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Major · Mechanic & Repair Technologies

The hands-on foundation for diagnosing and fixing what drives America

Automobile/Automotive Mechanics Technology prepares students to service, repair, and maintain all types of vehicles — brake systems, electrical systems, engine performance, transmissions, and climate systems. About 10,351 degrees are awarded annually across 517 colleges, with the associate's degree as the predominant credential.

Schools offering
517
Annual completions
10,351
Typical degree level
Associate's + Bachelor's
Median earnings (5yr)
$60k

About this major

Automotive Mechanics Technology is a trade-focused curriculum built around making cars work. The subject matter is practical from day one: engine diagnosis and repair, brake and suspension systems, electrical and ignition circuits, automatic and manual transmissions, and climate control systems. Students spend considerable time in the shop, working on actual vehicles, running diagnostic scans, and following manufacturer service procedures — not just reading about how components function. The CIP definition frames it as preparing students to apply technical knowledge and skills to repair, service, and maintain all types of automobiles, and that applied emphasis holds throughout most programs.

The major tends to draw students who are already comfortable getting their hands dirty — who find the challenge of a fault code or a no-start condition engaging rather than frustrating. Comfort with hand tools, electrical meters, and diagnostic software matters more than abstract mathematical aptitude, though modern vehicle complexity means the technical reading load is higher than it used to be.

The career landscape is clear-eyed. The most common destination is automotive service technician and mechanic, with a median wage of $49,670 and 4.2% projected job growth. A higher-paying adjacent path — electrical and electronics work on transportation equipment — shows a $82,730 median wage reflecting the growing complexity of EV and hybrid systems. About 10,351 degrees are awarded annually across 517 colleges, with the associate's degree as the primary credential. The top-completing schools are predominantly Universal Technical Institute campuses and similar for-profit trade schools with direct dealership pipeline relationships.

Section 3 · Careers

Where this major leads

Occupations most often associated with this major, from the federal BLS+O*NET crosswalk. Job-growth projections and median wages are national.

Occupation Median wage Job growth Typical education
Automotive service technicians and mechanics $50k +4.2% Postsecondary nondegree award
Electronic equipment installers and repairers, motor vehicles $48k -13.6% High school diploma or equivalent
Electrical and electronics installers and repairers, transportation equipment $83k +6.1% Postsecondary nondegree award
Section 4 · Earnings

Earnings at a glance

Median graduate earnings from the federal College Scorecard, 5 and 10 years out.

Median 5-year earnings

$60k

Associate's vs Bachelor's — early-career earnings

Associate's

$60k

Bachelor's

$77k

Who this major is for

You may thrive here if you are drawn to the tangible satisfaction of diagnosing a problem and fixing it with your hands, if you find modern vehicles genuinely interesting as mechanical and electrical systems, and if you prefer work that produces a concrete result at the end of a shift. You may also fit well here if you are focused on a specific career path — getting into a dealership service bay, fleet maintenance, or a specialty shop — and want structured training rather than a longer academic route. The data is honest about the earnings floor: the core automotive service technician role posts a $49,670 median wage, but specialization in EV systems, high-demand service categories, or a path toward service management or shop ownership can meaningfully raise the ceiling.

Think twice if you are weighing this degree primarily for earnings relative to its cost and time — the typical education for an automotive service technician is a postsecondary nondegree award, not an associate's degree, so the ROI math on a full two-year program deserves scrutiny before you enroll. Think twice also if you are interested in the engineering side of vehicles — designing systems, analyzing performance data, or working in product development — because Automotive Engineering Technology is a distinct program that leads to entirely different roles. And if the declining outlook for narrower electronics roles concerns you, prioritize programs with modern EV and hybrid diagnostics training, where demand is moving rather than contracting.

Section 6 · Where to study

Top colleges for Automobile/Automotive Mechanics Technology/Technician

Ranked by annual completions at the associate's or bachelor's level — a proxy for program scale.

