The Automotive Industry: Mechanics and Technicians

Automotive technicians and mechanics are people that specialize on working on cars,
motorcycles, marine vehicles, and diesel vehicles. There are multiple types of jobs in the automotive field
for a technician or a mechanic. The title Mechanic, is a term that most professionals dont go by since all
vehicles of the modern era are now computerized. The new title of these professionals are now called
technicians. Although the name change, there are still mechanics around, but most of them specialize in
working on cars that predate the 2000s. Technicians work on all types of cars, however, they work on cars
from around the late 1980s to the present, because new cars are computer driven. A mechanic has to deal
with a bunch of different jobs, such as braking systems, engine repair, engine performance, electrical and
electronic systems, steering and suspension, and lastly the drivetrain and axles.
Most mechanics are proficient at what they do, but some are not and will rip the customer off just
to make money. So when looking for a mechanic customers need to be able to trust them with their money
to be able to get the best service for their car and the best products available for a good price. Inevitably,
some products for cars are pricey so the mechanic will inform the customer of these prices before
ordering and installing the part all for customer convenience and service. Also some mechanics own their
own shops and hire mechanics or people who are not qualified to be part of their workforce. Dealerships
have technicians that are certified, so the job quality from a dealership may be more satisfying to
customers do to the fact it is the actual company who is working on your car not just some random
mechanic. There are a lot of professional shops that are very proficient and also work on cars better than
dealerships and other mechanic shops.

A professional technician can make between $25,000.00 - $60,000.00 per year depending on the
company a technician works for. In 2010, the Bureau of Labor had a statistic that the average technician
makes $30,000.00 dollars per year. Most technicians are paid based on how high of a skill level that the

technician has, and on how fast they are at what they do. Thirty-one percent of the automotive industry is
made up by technicians. Many dealerships are likely to have benefits for their employees that affect them
more than a private auto garage would give to its employees. 401k plans for retirement and health
insurance plans can be offered by dealerships. The reason for this is because technicians have a higher
rate of injury compared to other jobs. Perks of working in a dealership is that they may offer paid holidays
and provide tools to use on the job.

Auto mechanics should possess at least a General Education Diploma (GED) or high school
diploma. Extensive on-site training is to be expected, and a certificate from the National Institute for
Automotive Excellence will help applicants find work. Having certification status often leads to higher
paying jobs, but some employers make certification a requirement and refuse to hire mechanics without it.
If the applicant works with refrigerants, a license may be required by the Environmental Protection
Agency. These education costs might be covered by a dealership or garage, but the applicant is
encouraged to call ahead if unsure. Also, the Universal Technical Institution is a very well known and
respected trade-school that offers a career building experience over a year to a year and half.

In conclusion, when looking for a career in the Automotive Industry as a technician, students
should know it is a decently paid career. Some school requirements are needed for a career in a
dealership, even a mom and pop shop. With that said, the automotive industry is always in need of
workers anywhere in the country, even the world.

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