Occupation Profile

Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics

(SOC Code : 49-3023)

in California

Diagnose, adjust, repair, or overhaul automotive vehicles. Exclude "Automotive Body and Related Repairers" (49-3021), "Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists" (49-3031), and "Electronic Equipment Installers and Repairers, Motor Vehicles" (49-2096).

Employers are usually looking for candidates with Post secondary vocational training .

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Occupational Wages

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Area	Year	Period	Hourly Mean	Hourly by Percentile
				25th	Median	75th
California	2012	1st Qtr	$20.99	$15.04	$19.42	$25.99

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Occupational Projections of Employment (also called "Outlook" or "Demand")

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Area	Estimated Year-Projected Year	Employment		Employment Change		Annual Avg Openings
		Estimated	Projected	Number	Percent
California	2010 - 2020	67,000	80,400	13,400	20.0	3,070

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Job Openings from JobCentral National Labor Exchange

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Enter a Zip Code Find a Zip code in California

Within miles of Zip Code.

Possible Licenses Required and Issuing Authority

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License Title

License Authority

Brake/Lamp Adjuster

Department of Consumer Affairs
Bureau of Automotive Repair
Licensing Unit
www.bar.ca.gov

Smog Check Technician

Department of Consumer Affairs
Bureau of Automotive Repair
Licensing Unit
www.bar.ca.gov

About Licenses

Industries Employing This Occupation (click on Industry Title to View Employers List)

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Industry Title

Number of Employers in State of California

Percent of Total
Employment for Occupation in State of California

Automobile Dealers

8,134

31.7%

Automotive Repair and Maintenance

37,725

30.2%

Auto Parts, Accessories, and Tire Stores

9,715

8.8%

Gasoline Stations

7,868

2.4%

About Staffing Patterns

Training Programs (click on title for more information)

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Program Title

Alternative Fuel Vehicle Technology/Technician

Automobile/Automotive Mechanics Technology/Technician

Automotive Engineering Technology/Technician

Medium/Heavy Vehicle and Truck Technology/Technician

Vehicle Emissions Inspection & Maintenance Technology/Techni

About Training & Apprenticeships

About This Occupation (from O*NET - The Occupation Information Network)

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Top Tasks (Specific duties and responsibilities of this job.)

Test drive vehicles, and test components and systems, using equipment such as infrared engine analyzers, compression gauges, and computerized diagnostic devices.

Examine vehicles to determine extent of damage or malfunctions.

Repair, reline, replace, and adjust brakes.

Follow checklists to ensure all important parts are examined, including belts, hoses, steering systems, spark plugs, brake and fuel systems, wheel bearings, and other potentially troublesome areas.

Confer with customers to obtain descriptions of vehicle problems, and to discuss work to be performed and future repair requirements.

Perform routine and scheduled maintenance services such as oil changes, lubrications, and tune-ups.

Test and adjust repaired systems to meet manufacturers` performance specifications.

Repair and service air conditioning, heating, engine-cooling, and electrical systems.

Review work orders and discuss work with supervisors.

Plan work procedures, using charts, technical manuals, and experience.

More Tasks for Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics , More Tasks for Automotive Master Mechanics , More Tasks for Automotive Specialty Technicians

Top Skills used in this Job

Equipment Maintenance - Performing routine maintenance on equipment and determining when and what kind of maintenance is needed.

Repairing - Repairing machines or systems using the needed tools.

Troubleshooting - Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.

Equipment Selection - Determining the kind of tools and equipment needed to do a job.

Quality Control Analysis - Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.

Repairing - Repairing machines or systems using the needed tools.

Operation and Control - Controlling operations of equipment or systems.

Operation Monitoring - Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.

Operation and Control - Controlling operations of equipment or systems.

Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

More Skills for Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics , More Skills for Automotive Master Mechanics , More Skills for Automotive Specialty Technicians

Top Abilities (Attributes of the person that influence performance in this job.)

Problem Sensitivity - The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.

Arm-Hand Steadiness - The ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.

Finger Dexterity - The ability to make precisely coordinated movements of the fingers of one or both hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble very small objects.

Control Precision - The ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions.

Arm-Hand Steadiness - The ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.

Manual Dexterity - The ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.

Extent Flexibility - The ability to bend, stretch, twist, or reach with your body, arms, and/or legs.

Control Precision - The ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions.

Problem Sensitivity - The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.

More Abilities for Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics , More Abilities for Automotive Master Mechanics , More Abilities for Automotive Specialty Technicians

Top Work Values (Aspects of this job that create satisfaction.)

Independence - Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions.

Support - Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees.

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Top Interests (The types of activities someone in this job would like.)

Realistic - Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.

Investigative - Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.

More Interests for Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics , More Interests for Automotive Master Mechanics , More Interests for Automotive Specialty Technicians

Alternate Titles

Auto Technicians; Auto Brake Mechanics; Fuel Injection Servicers; and Auto Transmission Specialists.