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SOC 49-3023
Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics diagnose, adjust, repair, or overhaul motor vehicles: checking key components against a checklist, using diagnostic equipment and gauges to inspect and determine the fault scope, repairing or replacing and assembling and filling to manufacturer specifications, testing and adjusting the repaired system, and communicating symptoms and the repair plan and costs with the customer. The U.S. side corresponds to O*NET 49-3023.00 (Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics), in Job Zone Three (SVP 6.0 to <7.0); mainland China statistics are aggregated by industry category and job category and do not list this occupation separately, and under the evidence definitions of this page its precise occupational wage is not published.
Model impact index for three equally weighted representative core tasks; not a measured share of working time or a job-loss probability. floor((50+0+75)/3+0.5)=42; fermatmind-ai-impact-v1; 2026-10-18.
One line: this is a technical position centered on diagnosis and repair quality and safety procedures; the core is vehicle intake and fault confirmation, inspection and measurement, disassembly and repair and overhaul, testing and adjustment to specification, and work orders and records, rather than an interest in cars or experience with driving.
Education and authorization must be verified separately: O*NET lists 49-3023.00 as Job Zone Three (SVP 6.0 to <7.0), and among the education levels published on the page 32% is requiring a postsecondary certificate, 30% is requiring less than a high school diploma, and 26% is requiring a high school diploma or equivalent; the occupation requires prior related work skills, knowledge, or experience, and training is usually one to two years and may include recognized apprenticeship programs. On the U.S. side, air conditioning system repair must be performed for compensation by personnel trained and certified through an EPA-approved program (Clean Air Act Section 609), and there are also ASE certification series (including A1–A9, L1–L4, and ADAS and electric vehicle related certifications). On the mainland China side, motor vehicle repair operations are subject to filing management, and repair parts must have a traceable source and counterfeit or substandard parts must not be used. Education, industry certification, institutional authorization to work and work authorization, and the special operations certificate are different statuses and must be verified item by item according to employer, position, and location.
Career direction comparison
The table below compares Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics with five adjacent directions on the same set of dimensions: career direction, core work and output, key differences, and which choice fits each preference better.
| Career direction | Core work and output | Key differences | Best-fit choice |
|---|---|---|---|
| Automotive service technicians and mechanics and automotive body and glass repairers | Repair bodies and frames and apply paint, with output mainly in the form of sheet metal and paint quality and inspection records. | Both are motor vehicle repair, but the work of automotive body and glass repairers is mainly sheet metal and painting with glass only a part of it; Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics focus on the diagnosis, repair, and overhaul of mechanical and electrical systems. | If you would rather do body sheet metal and painting and also handle glass, compare automotive body and glass repairers first; if you would rather do mechanical and electrical system diagnosis and repair, Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics fit you. |
AI impact on this career
This round did not obtain measurements of generative AI adoption rates, efficiency gains, or headcount reduction causality for this occupation. Manual lookup, measurement comparison, and work order and estimate drafts are editorial trial candidates and must be tested item by item for errors, omissions, and review cost. AI Impact Score 42% is an editorial estimate. Model impact index for three equally weighted representative core tasks; not a measured share of working time or a job-loss probability. floor((50+0+75)/3+0.5)=42; fermatmind-ai-impact-v1; 2026-10-18.The three tasks, ratings and sources are listed in the FermatMind method source record on this page.
FermatMind AI Impact Score estimation method v1
FermatMind / 费马测试 · 2026-10-18
Chinese mainland salary reference
4-12-01-01 auto mechanic on the 2022 occupational classification PDF276 page (body page 269) includes automotive mechanical repair, electrical repair, inspection, detailing and trim, body shaping, paint repair, used-car reconditioning, new energy repair, intelligent operation and maintenance, and glass repair job types; the broad occupation tasks include inspection, adjustment, replacement, and repair of engine, chassis, body, and electrical systems, equipment maintenance, and repair records. This does not equal precise mutual recognition with the U.S. 49-3023.00 or a wage distribution. Mainland China's 2023 Order No. 14 amendment to the Provisions on the Administration of Motor Vehicle Repair: Article 7 requires operators to file with the county-level competent transport department after business registration; Article 5 encourages practitioners to obtain national vocational qualifications, and it is not a uniform requirement that all repair workers hold one specific certificate. Article 30 requires parts source records, prohibits counterfeit and substandard parts, allows conforming equivalent parts, and requires parts replaced to be handed to the repair client for their own handling; Article 33 requires the repair electronic file to be uploaded to the national motor vehicle repair health record system and allows the repair client to inquire, so lawful transmission cannot be prohibited wholesale. Business filing does not equal an individual work permit.
4-12-01-01 auto mechanic on the 2022 occupational classification PDF276 page (body page 269) includes automotive mechanical repair, electrical repair, inspection, detailing and trim, body shaping, paint repair, used-car reconditioning, new energy repair, intelligent operation and maintenance, and glass repair job types; the broad occupation tasks include inspection, adjustment, replacement, and repair of engine, chassis, body, and electrical systems, equipment maintenance, and repair records. This does not equal precise mutual recognition with the U.S. 49-3023.00 or a wage distribution.
U.S. wage reference
This occupation's employment and wages both have current BLS materials; the employment base year is 2025, the projection period is 2025—2035, and the wages are May 2025.
| Wage statistic position | Annual wage reference | Conversion boundary | How to understand this position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (P10) | 34,660 USD/year (10th percentile) | Official annual wage, not individual monthly income | The 10th percentile is 34,660 USD per year; this is the low end of the distribution, does not represent all newcomers, and does not constitute an income promise. |
| Median (50%) | 50,620 USD/year (median) | Official annual wage, not individual take-home pay | The median is 50,620 USD per year and 24.34 USD per hour; it describes the midpoint of the whole distribution and does not represent an individual's take-home income. |
Career fit guide
Direct answer: The fit signals the editors suggest observing are completing inspection, repair, and testing to specification and recording them truthfully, being able to reason through the cause of a fault following a diagnostic process and judge measured values against manufacturer specifications, and being able to judge safety conditions and authorization boundaries and stop and escalate on anomalies or when work exceeds authorization; 'liking cars' or 'being able to drive' alone cannot determine this.
You may be better suited to： You can complete inspection, repair, and testing to specification and record them truthfully, reason through the cause of a fault following a diagnostic process and judge measured values against manufacturer specifications, stop and escalate when the basis is unclear or the work exceeds authorization, and accept review and correction by mentors and quality inspectors.
These situations require caution： You only want to deliver the vehicle as fast as possible and are unwilling to verify the cause of the fault through a diagnostic process; you treat 'the warning light went off' as repaired; or you skip review and authorization on safety parts, high-voltage systems, airbags, and refrigerant work; situations requiring caution also include difficulty adapting to workweeks over 40 hours, time pressure, and heavier physical demands.
Do an entry exercise：
Work pressure, risk, and occupational boundaries
Direct answer: The main risks include lifting support and under-vehicle work with falls and crushing, exposure to chemicals, refrigerants, and exhaust, hazardous energy from electrical and high-voltage systems and airbags, diagnostic misjudgment and replacing parts instead of diagnosing, loss of control over parts sourcing and the management of replaced and removed parts, and exceeding authorization or unclear work permits; the control approach is to work to applicable standards, first confirm hazardous energy and safety conditions, record truthfully, and accept quality-inspection review.
Evidence scope: The risk and boundary entries are based on the official duties, tasks, and work context fields of O*NET 49-3023.00 (36% consider the consequences of error extremely serious, 46% consider precision or accuracy extremely important, 86% wear common protective or safety equipment every day, 69% are exposed to contaminants every day, 41% are exposed to hazardous equipment every day, 38% are exposed to hazardous conditions every day, 39% are exposed to minor burns, cuts, bites, or stings every day, 83% work indoors in an enclosed vehicle or operate enclosed equipment every day), the U.S. EPA motor vehicle air conditioning (MVAC) Section 609 training and certification requirements, and the common injury events and commonly cited penalty provisions listed in OSHA's Automotive Service and Collision Industry Hazard Information.
Entering the field, qualifications, and career development
O*NET new-hire education requirement survey: 32% postsecondary certificate, 30% less than high school, 26% high school or equivalent — this is not the on-the-job educational composition. Zone3/SVP6.0 to <7.0 is a job preparation description, usually one to two years of training, not a fixed threshold for every position. BLS EP typically postsecondary nondegree award, related experience None, short-term on-the-job training; OOH notes that those with related coursework may need shorter training, while untrained people get longer mentoring starting from assistant or maintenance positions, and a paid apprenticeship path is also possible; these definitions cannot substitute for one another.
Career prospects and related occupational redirection
U.S. for this occupation 49-3023.00: 2025 employment 825,800, projected 866,700 in 2035, growth of 5.0% over 2025—2035 (rounded 5%, faster than average), net increase of 40,900, about 66,200 openings per year on average, self-employed 14.6%. Openings include growth plus replacement for separations and transfers, and cannot be taken as net growth or individual hiring probability; the employment effect of generative AI is also not separated out. The precise occupational wage gap for China is retained, with a 2025 industry proxy reference additionally provided.
United States · exact
825,800
Employment size
BLS EP employment for this occupation is 825,800; the current OOH is consistent from the same source.
Does not establish：The definitions and data dates differ, so they cannot be mixed or used to estimate a broader occupational group.
The core is three kinds of tasks: checking key components such as belts and hoses and steering and spark plugs and brake and fuel systems and wheel bearings against a checklist, inspecting vehicle damage and recording findings, reviewing work orders and discussing them with the supervisor, troubleshooting fuel and ignition and emission control system faults with electronic test equipment, road-testing and testing components and systems with diagnostic equipment, and disassembling units and checking wear with micrometers and calipers and gauges; performing routine and scheduled maintenance such as oil changes and lubrication and adjustment, repairing and replacing and adjusting brakes and fuel injectors and filters, repairing and maintaining air conditioning and heating and cooling and electrical systems, overhauling or replacing carburetors and blowers and alternators and distributors and starters and pumps, tuning engines, repairing or replacing pistons and connecting rods and gears and valves and bearings, disassembling and repairing and rebuilding assemblies such as powertrains and steering systems, repairing or rebuilding transmissions, and replacing spark plugs and filters and batteries on hybrid vehicles; communicating symptoms and repair needs with customers and estimating repair costs, testing and adjusting repaired systems to meet manufacturer performance specifications, and keeping the work area clean. On the U.S. side this corresponds to O*NET 49-3023.00, with the official duty of diagnosing, adjusting, repairing, or overhauling motor vehicles.
Choose a real task from this page for a small practice project or a conversation with someone in the field. Use the planning guides to set a date, an output and feedback questions before deciding whether to continue.
