Is Auto Technician a Good Career Choice?

Things To Consider Before Pursuing a Career as an Auto Technician

You’re mechanically inclined, love cars, and are gung-ho on becoming an auto technician. Before jumping into an auto tech program or dealer apprenticeship, I’d like you to take a breath and read this article all the way through. It’ll help you understand the problems facing the auto repair industry, why so many techs are leaving the business, and why so few newcomers are choosing a career as an auto technician. I’ll start by discussing the staffing issues facing all the trades and take you on a deep dive into what’s going on in the auto repair business.

Some Perspective: All the skilled trades are short on workers

All the trades (carpenters, electricians, plumbers, HVAC, roofers, etc.) are grappling with a shortage of skilled workers, and the recruitment problems are mostly self-made. For centuries, the skilled trades have operated on a “guild” model, with self-imposed barriers to entry designed to keep the number of skilled tradespeople low to ensure higher wages. To get into the skilled trades, recruits needed a trade school education, a sponsor, a union membership, and an apprenticeship. Then, they would spend the next few years performing menial tasks like carrying their boss’s tools and job supplies, running errands, and enduring traditional industry hazing. Only then could they become a full-fledged member of the trade, allowed to work their craft and earn a decent wage.

The “guild” model worked when the supply of workers exceeded the demand. But times have changed, and so have high school grads. Today’s grads are willing to get an education, but they’re not willing to be treated poorly for years while getting paid a minimum wage. Why should they when they have more career options than ever before? They have job opportunities that require less schooling and even free on-the-job training. Many of these jobs offer higher starting wages, don’t require grunt work, and provide a better work-life balance and advancement opportunities.

The trades are just starting to recognize the need for change, but they’re moving slowly and kicking and screaming the entire way. No field represents the resistance to change more than the auto repair industry. Their reluctance to change makes them the poster child for out-of-date recruitment and employment practices.

Understanding the State Of The Auto Repair Industry

The pandemic exposed major problems in the auto repair industry that it had been ignoring for decades. As a result, the industry is now on the front end of an escalating crisis. Here’s what’s going on right now in the auto repair industry.

1) There’s a severe shortage of skilled technicians— Conservative estimates show that the industry is short by 67,800 qualified auto technicians, 80,000 collision technicians, and 170,000 diesel technicians. At first glance, that might appear to be a great reason to get into the field; there’s high demand and low supply. However, you owe it to yourself to investigate why there’s such a huge shortage.

2) Accelerated Retirements of Baby Boomer Technicians— Baby boomer auto techs are leaving the field at a much higher rate than expected. They cite job dissatisfaction as their main reason for leaving. The unfairness of the flat-rate pay system tops their list of grievances. Next, they cite low hourly pay, parts shortages that kill their productivity and reduce their pay, poor working conditions, rigid scheduling, poor work/life balance, a lack of advancement opportunities, and generous job offers from other industries. See some survey results here.

3) The Industry is Failing to Address The Challenges New Recruits Face— Becoming an auto tech takes time and money, and there must be a payback for all that hard work. As the system works now, the upfront investment is too high to justify the low payback, so many potential recruits take a pass on the auto repair industry. That has to change if the industry wants to restaff fully. Let’s break down some of the major challenges:

• The High Cost of Training— Community college auto technician programs cost $7,000 – $11,000, while private school auto tech programs cost as much as $40,000. It’s hard to justify that kind of investment when starting to make minimum wage for the first few years. Some car dealers offer manufacturer-subsidized tuition reimbursement programs, but they’re the outliers. Most dealers and independently owned shops don’t help auto techs with schooling costs.

• The Low Starting Pay — An entry-level tech starts as a lube tech, changing oil and fluids, tire rotations and repairs, and conducting vehicle inspections. The starting pay is $14-$16/hour. A lube tech needs to spend about $1,500-$2,000 in tools to perform the job, and they have to pay for the tools out of their own pocket.

Sure, lube techs can move up the ladder and make more money per hour as they gain experience, but performing more complicated repair work requires an even bigger investment in tools and diagnostic equipment. General auto techs invest an average of $15,000 in tools and tool chests, while the most advanced techs invest closer to $25,000 in hand, power, and high-end diagnostic tools.

A Professional grade toolbox for an auto technician can easily cost $2,000 – $4,500.

• The Flat Rate Pay System— In most shops, techs are paid on a flat rate system where a labor guide shows how long a job should take. The tech gets paid their hourly rate for only the time listed in the guide. If the tech finishes the job early, they still get paid the flat rate. However, if they run into problems and the job takes longer, they aren’t paid for that extra time. If they make a mistake and don’t fix it right the first time and the customer returns, they must fix it again for free.

The flat rate system rewards fast work. The best techs, the ones with the most advanced diagnostic skills and the fastest work abilities, can make as much as $120,000. But most don’t make nearly that much. Nationwide, the average U.S. auto tech makes around $59,000. That’s not a lot, especially considering the investment in education and tools.

It’s important to note here that the auto repair industry is the only industry that pays its technicians on a flat rate pay system. Sure, it works well for the shop because it reduces management oversight and eliminates risk. But surveys show that techs hate it, and it’s the #1 reason they leave the field.

