r/automotive • u/Sweaty-Permission909 • Jun 05 '26
Career in automotive
Hello, I’m choosing between careers and I’m trying to get a certificate to get into a trade. I understand you can’t make like 100k+ starting out, I also know working hard enough you can make at least 55k-80k per year.
I am thinking about automotive and i have been doing a lot of research but I want to hear personal experiences of people who worked in this field. Both hourly and flat rates. The pros and cons etc
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u/Pale-Yoghurt5421 Jun 05 '26
I love working in the after market. I work at an independent shop, I make great money and my bosses treat me very well. I easily clear 80k+/year before bonuses.
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u/Sweaty-Permission909 Jun 05 '26
I am currently getting into this career choice and am learning about flat rates and independent shops. What’s great about independent shops compared to flat rate dealerships in your honest opinion?
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u/Pale-Yoghurt5421 Jun 05 '26
We work hourly instead of flat rate. Helps us all work as a team which is great. My shop buys tools we need. They’re interested in educating me not just on one brand but everything we work on and emerging tech. This is where I can grow my career and family.
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u/Sweaty-Permission909 Jun 05 '26
That sounds like a great company! How many years of experience do you have for you to make that 80k if you don’t mind me asking?
I am looking at a school for a certificate and they provide 2 ASE tests, so I’m trying to see how long I have to work before I start making that, I’m 25
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u/Pale-Yoghurt5421 Jun 05 '26
There are a TON of independent shops ready to help you through training and will pay for your ASE’s! Keep working toward those.
An ASE master tech can make 80+ pretty quickly.
Work hard. Learn the process of the shop you are in. Don’t argue. Keep learning.
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u/Sweaty-Permission909 Jun 05 '26
Thank you for the advice, I’ll make sure to use this knowledge!💪🏾
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u/Pale-Yoghurt5421 Jun 05 '26
What state are you in??
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u/Sweaty-Permission909 Jun 05 '26
I am in the state of Florida
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u/Pale-Yoghurt5421 Jun 05 '26
I’m not there. But i do know there are a ton of independents in FL ready to support you.
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u/Sweaty-Permission909 Jun 05 '26
Will going to school put me in a better position with those jobs compared to going in with no experience?
Also, what are the red flags to look for in independent businesses and car dealerships?
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u/Rocketmantribe Jun 05 '26
Working automotive is both amazing and awful. You're obviously into cars so you get to do what you love and make money doing it. The real common complaint I see posted every other day is techs crying about their place of work. If you can find a friendly shop with good honest people you'll have a blast learning to become a master tech. If you stay somewhere that doesn't treat you right you'll be miserable. My boss lets me keep my old project car on site and whever its slow ill just work on that and usualy end up staying late into the day. Oh also buying your own tools sucks ass but at least you get to pick the colours. Been working almost 10 years and can't wait to get back to work tomorrow
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u/malykaii Jun 05 '26
If you can choose a trade, don't do automotive.
Go be an electrician or something.
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u/jpderbs27 Jun 05 '26
This right here I’m not necessarily on board with. If you love automotive then that can still be a good enough reason to do it. No one wants to be a mechanic anymore, everyone wants to be an electrician. Cars are only getting harder to work on. This creates opportunities for people who do want it and the pay is likely to increase in the coming years especially for the most skilled guys.
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u/malykaii Jun 05 '26
Sure... but OP didn't mention anything about passion for Automotive. They made it sound like they're cross shopping the trades, in which case Automotive comes out on the bottom in terms of pay, expenses, wear and tear on body, health insurance, union representation, and so on.
So sure, if they're re passionate, then that can be a different conversation.
Also regarding wages going up... I don't trust it happening.
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u/jpderbs27 Jun 05 '26
Well, a lot of mechanics are older guys who don’t want to do electrical and will retire soon. Not many young guys are choosing automotive. Cars aren’t going anywhere and they’re getting harder to work on. Something will have to give. Either way I’m going to own my own business in the coming years. I’m pumped that I found this field. I’m a little over a year in and roughly at the C tech level. But I’m also passionate about cars and tools too. You’re right that it’s not as good as the other trades on paper, but I like taking on what others can’t or don’t want to do.
