experience in a related job

None

Typical on-the-job training

Short-term on-the-job training

Source: BLS Employment Projections. Licensing rules vary by state; confirm with your state's licensing board.

Top-paying states

All 50 states and DC, ranked by auto mechanic pay

Top-paying metro areas

The top 20 metro areas for auto mechanic pay

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