Trade Career Comparison

Which trade career fits you best?

Auto Mechanic

Diagnose, repair, and perform maintenance on cars and light trucks.

$46,990/yr median

$30,210$75,250

Little/No ChangeModerateUnion: LowEntry: Low

Training Path

Trade school or OJT (6 months - 2 years)

Environment

Indoor

Outlook

Little/No Change (+1%)

BLS Code

49-3023

Pros

✓One of the easiest trades to enter — you can start working with minimal formal training and build skills on the job.
✓Massive job market — there are auto repair shops in every community, giving you geographic flexibility.
✓Skills save you money personally — understanding your own vehicle and your family's vehicles is worth thousands over a lifetime.
✓Self-employment is very achievable — many mechanics eventually open their own shops or do mobile repair work.
✓The work is mentally engaging — modern vehicles are complex systems requiring genuine diagnostic skill.

Cons

✗Starting pay is among the lowest in the trades, and flat-rate pay systems at many shops mean you only earn money when you are actively billing hours.
✗Flat-rate pay creates pressure to work fast, which can lead to cutting corners or skipping breaks just to make a decent paycheck.
✗The industry has a reputation for low wages and poor benefits, especially at independent shops and chain stores.
✗Constant investment in tools is required — a full set of professional mechanic tools can cost $30,000-$50,000+ over a career.
✗The work is hard on your hands, back, and knees — chemicals, sharp metal, and awkward positions are daily realities.
✗Keeping up with rapidly evolving vehicle technology (EVs, ADAS, hybrids) requires ongoing training that is often on your own time and dime.

What the Life Is Like

Auto mechanics work in repair shop environments, diagnosing and repairing everything from brake jobs to complex electrical and drivetrain issues. A busy day at a general repair shop might include an oil change, a brake job, diagnosing a check engine light using a scan tool, replacing a water pump, and performing a state inspection. Dealership techs tend to work on one manufacturer's vehicles and handle warranty work, recalls, and more complex repairs.

Hours are typically 8 AM to 5 PM, Monday through Friday, with some Saturday work. The 40-hour week is standard, but many mechanics work on flat-rate — you are paid by the job, not the hour. This means a skilled, fast mechanic can earn more than their hourly rate, but a slow week with easy jobs (or a string of difficult diagnostics that eat up time) can mean a thin paycheck. The culture in shops varies widely — some are professional and well-equipped, while others are underfunded with outdated equipment.

The physical work is moderate. You are not lifting heavy structural materials, but you spend all day on your feet, often working in uncomfortable positions under vehicles on lifts or on creepers. Chemical exposure to brake dust, solvents, oil, and coolant is constant. Hand injuries are common. Despite the downsides, many mechanics genuinely enjoy the puzzle of diagnosis and the satisfaction of fixing something that was broken.

How to Get Started

Get training through a trade school or community college

Programs in automotive technology typically last 6 months to 2 years and cover engine repair, brakes, electrical systems, and computer diagnostics. ASE Education Foundation-accredited programs are preferred by employers. Alternatively, some shops will hire you with no training and teach you on the job.

Start as a lube tech or shop helper

Entry-level positions doing oil changes, tire rotations, and basic maintenance let you learn shop operations and gradually take on more complex work. The pay is low initially, but you are building skills and a reputation.

Invest in basic tools

Most shops require mechanics to provide their own hand tools. Start with a basic set and add to it over time. Avoid going into heavy debt for tools early in your career — buy quality basics and expand as your income grows.

Pursue ASE certifications

ASE (Automotive Service Excellence) certifications in areas like engine repair (A1), electrical systems (A6), and engine performance (A8) validate your skills to employers and customers. Becoming ASE Master Certified (passing all 8 primary tests) significantly boosts your credibility and earning power.

Specialize or work toward self-employment

Experienced mechanics can specialize in diagnostics, transmission work, diesel, or specific brands. Many mechanics eventually open their own shops or do mobile diagnostics. Specialization in EVs and hybrids is an increasingly valuable niche as the vehicle fleet transitions.

