What Is the Annual Salary of an Auto Mechanic?
Auto mechanics service, maintain and repair cars and light trucks in retail or commercial settings. The growing complexity of auto systems demands a formal training program for the profession, either in high school or postsecondary vocational schools or community colleges. Getting voluntary certification from an organization such as the National Institute for Automotive Excellence can enhance both employability and salaries.
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Work
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Auto mechanics typically work a standard 40-hour week in well-lighted repair shops. However, some work evenings and weekends for the convenience of customers. Injuries can occur due to heavy, dirty and greasy parts, but they can be avoided with some safety practices. Median salaries for this profession are $35,420 per year, with a range of $19,840 to $59,920. Median hourly rates are $17.03, with a range of $9.54 to $28.81. These figures are as of May 2009 from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
Experience
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Salaries for auto mechanics increase over time as they become exposed to a wide range of problems and solutions, develop a reputation and increase their customer base. Those with one to four years of work experience earn $22,559 to $40,108, while those with five to nine years get $29,732 to $48,204. At 10 to 19 years of experience, they receive $35,032 to $59,862, and at 20 years or more, they make $39,443 to $61,335. This is according to a PayScale report as of January 2011.
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Employers
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The BLS states that the biggest employers of auto mechanics are automotive repair and maintenance shops, which comprise over a third of the available 606,990 positions. The large number of jobs drops salaries to slightly under the median at $16.74 per hour or $34,820 per year. The highest-paying employment sector is aerospace product and parts manufacturing, where mechanics service vehicles used in warehouses and factories. These employers offer $31.87 per hour or $66,290, but total have 110 jobs, making it a difficult business to break into.
Highest Paying Locations
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The BLS reveals that the states with the highest salaries for auto mechanics typically have high costs of living, and not many available positions. For example, Alaska shows the best pay at $23.74 per hour or $49,370 per year, but only has 1,460 positions. However, because of the state's generally low population, the concentration of mechanics is 4.74 per thousand workers, which is fairly high. The District of Columbia has the next-highest-paid positions at $21.56 per hour or $44,850 per year. But it offers even fewer opportunities, with a total of 370 positions.
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References
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