Some shops are instituting a hybrid model of straight hourly pay with performance bonuses based on beating flat rate hours. But those are the outliers. Most shops aren’t budging off of flat-rate pay. In other words, the industry is losing technicians to other industries that offer a fairer payment system.

• Poor Working Conditions— Auto techs work in cold shops in winter and sweltering shops in summer. They get drenched in snow, rain, oil, and coolant. The floor is often wet and slippery. There are ways to improve working conditions, but most shops don’t care.

• Exposure to Hazardous Materials— Auto technicians are regularly exposed to hazardous substances such as used engine oils, transmission fluids, brake dust, and various cancer-causing cleaning chemicals. Prolonged exposure can lead to respiratory health issues, especially if proper safety precautions aren’t followed consistently. Shop owners routinely push back strongly against environmental regulations and discount the risks to their employees.

• Physically Demanding Work— Being an auto technician is tough on the body. They’re constantly on their feet, lifting heavy parts, bending over fenders, stooping, and stretching into awkward positions under the dash. Over time, this can take a serious toll on joints, back, and overall health.

• High Tool Costs— It makes sense that shops want to avoid the cost of providing tools for every tech. However, by shifting all the burden to the tech, the industry sets itself apart from its competitors. Other trades require some investment in hand and power tools (usually less than $700), but the contractor foots the bill for high-cost tools. Before considering a job in auto repair, candidates must consider the up-front cost of tools and the continuing costs. Auto education and tools are an investment, and like any investment, there has to be a payback, or it doesn’t make sense.

In this respect, the huge investment in tools is a losing proposition, especially compared to the much lower tool investments required in other industries.

The auto repair industry ignores this problem. It could provide each tech with a complete toolset, including a tool storage chest, charging the tech only for the cost of missing or abused tools.

• Constantly Advancing Technology— The technology in the auto industry is advancing at a dizzying pace. All auto systems now have some computerized operation. Hybrid and electric vehicles, advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS), and complex onboard computers mean you’ll constantly upgrade your knowledge and skill set.

Some shops offer paid training, but the majority don’t pay for additional training. Yet other high-tech industries routinely provide paid training and paid time off for training. It’s another example of where the industry shoots itself in the foot.

• Inconsistent Workload—Auto repair isn’t always steady work. Some seasons are busier than others, and there can be long stretches where business slows down. This inconsistency can make it difficult to maintain a stable income, especially if you’re working at a smaller shop. When you combine the disadvantages of the flat rate system with the workload inconsistency, you can’t blame techs for looking at other growing industries that offer a salary and steady work.

• Limited Career Advancement Opportunities— While there are some opportunities to move up the ladder, such as becoming a service writer or shop manager, the path isn’t always clear or easy. Many auto technicians find themselves stuck in the same position for years with no opportunity for growth or increased earning potential.

What The Auto Repair Industry Isn’t Doing to Correct the Problem

Rather than address the root problem of the technician shortage by making the industry more attractive to newcomers, most dealers and independent shops are simply poaching technicians from their competitors to fill the void. It’s common to see sign-on bonuses of $5,000 or more to lure techs from other shops.

It’s not reforming the flat-rate pay system

All other trades pay their skilled workers hourly or on salary. Shops can ditch the flat rate system and still be highly productive and maintain high repair standards. But that requires better management skills. The auto industry isn’t responding.

It’s not getting creative with tool assistance programs.

At a bare minimum, shops could provide incoming techs with permanent shop-owned tool chests and the tools needed to do the job. This would save every incoming tech a minimum of $2,000 and negate one of the big negatives of entering the field.

It’s not providing financial assistance for trade school and continuing education.

The industry expects their techs to be fully trained, and if further training is needed, they believe it should be the tech’s responsibility to obtain and pay for it. That policy works great when the supply of techs exceeds demand and when that policy is in line with competitor industries. But none of that is true right now. Techs are in short supply, and have many other options in industries willing to pay for training and mentoring.

It’s not implementing more workplace flexibility

Due to the shortage, techs can’t take time off for family care. I understand that shops are working at full capacity and can’t afford to let their techs take time off to help with sick child care. However, if the shop can’t provide a work-life balance, its techs will look at other fields, and that’s exactly what they’re doing. In other words, shops create a self-fulfilling prophecy by not becoming more work-life balance friendly.

The Take Aways From This Article

The auto repair industry faces an oncoming crisis for all the above reasons. But there’s more. The challenges I’ve listed are nothing compared to what’s coming with electric vehicles. The current political realities aside, vehicle electrification is coming whether we like it or not. It is the future. If you enter the field now, you’ll need a new skill set within 10 years to deal with EVs. Somebody will have to pay for the training, new diagnostic equipment, and special tools. Based on what we’ve seen so far, it won’t be the shops; it’ll be you!

The Bottom Line: The industry isn’t adapting to current market forces. It’s not doing anything creative to stop the tech exodus, and it certainly isn’t coming up with creative ways to encourage new recruits.

Are you sure you want to enter this field when there are many other lucrative options out there?

©, 2025 Rick Muscoplat