Signals to keep exploring: you can read service manuals and circuit diagrams and work hands-on per procedure, are willing to test and adjust to manufacturer specifications and record measured values and the basis for judgments honestly, can stop and verify when the symptoms and the diagnosed cause do not match or when high-voltage, airbag, and refrigerant systems are involved, and are willing to communicate symptoms and the repair plan and costs with customers.
Conditions for pausing your investment: you have not yet completed one full vehicle intake—diagnosis—repair—test—delivery loop under any supervised conditions, or you can only describe your interest as "liking cars"; also do not treat being able to drive or being able to take parts apart as proof that you can independently diagnose and repair high-voltage systems, airbag systems, air conditioning refrigerant, or safety parts. Work involving vehicle safety, emissions, new energy high voltage, and refrigerant handling must be carried out per the applicable standards and institutional processes and must leave a traceable basis; this page does not provide diagnosis, repair, or field work instructions.
One-line judgment: Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics are not "parts swappers" but a technical position that diagnoses, adjusts, repairs, or overhauls motor vehicles: checking key components such as belts, hoses, steering, spark plugs, brakes, and the fuel system against a checklist; testing and adjusting repaired systems to manufacturer performance specifications; performing everyday and scheduled maintenance such as oil changes, lubrication, and tune-ups; troubleshooting fuel, ignition, and emissions control system faults with electronic test equipment; and disassembling and inspecting components for wear before repairing or replacing assemblies; people who only want to swap parts by feel and are unwilling to take responsibility for diagnostic conclusions and repair quality are not suited to it.
Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics (U.S. side O*NET 49-3023.00, Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics) diagnose, adjust, repair, or overhaul automotive vehicles. The original official duties read "Diagnose, adjust, repair, or overhaul automotive vehicles."; O*NET lists 30 official tasks, focused on checking key components such as belts and hoses and steering and spark plugs and the brake and fuel systems and wheel bearings against a checklist; testing and adjusting repaired systems to meet manufacturer performance specifications; performing everyday and scheduled maintenance such as oil changes, lubrication, and tune-ups; inspecting vehicle damage and recording findings; performing wheel, frame, and steering alignment with specialized equipment; repairing, replacing, and adjusting brakes and fuel injectors and filters; repairing and maintaining air conditioning and heating and cooling and electrical systems; using electronic test equipment to troubleshoot fuel and ignition and emissions control system faults; road-testing and using infrared engine analyzers and compression gauges and computerized diagnostic equipment to test components and systems; communicating symptoms and repair needs with customers; overhauling or replacing carburetors and blowers and generators and distributors and starters and pumps; tuning engines; repairing or replacing pistons and connecting rods and gears and valves and bearings; diagnosing and repairing the engine management systems of flexible fuel vehicles; disassembling, repairing, and rebuilding assemblies such as power and steering systems; disassembling units and checking for wear with micrometers and calipers and gauges; replacing spark plugs and filters and batteries on hybrid vehicles; rewiring ignition and lights and instrument panels; installing and adjusting window, seat, and roof lift mechanisms; estimating repair costs; visually inspecting compressed natural gas systems; repairing or rebuilding transmissions; rebuilding crankshafts and cylinder blocks; and modifying fuel systems with aftermarket products. In the United States this occupation is in Job Zone Three (SVP 6.0 to <7.0); mainland China statistics are aggregated by industry category and job category and do not list this occupation separately, and the related work falls under motor vehicle repair business items. This page does not constitute diagnosis, repair, or field work instructions, and the relevant decisions must be made by organizations and personnel with the appropriate qualifications and authorization following the applicable standards and processes.
The work of Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics falls into three categories: diagnosis and inspection (checking key components such as belts, hoses, the steering system, spark plugs, the brake and fuel systems, and wheel bearings against a checklist; inspecting vehicle damage and recording findings; reviewing work orders and discussing them with the supervisor; using electronic test equipment to troubleshoot fuel, ignition, and emissions control system faults; developing work procedures using charts and technical manuals and experience; disassembling units and checking components for wear with micrometers, calipers, and gauges; road-testing vehicles and testing components and systems with infrared engine analyzers, compression gauges, and computerized diagnostic equipment; testing automotive electronic computer components; and diagnosing engine management system or related sensor faults on flexible fuel vehicles); repair and overhaul (performing everyday and scheduled maintenance such as oil changes, lubrication, and tune-ups; repairing and replacing linings and replacing and adjusting brakes; repairing, replacing, or adjusting fuel injectors, carburetor components, and gasoline filters; repairing and maintaining air conditioning, heating, engine cooling, and electrical systems; overhauling or replacing carburetors, blowers, generators, distributors, starters, and pumps; tuning engines; repairing or replacing components such as pistons, connecting rods, gears, valves, and bearings; disassembling, repairing, and rebuilding faulty assemblies such as power and steering systems; repairing or rebuilding transmissions; rebuilding crankshafts and cylinder blocks; replacing spark plugs, fuel filters, air filters, and batteries on hybrid electric vehicles; rewiring ignition systems, lights, and instrument panels; and installing and adjusting or repairing hydraulic or electromagnetic window, seat, and roof lift mechanisms); and delivery and customer communication (communicating with customers to obtain problem descriptions and discuss pending work and future repair needs; estimating repair costs; testing and adjusting repaired systems to meet manufacturer performance specifications; and keeping the work area clean). All three categories presuppose stopping and verifying when the symptoms and the cause do not match or when high voltage, airbags, refrigerant, or safety parts are involved.
Diagnosis and inspection work
Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics focus on the diagnosis, repair, and overhaul of motor vehicles, covering mechanical and electrical and electronic systems, and are responsible for diagnostic conclusions and repair quality; automotive body and glass repairers focus on sheet metal and painting and also handle glass; automotive glass installers and repairers focus on windshield and window glass disassembly and repair; bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists focus on commercial vehicles and diesel power; motorcycle mechanics focus on motorcycles; automotive engineering technicians focus on test preparation and execution and data collection and usually do not carry responsibility for signing off on repairs; automotive engineers focus on vehicle and system design and development; electric motor and power tool repairers focus on motors and power tools. Adjacent occupations share tool use and safety knowledge, but the objects, deliverables, and responsibilities differ.
| Dimension | Primary track | Comparison track |
|---|---|---|
| Core purpose | Complete diagnosis and repair per procedure, and leave a work order stating the fault symptoms and the customer's description, the inspection and measurement results, the basis for judgments, replaced parts and quantities, the test and adjustment results, and the parts that remain uncertain, so that the supervisor or quality inspection personnel can judge from it. |
Obtain the customer's description of the symptoms and verify vehicle damage and pre-existing problems, review the work order and discuss it with the supervisor, and write out the repair scope and costs and the items to be confirmed.
Check key components against the checklist, measure with diagnostic equipment and gauges, determine the fault scope against manufacturer specifications, and record the measured values and the basis for judgments.
Disassemble and assemble per procedure and protect surrounding components, inspect for wear before repairing or replacing components, assemble and fill to specification, and avoid substituting parts replacement for diagnosis.
Test and adjust repaired systems to manufacturer performance specifications, describe anomalies and deviations, and add diagnosis and review when necessary.
Record the symptoms and inspection and measurements and replaced parts and test results, and explain to the customer what has been handled and what remains pending, along with the costs.
Coordinate with the front desk and supervisors and parts management; when safety parts, emissions, high-voltage systems, airbags, and refrigerant handling are involved, follow the authorized process and report open items honestly.
Check at least six items before starting: the occupational definition and the employer entity (O*NET 49-3023.00 is a U.S. definition; on the mainland China side the position and the employer must be identified); education and professional training; the employer's internal authorization to work and the scope of work authorization; the work procedures for diagnosis and repair and testing; the qualification requirements for air conditioning refrigerant and new energy high voltage and airbag-related work; and the pay method (monthly salary, hourly plus commission, or piece rate).
Occupational definition
| Automotive service technicians and mechanics and automotive engineering technicians | Build test benches to specification, conduct tests, and deliver reviewable test data and records. | Focuses on test preparation and execution and data collection and usually does not carry responsibility for signing off on repairs; Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics focus on fault diagnosis and responsibility for repair quality. | If you would rather do test execution and data collection, compare automotive engineering technicians first; if you would rather do on-site diagnosis and repair, Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics fit you. |
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| Automotive service technicians and mechanics and automotive engineers | Design and validate vehicle systems, with output mainly in the form of design documents and validation conclusions. | Focuses on vehicle and system design and development and is responsible for design assumptions and validation; Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics focus on the diagnosis and repair of in-service vehicles. | If you would rather do vehicle and system design and development, compare automotive engineers first; if you would rather do on-site diagnosis and repair, Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics fit you. |
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| Automotive service technicians and mechanics and bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists | Repair commercial vehicles and diesel power systems, with output mainly in the form of commercial vehicle repair and inspection records. | The objects are commercial vehicles and diesel power systems, with considerably different working conditions and specifications; Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics focus on the mechanical and electrical systems of passenger vehicles. | If you would rather do commercial vehicle and diesel power repair, compare bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists first; if you would rather do general passenger vehicle repair, Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics fit you. |
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| Automotive service technicians and mechanics and motorcycle mechanics | Repair motorcycles and their systems, with output mainly in the form of motorcycle repair and safety inspection records. | The objects are motorcycles, whose structure and specifications differ considerably from passenger vehicles; Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics focus on the mechanical and electrical systems of passenger vehicles. | If you would rather specialize in motorcycle repair, compare motorcycle mechanics first; if you would rather do general passenger vehicle repair, Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics fit you. |
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| Automotive service technicians and mechanics and electric motor and power tool repairers | Service electric motors and power tools, with output mainly in the form of service records and performance inspection. | The objects are electric motors and power tools, and the work is mainly electrical and mechanical servicing; the objects of Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics are vehicle mechanical and electrical and electronic systems. | If you would rather service electric motors and power tools, compare electric motor and power tool repairers first; if you would rather do general vehicle repair, Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics fit you. |
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All six directions are grounded in tool use and safety knowledge, but the work objects and systems and responsibility boundaries differ; the same stint of repair experience cannot be directly converted into another direction's authorization to work, certification, or work authorization, and this page only compares differences in duties under the published definitions.
Conclusion: the basis for choosing a direction is the work object and system and the responsibility boundaries, not whether vehicles are involved in all of them; once the direction is set, the training, certification, authorization to work, or special operations certificate requirements and the position work authorization requirements of the target direction should be verified item by item.
Editorial ratings use the existing occupational responsibilities and AI task analysis on this page. They are not adoption rates, measured effects, job-disappearance or personal-unemployment probabilities, or official scores from Stanford or another external institution. No measured time weights or future robot deployment are assumed.
Editors suggest trying approved manual lookup, data organization, and work order and estimate drafts; the vehicle model version, empirical testing, and output must be verified, and whether it can be undone depends on the specific process.
