What are typical automotive technician salaries?

Do some companies pay a lot more for this position than others? What does a top earner make in this field?

What skills should you learn to increase your salary?

The amount of pay from company to company does not vary too much, but you do have a wide variety of compensation methods. There are various combinations of hourly and commission pay rates, which depending on what type of work you specialize in can vary your bottom line considerably. Where I work the one who made the most in 2006 brought in $95,000 and he does alot of simple things such as alignments, engine repair, suspension. He works in very high volume with fast efficiency, in early out late. Then there is a guy who probably only brought in about $50,000 who specializes in on board computers, programming, and electronics. This is where I get pissed. There is no problem with making $95,000 doing alot of grunt work and alignments but the most intellectuals in the field should be compensated much higher for their skills. And I beleive this day will come, so any computer guys out there-stick with it.

There is a tecnician and parts replacer, years go by we need technicians, and they are not getting paid properly!!!!
All the easy works are handle by the low to average mechanic/not technician, top guys are suffering from time to time, and a lots of shops are not intrested in them until they have issues. I have seen good technician does not make enough income and they are becoming rare ones.
Good technician should make the most and as it goes down to parts replacer.
Repair person should be licensed and bonded like electricians and plumbers.
Mr. Nice guy should finish the first not the last!!!!!

flat rate needs to go away it was invented in the 1920's and there is 2007 were a 4 year education is the norm ndoctors don't get commission pay! why should we! who loses the most is the car owner that does not get the car fixed right the first time

Does anyone recommend the Toyota T-TEN program? They mentioned in their site that a highly skilled technician can make over $70,000 a year.
www.toyota.com/about/tten/whytten.html

I went through the T-TEN program, and its a very good program. However, with enough drive and determination(see:experience) you can know just as much as a T-TEN tech.... the only difference with T-TEN is just like any other degree. Its just a peice of paper, it gets you in the door and looks good on your resume, but you can make this up with time, experience, and a job well done. I make about 45-55 a year, and ive only been on the line(not under a mentor and flat rate) for about almost a year. The money is there if you dont mind waking up every morning and busting your ass. This isnt a job for the lazy, and its also a job where who you know effects your pay grade(isnt everything now adays though?). But hey, it beats sitting in an office all day long right?

oh, btw........ almost forgot, go with lexus, its normally a whollleee different deal. More money, more pay, bit more expecting customers, but worth it if you get into a high volume place. My shop foreman worked at your Toyota dealership, as did 2 team leaders at my shop(hollywood toyota, that is)

Ryan in Charlotte, North Carolina said: oh, btw........ almost forgot, go with lexus, its normally a whollleee different deal. More money, more pay, bit more expecting customers, but worth it if you get into a high volume place. My shop foreman worked at your Toyota dealership, as did 2 team leaders at my shop(hollywood toyota, that is)

Hi Ryan and thanks for the replies. Is that Hollywood Toyota in Florida? If it is, that's where we bought our Sienna. If you have time, can you email me at wcruz68@yahoo.com I'm really interested in working as an automotive technician.

I want to know does anyone know how much a Auto Tech at Goodyear, Firestonr, Pep Boys, etc makes?

How about a GM Goodwrench Technician?

I'm a high school drop-out , no training per-se only OTJ training . I started @ 7.50 ten years ago , and only recently have I gotten close to scratching the 40k ceiling , I'm currently @ 39k .

magnum68 in Hollywood, Florida said: Does anyone recommend the Toyota T-TEN program? They mentioned in their site that a highly skilled technician can make over $70,000 a year.
www.toyota.com/about/tten/whytten.html

I wonder what planet they were on when they wrote that!? Planet Kaizen maybe? I used to be a Toyota Certified Master Diagnostic Technician I worked in the field for 22 years and let me tell you, unless you are in the special club getting all the maintenance service jobs or working over 50 hours a week you are NOT going to make $70,000 a year! When you work on electronics (computer controlled systems, ect) you are lucky to get paid straight time, while the kids coming in from right out of trade school are doing the maintenance gravy. They also created the new light duty classification in our part of the country(which pays the tech less than before for doing maintenance) so the old dealer philosophy of "you'll make it up" after doing some straight time diagnostic work no longer is a reality!

