For shops
Automotive technician job description template
The short answer
An automotive technician finds and fixes problems on cars and light trucks, from brakes to engines. A good job description lists the duties, the skills and tools you need, the pay range and the schedule. Copy the free template below, or post it free on Tire Careers.
Updated
The template
Fill in the two lines in brackets with your pay and hours. Everything else is ready to post.
Now hiring: Automotive Technician About this job We are hiring an automotive technician. You will diagnose and repair cars and light trucks, from brakes and suspension to engine and drivability work. What you will do - Diagnose drivability, electrical, and check engine problems - Repair brakes, suspension, steering, cooling, and engine systems - Use a scan tool and factory service data to confirm the fix - Write clear notes so the advisor can explain the repair What we look for - A few years of repair experience or trade school - ASE certification, or the drive to get certified with our support - Your own hand tools - You fix it right the first time and stand behind your work Pay and schedule - [Add your pay range here] - [Add the hours and days you need covered] Where this can lead People who start here often move up to Service Advisor. We will help you get there. How to apply Tap apply and answer a few quick questions. It takes about two minutes and we reply fast.
What goes in it
- The title. Use the words people search for: automotive technician, auto tech or mechanic.
- About this job. One or two plain sentences on what the job is.
- What you will do. Four or five daily duties.
- What we look for. Be honest about training. Say if you will teach the right person.
- Pay and schedule. A real pay range and the days and hours you need covered.
- Where this can lead. The next step up, such as lead tech or service advisor.
- How to apply. Keep it short. Most people apply from a phone.
What to put for pay
The median automotive technician earns $24.34 an hour, and the middle half earn $18.70 to $33.86, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). See automotive technician pay for the full numbers.
On 259 automotive technician jobs posted with pay on Tire Careers in the last 30 days, shops offered a median of $30.05 an hour. The middle half offered $25.37 to $37.50. We count each employer and pay range once, and take the middle of each range.
How to get more people to apply
- Show the pay range. A post with no pay makes people guess.
- Say the schedule, including Saturdays and on call work.
- Say if you pay flat rate or hourly. If flat rate, say how many hours a normal week flags.
- Say which tools you give and which the tech must bring.
- Say if you pay for ASE tests. That opens the job to good techs who have not tested yet.
- Let people apply from a phone in a few minutes.
- Reply fast. Good auto techs take the first solid offer.
Common questions
What does an automotive technician do?
An automotive technician finds and fixes problems on cars and light trucks. They work on brakes, steering, suspension, cooling, engines and electrical systems. They use a scan tool and repair data to confirm the fix, and they write notes the service advisor can explain to the customer.
Is a mechanic the same as an automotive technician?
Yes. Most shops use both names for the same job. The BLS counts them as one job: Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics (SOC 49-3023). Use the name people in your area search for, and put the other one in the first line.
What pay should I put on an auto tech job post?
Put a real hourly range. The Bureau of Labor Statistics puts the median for automotive technicians at $24.34 an hour (May 2025). The middle half earn between $18.70 and $33.86. Some states, including California, Colorado, New York and Washington, require a pay range on job posts.
Should I ask for ASE certification?
Ask for it if the job needs it. If you will pay for the tests, say so. That opens the job to good techs who have not tested yet.
Can I post this job for free?
Yes. Posting a job on Tire Careers is free. Pick the automotive technician role and this template fills in for you. Add your pay and schedule, and post.