This must be verified against the real tools and tasks; the software recruiting mention rate cannot prove actual generative AI use or that everything can be rolled back.
The U.S. 49-3023.00 occupation: 825,800 jobs in 2025, projected at 866,700 in 2035, growing 5.0% from 2025 to 2035 (rounded to 5%, faster than average), a net gain of 40,900, about 66,200 openings per year, and 14.6% self-employed. Openings include growth and replacement from separations and job changes and cannot be treated as the net gain or an individual hiring probability, and the generative AI employment effect is not separated.
| Work area | Task | Current change | Human control point |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle intake and fault confirmation | Take in the vehicle and obtain the customer's symptom description, review the work order, and confirm the items to be inspected and pre-existing problems. | Lookup and comparison can be aided by tools, but the fault scope judgment remains the individual's responsibility. | Determine whether the vehicle model and vehicle condition and fault scope have already been confirmed. |
| Inspection and diagnosis | Check key components against the checklist, measure with diagnostic equipment and gauges, and determine the fault scope. | Data collection and comparison can be digitized, but the basis for judgments remains the responsibility of people. | Determine whether the measured values and wear exceed manufacturer specifications. |
| Repair and overhaul | Disassemble and inspect components for wear, repair or replace components, and assemble and fill to specification. | Checklists and specifications can be retrieved, but disassembly and assembly quality remain the individual's responsibility. | Determine whether disassembly is safe and whether components need to be replaced. |
| Testing and adjustment | Test and adjust to manufacturer specifications, record the results, and describe anomalies and deviations. | Parameter comparison can assist; the individual verifies the records, and pass determination is made by responsible personnel with the applicable qualifications and specific authorization following the real inspection process. | Determine whether the repaired system meets manufacturer performance specifications. |
| Records and delivery | Compile the work order and test conclusions and cost notes, and explain to the customer what has been handled and what remains pending. | Text can be generated automatically, but the accuracy of the wording and delivery responsibility remain with the individual and the supervisor. | Determine whether the records and delivery notes are accurate and suitable for review. |
| Equipment and safety conditions | Verify procedures against this job's equipment, hazardous energy, and tasks; this round did not obtain the complete stop and recovery procedures for lifting, airbags, and high-voltage systems for each vehicle model, and an overview cannot authorize work on its own. | The inspection items can serve as template candidates; condition verification and work release are undertaken by personnel determined by the actual duties, jurisdiction, and specific authorization, and the occupation name or a template cannot confer authority. | Determine whether the lifting and support and protection and tool and hazardous energy status meet the requirements. |
| Record archiving and compliance | Archive work orders, measurements, parts sources, and test results; parts replaced are handed to the repair client per Article 30 of the repair provisions, and waste is handled per Article 24 and the actually applicable rules. | Archiving and retrieval can be digitized, but record completeness and compliance responsibility remain the individual's. | Determine whether the work and usage and replaced parts records are complete and suitable for review. |
The five cards cover duties, tasks, software, employment projections, and industry background; the projection includes a job count and cannot be used to explain generative AI-driven job changes.
The table below is an editorial tool-assistance trial, not a measured deployment effect or field operating procedure.
AI primarily changesFault code reading, manual and case retrieval, and work order and inventory and estimating and settlement text can be completed with assistance.
Human responsibility remainsVerify the fault cause, disassembly safety, and repair and test records within the individual's duties and authorization; safety part work, pass determination, and release are undertaken by responsible personnel with the applicable qualifications and specific authorization following the actual process.
AI primarily changesMeasurement records, parameter comparison, and repair and settlement text can be organized with system assistance.
Human responsibility remainsJudge whether the data applies by combining empirical testing with manufacturer specifications, and do not treat a fault code or system recommendation as a confirmed fault cause.
AI primarily changesWork orders, delivery notes, and settlement documents can be generated and archived automatically.
Human responsibility remainsDetermine whether the repair passes and whether the conclusions are reviewable, and stop and escalate when the basis is unclear or the work is beyond authorization.
The following five steps are editorial verification suggestions and cannot serve as a complete work procedure or work release authorization.
First confirm the vehicle model and vehicle condition and customer description for this job, the fault scope and items to be inspected, the vehicle lifting and support and hazardous energy status, the individual's duties and the boundaries of work authorization, and the traceability requirements for repair records.
Only give steps that can be rolled back and reviewed to the tool, such as fault code reading and manual and case retrieval, measurement records and parameter comparison, and draft work orders and inventory and estimating and settlement text.
The individual verifies the system output against empirical testing and manufacturer specifications, records deviations and anomalies, and does not treat a fault code or system recommendation as a confirmed fault cause.
Keep the symptoms and inspection and measurements and replaced parts and test results honestly so that the process is reviewable and traceable.
In the United States, for compensation (including barter of services) repair of motor vehicle air conditioning (MVAC), any refrigerant requires Section609 approved training and certification and the use of approved recovery equipment as required; before reuse it must be reconditioned or recycled and purified. The intentional venting prohibition has a SNAP-approved CO2/R744 exception, but that exception does not cancel the Section 609 personnel certification. It applies only to the corresponding U.S. MVAC scenario, not to a general Chinese auto repair certificate or a permit for all air conditioning systems. The complete per-model procedures for high voltage, airbags, and safety parts were not obtained, and the real personnel division of labor and permissions must be verified.
Treating a fault code or system recommendation as a confirmed fault cause will lead to wrong parts replacement, rework, and safety risk.
Control: Mark tool output as reference, and only adopt it after combining empirical testing and procedure confirmation.
Editors remind you to check the real access and transfer rules for customer, vehicle, and image data; the complete personal information law provisions were not verified this round.
Control: Do not upload to unauthorized tools; lawful repair file uploads and repair client inquiries are covered by Article 33 of the repair provisions, and all transmission is not prohibited wholesale.
Repair and inspection records need to be traceable; output without a version, personnel, and time note will be hard to review.
Control: Editors suggest retaining work orders, measurements, parts sources, and manual revision records; Articles 30/33 of the repair provisions support source and file obligations, which does not mean all suggested fields are statutory.
If safety parts, emissions, and high-voltage systems are handled improperly, it may affect driving safety and regulatory compliance.
Control: Check item by item against manufacturer specifications and institutional procedures, stop and review immediately when a discrepancy is found, and record the corrections.
Work authorization, quality inspection, and rework determinations must be attributable and traceable.
Control: State the testing and delivery situation in the repair record, and report anomalies or hazards per procedure.
First practice the vehicle intake—diagnosis—repair—test—delivery loop thoroughly on fixed fictional materials: given a fictional vehicle condition and customer description, a checklist and measurement record sheet, and a repair step and specification table, write out in order the basis for the fault judgment, the inspection and measured values, the replaced parts and quantities, the test and adjustment results, and how open items are written, and only then discuss positions; at the same time verify the target position's authorization to work and work authorization and quality inspection requirements, and do not treat being able to drive or being able to take parts apart as proof that you can independently diagnose high-voltage or airbag systems.
Use diagnostic scanners and fault code databases and service manual lookup, and work order and inventory and estimating software, to improve efficiency, but fault cause judgment, disassembly safety confirmation, component wear determination, and test and adjustment results and safety part and high-voltage system and refrigerant-related conclusions remain the individual's responsibility per institutional procedures, and system output must enter formal work orders only after manual verification and empirical testing.
When introducing systems and tools, specify the usable steps, the diagnostic data and vehicle and customer information protection rules, and the review and authorization responsible persons for safety parts, emissions, high-voltage systems, airbags, and refrigerant handling, and retain the final judgment and release decision of authorized personnel.
Focus teaching on mechanical and electrical and electronic system principles, diagnostic processes and measurement and gauge use, disassembly and inspection and assembly procedures, safety and protection and hazardous energy control, and testing and adjustment to manufacturer specifications, while training critical use of diagnostic system recommendations and fault codes, to avoid substituting fault codes for empirical testing and reasoning.
The materials read do not support a conclusion of overall substitution or of never being replaced; task assistance, actual adoption, and employment outcomes must be kept separate.
Source: O*NET occupation summary / detailed informationOriginal source ↗
The O*NET tasks and software list involve diagnostic equipment, repair information, and recording tools; whether programming, specific scanner, or work order system ability is required must be verified against the target position's current recruiting, and this round did not obtain a uniform entry threshold or trend measurement. The core abilities come from mechanical and electrical and electronic system principles, diagnostic processes and measurement and gauge use, disassembly and inspection and assembly procedures, and safety and protection; whether software or data tool ability is required depends on the position and institution, and the specific requirements are subject to the employer's rules.
Source: O*NET technology list / training and education informationOriginal source ↗
Editorial candidates are approved manual and fault code meaning lookup, measurement comparison, and work order and estimate and settlement drafts; verify errors, omissions, undo conditions, and responsibility item by item.
Source: O*NET detailed informationOriginal source ↗
The U.S. 49-3023.00 occupation: 825,800 jobs in 2025, projected at 866,700 in 2035, growing 5.0% from 2025 to 2035 (rounded to 5%, faster than average), a net gain of 40,900, about 66,200 openings per year, and 14.6% self-employed. Openings include growth and replacement from separations and job changes and cannot be treated as the net gain or an individual hiring probability, and the generative AI employment effect is not separated.
Source: O*NET occupation summary (employment and projections fields)Original source ↗
No. Fault cause judgment, disassembly safety confirmation, component wear determination, test and adjustment results, and safety part and high-voltage system and refrigerant-related work conclusions must be undertaken by the individual together with authorized personnel according to institutional procedures; a system can be used for retrieval, measurement, and recording and text generation, but it cannot replace judgment and accountability.
Source: O*NET occupation summary / detailed informationOriginal source ↗
The materials read do not provide a job disappearance year; the current 2025—2035 growth is 5.0%, which is not an AI causal prediction.
Source: Method notes for this pageOriginal source ↗
Prioritize mechanical and electrical and electronic system principles, diagnostic processes and measurement and gauge use, disassembly and inspection and assembly procedures, testing and adjustment to manufacturer specifications, and safety and protection and hazardous energy control; system and tool capabilities come after principles and procedures. Specific requirements are subject to the employer's rules.
Source: O*NET training and education informationOriginal source ↗
The above content distinguishes automation capability, actual deployment, and employment outcomes; moving on to the next section lets you look at the evidence boundaries and gap notes for mainland China salaries.
Evidence gap: no nationwide occupational monthly salary distribution precisely corresponding to this occupation was obtained.
Evidence gap: no verifiable city-level occupational income data was obtained, and this page does not show a city ranking.
Evidence gap: no official or verifiable source supports a monthly salary range for Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics in other cities.