Don't get me wrong Toyota is a great line of cars to work on but, the $70,000/yr deal is only going to be made by a select few that are taken care of by shop management by the way they deal the repair orders out!

I left this trade last year after 22 dissapointing years and will NEVER look back! I still continue to service some customers at home saving them money and you can still make great money yourself and keep a lot of it in your pocket instead of making the dealer rich! It's a win win and no dealer politics to deal with too!

I would NEVER recommend anyone to invest in a career in this field today until some major changes happen in how technicians (real diagnostic technicians) are paid.

Ex Toyota tech...was wondering what you do now for a living...I just resigned from a Toyota dealership making 65k a year and was looking for a different line of work....just asking

I free-lance as a voice talent and am also in the sound and music buisness. Creating multiple income streams is the best way to be self employed and have some security.

I also still work on some cars at home. I could probably keep busy enough just working out of my garage here at home if I wanted to, I just needed a break and found out that I can make it doing other things.

Good luck to you! Yes! There is life outside of Automotive just in case your wondering out there!

Thank you very much for the inspiration !!

I had when to lincoln tech and have been in shops for 4yrs now. Im currently making 17.50 flat hr, any suggestions on where I could go so I can get on hourly? I have found this feild very difficult to get my bills paid. Im currently going to have to get a second job just to survive this economy. Im only bringing in 15hrs a week, I was promised at least 30, what should I do? Rory

Toyotas are the easiest to work on, mostly maintenance.
I spent 17 years at GM dealers and the last 5 at Toyota. I have been an ASE Master Technician for almost 20 years. I can repair and rebuild a car from top to bottom.

I have repaired other technicians mistakes for warranty time while they got paid cash time to do it wrong. I have done drive-ability diagnosis flat rate at a dealer when the other drive-ability techs got paid hourly.
It's not who you know...

The pay system is unfair, years ago when the cars were simpler there was a system where the shop and tech split the labor 50/50. When I started in 1986 it was still very close, I remember 1990 I was making $14 flat rate hour and the labor rate was $35 hr roughly 60/40 in the dealers favor.
Now today there are literaly a dozen or more computers on a vehicle and the labor rate is $100 hr. We get maybe $23 hr, and that's for the good techs, lets just call it 80/20 in the dealers favor.
They invest minimum amounts of money it to the shop and squeeze the last penny out of it, and treat the techs with distain. They're currently trying to take Memorial Day Saturday away from us, we get two three day weekends a year and they want to take them.
There is no over time pay for technicians, we regularly work on Saturdays after working a full 40 hr work week, few complete two day weekends.

I would never choose this as a career again and warn others when I can.
You work in poor conditions with poor ventilation, filled with toxic fumes and chemicals. Pressures of flat rate, and costs of tools.

The more you know, the less you make.

I am currently in a community college taking courses for automotive tech. I am 28 (as of Jan 08') and plan on getting associates along with the 8 major ASE certs. Right now, I am working as a dismanteler at a salvage yard, many miles away from Detroit. I wake up @ 4:30 and arrive at the job @ 8:30. Im excited about getting into the field, studying on break and to and from the job.

I think a career is beyond this field of work. I would like to work in this field for 2-3 years while i persue my 4 yr in Engineering.

Problem with small repair shops is Usually one (1) tech gets paid the most and is in a Manager/Technician position. The Actual person who signs your check may be around or only on payday , New guys get Hazed/Razed for not knowing what to do or how the system operates , and no-one is willing to take the time to help the him see how things work . lest he see's what the shop is really like and gets out before he's in too deep . I reccomend getting a white collar job !

it's a hard field and you WILL be taken advantage of. Low pay , Long hours , and Ohh yeah buy all your own tools.

Ex-Toyota Tech in Rosemount, Minnesota said: I wonder what planet they were on when they wrote that!? Planet Kaizen maybe? I used to be a Toyota Certified Master Diagnostic Technician I worked in the field for 22 years and let me tell you, unless you are in the special club getting all the maintenance service jobs or working over 50 hours a week you are NOT going to make $70,000 a year! When you work on electronics (computer controlled systems, ect) you are lucky to get paid straight time, while the kids coming in from right out of trade school are doing the maintenance gravy. They also created the new light duty classification in our part of the country(which pays the tech less than before for doing maintenance) so the old dealer philosophy of "you'll make it up" after doing some straight time diagnostic work no longer is a reality!

