How much does an auto technician make a year?

Question

also how much does a certified smog check technician make?

Answer 1

Well, it all depends on what kind of shop or dealership one works for.  Myself, I work for a a large independent company and make a little under 80K a year.  I'm a fully certified auto tech and have diesel certifications as well.  Also, pay determines how much you know.

Answer 2

A master technician will easily make 100k+ per year.

Answer 3

It depends on a lot of different things. Such as where you live and what kind of shop you work at.

A dealership technician say in Los Angeles, California would make more then a dealership tech in Topeka, Kansas. But the cost of living in Los Angeles is a lot more than in Kansas.

But more importantly it really depends on what kind of technician you are talking about. Are you interested in working at a dealership? or an Independent repair shop? Or are you thinking of a retail chain such as Pep Boys?

Dealerships tend to pay a little more and seem to offer the latest and greatest training. Independent shops may not may more per flat rate hour but the chance to earn more flag hours allows a technician to make more money per check. Retail chains such as Pep Boys or Sears are in a position to offer better benefits because they group all their employees into one plan.

You mentioned you have a smog license which makes me believe you are looking at working in retail auto repair. I did retail auto repair for many years. But I am currently in fleet auto repair for a major utility company. I am no longer under the flat rate pay plan, but I found I make reasonably good money and have excellent benefits.

I never gave you a dollar figure as to what a technician makes. But you can see there are many things to consider. My last year in retail auto repair which was in 2000, I made $68,000 for the year.

Answer 4

I make 105,000