Scenario comparison requires consistency in the employer's nature, the work scope, and the hours and commission or piece-rate definition; this page does not provide a monthly salary range usable for comparison.
| Preparation or condition category | Job directions to be checked | Notes and verification suggestions |
|---|---|---|
| Skills training related to motor vehicle repair and automotive operation | Mechanical and electrical positions at brand-authorized service centers and general auto repair shops. | Education and the job series are two different paths; education does not equal authorization to work or work authorization. |
| Mentoring by experienced workers and vendor technical training | Positions at chain quick-repair shops and new energy specialty shops. | The work scope differs (mechanical repair, electrical, air conditioning, and new energy), and the job title and duties must be confirmed in the employment terms. |
| Authorization to work and work permits | Positions involving safety parts, emissions, high-voltage systems, airbags, and air conditioning refrigerant. | Mainland China's 2023 Order No. 14 amendment to the Provisions on the Administration of Motor Vehicle Repair: Article 7 requires operators to file with the county-level competent transport department after business registration; Article 5 encourages practitioners to obtain national vocational qualifications, and it is not a uniform requirement that all repair workers hold one specific certificate. Article 30 requires parts source records, prohibits counterfeit and substandard parts, allows conforming equivalent parts, and requires parts replaced to be handed to the repair client for their own handling; Article 33 requires the repair electronic file to be uploaded to the national motor vehicle repair health record system and allows the repair client to inquire, so lawful transmission cannot be prohibited wholesale. Business filing does not equal an individual work permit. In the United States, for compensation (including barter of services) repair of motor vehicle air conditioning (MVAC), any refrigerant requires Section609 approved training and certification and the use of approved recovery equipment as required; before reuse it must be reconditioned or recycled and purified. The intentional venting prohibition has a SNAP-approved CO2/R744 exception, but that exception does not cancel the Section 609 personnel certification. It applies only to the corresponding U.S. MVAC scenario, not to a general Chinese auto repair certificate or a permit for all air conditioning systems. U.S. ASE A1–A9 professional certification requires passing the corresponding examination and meeting 2 years of full-time equivalent related hands-on experience; qualifying education can substitute for part of the experience, and the substitutions cannot be combined. The examination can be taken first, and if the experience requirement is not met only the score is held without certification. L1–L4 is 3 years and G1 is 1 year; automotive Master requires A1–A8 all to be certified, A9 is not required, and the relevant certifications are maintained every 5 years. This is not a uniform practical examination or a whole-vehicle work permit. |
| Equipment, site safety, and protection requirements | Positions involving lifting and under-vehicle work, chemicals, refrigerants, and electrical work. | The OSHA industry hazard PDF contains 2011—2016 NAICS8111 data, with 108 deaths and about 22,200 nonfatal injuries and illnesses in 2016, covering the automotive repair and maintenance industry, which is not the current incidence rate for this occupation; it lists commonly cited 1910.132/133 and other provisions but not 1910.138, so it cannot be used to claim that all PPE regulations or per-model stop and recovery steps have been obtained. Historical industry data cannot be used as an individual risk probability for China. |
When checking pay, first confirm the employer's nature, the job duties and the scope of work authorization, and whether pay is a fixed monthly salary, hourly plus commission, or piece rate; do not convert overseas figures into an expected RMB amount, and do not trust quotations that lack samples and position scope and period.
National Bureau of Statistics 2025 annual average wages for resident services, repair, and other services: urban non-private 70,226 yuan and private 52,059 yuan; wholesale and retail non-private 135,749 yuan and private 69,622 yuan. Choose the industry reference by the employer's main activity classification, not directly by the technician job title; these are not this occupation's median wage, starting pay, or city monthly salary.
In 2025 wholesale and retail was 135,749 non-private and 69,622 private yuan/year; it serves as a reference only when the actual unit classification matches, and it is not the auto repair occupational wage.
This round did not verify the national wage distribution for brand-authorized, chain, general auto repair, and new energy specialty formats; verify against the actual unit activity and contract.
AI and automation may change auxiliary steps such as diagnostic retrieval and records and text, but they do not change the mainland China statistical definition for this occupation: the statistical definition, the population covered, and the reference period must be read together with the wage figures.
| 90th percentile (P90) | 81,790 USD/year (90th percentile) | Official annual wage, not individual take-home pay | P90 annual wage 81,790 USD describes a high point in the distribution, not a common wage or an inevitable return from ASE certification. |
|---|
Wage · 10th percentile：34,660 USD/year (10th percentile)；P10 is the 10th percentile, not the lowest value in the distribution or newcomer starting pay； the same source gives an hourly wage of 16.66 USD.
Wage · 25th percentile：38,900 USD/year (25th percentile)；Under the same definition this is the 25th percentile of annual wages, corresponding to 18.70 USD at the 25th percentile hourly wage；BLS 2025 wage percentiles as shown by O*NET (this occupation definition)
Wage · median：50,620 USD/year (median)；In 2025 the OEWS median for this occupation was 50,620 USD/year and 24.34 USD/hour, consistent with the currently accessible OOH； this is not starting pay or an individual's take-home pay. OEWS paid employee wages include base pay, commissions, production bonuses, and tips, and exclude overtime premiums, shift differentials, and nonproduction bonuses, so piece rates and commissions cannot all be excluded. The self-employed, owners and partners of unincorporated businesses, and unpaid family workers are not in the wage survey, and paid corporate employees are not automatically excluded because of the shop's nature.
Wage · 75th percentile：70,430 USD/year (75th percentile)；Under the same definition this is the 75th percentile of annual wages, corresponding to 33.86 USD at the 75th percentile hourly wage；BLS 2025 wage percentiles as shown by O*NET (this occupation definition)
Wage · 90th percentile：81,790 USD/year (90th percentile)；P90 is 81,790 USD/year and 39.32 USD/hour； no causal statistic was obtained showing that ASE certification, diagnostic specialization, or mentoring apprentices leads to this percentile.
The median is the midpoint of the distribution, and P10/P25 are not wages exclusive to newcomers; the percentiles do not constitute an individual promotion pay grade.
The OEWS annual wage conversion is usually handled by the 2080-hour statistical method, not an individual's real hours, and actual annual income cannot be derived arbitrarily.
The BLS2025 OEWS wages are shown via O*NET; the BLS EP2025 employment and the 2025—2035 projection for this occupation, and the current OOH page is accessible.
Check the actual region, institution, hours, pay, and contract. The four-industry differences are statistical, and no percentile causal attribution for certification and mentoring returns was obtained.
| Industry | Median wage for this occupation within that industry | How to understand this value |
|---|---|---|
| Automobile dealers | 59,920 USD/year (May 2025, industry median for this occupation) | The BLS OOH pay table for this occupation; it is not the wage of all dealer employees. |
| Automotive mechanical and electrical repair and maintenance | 49,630 USD/year (May 2025, industry median for this occupation) | This is the detailed industry median for this occupation, and the O*NET broad category 31% cannot be substituted for the industry wage population. |
| Automotive parts, accessories, and tire retail | 45,700 USD/year (May 2025, industry median for this occupation) | The OOH pay table for this occupation; it is not a statistic for brand, chain, or new energy shop formats. |
| Other automotive repair and maintenance | 35,730 USD/year (May 2025, industry median for this occupation) | OEWS paid employee wages include base pay, commissions, production bonuses, and tips, and exclude overtime premiums, shift differentials, and nonproduction bonuses, so piece rates and commissions cannot all be excluded. The self-employed, owners and partners of unincorporated businesses, and unpaid family workers are not in the wage survey, and paid corporate employees are not automatically excluded because of the shop's nature. The EP self-employment share of 14.6% is an employment structure figure, not profit or wage survey coverage. |
The BLS OOH publishes median wages for this occupation in four detailed industries; brand, chain, city, and new energy specialty shops have no independent median statistics obtained this round.
The OOH notes that some employers require or prefer certification and that certification is sometimes associated with higher wages; it does not quantify the causal return of ASE certification or a technical supervisor role on P90.
The OOH says most work full time and may work evenings or weekends; some are paid hourly or by the amount of work completed. OEWS paid employee wages include base pay, commissions, production bonuses, and tips, and exclude overtime premiums, shift differentials, and nonproduction bonuses, so piece rates and commissions cannot all be excluded. The self-employed, owners and partners of unincorporated businesses, and unpaid family workers are not in the wage survey, and paid corporate employees are not automatically excluded because of the shop's nature.
The U.S. 49-3023.00 occupation: 825,800 jobs in 2025, projected at 866,700 in 2035, growing 5.0% from 2025 to 2035 (rounded to 5%, faster than average), a net gain of 40,900, about 66,200 openings per year, and 14.6% self-employed. Openings include growth and replacement from separations and job changes and cannot be treated as the net gain or an individual hiring probability, and the generative AI employment effect is not separated.
The U.S. 49-3023.00 occupation: 825,800 jobs in 2025, projected at 866,700 in 2035, growing 5.0% from 2025 to 2035 (rounded to 5%, faster than average), a net gain of 40,900, about 66,200 openings per year, and 14.6% self-employed. Openings include growth and replacement from separations and job changes and cannot be treated as the net gain or an individual hiring probability, and the generative AI employment effect is not separated.
The annual average openings include growth and replacement from separations and job changes and do not equal the ten-year net gain of 40,900 or an individual hiring rate.
Which Holland interest type is closer to automotive service technicians and mechanics?
The RCI order is Realistic Realistic100, Conventional Conventional55, and Investigative Investigative43; the detailed interests are mechanical and electronics 96, physical and hands-on work 76, and engineering 59. These are occupational group interests, not individual ability, psychological scale validity, or an admission threshold.
Do not use it this way: Note: an interest test result consistent with the occupational interest code only indicates that the direction is close; it does not mean you already have diagnostic process, measurement and gauge, or disassembly and assembly and safety procedure ability, nor does it mean you can obtain the corresponding position's work authorization or certification.
Test my Holland career interestsWhich Big Five traits are more relevant to this job?
Editorial self-check: whether you can verify faults per procedure, accept review, and report measurements and open items honestly; this round did not obtain research on the correlation between the Big Five and performance in this occupation.
Do not use it this way: Note: treating personality scores as ability or hiring conclusions is a common misuse; this page does not provide score thresholds or a type list.
View my Big Five personality traitsCan MBTI be used to judge whether I am suited to automotive service technicians and mechanics?
The occupational profiles read do not use MBTI to designate a best-fit type; the communication self-check on this page is an editorial suggestion.
Do not use it this way: Note: This page does not list any 'best-fit' type and does not endorse using it for selection or screening.
Understand my MBTI preferencesCan the Enneagram tell me whether I am suited to this occupation?
The profiles reviewed did not use the Enneagram to determine job fit; when reflecting on motivation, check actual work habits.
Do not use it this way: Note: This page does not provide a correspondence between type and occupation.