College Location Assoc. Bach. Total
Universal Technical Institute of Arizona Inc Avondale, AZ 647 0 647
Universal Technical Institute-Dallas Fort Worth Irving, TX 630 0 630
Universal Technical Institute of California Inc Rancho Cucamonga, CA 539 0 539
NASCAR Technical Institute Mooresville, NC 506 0 506
Universal Technical Institute of Texas Inc. Houston, TX 468 0 468
Universal Technical Institute-Southern California Long Beach, CA 423 0 423
Universal Technical Institute of Northern California Inc Sacramento, CA 394 0 394
Universal Technical Institute-Orlando Orlando, FL 380 0 380
Universal Technical Institute-West Texas Austin, TX 249 0 249
University of Northwestern Ohio Lima, OH 248 0 248
Section 7 · Explore sideways

Related majors to explore

Diesel Mechanics Technology/Technician

2,426 completions/yr

Airframe Mechanics and Aircraft Maintenance Technology/Technician

1,506 completions/yr

Automotive Engineering Technology/Technician

610 completions/yr

Aircraft Powerplant Technology/Technician

600 completions/yr

Autobody/Collision and Repair Technology/Technician

588 completions/yr

Avionics Maintenance Technology/Technician

305 completions/yr

High Performance and Custom Engine Technician/Mechanic

278 completions/yr

Motorcycle Maintenance and Repair Technology/Technician

268 completions/yr
Section 9 · Frequently asked

Common questions

What do automotive mechanics technology majors actually study day-to-day?
The curriculum is built around hands-on shop work alongside applied theory. Coursework covers engine performance and repair, brake and suspension systems, electrical and ignition systems, automatic and manual transmissions, and heating and air conditioning. Students spend substantial time working on actual vehicles, diagnosing faults with scan tools, and following technical service procedures. The CIP definition frames it as applying technical knowledge and skills to repair, service, and maintain all types of automobiles — and that applied, shop-floor emphasis holds throughout most programs.
Do I need a degree, or can I get into automotive mechanics without one?
This is worth thinking through carefully. The primary career destination — automotive service technician — lists "postsecondary nondegree award" as the typical entry credential, not an associate's degree. That means a shorter certificate program can open the same door as a two-year degree. That said, a formal degree offers more structured training, greater employer credibility at dealerships and fleet operations, and a path toward ASE certification. The bachelor's-level earnings data ($77,275 median at five years versus $59,760 for associate's completers) suggests some additional return for the longer credential, but the primary job market doesn't require it.
What kinds of jobs do automotive mechanics technology graduates end up in?
The most direct destination is automotive service technician and mechanic, with a median wage of $49,670 and a modest 4.2% projected job growth. A less common but higher-paying path is electrical and electronics installer and repairer for transportation equipment, which shows a $82,730 median wage and 6.1% projected growth — reflecting the growing complexity of vehicle electrical and hybrid systems. One career in the dataset to note: electronic equipment installers and repairers for motor vehicles shows a -13.6% projected decline, signaling that some narrower electronics roles are contracting as vehicles become more integrated.
How competitive is the job market for automotive mechanics graduates?
Demand for automotive service technicians is steady rather than surging — 4.2% projected growth aligns roughly with the economy-wide average. The field is large and geographically distributed, which means jobs exist in most metro areas and many rural ones. The shift toward EVs and increasingly computerized vehicles is changing the technical skill set required, which creates openings for graduates trained in modern diagnostics and electrical systems while reducing demand for purely mechanical roles. Annual completions of about 10,351 are spread across 517 colleges, so the market isn't oversaturated at the national level.
Is automotive mechanics the right fit, or should I look at a related program?
If your interest is specifically in passenger vehicles, this is the most direct path. If diesel and heavy equipment draws you more, Diesel Mechanics Technology (about 2,426 completions per year) is a narrower but well-defined adjacent field. For the engineering side of automotive systems — design and analysis rather than service — Automotive Engineering Technology (about 610 completions) is closer, though it leads to different roles. Autobody and Collision Repair Technology (588 completions) is the right track if you're drawn to the body work and paint side rather than mechanical systems. The differences matter for career fit: each leads to distinct occupations, compensation ranges, and work environments.
What's a realistic earnings picture after an automotive mechanics degree?
Five-year median earnings for this major run about $60,426 across degree levels — lower than most four-year degrees, but benchmarked against a field where the typical credential is shorter than an associate's. Associate's completers report a median around $59,760 at five years; bachelor's completers show $77,275. The core occupation — automotive service technician — posts a $49,670 median wage, which reflects a relatively early-career snapshot. Earnings potential rises with ASE certifications, specialization in high-demand areas like EV systems, dealership service management, or shop ownership. The top schools by completions are primarily UTI campuses and similar for-profit trade schools, which tend to feed directly into dealership and fleet service pipelines.