Automotive Mechanic Job Description, Key Duties and Responsibilities

This post provides detailed information on the automotive mechanic job description, including the key duties, tasks, and responsibilities they commonly perform.

It also highlights the major requirements you may be expected to meet to be hired for the automotive mechanic role by most employers/recruiters.

What Does an Automotive Mechanic Do?

Automotive mechanic, who is also known as an auto mechanic, is the real lifeline to the vehicle servicing and repair industry.

The main task of an automotive mechanic is to ensure everything works perfectly for a vehicle, from ordinary servicing to super-complicated diagnostics and repairs.

According to Seek, automotive mechanics are individuals who have been trained to effectively repair, test, and maintain petrol engines, as well as the mechanical parts of motor vehicles.

An automotive mechanic is endowed with the responsibility of working with various matters on a vehicle, including the engine, transmission, electrical systems, braking system, and suspension parts.

They bring into the application of manual skills and diagnostic apparatus to trace and find solutions to any problem.

The automotive mechanic job description entails diagnosing problems using state-of-the-art diagnostic equipment, performing routine servicing, such as oil changes and tire rotation, and repairing or replacing faulty parts.

Their duties also involve testing repaired vehicles for perfect functioning and communicating clearly and precisely the nature of the repairs done and maintenance needs to the customers.

At most locations, an automotive mechanic works alone with the flexibility of supervision by a service manager or shop owner.

Larger sectors like dealerships or repair shops have intermediate team leaders or senior mechanics that monitor the work of both junior mechanics and trainees.

Automotive mechanics have broad employment opportunities in auto repair shops, car dealerships, fleet maintenance departments, government agencies, and public transportation services, even to the sale of auto parts, for diagnostic and minor repair tasks.

Being an automotive mechanic typically requires the equivalent of a high school diploma.

Most mechanics will have taken further education in automotive technology of some type, most often in programs of six months in length, up to two years for an Associate degree.

Continued training is important because technologies within these fields are always changing.

Accreditation by such organizations as the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) is very important to employers and is, therefore, one of the most widely sought.

Many times, automotive mechanics will branch out and learn other skills beyond their core duties, including engine repair or electrical systems work and body work and paint touch-ups.

They also perform safety inspections and emission test, maintain a detailed record of repairs made to vehicles, and accurately estimate the cost of any needed repairs for the customer.

Automotive mechanics play a vital role in many countries, especially in those nations with high rates of vehicle ownership.

The United States, for example, has a huge fleet of personal and commercial vehicles.

All these need automotive mechanics to keep them in good working order.

In developing countries where economies are on their way to growth, the demand for professional mechanics is also on the rise as more people become car owners.

In the United States, the NHTSA is the major ruling body on vehicle safety standards, which indirectly controls the practice of automotive mechanics.

At the state level, typically the Departments of Motor Vehicles regulate and enforce the testing for safety inspections and emissions, knowledge areas required for mechanics.

Employers usually look out for an automotive mechanic with strong problem-solving skills, a keen eye for detail, manual dexterity, great customer service skills, the ability to work independently yet collaboratively, and dedication to continuous learning and adapting to evolving technologies in the automotive industry.

Automotive Mechanic Job Description Sample/Example/Template

The automotive mechanic job description consists of the following tasks, duties, and responsibilities:

• Perform regular vehicle inspection and preventive maintenance
• Diagnose mechanical problems with computerized diagnostic equipment
• Change oils, check fluid levels
• Rotate and balance tires
• Check and replace worn out or bad brake pads and rotors
• Repair or replace engine components
• Transmission system servicing and repair
• Diagnose and repair problems involving electrical system
• Replace hoses and belts that are damaged or worn out
• Perform wheel alignments
• Replace, or if possible repair suspension and steering components
• Conduct emission test and necessary adjustment
• Replace air filters and cabin filters
• Exhaust system repair and replacement
• Air conditioning and heating servicing.
• Test and replace batteries
• Repair or replace fuel system components.
• Perform all safety inspections that could be ordered by the state or mandated by state regulation.
• Keep a complete and detailed record of all work done and parts used
• Make cost estimates for the repairs and maintenance of vehicle to be done and forward to the customer
• Describe repair procedures and recommended maintenance to the customer
• Keep workshop area clean and organized
• Adhere to all workshop safety procedures and guidelines
• Keep up to date on the introduction of new technologies on vehicles and new methods of vehicle maintenance
• Mentor junior mechanics or train apprentices.