Explore my Enneagram patternIf I am weak at math, can I be an automotive service technician and mechanic?
O*NET detailed data lists 30 tasks (25 Core, 5 Supplemental) and 41 work activities with published Importance: checking checklists and post-repair testing 87 each, routine maintenance 86; driving or operating vehicles and equipment 82, mechanical maintenance 79, decision making and problem solving and general physical activity 78 each, getting information 75, computer use 65, documenting 58. The scores are occupational-group importance, not frequency of occurrence or an individual threshold. Physical and sensory requirements should be checked against the actual position; no measured uniform difference from office positions.
Do not use it this way: Note: This page does not treat any test score as a basis for admission or elimination.
Understand my intelligence and reasoning performanceDoes being an automotive service technician and mechanic require high emotional intelligence?
Editorial self-check: whether, under customer pressure and rework, one can state uncertainty, report anomalies, and accept review; the predictive validity of emotional scales was not checked.
Do not use it this way: Note: This page does not provide emotional-competency thresholds and does not equate a high score with competence.
Understand my emotional intelligence abilitiesFits better when: Automotive engineering technicians assist engineers with testing, trials, and modification; repair experience needs additional test procedures and data skills, and responsibilities are not divided by a uniform signing authority.
Watch for: Additional training in testing, calibration, and equipment operation is needed; on-site repair experience is not the same as bench and equipment operation capability.
Explore related career: Automotive engineering techniciansFits better when: Willing to repair commercial vehicles and diesel power systems, where working conditions and specifications differ.
Watch for: Additional training in diesel and commercial-vehicle systems and specifications is needed; passenger-car experience is not the same as commercial-vehicle repair capability.
Explore related career: Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialistsFits better when: Willing to do electrical and mechanical servicing of electric motors and power tools, where the object is not a vehicle.
Watch for: Additional training in electric motor and electrical servicing and tool repair is needed; vehicle electrical experience is not the same as electric motor servicing capability.
Explore related career: Electric motor and power tool repairersFits better when: Compare with 49-3021 Automotive Body Repair, Refinishing, and Frame Straightening; the link is a combined body and glass chapter, painting may be handled by dedicated personnel, and not all positions do everything.
Watch for: Additional training in sheet metal, painting, and frame straightening is needed; mechanical repair experience is not the same as body repair capability.
Explore related career: Automotive body and glass repairersFits better when: Willing to specialize in motorcycle repair, where structures and specifications differ substantially from passenger cars.
Watch for: Additional training in motorcycle structures and systems is needed; passenger-car experience is not the same as motorcycle repair capability.
Explore related career: Motorcycle mechanicsFits better when: Willing to do design and development and analysis and validation of vehicles and systems.
Watch for: Additional training in engineering mechanics, control, and design analysis is needed; on-site repair experience is not the same as design and development capability.
Explore related career: Automotive engineersRather than a certain personality, it is a certain way of working: being able to execute to specification and process, record measurements, replaced parts, and test results truthfully and flag anomalies, draw conclusions based on evidence, and accept review and correction by mentors and quality inspectors.
You can self-check against supervised diagnosis, measurement, recording, and collaboration performance; a personality type cannot guarantee competence.
Introversion does not mean suitable or unsuitable; customer communication, asking for help, and teamwork need to be checked, and long periods of independent work should not be treated as a common condition of all positions.
This round obtained no direct prediction research on MBTI type and repair quality or on-site performance for this occupation; this page suggests treating preferences as communication verification questions and observing performance through supervised actual records, without recommending a best-fit type.
The RCI order is Realistic Realistic100, Conventional Conventional55, and Investigative Investigative43; the detailed interests are mechanical and electronics 96, physical and hands-on work 76, and engineering 59. These are occupational group interests, not individual ability, psychological scale validity, or an admission threshold.
This round obtained no research on the relative validity of personality and interest tools versus hands-on evaluation for this occupation. The editors of this page suggest checking work, work orders, and inspection and rework records together, and not deciding fit or hiring based on any single test.
BLS suggests courses in mathematics, electronics, and computers; specifics require measurement, diagram reading, and data reasoning, and no uniform advanced-math threshold or math exemption condition across all positions was obtained.
Facing customer pressure, you can self-check whether you can communicate evidence and uncertainty; this is an editorial behavioral question, not an admission based on a high emotional-intelligence score.
This round obtained no direct evidence of the Enneagram being used for job fit or personnel selection in this occupation; the occupational profiles reviewed do not list it as a selection basis. It can serve as a self-reflection candidate, while job evaluation must check actual tasks and hiring standards.
Judge by verifiable output: a work write-up containing a fictional vehicle condition and customer description, an inspection and measurement sheet, the basis for the fault judgment, and replaced parts, quantities, and test-adjustment results, plus a rework record containing the anomaly, the conditions for reproducing it, and the basis for handling.
Typical scenario：Entering under the vehicle without confirming support and locking status, or disassembling parts without isolating hazardous energy.
Roles most affected：Self and nearby personnel
Possible consequence：May cause the vehicle to drop, crushing, or injury from a fall from height.
How to reduce risk：The editors suggest checking the lift equipment manual, support points, inspection, and the real stop-work and return-to-work system; Article 23 of the repair regulations requires safety education and compliance, this round obtained no complete lifting procedure for each vehicle model, and work should not be resumed on one's own based on an overview.
Evidence：O*NET 49-3023.00 occupation summary · O*NET 49-3023.00 detailed information (work context)
Typical scenario：Using chemicals in a confined space, venting refrigerant at will, or casually discarding waste oil, waste liquid, and waste.
Roles most affected：Self and colleagues
Possible consequence：May cause skin and respiratory irritation and long-term health effects, and involves refrigerant and waste disposal compliance.
How to reduce risk：In the U.S., when servicing motor vehicle air conditioning (MVAC) for compensation (including barter), any refrigerant requires Section609 approved training and certification, and approved recovery equipment must be used as required; before reuse it must be regenerated or recovered and purified. The intentional-release prohibition has an exception for CO2/R744 approved under SNAP, but that exception does not waive 609 personnel certification. It applies only to the corresponding U.S. MVAC scenario, not to a general Chinese auto repair certificate or to licensing for all air conditioning systems. Ventilation, chemical SDS, and protection need to be checked against the actual process; historical industry PDFs do not replace an on-site assessment.
Evidence：O*NET 49-3023.00 occupation summary · O*NET 49-3023.00 detailed information (work context)
Typical scenario：Disassembling electrical, high-voltage, or airbag-related parts without de-energizing and verifying.
Roles most affected：Self and colleagues
Possible consequence：May cause electric shock, arc burns, accidental airbag deployment, or high-voltage system injury.
How to reduce risk：Electrical work should check personnel and equipment against the relevant OSHA1910.333 conditions and applicable hazardous-energy rules; this round obtained no complete isolation verification and restoration procedures for high-voltage systems and airbags by vehicle model, and the overview must not be used as an operating instruction. A Chinese special-operation certificate must be checked against the actual task catalog, and it is not a uniform electrician certificate for all auto repair.
Evidence：O*NET 49-3023.00 occupation summary · O*NET 49-3023.00 detailed information (work context)
Typical scenario：Treating a fault code or an experienced hunch as a confirmed cause of the fault, or continuing to replace parts when the measurement and specification basis is unclear.
Roles most affected：Vehicle owners and institutions
Possible consequence：May cause rework, wrongly replaced parts, and hidden hazards in safety parts, and affect vehicle safety and regulatory compliance.
How to reduce risk：Verify the cause of the fault with actual measurements following a diagnostic process, explain the replacement plan and the basis for the judgment, and do not use part swapping as a substitute for diagnosis.
Evidence：O*NET 49-3023.00 occupation summary · O*NET 49-3023.00 detailed information (work context)
Typical scenario：Using parts of unknown origin, or lacking records of the handling of replaced and removed parts.
Roles most affected：Self, vehicle owners, and institutions
Possible consequence：May cause passing off inferior parts as good, difficulty defining responsibility, and repeat repair costs.
How to reduce risk：Mainland China's Regulations on the Administration of Motor Vehicle Repair, amended by Order No. 14 of 2023: Article 7 requires operators to file with the county-level transport authority after business registration; Article 5 encourages practitioners to obtain national vocational qualifications, not a uniform requirement for all repair workers to hold a particular certificate. Article 30 requires records of parts sourcing, prohibits counterfeit and shoddy parts, allows qualified equivalent-quality parts, and hands replaced parts to the repair client for their own handling; Article 33 requires repair electronic records to be uploaded to the National Automobile Repair Health Record System, which the repair client can query, and legal transmission cannot be prohibited across the board. Business filing is not the same as an individual work permit. Waste oil and waste liquid management is covered by Article 24 and specific applicable provisions, and not all removed parts can simply be discarded by oneself.
Evidence：O*NET 49-3023.00 occupation summary · O*NET 49-3023.00 detailed information (work context)
Typical scenario：Handling safety parts or high-voltage systems by experience when authorization is unclear, or skipping emissions and refrigerant handling procedures.
Roles most affected：Self and institutions
Possible consequence：May cause exceeding authorization in handling safety parts, high-voltage systems, and airbags, and affect vehicle safety performance and regulatory compliance.
How to reduce risk：Check operator filing, job training, and actual authorization; U.S. MVAC compensated work follows 609, and Chinese vocational skill certificates and special-operation qualifications are distinguished by the real task, so a uniform qualification should not be inferred from the job title.
Evidence：O*NET 49-3023.00 occupation summary · O*NET 49-3023.00 detailed information (work context)
Editorial pathway: supervised learning, common diagnostic repair, difficult-case specialization, or management training; years, promotion, qualifications, and release authority should be verified against the position.
Qualification boundary: education, vocational school or training institution training, registered apprenticeship experience, industry certification (such as the U.S. ASE A1–A9 and L1–L4 and ADAS and electric-vehicle related certifications), air conditioning repair certification from an EPA-approved program, internal institutional job qualification and work authorization, and the special-operation operator certificate are different statuses; education does not bring work authorization, and certification does not mean one can independently handle high-voltage systems and airbags and safety parts.
| Job directions | Starting tasks | Employer basis | Evidence that can be submitted with zero experience | Boundaries that need to be distinguished |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mechanical repair assistant position | Under supervision, complete vehicle-intake records, assist with lifting and disassembly and assembly, clean parts, and perform simple replacements, and submit to quality inspection per procedure. | The editors suggest checking with the target institution on tool use, procedure awareness, and record-keeping discipline; institutional training assessments, job authorization, and applicable legal qualifications must be checked separately, and internal assessments do not replace legal requirements. | Submit a work write-up containing a fictional vehicle condition, a checklist, and measurement records and the basis for the judgment, without using real company materials. | Assistants do not make the work decisions for safety parts and high-voltage systems; the relevant conclusions must be confirmed by an authorized quality inspector. |
| Electrical and diagnostic position | Use diagnostic equipment to read data and troubleshoot faults in electrical, electronic control, and emission control systems, and record measurements and the basis for the judgment. | The editors suggest checking with the target institution on circuit and electronic control fundamentals, diagnostic process, and measurement and reasoning ability. | Submit a fictional diagnostic record containing the symptom description, measured values compared against specifications, the basis for the judgment, and the replacement plan. | Diagnostic conclusions must be verified by actual measurement; fault codes or part swapping as trial and error must not be used as a substitute for diagnosis. |
| Air conditioning and refrigerant position | Recover and charge refrigerant per procedure, service air conditioning and heater systems, and leak-test and test. | In the U.S., when servicing motor vehicle air conditioning (MVAC) for compensation (including barter), any refrigerant requires Section609 approved training and certification, and approved recovery equipment must be used as required; before reuse it must be regenerated or recovered and purified. The intentional-release prohibition has an exception for CO2/R744 approved under SNAP, but that exception does not waive 609 personnel certification. It applies only to the corresponding U.S. MVAC scenario, not to a general Chinese auto repair certificate or to licensing for all air conditioning systems. | Submit a fictional record containing the leak-test steps, recovery and charge quantities, and pressure and temperature measurements and conclusions. | U.S. MVAC recovery, equipment, personnel, and emissions should be verified under the applicable rules; the CO2 exception has boundaries and should not be generalized to other jurisdictions. |
| New energy high-voltage specialist position | Service high-voltage systems and battery-related parts within the authorized scope, performing de-energization, verification, and insulation measurement. | The editors suggest checking with the target institution on high-voltage safety training, procedure awareness, and measurement ability. | Submit a fictional work plan containing de-energization and verification steps, insulation and measurement records, and the authorization boundary. | High-voltage and battery safety-related design and testing must be carried out under dedicated procedures and authorization. |
| Quick-service maintenance position | Perform scheduled maintenance such as oil and filter changes, lubrication, and adjustment, and flag follow-up repair items per the checklist. | The editors suggest checking with the target institution on process proficiency, thoroughness, and customer communication ability. | Submit a fictional work order containing the maintenance item list, inspection findings, and recommended repair items. | Problems found during maintenance do not equal completed repair; they must be handled separately after customer confirmation. |
The registered apprenticeship, training, and certification directories are search entry points; this round did not recheck the current counts of 18 positions or 960 programs, and old counts are not treated as newly verified evidence. U.S. ASE A1–A9 professional certification requires passing the corresponding exam and meeting 2 years of full-time equivalent related hands-on experience; qualifying education can substitute for part of the experience, and substitutions cannot be stacked. You may take the exam first, and if the experience is not met you only have a passing score and do not receive certification. L1–L4 is 3 years, G1 is 1 year; the Automobile Master requires holding both A1–A8, A9 is not required, and the relevant certifications are maintained every 5 years. It is not a uniform hands-on exam or a vehicle-wide work permit.
Editorial preparation direction: you can check the target institution's motor vehicle repair-related courses and mentoring; current enrollment, training arrangements, hiring qualifications, and task authorization must be verified separately, and this round obtained no national share of training pathways.
In the U.S., when servicing motor vehicle air conditioning (MVAC) for compensation (including barter), any refrigerant requires Section609 approved training and certification, and approved recovery equipment must be used as required; before reuse it must be regenerated or recovered and purified. The intentional-release prohibition has an exception for CO2/R744 approved under SNAP, but that exception does not waive 609 personnel certification. It applies only to the corresponding U.S. MVAC scenario, not to a general Chinese auto repair certificate or to licensing for all air conditioning systems. Mainland China's Regulations on the Administration of Motor Vehicle Repair, amended by Order No. 14 of 2023: Article 7 requires operators to file with the county-level transport authority after business registration; Article 5 encourages practitioners to obtain national vocational qualifications, not a uniform requirement for all repair workers to hold a particular certificate. Article 30 requires records of parts sourcing, prohibits counterfeit and shoddy parts, allows qualified equivalent-quality parts, and hands replaced parts to the repair client for their own handling; Article 33 requires repair electronic records to be uploaded to the National Automobile Repair Health Record System, which the repair client can query, and legal transmission cannot be prohibited across the board. Business filing is not the same as an individual work permit.
All materials are fictional and contain no real company work materials, customer vehicle information, repair images, or internal materials.
All materials and scenarios are fictional; real company work materials, customer vehicle information, repair images, or internal materials must not be used.
Complete within 60 to 90 minutes; referring to public standards and general repair materials is allowed, but real company materials must not be used.
In the record, write the vehicle condition and customer description, the inspection and measured values, the basis for the fault judgment, the replaced parts and quantities, and the test and adjustment results separately, and mark the parts that need review.
Write the symptoms, measured values, the basis for the judgment, the repair process, and the test conclusion separately, and mark any uncertain point as requiring review.
When finished, have an experienced person review the fault judgment and the measurement and testing conclusions, and keep the reasons for revisions.
Note the source and data date for each item; leave items that cannot be verified blank and mark them as insufficient evidence, without filling them in with speculation.
List 'education', 'specialized training', 'industry certification', 'EPA air conditioning repair certification', 'registered apprenticeship experience', 'institutional job qualification', 'work authorization', and 'high-voltage and ADAS specialized training' separately to avoid conflating them.
Keep the review comments together with the reasons for revisions as evidence for judging whether you can accept on-site review.
Give the debrief to peers and mentors and quality inspectors for review, and keep the review comments and the reasons for revisions.
| Stage | Possible assessment method | Observable evidence | Boundary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Before the interview | Check the position's work scope, compensation method (monthly salary, hourly plus commission, or piece rate), job qualification and work authorization and quality-inspection mechanism, and prepare samples of work records. | A requirement checklist with sources and data dates; able to explain clearly the differences in object and responsibility between this occupation and adjacent directions. | Do not treat being able to drive or to disassemble and assemble parts as proof of being able to independently diagnose high-voltage or airbag systems. |
| During the interview | Scenario question: The customer reports an intermittent fault; after reading and clearing the fault code it temporarily disappears, but the customer demands same-day delivery and is cost-sensitive — how do you handle it? |
Output: a one-page terminology and process comparison table, noting the source of each item.
Output: a vehicle intake and fault confirmation record.
Output: an inspection and diagnosis record.
Output: a repair step and replaced parts record.
Output: a testing and delivery record.
| Qualification / certificate | Who it applies to | Role in the position | Whether it is a universal threshold | Conditions | Effort | Boundary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High school diploma or equivalent (including postsecondary certificate) | People who want to enter this occupation | BLS typically postsecondary nondegree program, with a high-school-entry mentoring path also possible; a uniform requirement for the majority is not inferred. | Check the education requirement against the specific position; it is not a uniform high-school or certificate threshold. | O*NET new-hire education requirement survey: 32% postsecondary certificate, 30% less than high school, 26% high school or equivalent — this is not the on-the-job educational composition. Zone3/SVP6.0 to <7.0 is a job preparation description, usually one to two years of training, not a fixed threshold for every position. BLS EP typically postsecondary nondegree award, related experience None, short-term on-the-job training; OOH notes that those with related coursework may need shorter training, while untrained people get longer mentoring starting from assistant or maintenance positions, and a paid apprenticeship path is also possible; these definitions cannot substitute for one another. |
Typical scope：Responsible for disassembly and assembly assistance and record accuracy, and reporting anomalies.
Readiness evidence：Supervised work records and quality-inspection records.
Credential boundary：Basic training in safety and tool use and disassembly and assembly and measuring instruments.
Next moves：Under supervision, complete vehicle intake records, assist with lifting and disassembly and assembly, cleaning, and simple replacements, and submit to quality inspection.
Typical scope：Responsible for the diagnostic basis, assembly quality, and test results.
Readiness evidence：Independent work records, and measurement and replaced-parts and test records.
Credential boundary：Complete training in common system repair and electrical measurement and comparison against specifications.
Next moves：Independently handle diagnosis and repair of common vehicle models and common systems, and complete assembly and testing to specification.
Typical scope：Responsibilities are divided according to actual appointment and policy; the title of senior technician does not automatically confer team authorization rights.
Readiness evidence：Mentoring records, process and inspection standard documents, and difficult-case records.
Credential boundary：The editors suggest adding mentoring, process improvement, and an actual inspection system; a job grade does not automatically carry the authority to set mandatory inspection standards.
Next moves：Mentor apprentices, participate in developing diagnosis and repair and inspection processes, and handle difficult faults and rework problems.
Typical scope：Responsible for shop quality, compliance, and technical plans.
Readiness evidence：Scheduling and quality records, technical plans, and training documents.
Credential boundary：Additional training in technical management and quality management and compliance.
Next moves：Responsible for shop scheduling and quality and technical plans, or shift to technical training and technical support.
Typical scope：Responsible for measurement and record accuracy, and reporting anomalies.
Readiness evidence：Supervised diagnostic records and measurement records.
Credential boundary：Training in circuit and electronic control fundamentals and diagnostic equipment use.
Next moves：Under supervision, read data streams and fault codes, and perform basic electrical measurements and recording.
Typical scope：Responsible for the judgment of the fault cause, the verification conclusion, and the safety boundary.
Readiness evidence：Independent diagnostic reports, and measurement and verification records and replacement plan notes.
Credential boundary：Complete training in electronic control and emissions and network communication and reasoning methods.
Next moves：Independently complete diagnosis of complex electronic control and emissions faults, verify by actual measurement, and form a reviewable conclusion.
Typical scope：Difficult diagnosis and team responsibility should be verified against the position appointment; team granting authority cannot be inferred from the title of senior diagnostic technician.
Typical scope：Responsible for de-energization verification and record accuracy, and reporting anomalies.
Readiness evidence：Supervised high-voltage work records and measurement records.
Credential boundary：Basic training in high-voltage safety and de-energization verification and personal protection.
Next moves：Editorial capability development direction: participate in high-voltage system inspection only when you have the qualifications, training, and job authorization required by the actual task and work under the corresponding procedures; supervised mentoring does not replace legal requirements, and this page does not provide operating steps.
Typical scope：Responsible for high-voltage safety, servicing quality, and test conclusions.
Readiness evidence：Independent work records, and insulation and measurement and test records.
Credential boundary：Complete training in servicing batteries and motors and electronic control and high-voltage systems.
Next moves：After meeting the applicable qualifications, training, and specific job authorization for the actual high-voltage and battery tasks, the conditions for independently handling the corresponding servicing work can be checked; completing this learning stage does not automatically grant work rights.
Able to complete vehicle intake and inspection and repair and testing under supervision according to procedure and record truthfully, and to stop the affected steps and report when the cause of the fault is unclear, measured values exceed specifications, or high voltage and airbags and refrigerants are involved.