Felony Record & Licensing

Generally Accessible

ASE certification is skill-based with no criminal history screening. Many shops actively hire formerly incarcerated workers.

Auto Mechanic is one of the more accessible trades for people rebuilding after a conviction.

Training Funding & Support

Pell Grants Are Available Again

As of July 2023, the FAFSA no longer asks about drug convictions. The FAFSA Simplification Act restored Pell Grant eligibility for incarcerated and formerly incarcerated students. If a past drug conviction kept you from financial aid before, you can apply again.

WIOA Workforce Funding

The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) funds free job training, career counseling, and supportive services (transportation, work clothes, childcare) for people reentering the workforce. Contact your local American Job Center (careeronestop.org) to see what's available in your area.

Ban-the-Box & Fair Chance Hiring

Over 37 states and 150+ cities have "ban-the-box" or fair chance hiring laws that prevent employers from asking about criminal history on job applications. Many require waiting until after an interview or conditional job offer. These laws are expanding rapidly — check your state's specific rules.

Licensing laws vary by state and change frequently. This is general guidance, not legal advice. Always verify with your state's licensing board before enrolling in a training program.

Data last verified March 2026 · View sources

We verify our data against official sources. Verification dates show when we last checked — they do not guarantee the information is still current. Laws, rates, and thresholds can change at any time. Always confirm critical information at the official source or with a qualified professional.

National Employment Law Project (NELP) — Fair Chance Hiring

General trade accessibility levels for people with felony convictions — categorized as generally-accessible, varies-by-state, often-restricted, or highly-restricted

https://www.nelp.org/policy-issue/criminal-records-and-employment/

Verified March 2026

trade-schools.net — Jobs for Felons

Trade accessibility and reentry employment guidance for specific trades

https://www.trade-schools.net/articles/jobs-for-felons

Verified March 2026

Hire Felons — Reentry Employment Guide

Employer reentry hiring policies and trade accessibility for people with felony convictions

https://www.hirefelons.org/

Verified March 2026

ASE — About ASE Testing

ASE (Automotive Service Excellence) certification — no criminal history screening

https://www.ase.com/certification-series/

Verified March 2026

OSHA — Powered Industrial Trucks

OSHA forklift certification — employer-provided, no criminal history screening

https://www.osha.gov/powered-industrial-trucks

Verified March 2026

EPA — Section 608 Technician Certification

EPA Section 608 refrigerant certification — no criminal history screening

https://www.epa.gov/section608

Verified March 2026

Federal Student Aid — FAFSA Simplification Act

Pell Grant eligibility restored for people with drug convictions and incarcerated individuals, effective July 1, 2023; PELL_GRANT_RESTORED_DATE: "July 2023"

FAFSA Simplification Act, Pub. L. 117-103 (2021); 20 U.S.C. § 1070a

https://studentaid.gov/announcements-events/fafsa-simplification

Verified March 2026

National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) — Ban the Box Legislation

Ban-the-box and fair chance hiring laws — 37+ states + DC + 150+ localities as of 2026; BAN_THE_BOX_STATE_COUNT: 37; BAN_THE_BOX_CITY_COUNT: 150

https://www.ncsl.org/labor-and-employment/ban-the-box-legislation

Verified March 2026

NELP — Ban the Box: U.S. Cities, Counties, and States

Fair chance hiring law coverage — 37+ states + DC + 150+ localities; BAN_THE_BOX_PRIVATE_EMPLOYER_STATES: ["California", "Illinois", "New Jersey", "Washington"]

https://www.nelp.org/publication/ban-the-box-fair-chance-hiring-state-and-local-guide/

Verified March 2026

U.S. Department of Labor — Reentry Employment Opportunities (REO)

WIOA Section 169 workforce funding for reentry — job training, career counseling, and supportive services

Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, 29 U.S.C. § 3224; WIOA Sec. 169

https://www.dol.gov/agencies/eta/reentry

Verified March 2026

Legal Information Institute — 18 U.S.C. § 922

18 U.S.C. § 922(g) — federal prohibition on felons possessing firearms, effectively barring law enforcement careers

18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1)

https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/922

Verified March 2026