What’s important to automotive technicians when looking for a new employer? What does job satisfaction look like for today’s automotive technicians?

Using data from our latest Voice of Technician Survey along with a few other industry sources, we answer these questions and more below!

Demographics

  • There are over 592,000 automotive technicians employed in the United States (IBISWorld).
  • Post-secondary automotive completions in 2022 showed a 17% increase in only one year (TechForce Foundation).
  • Over 465,000 new entrant automotive technicians will be needed between 2023 and 2027 (TechForce Foundation).
  • The average age of automotive technicians is 40-years-old (Zippia).
  • Women make up 12% of all automotive technicians in the United States (BLS).
  • 85% of automotive technicians in the United States are white, followed by 29% who are Hispanic or Latino (BLS).

What Technicians Want in an Employer

  • 93% of automotive technicians want paid vacation time.
  • 89% of automotive technicians want to receive paid training from the shop they work for.
  • 78% of automotive technicians want a well-documented career path.
  • 75% of automotive technicians do not want to work weekends.
  • 71% of automotive technicians want thorough and consistent performance reviews.
  • 34% of automotive technicians prefer to be paid hourly with a production bonus, while 26% prefer flat rate with a 40-hour guarantee.

Voice of Technician Summary banner ad

Automotive Technician Job Satisfaction

  • 59% of automotive technicians think their shop provides fair compensation.
  • 56% of automotive technicians think their shop provides good benefits.
  • 56% of automotive technicians feel respected by their management.
  • 54% of automotive technicians would recommend their shop to a friend.
  • 41% of automotive technicians think their shop management communicates well.
  • 38% automotive technicians think their shop has a well laid out career path.

Automotive Industry

  • 30% of automotive technicians said they would eliminate flat rate as a first step to helping solve the technician shortage.
  • 29% of automotive technicians would like shops to pay for tools or provide an adequate tool allowance as a solution to combat the technician shortage.
  • 60% of automotive technicians have considered leaving the industry.
  • Out of automotive technicians who have considered leaving the industry, 46% of them said stress related to pay was their biggest reason.

Explore technician pay rates in your area with WrenchWay's Technician Pay Tool

Bonus Infographic!

Various auto and diesel mechanic facts in an infographic image