Don't get me wrong Toyota is a great line of cars to work on but, the $70,000/yr deal is only going to be made by a select few that are taken care of by shop management by the way they deal the repair orders out!

I left this trade last year after 22 dissapointing years and will NEVER look back! I still continue to service some customers at home saving them money and you can still make great money yourself and keep a lot of it in your pocket instead of making the dealer rich! It's a win win and no dealer politics to deal with too!

I would NEVER recommend anyone to invest in a career in this field today until some major changes happen in how technicians (real diagnostic technicians) are paid.

Toyota better wake the dealer principles up. The good diagnostic guys are leaving in droves. We are feed up with getting screwed over only to get sucked back in when the department gets that car they can not fix and they have run out of parts to try.

I would like to thank all the people that contributed, your advice and insight is an EYE-OPENER! I was looking for information regarding automotive programs and this section has been VERY helpful!

Robert in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania said: Toyotas are the easiest to work on, mostly maintenance.
I spent 17 years at GM dealers and the last 5 at Toyota. I have been an ASE Master Technician for almost 20 years. I can repair and rebuild a car from top to bottom.

I have repaired other technicians mistakes for warranty time while they got paid cash time to do it wrong. I have done drive-ability diagnosis flat rate at a dealer when the other drive-ability techs got paid hourly.
It's not who you know...

The pay system is unfair, years ago when the cars were simpler there was a system where the shop and tech split the labor 50/50. When I started in 1986 it was still very close, I remember 1990 I was making $14 flat rate hour and the labor rate was $35 hr roughly 60/40 in the dealers favor.
Now today there are literaly a dozen or more computers on a vehicle and the labor rate is $100 hr. We get maybe $23 hr, and that's for the good techs, lets just call it 80/20 in the dealers favor.
They invest minimum amounts of money it to the shop and squeeze the last penny out of it, and treat the techs with distain. They're currently trying to take Memorial Day Saturday away from us, we get two three day weekends a year and they want to take them.
There is no over time pay for technicians, we regularly work on Saturdays after working a full 40 hr work week, few complete two day weekends.

I would never choose this as a career again and warn others when I can.
You work in poor conditions with poor ventilation, filled with toxic fumes and chemicals. Pressures of flat rate, and costs of tools.

The more you know, the less you make.

Hi Robert I saw Your Post And i DO Agree

Jeremy. in Bensalem, Pennsylvania said: I'm a high school drop-out , no training per-se only OTJ training . I started @ 7.50 ten years ago , and only recently have I gotten close to scratching the 40k ceiling , I'm currently @ 39k .

Im Curious Jeremy,Do You Think Its an "Appropriate" wage after 10 years of Experiance? What is Your HOURLY? Are You Flate rate ? Work for a Dealer? Im Curious I started in this field as a HS grad ( no other education) Aside from Auto factory training Started in 92 and PEAKED at 52k which to ME isnt appropriate...Your Opinion is Appreciated

Tommy in Lansing, Michigan said: The amount of pay from company to company does not vary too much, but you do have a wide variety of compensation methods. There are various combinations of hourly and commission pay rates, which depending on what type of work you specialize in can vary your bottom line considerably. Where I work the one who made the most in 2006 brought in $95,000 and he does alot of simple things such as alignments, engine repair, suspension. He works in very high volume with fast efficiency, in early out late. Then there is a guy who probably only brought in about $50,000 who specializes in on board computers, programming, and electronics. This is where I get pissed. There is no problem with making $95,000 doing alot of grunt work and alignments but the most intellectuals in the field should be compensated much higher for their skills. And I beleive this day will come, so any computer guys out there-stick with it.

I COULDNT AGREE MORE MY FRIEND ...Ive Lived THIS at 2 Differant Car Lines

Jeremy. in Levittown, Pennsylvania said: Problem with small repair shops is Usually one (1) tech gets paid the most and is in a Manager/Technician position. The Actual person who signs your check may be around or only on payday , New guys get Hazed/Razed for not knowing what to do or how the system operates , and no-one is willing to take the time to help the him see how things work . lest he see's what the shop is really like and gets out before he's in too deep . I reccomend getting a white collar job !

it's a hard field and you WILL be taken advantage of. Low pay , Long hours , and Ohh yeah buy all your own tools.

