I read in the USA Today that there is a shortage of mechanics in the US. So I was just wondering how much money auto mechanics make? Per hour? In a year? I can only image how physically demanding this line of work is (crawling under a car, leaning over a car, etc.). Is that why there is a shortage?

 

Where I was working the highest paid guy got about $24 per hour and was making about $140 a year. Even the lower paid guys were capable of making $45k a year if they pushed.

 

how does making $24/hr translate to $140/year?

 

Yeah, I also know of people who make 6 figures, and they do service on Pontiacs, GMC's, and Buick's. You're hourly rate is $24/hr. BUT, you aren't paid for how long you work on a vehicle, but the amount of time the manufacturer says it takes to work on a car. For example, oil changes are calculated to be 0.3 of an hour. Meaning the oil tech get's paid 0.3 hr x $12/hr which is $4. But if he can do two cars at a time, and finishes them in 15 minutes each, he's made $32 for that hour. Imagine tech's that are paid $24/hr, and can do a job that's supposed to take 3.2 hrs, and finish them in 0.5 hrs. The more cars they do, the more money they make, but there isn't a calculated overtime for over 60 hrs. Typical hours are from 8-5, with an hour for break. If you wanna get a job as a tech, do it somewhere that gets a lot of business. Right now, there aren't that many customers coming to the place I work at.

Jason

 

I think the median annual salary is only about $38K, but the range is pretty broad, 25K to over 85K for a master mechanic.

Would guess the reason for a shortage is complicated and hard to pin down. Compensation, working conditions, image, against the capabilities and training required. It is not necessarily an easy way to make a living so those capable may look at other options.

From the employer point of view I would guess it is a relatively high overhead, moderate margin business, so compensation must be carefully managed.

The marketplace should eventually adjust so we may be seeing higher salaries as well as labor rates coming.

 

In the next 20 years the shortage is gonna mainly be because cars are so advanced now you have to go to school for 2 or more years to learn how to work on just one brand. Not just any person can open up a shop and change oil.

Im about to graduate from High School and this is the field im getting in. UTI, Wyotech, and smaller tech colleges are where your learn

 

The highest payed mechanics right now is CA MTA mechanics. Why do I know? Because my dad was one of them and recieves the union newspaper that shows who makes the most money. Eh, anyways its $26 a hour so that's almost $50K a year. If you work over time and on holidays you could probably make a little more. Pretty good for a blue colored job. FYI though, when you get old you'll be in a lot of pain. Your shoulders start to hurt, you could get carpo tunnel, you tend to loose your hearing faster. IMO not worth it but then again, that's just me.

 

our good honda guys make 70-90k the average has to be about 40-50. there is a big shortage for BMW and AUDI techs these days and that pays better.
MAtt