by CourseAdvisor

If you're curious about what's "under the hood" and enjoy fixing things, you'll be glad to hear that there are good job opportunities for Automotive Technicians. This is especially true if you have formal training, an aptitude for solving mechanical problems, and industry-recognized certification. Along with repairing and maintaining engines, mechanics work on transmissions, brakes, ignition systems, and increasingly complex electronic systems.

Like many other professions, automotive repair and service is becoming high-tech. Today's average car has six to 20 computers controlling everything from the transmission to the sunroof and monitoring the 1,500 components that can trigger the "Check Engine" light! Our cars are complicated, but soccer moms as well as Nascar drivers depend on their reliability.

Training and certification programs for automotive mechanics are available in high schools, postsecondary vocational schools, and community colleges.

The hourly wage range for automotive service technicians and mechanics is $11 to $26. According to the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence, however, advanced training and certification can result in a very high annual income.

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Sources

1. Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2006-2007 Edition; Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor. The hourly wage is based on 2004 data.
2. National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE)