Career advancement for a technician often feels like a balancing act—juggling long hours, physical demands, and the pressure to keep learning. It’s easy to fall into the trap of overworking in the name of progress. In fact, nearly 70% of technicians on Shop Talk, WrenchWay’s online community, told us they are experiencing some level of job burnout. But building a successful, fulfilling career as a technician doesn’t have to come at the cost of your well-being.
We asked several industry professionals to give us their best advice for how technicians can advance their careers without burning out. Check out what they had to say!
Real Advice from the Field: How to Grow Without Burning Out
“For today’s technicians to avoid burnout, it is more important now than ever to have a “never stop” learning/training mindset.
Interview the shop you’re going to consider parking your tool box at, and don’t be afraid to ask tough questions. You will want to grow with a place that will invest in and listen to you. If you are a positive person, don’t end up in a shop where there is even one toxic tech in the building.
Your attitude will determine your success and it will require you to do your part to put in the effort and go do the work.”
Craig Zale
Owner, Craig’s Car Care
“Keep learning, so when your body slows down, your mind won’t. This can be the difference between advancement and layoff.”
Ed Chipalowsky
Business Owner, Chipalowsky Consulting
“Focus on building a repeatable workflow that clears the noise and kills wasted motion. You don’t need more hours—you need to squeeze more value out of every one. That’s how you scale up without burning out.”
Curtis Gardner
Audi Master Guild Technician, Sewell Automotive Companies
Technician Efficiency Consultant, TechGnarr
“Always be humble. Always be willing to learn new skills to make yourself versatile and a key member of the team. Always be ready to pass along the knowledge you know to inexperienced techs. This is an industry of giving back for what it gave you. Be a teacher. Be a leader. Be a mentor, and more than anything, be a friend and be kind.”
Mike Edmaiston
Service Manager – Stoops Freightliner-Western Star
“Development of a career plan with your Service Director/Advisor can help with burnout. If your goal is to become a senior master tech, plan your training/growth path based on what’s needed to reach your goals. Plan check-ins with your manager/leader to ensure your growth. Be professionally candid about your progress/lack of progress. Plan the work and work the plan.”
Fay Watts
Retired Technician Development Manager, Ford Motor Company
Director, Education Board, ASE
“Technicians who desire making themselves promotable need to develop a growth plan for their future. Improve ability, experience, and core knowledge while maintaining a grounded personal presence. Utilize mentor(s) and seek regular feedback to monitor your process. Select mentors who will be objective and forthcoming with real-life feedback.”
James McGovern
Experienced Equipment Maintenance Manager
“Learn how to turn it off when you leave. Never be afraid to ask for time off for family reasons. Most importantly, never miss one of your children’s activities—just being around family will help you reset and face tomorrow.”
Joe Porter
Operations Manager, Nissan of Lumberton
“Research overwhelmingly supports journaling for career growth. It builds self-awareness, resilience, and clarity. Keep a searchable doc (Word/Google Docs)—logging daily wins, mistakes, lessons, and feedback, plus how you felt. Review it regularly to track progress and spot patterns—seeing how far you’ve come fuels motivation. Critically, work for a shop that rewards improvement—burnout often stems from effort that feels invisible or unrewarded. The combination of intentional reflection and the right workplace culture is key to advancing without burning out.”
Matt Fanslow
Diagnostic Technician/Shop Manager, Riverside Automotive
“My advice is simple: ALWAYS be a student of your craft. The best in any field never stop learning and never truly “arrive.” This mindset helps you grow, prevents burnout, and keeps your focus on mastery rather than chasing titles or money which is more the end result. This is a long game; not a drag race.”
Jon Olstad
Technician Production Manager, Walser Automotive Group
“What I have told a few techs is to find that niche. If it’s drivers assistance systems, infotainment issues, or suspension geometry—get in that groove. Become the go-to for some facet of that career. However, you need a nurturing environment for that to happen. You need leaders that understand that not all is as it seems. It is daunting on many levels to choose a path that is efficient, doesn’t sacrifice value, and doesn’t burn out your team.”
Jonathan Perella
Service Technician, Tesla
“Always strive to learn the new current information from your manufacturer. The speed at which technology changes leaves no time for burnout if you embrace the change.”
Jeff Blakeney
Electrical Core Instructor, UTI
“Focus on quality not quantity that comes with experience. Treat every vehicle as if it were a family member’s. Always listen closely to the customer’s explanation of the problem and always verify it before and after you work on it. Most importantly, LEAVE your work at work—spend time with your family.”
Joe Wintermute
Retired CTE Teacher
“One of the biggest obstacles in this industry is the shortage of skilled technicians. But the truth is, the next generation is showing up—they just aren’t sticking around. And often, it’s because no one is investing in them.
If you want to grow beyond being a line mechanic, start by training your replacement. That doesn’t mean you’re giving up your job—it means you’re preparing for your next one. Leaders don’t hoard knowledge; they build teams, they create systems, and they elevate others.
Too many experienced techs hold back their knowledge out of fear—fear of being replaced or becoming less valuable. But the ones who rise to foreman, manager, shop owner, or trainer are the ones who teach what they know. They create value by multiplying themselves. You can’t move up if you’re the only one who can do what you do.
Take time to mentor. Show younger techs how to think, how to problem-solve, how to take pride in their work. If they flake out, that’s on them—but if no one teaches them, that’s on us. Train your replacement, and you’ll create space to grow into your future.”
Josh Arrowood
Fixed Operations Director, Smart Automotive Group
“Maintain the wonder of learning new things throughout your career. Always seek knowledge that will allow you to work smarter and solve challenges faster. Go the extra mile—it is never crowded out there. ”
Jim Cokonis
Technical Director, Today’s Class
“To move up without burning out, technicians should relentlessly pursue growth—through certifications, mentorships, and taking on bold challenges—while fiercely protecting their time and energy. Success isn’t about grinding nonstop; it’s about working smart, staying inspired, and knowing when to rest so you can rise stronger. Your career should fuel you, not drain you.”
Jason Phillips
Master Tech, Bruneel Meridian
“Maintain work-life balance. Do not be consumed and understand life is more than your career. From the hours you are clocked in, commit all of yourself to what you do. When you clock out, invest that time in your family and your own mental/spiritual/emotional health.”
James Wagner
Technician, Getz Automotive
“My first piece of advice for a technician who wants to advance their career is to ALWAYS BE LEARNING. If someone approaches their work (and life for that matter) from the standpoint of constantly being humble enough to know that they don’t know everything, they will not only learn more, but others will share their knowledge more favorably.
Secondly, I would say BE SOMEONE WHO HELPS OTHERS BE BETTER. Whether it’s a co-worker who is your junior, your peer, or someone you look up to and aspire to be like, ask yourself, “What can I do to help that person be great at their job?” The more it becomes evident that your focus is on helping others, the more others will be willing to give you help, advice, guidance, and advancement opportunities.”
Tim Winkeler
President & CEO, VIP Tires & Service
“Work on being the best at your current position and while you’re doing that also learn as much about your desired position as possible so you’re ready when the time comes.”
Wayne Bridges
Director of Technician Training, Toyota of Puyallup
“Take care of your body, especially your feet. Wear good boots!”
James Palmer
Technician, Auto Centric
“I think it helps to embrace this career as a lifestyle and craft. By working to perfect your craft, you’re always on the lookout for ways to get better. How do I get more efficient? How do I get more organized? Have I maximized my potential? By asking these types of questions to yourself, you’re generating a growth type of mindset that will have a positive impact on your entire life. The more you can change your focus from the negative, the better. There are negatives to every job but focus on growth and putting yourself in positive positions to enjoy yourself in the shop.”
Jay Goninen
Co-Founder & President, WrenchWay
“Technicians grow best when they work within a schedule that reflects their personal values and life priorities. Balancing a mix of job types prevents burnout and keeps the work engaging while allowing space for specialization and growth. It’s also important to maintain physical wellness—daily movement and varied tasks help prevent fatigue and injury. Career advancement should feel like a path forward, not a trade-off of your well-being.”
Tara Topel
Owner, Topel’s Service Center
“If you love what you’re doing, don’t listen to the negative Nancy’s. You can do whatever it is you want with your career but just realize there are certain steps that must be taken, and it’s not an overnight process. Things do take time so patience is #1. Next, be a lifetime learner. Ask lots of questions to improve your craft. In some places, it’s tough to get formal training or have a positive mentor, but you have to work through that adversity. Lastly, have an open mind to change. Sometimes change is uncomfortable, but try to enjoy the process and take it one day at a time.”
Justin B.
Principal, Business Development Northwest Region, I-CAR
“You have to be willing to step out of your comfort zone. Many feel like taking a pay cut while learning a new role is a step back. An arrow can’t be propelled forward without first being pulled backwards.”
Tyler Hansberger
Sales/Training, Car-O-Liner
“Automotive technicians are valued heavily for the hours they produce every pay period. When it comes to progressing without burning out, you have to shift your mindset from just hours produced to value provided to your customers. This means doing everything with the customer experience in mind, and often this doesn’t increase your pay in the short term. Go above and beyond on every vehicle and customer, and watch your career change in front of your eyes.”
Josh Arnold
Master Technician, Austin Subaru
“I find burnout happens more often when a tech has not set goals for themselves. If you have no destination in mind and you just work to stack money and pay bills it gets monotonous. To overcome this through my career, I set goals for myself and made the goals clear to upper management. ‘An expectation unarticulated is a disappointment, guaranteed.’ I heard this quote on a podcast years ago and it is probably the most important driver for my career advancements. If you do not let your expectations be known, you are less likely to achieve them.”
Jason Olinger
Shop Manager, Gwatney Buick GMC
Want More? Learn How to Mitigate Burnout In Your Shop
Career growth doesn’t have to mean pushing yourself to the limit. The insights shared above are just a starting point. If you’re looking for more ways to create a healthier, more sustainable work environment—for yourself or your team—there are additional tools and strategies worth exploring.
In this video, we discuss how job burnout affects technicians. Watch the full video or review the highlights in this article: How to Mitigate Technician Burnout in Your Shop/Dealership