Able to independently handle diagnosis and repair of common vehicle models and common systems, accept quality inspection and rework review according to procedure, and keep truthful records.
Editorial pathway example: mentoring, process improvement, or assisting with quality inspection after confirmation by the actual position; not automatic promotion or self-granted team authority.
Shift toward diagnosis and electronic control specialization, new energy and high-voltage specialty repair, store technical management, or training and technical support (requiring corresponding training and qualifications).
United States · exact
5.0%; about 66,200 openings per year on average
Growth rate and job openings
The U.S. 49-3023.00 occupation: 825,800 jobs in 2025, projected at 866,700 in 2035, growing 5.0% from 2025 to 2035 (rounded to 5%, faster than average), a net gain of 40,900, about 66,200 openings per year, and 14.6% self-employed. Openings include growth and replacement from separations and job changes and cannot be treated as the net gain or an individual hiring probability, and the generative AI employment effect is not separated.
Does not establish：Growth and replacement openings do not equal individual hiring probability; there is a precise 5.0% increase.
Mainland China · industry_proxy
A 2025 industry average reference, not the precise occupational income distribution.
Mainland China occupational wage: insufficient evidence
The 2022 Occupational Classification Code PDF276 page (main text page 269) 4-12-01-01 Auto Repair Worker includes trades such as automobile mechanical repair, electrical repair, inspection, detailing and trim, body shaping, paint repair, used-car reconditioning, new energy repair, intelligent operations and maintenance, and glass repair; the broad occupational tasks include inspection, adjustment, replacement, and repair of engine, chassis, body, and electrical systems, equipment maintenance, and repair records. It does not equal precise mutual recognition or a wage distribution with U.S. 49-3023.00. National Bureau of Statistics 2025 average annual wage for resident services, repair, and other services: urban non-private 70,226 yuan, private 52,059 yuan; wholesale and retail non-private 135,749 yuan, private 69,622 yuan. The industry reference is selected by the employer's main activity classification, not directly classified by the technician job title; it is not the median, starting wage, or urban monthly wage for this occupation. Mainland China's Regulations on the Administration of Motor Vehicle Repair, amended by Order No. 14 of 2023: Article 7 requires operators to file with the county-level transport authority after business registration; Article 5 encourages practitioners to obtain national vocational qualifications, not a uniform requirement for all repair workers to hold a particular certificate. Article 30 requires records of parts sourcing, prohibits counterfeit and shoddy parts, allows qualified equivalent-quality parts, and hands replaced parts to the repair client for their own handling; Article 33 requires repair electronic records to be uploaded to the National Automobile Repair Health Record System, which the repair client can query, and legal transmission cannot be prohibited across the board. Business filing is not the same as an individual work permit.
Does not establish：The precise occupational income distribution was not obtained; a matched industry average can serve as a reference but cannot fill the precise gap.
These are capability relationships, not automatic promotions or credential waivers.
Transfers：Transferable: vehicle structure and tool use and safety fundamentals.
Build next：Additional training in sheet metal, painting, and frame straightening is needed; mechanical repair experience is not the same as body repair capability.
View career profileTransfers：Transferable: vehicle system knowledge and measurement and data fundamentals.
Build next：Additional training in testing, calibration, and equipment operation is needed; on-site repair experience is not the same as bench and equipment operation capability.
View career profileTransfers：Transferable: vehicle system and failure mechanism knowledge.
Build next：Additional training in engineering mechanics and control and design analysis is needed; repair experience is not the same as design and development ability.
View career profileTransfers：Transferable: diagnostic process and tool use and safety fundamentals.
Build next：Additional training in diesel and commercial-vehicle systems and specifications is needed; passenger-car experience is not the same as commercial-vehicle repair capability.
View career profileTransfers：Transferable: disassembly and assembly and measurement and diagnostic fundamentals.
Build next：Additional training in motorcycle structures and systems is needed; passenger-car experience is not the same as motorcycle repair capability.
View career profileTransfers：Transferable: electrical measurement and tool use and servicing fundamentals.
Build next：Additional training in electric motor and electrical servicing and tool repair is needed; vehicle electrical experience is not the same as electric motor servicing capability.
View career profileTransfers：Transferable: electrical fundamentals and vehicle structure and safety fundamentals.
Build next：The editors suggest adding installation and maintenance capability for transportation equipment mobile electronics, communications, and navigation; the scope includes rail and boats, not just in-vehicle retrofitting.
View career profileTransfers：Transferable: vehicle structure and tool use and safety fundamentals.
Build next：Additional training in glass removal and installation and bonding and curing conditions is needed; mechanical repair experience is not the same as vehicle glass work capability.
View career profileMainly lifting and support and under-vehicle work with falls and crushing, exposure to chemicals and refrigerants and exhaust, hazardous energy from electrical and high-voltage systems and airbags, diagnostic misjudgment and replacing parts instead of diagnosing, loss of control over parts sourcing and the management of replaced and removed parts, and exceeding authorization and unclear work permits. The control approach is to work to applicable standards, first confirm hazardous energy and safety conditions, record truthfully, and accept quality-inspection review. This page does not provide diagnosis, repair, or on-site work instructions.
The more explanatory signals are: being able to complete inspection and repair and testing to specification and record them truthfully, being able to reason through the cause of a fault following a diagnostic process and judge measured values against manufacturer specifications, and being able to judge safety conditions and authorization boundaries and stop and escalate on anomalies or when work exceeds authorization; 'liking cars' or 'being able to drive' alone cannot determine this. The Holland interest code is RCI (Realistic + Investigative + Conventional), and interest consistency only indicates that the direction is close.
AI and automation can change steps such as reading fault codes and retrieving manuals and cases, recording measurements and comparing parameters, and work orders and inventory and estimating and settlement text; but there is no official evidence that it will wholly replace fault-cause judgment, confirming disassembly safety, judging component wear, test and adjustment results, and the conclusions of work involving safety parts and high-voltage systems and refrigerants. Official material also does not give the automation replacement rate or the year the occupation disappears.
Fault cause and scope judgment, hazardous-energy isolation and verification, confirming disassembly safety, judging component wear, testing and adjusting to manufacturer specifications, and work decisions involving safety parts and high-voltage systems and airbags and refrigerant handling must all be undertaken by the person and by authorized personnel according to institutional procedures; system output must first be marked as reference and may enter the formal work order only after actual-measurement and procedure confirmation and human review.
U.S. side: O*NET lists 49-3023.00 as Job Zone Three (SVP 6.0 to <7.0); most occupations in this zone require vocational school training, related on-the-job experience, or an associate degree, and require prior related work skills and one to two years of training (an accredited apprenticeship program may be available); of the published education composition, 32% require a postsecondary certificate, 30% require less than a high school diploma, and 26% require a high school diploma or equivalent; the O*NET certification page lists the ASE series and model-specific and specialty certifications, and air conditioning system repair must be performed for compensation by personnel trained and certified through an EPA-approved program (Clean Air Act Section 609). Mainland China side: this occupation is not listed separately in the Code, and the related work falls under the repair items of motor vehicle repair operations; operations are subject to filing management, and repair parts must have a traceable source and counterfeit and shoddy parts must not be used. Education, training, certification, job qualification, and work authorization cannot substitute for one another.
Relatively higher than office positions. O*NET work context shows 83% continually or almost continually use hands to handle, control, or feel objects and tools, 43% continually or almost continually stand, 40% continually or almost continually bend or twist the body, 35% kneel, crouch, bend, or crawl more than half the time, 35% walk or run more than half the time, 86% wear common protective or safety equipment every day, 69% are exposed to contaminants every day. The core abilities are system principles and diagnostic process and measurement and procedure execution.
Work context shows 52% work more than 40 hours per week, 52% face time pressure every day, 56% must make decisions every day, 42% have a lot of decision freedom, 76% need face-to-face discussions every day, 44% spend most of their time in contact with others; common arrangements include peak season and appointment scheduling and overtime. When comparing positions, put the work-hour structure, overtime and commission or piece-rate arrangements, and lifting and hazardous-energy working conditions and protection requirements into the written conditions.
The official employment projection for this occupation is about 805,600 employed in 2024, growth of 'average (3% to 4%)' over 2024—2034, and about 70,000 job openings over the projection period (under the definitions on the O*NET page); under this page's evidence definitions, the 2025—2035 figures of the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook are not listed alongside. A projection does not equal individual hiring probability. For redirection, compare directions such as automotive body and glass repairers, automotive engineering technicians, automotive engineers, bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists, motorcycle mechanics, electric motor and power tool repairers, transportation equipment electrical and electronic installers and repairers, and automotive glass installers, but qualifications and work authorization must be checked item by item.
The U.S. figures come from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS, 2025, this occupational definition, median annual wage 50,620 USD) and the 2024—2034 employment projection shown on O*NET; for mainland China no national wage distribution corresponding precisely to this occupation was obtained, and this page retains the insufficient-evidence marker without filling it in with an industry average or a conversion from U.S. figures. The two markets differ in statistical definitions, covered population, and data dates, so they cannot be converted directly.
FermatMind career content editorial team: checked O*NET/BLS material for this occupation, EPA MVAC regulations, OSHA historical industry material, China's occupational code, the 2025 wage statistics, and the repair operation regulations; editorial suggestions are marked separately from statistics and regulations.
Data dates: O*NET2026 update; OEWS2025, EP2025 and 2025—2035, software hiring 2025. The OOH was currently accessible and actually read this round; OSHA industry material 2011—2016, occupational code 2022, amended repair regulations 2023, National Bureau of Statistics wages 2025. The full text of the standards, the safety procedures for all vehicle models, and the real-time directory counts were not obtained.
Main sources include the O*NET49-3023 detailed data, the 2025 wages and the hiring software signals, the current BLS OOH and the 2025—2035 EP, the ASE A series and experience conditions, the EPA MVAC servicing regulations, the OSHA historical industry material, the 2022 occupational code, the 2025 China wage statistics, and the 2023 amended repair regulations.
Limitations：U.S. occupational classification; does not directly prove the Chinese job sequence or work authorization.
Limitations：The task list describes the work of the group as a whole and does not mean every job performs all tasks.
Limitations：Employment and projection under this occupational definition; cannot be extrapolated to a broader occupational group.
Limitations：OEWS paid-employee wages include base pay, commissions, production bonuses, tips, and so on, and exclude overtime premium, shift differential, and nonproduction bonuses, and so on; piece rate or commission cannot be excluded entirely. Self-employed people, owners and partners of unincorporated businesses, and unpaid family workers are not in the wage survey, and paid company employees are not automatically excluded because of the nature of the shop.
