What is an Automotive Technician?

Question

what do they do and how much do they get paid?

Answer 1

Auto mechanic

Answer 2

An Automotive Technician is a highly skilled and trained individual who specializes in the field of Auto-repair, basically an evolved version of an Auto Mechanic. They are required to perform complicated diagnosis on electrical systems, computer modules within the vechicle, as well as hydraulic brake systems, gasoline engines, diesel engines, and everything else inbetween.

Many Technicians working in today's modern facilities are paid on a system commonly known as "Flat-Rate."

For those of you unfamiliar with "Flat-Rate" it's a form of comission. Each job performed on a vechicle has an amount of time alotted for it. Performing a front brake job pays 2.0 hours, if you perform that job in an hour, you still get payed the 2.0 hours. Not a bad deal right? Here's the problem...

Say you need some more complicated work done on your vechicle, say a mystery noise of squeak that only happens at certain times, or an electrical gremlin that you cant find. A good Technician will take the time to hunt down your problem, no matter how long it takes... and what do they get paid? That depends on how much time is alotted by the manufacturer, or another source (All Data or Mitchells). Often times the times alotted are MUCH lower than the time it took to fix the problem properly. The Technician loses money because of the time he/she took to fix it right. An honest tech will take the loss, but often times shady techs will try to sell you a bunch of services to try to make up for the lost time, or they will just say they couldn't verify your problem and off you go. This leaves EVERYONE with a bad taste in their mouth, or you feeling like you got ripped off.

Dont get me wrong, there are Technicians making good money working for good companies, but many of us are struggling, and some are even putting the screws to YOU, the consumer, or doing poor quality work to "beat the time".

I sincerly hope some of you read through this answer, so you know what's really going on in the shop the next time you bring your vechicle in for repairs. Thanks.

Oh, and by the way, for most domestic manufacturers the hourly rate you recieve can vary from 15-30 dollars an hour, and I think import techs make more? It can vary.

Answer 3

Generally a "Technician has about 15 to 20 years on the job and holds multiple ASE Area certifications. Wages depend on area you live in. In South Dakota we don't make much at all and can't seem to ever keep any good ones(go figure)

I left the biz for aircraft and then retired from that to Automotive and gave up on it for here and became a computer/network tech. I have never heard of any entry level folks making 75K after tech school. Ferrari guys make big bucks, but no chevy guys do, go figure!

I am cert'd for Diagnostics/Electrical/Engine/Drive Train/Air Conditioning/Fuel-Carbs/Brakes/Suspension. If I had stayed in the field I would be a Master tech by now(hahahaha). In South Dakota, I am considered one because I can read wire diagrams and analyze computer data and have high marks for test driving. The aircraft field was much harder than the Automotive!

Old Guy, ASE(NIASE) Cert since 1978

Answer 4

Automotive Technician is one of the most underated jobs around You're expected to know everything about any vehicle,while most customers feel you are ripping them off. Just tool investment will run into $1ooo's of dollars a year,training is constant,technogly changes with every model year. But the feeling of solving problems is worth it. If you are mechanicly inclined, it can be a very satisfying career.Few jobs offer such rewards.

Answer 5

That Is a good question. I would like to start by giving you my breakdown of the automotive worker. I base them on experience, capabilities and education.

1. Mechanic Helper- someone who is just starting in the field has less than 2 years experience and no credited education or certifications. pay is stating at $10 - $12.50 per hour

2. Mechanic- Someone with 2-5 years hands on experience has completed some educational classes and certifications.
pay is between $12.50- $16.00 per hour.

3. Technician - a person who has completed at least 2 years automotive college, 5-10 years experience and holds ASE certifications in all or most categories. Pay is $18-45.00 per hour.

hope this helps :

Edwin.

Answer 6

an automotive technician is someone how is trained in fixing cars they go through 2 years of college and a introductory level automotive tech. make about 75,000 a year a more experienced is around 125,000 and a shop owner can make anywhere be tween 250,000 and 500,000 it is a good businesses to get into because they also are in demand they make good wages and for some people its good because its not a desk job.

Answer 7

a technician is someone that's higher trained than a mechanic is,they have been involved with the design of some parts as well as studied every way possible that part will cause problems as well as any method known to repair it,they are among the highest paid because of the amount of time they spend in school to learn all of this,they are the ones that figure out how things work as well as how to make them work better or more efficient,they are very highly paid,well in to the hundred thousand dollar mark to begin with.it takes years to get to this point though,and much learning,and lots of sleepless nights,good luck.

Answer 8

automotive technicians work on cars and yes they do get paid good wages

Answer 9

They are a motor mechanic. They fix cars, change the oil etc.... as for what they get paid it depends on where you live, how old you are, how experienced you are.

Answer 10

they can be auto mechanics who work with the electonics on cars

the guys who do the smog checks.

unsure how much these guys / gals make most likely under 50 thousand a year....maybe one who does this work will let us know