It Sounds Like an Auto Dealer i worked for ...For Almost 5 years

Volvo Mike in New Hope, Pennsylvania said: Im Curious Jeremy,Do You Think Its an "Appropriate" wage after 10 years of Experiance? What is Your HOURLY? Are You Flate rate ? Work for a Dealer? Im Curious I started in this field as a HS grad ( no other education) Aside from Auto factory training Started in 92 and PEAKED at 52k which to ME isnt appropriate...Your Opinion is Appreciated

I think a fair wage after 10+ "Profitable" years at any repair shop would be in the 45-60k a year range. pay is always comeasurate with experience. I've been hourly all my life , no shop owner will pay me flat rate because I'd kill & make my pay in 3-4days . 52k with all that experience ! , I think you should be pay'd a bit more .

I live in wisconsin/green bay area and have been at a chrysler dealership for the last 6 years with a 2 year associates degree. I currently make $16.00 an hour flat rate and make 50K-52K a year. We have always been a pretty busy shop, we have our slow weeks once and a while, but getting 55-60 hours a week is usually not a problem. The money is deff. there for someone that works hard and is in a good dealership. There are guys in the shop making 20-21 dollars an hour flat rate and making just as many hours per week as me so you do the math on how much they make a year.

Volvo Mike in New Hope, Pennsylvania said: Hi Robert I saw Your Post And i DO Agree

I agree with the pay system. The techs that just want to do the quick easy repairs are the ones that not only make the better money and do not have to deal with any problem cars, but the magement think they are great techs, while those of us that deal with all the electronics, wiring issues,computer programming problems are the ones that not make just straight time but are looked at by management as being low producers. Our shop started the light duty tech pay also and it just makes matters worse for the techs that have the skills and knowledge to repair some of these tech nightmares since the quick easy repairs that were ment to make up for the low paying difficult jobs are paid at a much lower rate. The dealers just can not understand why they cannot get anyone to work for them when they want to charge $110 -$125 a hour and only pay a tech a max of $20 a hour.

Unionized journeymen dealership techs in the Chicago area currently are making 29.25 an hour flat rate. Collective bargaining agreement expires in a few months. Dealer principals are going to have the advantage this time around especially in the current economy. I left the dealership "circus" years ago. Now working on municipal fleet. Hourly pay & good benefits is the way to go. For an example : City of Chicago mechanics are making 40.53 an hour plus overtime. Chicago Transit Authority Bus & Truck mechanics are making over 30 an hour. Forget the dealers - if at all possible try to get a job with fleet maintenance whether municipal , state or federal.

gm dave said: I agree with the pay system. The techs that just want to do the quick easy repairs are the ones that not only make the better money and do not have to deal with any problem cars, but the magement think they are great techs, while those of us that deal with all the electronics, wiring issues,computer programming problems are the ones that not make just straight time but are looked at by management as being low producers. Our shop started the light duty tech pay also and it just makes matters worse for the techs that have the skills and knowledge to repair some of these tech nightmares since the quick easy repairs that were ment to make up for the low paying difficult jobs are paid at a much lower rate. The dealers just can not understand why they cannot get anyone to work for them when they want to charge $110 -$125 a hour and only pay a tech a max of $20 a hour.

You scare me with this "light duty tech pay" what the heck is that..I'm in the same boat with the diag no pay stuff. My manager saves cars for me that don't run off the truck,,ie not PDI yet or are and the other guy doesn't even have a test light..I'm with the S Korean company now but did the "aisin" stuff before. G beck quote of the day "political offices should be filled when possible for the honor, rather than the high salaries"..we all must be political then. not.

hey has anyone here went to Wyotech? i am planning to go starting september 28th and was wondering what are my chances of getting a good job after graduation

Wyotech has a good program , just don't hang out with the stupid kids.
SO how's everyone doing in their little worlds ? Me , I'm now working for a shop on salary. 600$ a week before taxes. I also was a little un-employed for a spell.