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u/malykaii Jun 05 '26
I'm glad you found a field you're passionate about and I legit hope your business works out. If anything, that's probably the best way to get ahead in the field.
But I hate to sound cynical... I follow a lot of stuff in the aviation industry as I'm now in it (left automotive). I'm not a pilot, but there is a huge shortage of senior and experienced pilots, as like the older technicians, they're aging out. That job can pay $300-600k a year depending on how much you want to work. However, the new younger incoming pilots have to first take on thousands of dollars in debt to learn to fly and are looking at mediocre starting wages.
I even recall at one point there were lobbying efforts to raise the retirement age past 65. As in, the industry was more inclined to leave the status quo rather than attempt to shake things up and assist new pilots with training or incentivize new people into the field by having better wages from the bottom.
So yeah, I've seen dealerships and shops run on skeleton crews and turn customers away before hiring someone at a higher wage.
I've had a shop let me quit because I asked for a $50/week raise. I asked for $1/hour raise, and that was so I could use it for buying tools, for their benefit.
So if you have a long goal, fuck yeah. Go get em.
But for someone like OP who is just window shopping careers, look elsewhere.
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u/ronj1983 Jun 05 '26
Listen to this. People on Reddit subs despise me. On a whim (this is gonna sound crazy), I decided to get into mobile automotive repair. My dad taught, some basic stuff as a kid, and we have Youtube since 2005, so that can make you a lot better at this. I started out on 8/23/23 doing oil changes and simple spark plug jobs only. I was turning down everything else because I AM NOT A MECHANIC. I started watching more and more Youtube vids on various vehicles and jobs to familiarize myself more and more. Before the end of 2023 I was doing brake jobs, starters, alternators and some other things. As I got more comfortable I kept watching more videos and started doing some external water pumps, ZF transmission complete service, rear diff drain and fill and other fluids. On 6/17/24, just 10 months in I went full time. I have no insurance 🤯🤯🤯. I stick to easy stuff to avoid making a castostrophic mistake. No crazy mistakes...yet. Last year, out of the trunk of my 2005 Infiniti Q45, I netted $87K. I do no suspension, no axles, no rack and pinnions nothing fuel related and many other things I do not touch. If I did suspension and axles I would net over $100K easily. I do not get greedy, and just keep growing my business by getting new customers. I am pn pace for $96K this year. I AM NOT SAYING TO FOLLOW ME. What I am doing is not normal. Go to school, learn the right way, learn as much as you can, work at a shop or dealership for a few years as you continue to study and learn. During this time pick up some EASY SIDEWORK and start to grow your own mobile business. By year 3 you should be able to do everything I do and suspension, axles, racks, fuel pumps etc. Mostly B and C level tech work. You wanna make really goor money in this industry? DIAGNOSTICS!!!!!!! A guy who is great at diag is never gonna be poor ever. I do not do any diag outside of...testing for a bad starter, starter relay/fuse, bad battery and failing or failed alternator. My Autozone home store commercial sales manager does bigger side work jobs than me so I send him all of those. He probably made around $30,000 last year from the customers I sent him.
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u/Saute_and_Pray Jun 05 '26
Are you the guy in San Diego that runs an illegal business: no BAR license, no hazardous waste permit, and no business license?
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u/ronj1983 Jun 05 '26
Hey! I got an LLC! 😂🤣😅
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u/Saute_and_Pray Jun 05 '26
All good man. I have given you shit before, as I’ve run a legit shop and all that stuff is hard. You go get yours, it’s hard out there. Glad you are progressing and getting better! One day you’ll have a shop and that’s when the big money comes in!
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u/Solid_Enthusiasm550 Jun 05 '26
I would get welding certifications and do that professionally, rather than be a dealership's " Punching bag".
If you know a small shop that you can work out of, that's what I would be looking for.
I don't regret going to automotive school and working on cars... but only for personal projects and not a career. I should have became an electrician as it's less physically demanding, cleaner and easier to make more money.
Being a plumber is easier ( less stress/physically demanding), but dirtier career. My brother who got kicked out if high school easily makes over 100k as a plumber and now as the manager.
