So how much money do auto mechanics make?

[cheesehead]

Out of curiosity, how much money do auto mechanics make, and what levels of certification are there? What makes the difference between a mechanic that makes $30,000 a year and one that makes $70,000?

Please note that I'm not complaining that mechanics make too much money. Most of them are honest businessmen, and fixing anything as complicated as your average twin-turbocharged DOHC V6 with variable valve timing requires quite a bit of training.

 

[Kroze]

you talking about the one that own their own shop or working for someone? If you own your own shop, it's a lot of money.

 

[Bignate603]

Originally posted by: Kroze
you talking about the one that own their own shop or working for someone? If you own your own shop, it's a lot of money.

Eh, it can be. It's very dependent on the shop and how successful it is.

The father of a friend of mine worked as a dealership mechanic for years. He's done well enough to pay for a nice house. He's had to be frugal but he has enough for his hobbies and to do some fun vacations.

 

[Greenman]

I know a fellow who pulls down 80k as a wrench, and never puts in overtime. Where he works, every task for a car repair is assigned a cretin number of hours to complete, and pays that number of hours regardless of how long it really takes. So he makes pretty fair money by working fast.

 

[darom]

A private mechanic who owns a shop (brakes, a/c certified, engine repairs, 3 lifts) here in CA can make $110-150k per year. Or more. I know one. His rates are $75/hr, goes by the book, honest and pleasure to deal with. He is not cheap. His shop opens at 7am and closes at 6pm. I see him there sometimes till 7 or 8pm. He has one employee. He doesn't deal with smog, happy to answer my phone calls and explain over the phone how to fix my cars' issues. I usually just buy parts online to save money and have him install them for me if I can't do it myself.

If you start as a helper around the shop (clean up, simple oil changes etc.), you are looking at $12-15/hr.

If you are interested in certifications, check this site out: http://www.ase.com/

I would start by checking your local college for mechanics' courses. Cheap and they prepare you for the ASE exams. If you consider a career, look also into the diesel field.

Regards!

 

[bruceb]

Here in NJ most mechanics are at $90 / hr .. but if they work at a dealership, that is the labor rate they charge and you can be sure the mechanics will only get about 1/3 to 1/2 of that. The rest goes to dealer profit and operating expenses.
And don't forget as a mechanic you need to provide most of your own tools. Exceptions are things like a Tech II scanner, emissions tester, wheel alignment, under car support stands, etc. Those would be dealer provided and shared as needed. And yes, ASE certs are the way to go. Also check out MACS for mobile air conditioning certifications.

 

[Vette73]

It really varies and also depends on how good you are and how fast you are. That and also how honest you are as well.


When I was an auto tech working for others it was like a plumber. I got paid a certain amount based on the work done. So if we were busy I made good money. If slow I made little to nothing.

Now when I worked for myself I did well. I did not do major work, engine overhauls, at the time as I was full time in college so mostly light to medium duty repairs and diagnostic. I grew up when most of the long term good techs were great at Carb work but not so at F/I. So I got called to come to some others shops and do diagnostic work for them on newer F/I cars. Also when I got busy I passed out the work to Techs I knew and could trust. I would diagnose the job needed, buy the parts, and then have the other person do the work. I had to do that when I got busy at school (finals, team project, etc?) or when I was so busy I could not do it all but did not want to turn down repeat customers that trusted me.

But I did not want to do that the rest of my life. I hated working for other shops as most did not meet my ethic standards and also got paid little for what was done a lot of time. When I had my shop it was good but I also had good weeks and awful weeks. That and my back would be sore; coming home with antifreeze in my hair, etc? was not fun.
There is nothing wrong with blue collar work, but you get paid as hard as you work. I knew a lot of older guys who had back issues amount other problems.