5 dealerships closed around my area :( there's been at least 12 techs stop in to fill out an app in the last 2 weeks.

Thanks Jeremy that is good advice.

I have about 8 yrs in the field. Worked independent first, then truck fleet maintenance, now about 4 years with a honda dealer. I was all gung ho in the beginning working full time and going to community college in the evenings. Got my certificate, all ase's, and smog license etc... Spent way too much on tools. Now that I'm established in this field I see what all the old guys meant when they said to run the other way as fast as i can and get into another line of work. I now make about 65k a year flat rate. It's frustrating to see the bbbm's(boots belts brakes and majors) guys that have worked in the field longer than you, and make more money because they don't do check outs. They mainly do service work which pays better while the guy that worked hard going to school trying to better his diagnostic abilities get's what he wished for(diagnostic work)I know ironic:). I too think that there will be a breaking point where all the Diagnostic techs will get fed up with the dealer system and either leave the field or go independent, maybe open their own shop. In the last several years I have seen labor times get cut more and more, gravy work taken away and given to the hourly guys.... And you guys are scaring me with this light duty pay? You guys need to keep that stuff on the down low so it doesn't spread like wild fire to other manufacturers:) okay, I'm done with my rant. The field itself isn't really that bad. The work part anyway. All the politics, pay scales, and alot of the labor times are where the problems are.
My honest advice for someone looking to get into the field would be not to go to wyotech or some other expensive school. I have seen far too many graduate with serious debt and only get hired on as oil changers. Go the cheaper route with community college and pay as you go. Then if it doesn't work out you're not out as much. Lastly, if you want to make money, suck up to the dispatcher. And for God sakes listen to the old timers! they know best. gd luc

magnum68 in Hollywood, Florida said: Does anyone recommend the Toyota T-TEN program? They mentioned in their site that a highly skilled technician can make over $70,000 a year.
www.toyota.com/about/tten/whytten.html

I have worked at a high volume Toyota dealer for over 17 years, before that I worked 11 years for mostly Chrysler dealers. I have been a master diagnostic technician for 12 years, which is highest level you can attain. In my dealership the last T-TEN graduate is currently making $10 per hour. Hardly a good return on his investment of a college education. Now he has to buy $30,000 in tools just to make a living. I only make a little over $80,000 per year with close to $100,000 invested in tools & equipment. The hours are long, the pay is low and the work environment is harsh. I would recommend if you have another field you interested in that pays better train for it.

I was thinking about changing careers and getting into the auto feild but after reading all this i think that going the community college route and not giving up my day job would be best... thanks all that have posted here..

I couldn't agree more with some of the negative things that a lot of you guys have been talking about. I wen't to a vocational school that had the AYES(Automotive Youth Educational Systems) progam and got on the job training by a mentor at a Chrysler dealership. I was told by my teacher at school that I could make $100,000 a year in this field, and the average tech makes $60,000 a year. They started me off at $8.00 per hour. I was doing mostly easy stuff. Oil changes, tires, brakes, suspension, and flushes. And at the same time my mentor was teaching me how to diagnose and repair drive-ability, electronic, and wiring concerns. He is the highest paid technician. Has 20 years of experince, ASE Master Technician, Chryler certified, and GM certified. He makes $22 per hour and hates it. We work in a hot, barely ventilated shop. Half the special tools that are SUPPOSE to be provided by the shop management are mising. All the shop equipment(car lifts, tire machines, alignment equipment, brake lathes, scan tools) are either broken or are 20 years old. The harder the electronic problem is on a car the less we get paid. I have been working at this dealership for 3 years. I'm level 3 chrysler certified and making $13.50 per hour flat rate. I've spent at least $35,000 on tools and a total of $5,000 on a SMALL craftsman tool box I got a sears and a matco tool cart. There's still a lot I have to learn about diagnosing and fixing cars and there's a lot more money I need to spend on tools to fix them.

If there's anyone reading this that is even THINKING about getting into this field I'm going to tell you what my mentor told me the first day he met me. DON'T. Go back to school and do something else. Because if you think you're going to make any money in this field you're wrong.

Hey ! ,Wow , I was going to defend dealers but I've forgotten the good things I wanted to say. Maybe because there's not any good things.