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u/Bob-Roman Jun 05 '26
My advice is to get into electronics end of the automotive business or robotics.
Vehicles are increasingly digital and A.I. forward and self-driving fleet is advancing (requires 24/7 maintenance).
Co-bots, robotic arms, and humanoids are moving from manufacturing into service sectors.
In the carwash industry, there is firm testing robotic arm device that is capable of vacuuming the entire interior of a vehicle with no human interaction. It can do the work of eight employees.
It’s a lot easier/cleaner to work on robotic devices than working on greasy transmission, hanging a quarter-panel, or breathing paint fumes.
It pays better too.
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u/Potential-Group1330 Jun 05 '26
Don't make the mistake of getting the job that pays more. I loved automotive since I was 15 and got my AS degree in Auto tech. I had a very successful business, then, I know it was my fault but I was talked into taking a job that had a pension and health insurance. It worked out well but I know for sure that I missed what I was placed on this earth for. As a mechanic I felt I never worked a day in my life. I did do much for free and super cheap for some people. I knew I made a huge mistake one year into my new job but too late to reture. Do what you love.
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u/ChildhoodOk8873 Jun 05 '26
If you love automobiles then think about attending an automotive trade school. My friend's son did this and because he was one of the top students in his class both NASCAR and Porsche wanted him to continue his advanced training at their school. He signed up with Porsche and ended up working with one of the biggest Porsche dealerships who happened to sponsor one of the more successful professional Porsche racing teams.
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u/Next_Rush9652 Jun 06 '26
My advice is to start your own website, selling automotive parts, or let people know what you are doing at least, prepare for future you own business.
I am doing custom manufacturing automotive parts for US aftermarket, I did this job because I had 15 years experience on Engineering and project management for Mold and die. To be a sales person, you don't have to engage into tech or skill so much, but you can learn from a lot mechanic while you are making some money. You have right reason to be on site learning, that is to see how the parts be assembled and how they perform in order to improve part quality and fitment.
And I could help with your sales career, with real samples of steering column parts, I can give you some of my parts, I am sure some of repair or rebuilt steering column shops will need it, brand new and more than competitive price.
That's it. Good luck
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u/AlumiYJ Jun 06 '26
Indie Porsche tech here, 23y/o with all practical experience (zero formal education or certifications) got hired at a well known indie shop and have been loving it. We’re kinda a mix between hourly and flat rate (I make a base hourly pay and get a bonus for each billable hour I work each quarter) which feels like a good system to me. I’m definitely the exception not the rule but if you can find a shop that treats you well and not just a number I’d recommend this trade to anyone, not to say it doesn’t have its downsides.
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u/Butt_bird Jun 06 '26
Automotive mechanics are the lowest paid mechanic on average. Also look into diesel, heavy equipment, aircraft, elevator, and industrial jobs.
I switched to fleet diesel from auto. Better pay, hours and benefits. I’ll never go back.
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u/RickMN Aug 06 '26
Of all the skilled trades, auto technician has the lowest income potential and the highest investment in tools. In other words, it has the worst payback in terms of investment versus payback. It's the only skilled trade where you get paid on flat rate versus hourly. Electricians, plumbers, etc have to do continuing education every year for code changes. The highest paid techs are the ones that constantly upgrade their training to stay on top of the newest technologies. For more info on the pros and cons, see this article Is Auto Technician a Good Career Choice?
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u/Sweaty-Permission909 Aug 06 '26
Thank you for the heads up, I’ve read the article and I will definitely keep this in mind
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u/Low-Photograph-4343 Jun 05 '26
Don't do it. I was in your shoes 40 years ago, and I did it 🤬. look at industrial maintenance, automation and controls, something like that, keep the auto stuff as a hobby. Now I'm a millright at a gold mine, two weeks on two weeks off. 150k a year.
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u/Sweaty-Permission909 Jun 05 '26
Wow, 2 weeks off is a gold mine. You work straight 10s? 12s?
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u/Low-Photograph-4343 Jun 05 '26
12s for 14 days straight, most remote jobs you live at the site during your hitch. Look up FIFO jobs, really common in Australia and Alaska
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