What’s it take to be a car mechanic? We get asked that a lot at our Cincinnati auto repair garage—sometimes by high school or technical students learning about careers, sometimes by customers who are just curious.
To put it simply, becoming a Cincinnati car mechanic requires completing a training program and becoming certified.
Interested in Working in Auto Repair? Yes, Math Matters
But of course it actually requires a lot more than that. Not just anybody is cut out for car repair. You’ve got to be handy with tools and engines. But you also have to be pretty good at math to be a car mechanic. In fact, we’d recommend taking math as well as electronics classes in high school. This can be a good foundation.
Most auto repair training programs don’t require college, but many do require at least a high school education. So if you want to be a mechanic because you’re sick of school, do your future self a favor. Stay in school and finish. You’ll thank yourself later.
Speciality Car Repair Training After Vocational School
You’ll need to complete a certificate or vocational program to become a Cincinnati car mechanic. In fact, we’d recommend getting an associates degree for a more well rounded education.
After completing your post-secondary requirements, you’ll likely start off at entry level. Car shops or dealerships can be a great way to get the necessary experience—like an apprenticeship. You can hone basic skills in car repair and learn more intermediary and advanced repairs. A tip: always pay close attention to the lead mechanic. There’s more swearing involved, but you’ll pick up skills you just can’t get in your average vocational program.
It’s also a good idea to specialize in a particular make of car, like European cars. Sure, at our Cincinnati, OH auto repair shop we’ll fix anything, but European vehicles like BMW, Volvo, and Porsche are what we really excel at.
How Much Do Mechanics Earn?
The paychecks of mechanics can vary widely, often depending on if they specialize in something—like import car maintenance or European vehicles, for instance. In 2019, car mechanics earned a median salary of around $42K, according to US News & World Report. The highest paid earned just over $56K and the lowest over $32K.
California, Maryland and Fairbanks, Alaska were the two highest paid areas to be a mechanic. We’re fine fixing cars in Cincinnati, but no way we’d like to do this job in Alaska, no matter how high the pay. Cincinnati winters are brutal enough without living in arctic temperatures.
