Skilled trades and making things · Ohio
Automotive service technician: what the job actually is
Inspecting, diagnosing and repairing cars and light trucks, from oil changes and brakes to computer-controlled engines and electric vehicles.
By Nick Gonzalez, founder, U.S. Air Force veteranChecked against official Ohio sources Pay: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025
The work
What this job actually is
- Routine work: oil changes, tires, brakes and inspections. New techs do a lot of this, and it pays the bills for the shop.
- Diagnosis: a warning light is on or the car makes a noise, and you work out why with a scan tool, a meter and a test drive.
- Modern cars are full of computers, sensors and wiring. Electrical troubleshooting is a big and growing part of the job.
- Many techs buy their own tools over years, and a full set is a serious investment.
- At some shops you are paid by the job, so how fast and accurate you are affects your paycheck directly. Ask about this before you take a job.
A Tuesday
What a normal day looks like
Not a good day or a bad one. The ordinary version, which is what you would actually be living.
- 7:30: Clock in and grab the first repair order: a brake job and a check-engine light.
- 8:00: Pull the wheels, measure the rotors, swap the pads, road test.
- 9:30: Plug a scan tool into the second car. The code points to a sensor, but the real problem is a chewed wire.
- 11:00: Write up what you found so the service advisor can explain it to the customer.
- 12:00: Lunch in the break room.
- 12:30: A string of oil changes and tire rotations. Fast, routine, and you still check everything.
- 4:30: Clean your bay, put tools back in the box, and read up on a system you did not understand today.
Honestly
Who loves this, and who should not do it
- You already like taking things apart and figuring out how they work.
- You enjoy solving puzzles, especially electrical ones.
- You like working with your hands and seeing the car drive away fixed.
- You are willing to keep learning as cars change.
- Grease, standing on concrete all day and awkward reaching bother you.
- You do not want to invest in your own tools.
- You dislike being measured on speed. Many shops track how long each job takes.
- You do not want to keep studying. New models and systems mean regular training.
The route in
How you actually get there in Ohio
Start in high school career-tech or a postsecondary program
Many techs complete an automotive service program at a high school, community college or technical school. Others start with a diploma and learn on the job, often doing basic maintenance first.Earn ASE Entry-Level certifications as a student
ASE Entry-Level tests (in areas like brakes, electrical and engine performance) are designed for people starting out and do not require work experience. Passing three or more different Entry-Level tests counts as credit toward the experience needed for full ASE certification.Work, then earn full ASE certification
Full ASE certification means passing a test and having hands-on experience: one year for the G1 Maintenance and Light Repair test and two years for the A1 to A9 tests. School can substitute for part of that. You can test before you have the experience, but the certificate arrives once the experience is approved. ASE certifications last five years.Get EPA Section 609 certified to work on A/C
Anyone who repairs or services a vehicle's air-conditioning system for pay must be trained by an EPA-approved program and pass a test.
While you are still in high school
- Ohio school districts must offer career-technical education in grades 7 through 12. Ask your counselor where the nearest automotive program is.
- ASE student certifications and EPA Section 609 certification are on Ohio's industry-recognized credentials list, so you can earn them in a career-tech program and count them toward graduation.
- Ask your nearest community college whether it offers an automotive course through College Credit Plus.
Where this comes from: ASE: Work experience requirements and training substitutions · ASE: Become certified · ASE Education Foundation: Entry-Level certification · U.S. EPA: Section 609 technician training and certification · U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: How to become an automotive service technician · Ohio Department of Education and Workforce: career-technical education admissions FAQ · Ohio Department of Education and Workforce: industry-recognized credentials · Ohio Revised Code 3365.03: College Credit Plus eligibility (grades 9 to 12). Rules change, so check the official page before you rely on a detail.
The money
What it pays in Ohio
Last on purpose. Pay matters, but it is a bad reason to pick a job you would dislike for thirty years.
- $48,710
- Median pay in Ohio, a year
- $23.42
- Median pay in Ohio, an hour
- 22,640
- People doing this job in Ohio
- $52,900
- Median pay in the Akron area, a year
Most people in Ohio earn between $34,110 (the lowest-paid tenth, usually new starters) and $79,690 (the highest-paid tenth) a year.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025: Ohio and Akron, OH metro area. Median means half earn more and half earn less.
Try it this week
Do a full check on a family car
With an adult's permission, open the hood and find the oil dipstick, coolant tank, brake fluid and washer fluid. Check each level using the owner's manual.
Check tire pressure with a cheap gauge and compare it to the sticker inside the driver's door.
Many auto parts stores will read a check-engine code for free. If the light is on, get the code and look up what it can mean.
Write down which part you found most interesting, and why.
Questions to ask somebody who does it
- Are you paid hourly or by the job, and how does that change your day?
- How much did your tools cost you, and how did you pay for them?
- Which ASE tests were hardest?
- How are electric and hybrid cars changing your work?
- Dealership or independent shop: which would you pick again?
Can you own one?
Yes. Many techs eventually open their own shop. Ohio's contractor licensing board does not cover auto repair, but you will need EPA Section 609 certification for A/C work, a business setup, insurance, and whatever your city or county requires for a commercial garage. ASE certification is voluntary, but customers and insurers often look for it.
Thinking about it? How to start a business in Ohio and the free Business 101 course are the place to begin.
Questions
Quick answers
- How much does a automotive service technician make in Ohio?
- The median pay for a automotive service technician in Ohio is $48,710 a year ($23.42 an hour), according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics for May 2025. Most people earn between $34,110 and $79,690.
- How do you become a automotive service technician in Ohio?
- Start in high school career-tech or a postsecondary program. Earn ASE Entry-Level certifications as a student. Work, then earn full ASE certification. Get EPA Section 609 certified to work on A/C.
- Can you own your own business as a automotive service technician in Ohio?
- Yes. Many techs eventually open their own shop. Ohio's contractor licensing board does not cover auto repair, but you will need EPA Section 609 certification for A/C work, a business setup, insurance, and whatever your city or county requires for a commercial garage. ASE certification is voluntary, but customers and insurers often look for it.
Close cousins
Jobs like this one
- Diesel mechanicKeeping trucks, buses and other diesel-powered machines running, through inspections, diagnosis and heavy repair.$60,470 a year
- Aircraft mechanicInspecting, repairing and maintaining airplanes and their engines so they are safe to fly, under rules set by the Federal Aviation Administration.$80,570 a year
- Industrial maintenance mechanicKeeping a factory's machines running: fixing breakdowns fast, and doing the routine maintenance that stops them breaking in the first place.$65,130 a year
Still deciding?
Start with you, then look at the work
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