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Automotive Careers

Thousands of jobs that won’t go away! Salaries from the twenties to six figures!
This is the place!

Do you like cars?
Are you good with computers and have some mechanical ability?
Are you good with people, and enjoy finding solutions for others?
Do you like a fast pace and variety in your work?

If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, the automotive industry, and auto dealerships in particular, may be the right place for you!

Find out here about the types of jobs available, training programs, schools, and more – and start your new career today!

 

Technical/Service Careers

You can climb this career ladder with training at all levels, and much of it while working and earning well!  Forget your old notions of greasy mechanical work for anyone with a few tools and some mechanical ability. Today’s automotive technician needs specialized skills in computers and diagnostics, as well as basic math, English and interpersonal skills. Vehicles are now more complex, in terms of computers, than some of the early rockets that went to outer space!

Our member automotive dealerships offer a professional environment, with good pay, benefits, training, safety and health programs, and real advancement opportunities.  60,000 technicians are needed nationwide – that’s a lot of good jobs!

Here’s an idea of the ladder you can climb! (salaries are general, average salaries for the region, and may vary above or below these levels at particular dealerships)

  • Utility Worker/Porter/Vehicle Delivery: Clean driver’s license, 18 years or older, high school degree, GED or working towards it ($8 hour)
  • Lube Specialist: Add some in-house training and safety training ($10 hour)
  • Light Repair and Maintenance/Apprentice Technician: requires some special training from the AYES high school program or other certificate programs, can move to parts from here, too ($20,000+)
  • Car Prep, Alignment, Inspection, Brakes, Basic Electric: requires high school program like AYES, 2 year college degree, in-house and manufacturer training, can do some warranty work, potential to move to service writer or progress to Specialist ($24,000+)
  • Specialist (called a “B” Technician): This requires a two year or trade school degree, and completion of certain manufacturer training ($36,000+)
  • Service Writer/Assistant Service Manager: requires certificate or other college programs, computer, interpersonal, time management and accounting skills, in addition to general service knowledge ($34,000+)
  • Service Manager/Fixed Operations Manager: requires manufacturer and dealership training, as well as business skills, working up to this level from other dealership positions ($61,000+)
  • Shop Foreman: all previous service skills, plus management ability ($47,000+)
  • Master Diagnostic Technician (called an “A” Technician): Industry, manufacturer and management training and high skill level ($54,000+)

There are also jobs in parts and body shop work with various levels.

 

Business/Marketing Careers

  • Sales: Will you be earning $40,000, $50,000, $60,000 or more this year? Are you a self-starter, highly motivated and willing to learn and listen? Do you have good people skills and enjoy helping people find what’s right for their needs? Try a career in automotive sales, which offers great pay potential, good benefits, a professional work environment and the opportunity to control your own destiny. Most car sales people today have college backgrounds and/or other sales experience, as well as excellent communication skills and tremendous initiative to succeed.  There are excellent opportunities in sales and sales management for the right people!
  • Office Positions: There are a great variety of positions in dealerships, from title clerks who process DMV work, to accounts payable and receivable, office management and other administrative positions, as well as receptionists and secretaries.
  • Finance, Insurance, Accounting, Internet: Dealerships are complex businesses, which require individuals to handle many different functions, from “F & I” (finance, insurance and leasing specialists) managers to specialists in Internet functions, computers and even web site design and maintenance. If you have business and computer skills, there are many jobs available.

Click through to find out about schools for automotive careers