Automotive Mechanic Job Description for Resume

 If you are making a new resume or CV as someone that is currently working as an automotive mechanic or have worked in that role before, then you can apply the sample automotive mechanic job description provided above in crafting the Professional Experience part of the resume.

You can express the duties and responsibilities you have performed or are presently carrying out as an automotive mechanic in your resume’s Professional Experience by utilizing the ones in the job description example provided above.

This will show to the recruiter/employer that you have been successful working as an automotive mechanic, which can significantly boost your chances of being hired for the new position that you are seeking, especially if it requires someone with some automotive mechanic work experience.

Automotive Mechanics Essential Requirements: Skills, Knowledge, and Abilities for Career Success

Here are important requirements you may be expected to meet to be hired for the automotive mechanic role:

• Huge knowledge of vehicle components and systems
• Effectiveness in the use of diagnostic tools and equipment
• Good manual dexterity and hand-eye coordination
• Knowledge of technical manuals and schematics and ability to read and interpret them
• Problem-solving and analytical thinking
• Knowledge of various models and types of vehicles
• Safety procedures and protocols
• Simple arithmetic to calculate measurements and cost
• Verbal description ability for describing problems and repairs to the customer
• Physical strength and stamina to lift heavy parts and working in positions that are sometimes very uncomfortable
• Knowledge of automotive electronics and computer systems
• Attention to detail and the ability to follow very detailed procedures
• Time management skills to perform a number of repairs in a timely fashion
• Computer skills for recording and retrieving repair information
• Flexibility in learning new technologies and how to work with these technological advances.

Automotive Mechanic Employment

The number of employments or jobs for automotive technicians and mechanics in the U.S. was 676,570 in May 2023, according to survey data by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Employment by Industry

According to BLS, industries that employ the highest number of automotive service technicians and mechanics include:

• Automobile Dealers, 250,180
• Automotive Repair and Maintenance, 236,770
• Automotive Parts, Accessories, and Tire Retailers, 50,230       
• Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation), 16,020
• Motor Vehicle and Motor Vehicle Parts and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers, 12,320.

Generally, mechanics stand most of the day, and they usually work in well-ventilated and well-lighted repair shops.

Even though mechanics use computers quite frequently to diagnose and repair automotive problems, the work frequently greases up the parts and tools; this may also be done in uncomfortable positions.

Employment by State

According to survey data on Zippia, the best States for automotive mechanics based on job openings or employments include California and Florida with 2,438 and 2,421 employments respectively.

Automotive Mechanic Salary

The median annual salary for automotive service technicians and mechanics in the United States as of May 2023 was $51,940, as shown in the report by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Salary by Industry

Also, according to BLS, the industries that pay the highest salaries to automotive service technicians and mechanics in the U.S. include:

• Telecommunications, $93,120
• Natural Gas Distribution, $85,390
• Scientific Research and Development Services, $81,750
• Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution, $80,780
• Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing, $79,890.

According to June, 2024 survey data on Zippia, the average yearly salary for automotive mechanics is $42,864.

The States that pay the highest salaries to automotive mechanics include Colorado and California, with average yearly salaries of $59,170 and $52,464 respectively.

Conclusion

The automotive mechanic plays a crucial role in ensuring the safe and efficient operation of vehicles.

This position demands a combination of technical expertise, problem-solving skills, and attention to detail.

The ideal person for this career will be a hands-on individual with a passion for automotive technology.

This article provides a detailed job description for the automotive mechanic role, highlighting the key duties and responsibilities they typically carry out. It gives a comprehensive framework for both employers seeking qualified candidates and job seekers aiming to understand the expectations of the automotive mechanic role.