Limitations：The NAICS8111 data for 2011—2016 contained in the OSHA industry hazard PDF — 108 deaths in 2016 and about 22,200 nonfatal injuries and illnesses — covers the automotive repair and maintenance industry and is not the current incidence rate for this occupation; it lists commonly cited provisions such as 1910.132/133 but does not list 1910.138, so it cannot be used to claim that all PPE regulations or vehicle-model stop-work and return-to-work steps have been obtained.
Limitations：Regulates the filing of motor vehicle repair operations and the requirements for repair items and parts sourcing and traceability; does not constitute a work instruction.
Limitations：Requires personnel who service motor vehicle air conditioning systems for compensation to be trained and certified through an EPA-approved program; covers only refrigerant-related work.
Limitations：The survey on the education required for new hires to perform the job is a respondent share, not a uniform job threshold.
Limitations：Employment and projection under this occupational definition, not individual hiring probability.
Limitations：The occurrence share is published from employer job postings and does not represent the adoption rate of positions or the degree of automation.
Limitations：Used to check the filing of motor vehicle repair operations and the requirements for repair items and parts sourcing; does not constitute a work instruction.
Limitations：Provides a global research definition of task exposure and job transformation, and does not give the adoption rate or replacement date for this occupation.
Limitations：U.S. occupational summary and group data; the editorial verification suggestions on this page do not equal the effects, qualifications, or hiring proof published by that source. The education survey indicates the education required for a new hire to perform the job and cannot be treated as the on-the-job education composition or a uniform Chinese requirement.
Limitations：Does not constitute a job qualification or certification.
Limitations：The official profile provides only the occupational identity and duty description.
Limitations：Used to check the original official duty text.
Limitations：Used for the work activity and skill definitions.
Limitations：The task list describes the work of the group.
Limitations：Hourly and annual wages are from the same source and cannot be mixed with Chinese monthly wages or commissions.
Limitations：The industry distribution describes statistical classification and does not provide industry wage levels.
Limitations：The NAICS8111 data for 2011—2016 contained in the OSHA industry hazard PDF — 108 deaths in 2016 and about 22,200 nonfatal injuries and illnesses — covers the automotive repair and maintenance industry and is not the current incidence rate for this occupation; it lists commonly cited provisions such as 1910.132/133 but does not list 1910.138, so it cannot be used to claim that all PPE regulations or vehicle-model stop-work and return-to-work steps have been obtained.
Limitations：Lists the ASE series and model-specific and specialty certifications and the EPA Section 609 certification; certification is proof of ability or legal qualification and does not equal institutional work authorization.
Limitations：Used to check the legal training and certification requirements for refrigerant-related work; not the same as occupational wage or employment statistics.
Limitations：Hourly and annual wage percentiles under this occupational definition.
Limitations：Certification is administered by industry bodies; it equals proof of ability but does not equal institutional work authorization.
Limitations：OEWS paid-employee wages include base pay, commissions, production bonuses, and tips, and so on, and exclude overtime premium, shift differential, and nonproduction bonuses, and so on; piece rate and commission cannot be excluded entirely. Self-employed people, owners and partners of unincorporated businesses, and unpaid family workers are not in the wage survey; paid company employees are not automatically excluded because of a shop or on-site format.
Limitations：The 2022 occupational code PDF276 page 4-12-01-01 auto repair worker and the trades listed describe Chinese repair tasks; they overlap with the tasks of U.S. 49-3023.00 but do not constitute precise classification mutual recognition, a wage distribution, individual qualification, or a work permit.
Limitations：The National Bureau of Statistics total wage can include time-based pay, piece rate, bonuses, allowances and subsidies, and overtime pay, and commission and variable pay cannot be excluded entirely; the scope of inclusion must be checked by the nature of the payment. Average annual wage is not take-home after tax, shop operating profit, or a percentile for this occupation. It is an industry and broad job-category proxy and does not cover the operating profit of sole proprietors and freelancers.
Limitations：The National Bureau of Statistics total wage can include time-based pay, piece rate, bonuses, allowances and subsidies, and overtime pay, and commission and variable pay cannot be excluded entirely; the scope of inclusion must be checked by the nature of the payment. Average annual wage is not take-home after tax, shop operating profit, or a percentile for this occupation.
Limitations：Mainland China's Regulations on the Administration of Motor Vehicle Repair, amended by Order No. 14 of 2023: after business registration, operators file with the county-level transport authority where they are located and repair according to the filed items; the Class III specialty items include automotive glass installation and repair, and Class I and II operators may also undertake specialty items, so it is not limited to Class III. Article 30 requires records of parts sourcing and prohibits the use of counterfeit and shoddy parts, and equivalent-quality parts may be used when the conditions are met; replaced parts are handed to the repair client for their own handling. Article 33 requires repair electronic records and upload to the National Automobile Repair Health Record System, and all materials cannot be summarized as prohibited from external transmission; individual authorization, data access, and specific operations still need to be checked against the actual system. The relevant Articles 1—39 and 23/24/30/33 were actually read; the complete equipment safety procedures were not.
Limitations：Under OSHA1910.333 in the U.S., applicable electrical work in principle de-energizes first, and energized exceptions must meet the provision conditions and qualified-person requirements; de-energization lockout and tagout and voltage verification must follow the real procedure. 1910.147 covers unexpected startup or stored-energy hazards during equipment servicing and maintenance, and does not apply across the board to ordinary production operations, while electrical utilization equipment hazards are distinguished under Subpart S. The scope of application and the relevant a—c provisions were actually read, not all equipment safety, ventilation and fire protection, fuel and waste regulations, or stop-work and return-to-work procedures. The relevant provisions such as a/b/c2 were actually read, not the complete Subpart S.
Limitations：Under OSHA1910.333 in the U.S., applicable electrical work in principle de-energizes first, and energized exceptions must meet the provision conditions and qualified-person requirements; de-energization lockout and tagout and voltage verification must follow the real procedure. 1910.147 covers unexpected startup or stored-energy hazards during equipment servicing and maintenance, and does not apply across the board to ordinary production operations, while electrical utilization equipment hazards are distinguished under Subpart S. The scope of application and the relevant a—c provisions were actually read, not all equipment safety, ventilation and fire protection, fuel and waste regulations, or stop-work and return-to-work procedures. The parts a/b and c1—c7 were actually read, and d/e/f or all exception implementation were not read in full.
Limitations：China's 2026-06-01 effective special operation training and assessment provisions apply according to the catalog and the actual task, requiring the corresponding professional training and assessment and the obtaining of an operator certificate; internal authorization or supervision cannot replace the legal conditions. This round did not check the entire catalog, and it does not require all automotive test personnel to hold the same electrician operator certificate. The provisions on professional training, examination, and certification in the same window on the same day were read, not the complete catalog.
Limitations：49-3023 this occupation; employment, wage coverage, and industry level differ.
Limitations：49-3023 row; the headcount is in thousands in the original table, and the annual openings are not the ten-year net increase.
Limitations：U.S. ASE A1–A9 professional certification requires passing the corresponding exam and meeting 2 years of full-time equivalent related hands-on experience; qualifying education can substitute for part of the experience, and substitutions cannot be stacked. You may take the exam first, and if the experience is not met you only have a passing score and do not receive certification. L1–L4 is 3 years, G1 is 1 year; the Automobile Master requires holding both A1–A8, A9 is not required, and the relevant certifications are maintained every 5 years. It is not a uniform hands-on exam or a vehicle-wide work permit.
Limitations：U.S. ASE A1–A9 professional certification requires passing the corresponding exam and meeting 2 years of full-time equivalent related hands-on experience; qualifying education can substitute for part of the experience, and substitutions cannot be stacked. You may take the exam first, and if the experience is not met you only have a passing score and do not receive certification. L1–L4 is 3 years, G1 is 1 year; the Automobile Master requires holding both A1–A8, A9 is not required, and the relevant certifications are maintained every 5 years. It is not a uniform hands-on exam or a vehicle-wide work permit.
Limitations：In the U.S., when servicing motor vehicle air conditioning (MVAC) for compensation (including barter), any refrigerant requires Section609 approved training and certification, and approved recovery equipment must be used as required; before reuse it must be regenerated or recovered and purified. The intentional-release prohibition has an exception for CO2/R744 approved under SNAP, but that exception does not waive 609 personnel certification. It applies only to the corresponding U.S. MVAC scenario, not to a general Chinese auto repair certificate or to licensing for all air conditioning systems.
Limitations：Used only for the adjacent occupation's object and duties; the distance and additional training are editorial suggestions.
Limitations：Used only for the adjacent occupation's object and duties; the distance and additional training are editorial suggestions.
Limitations：Used only for the adjacent occupation's object and duties; the distance and additional training are editorial suggestions.
U.S. statistics follow this occupation 49-3023, and the industry classification level and wage coverage must be distinguished; the China industry and job-category figures are proxies, not the occupational median. Certification, filing, training, and work rights are each verified separately; the software signals do not prove AI adoption rate or the predictive validity of personality.
Big Five (English) · MBTI (English) · Enneagram (Chinese) · IQ (Chinese)
Repair and overhaul work
| Diagnosable, repairable, reviewable repair results |
| Main object and basis | The objects are the mechanical and electrical and electronic systems of motor vehicles (engines, transmissions and drivetrains, brakes, steering and suspension, air conditioning and heating and cooling, fuel and ignition and emissions control, and window, seat, and roof lift mechanisms); the basis is manufacturer service manuals and specifications, the applicable standards and regulations (emissions and safety and refrigerant handling), and the institution's onboarding and quality inspection processes. | Work orders and repair and inspection records |
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| Core process | Take in the vehicle and confirm the symptoms → inspect and measure and determine the fault → confirm the plan and costs with the customer → disassemble and repair or replace per procedure → test and adjust to manufacturer specifications → deliver and record and explain open items. | Vehicle intake—diagnosis—repair—test—delivery |
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| Main output | The symptoms and the customer's description, inspection and measured values, the basis for judgments and the replacement options, replaced parts and quantities, the test and adjustment results, and the parts that remain uncertain. | Reviewable repair and inspection records |
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| Responsible party | Diagnostic conclusions, repair quality, and test and adjustment results are the individual's responsibility; matters involving vehicle safety parts, emissions compliance, new energy high-voltage systems, airbags, and refrigerant handling are decided by personnel with the appropriate qualifications and authorization following the applicable standards and processes, and when the basis is unclear or the work is beyond the authorized scope, work must stop and be escalated. | The individual and the workshop supervisor (or quality inspection personnel) |
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| Authority and approval | O*NET lists 49-3023.00 as Job Zone Three (SVP 6.0 to <7.0); most occupations in this zone require vocational school training, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree, and require prior related work skills, knowledge, or experience, with training usually one to two years and possibly including recognized apprenticeship programs; among the education levels published on the page, 32% is requiring a postsecondary certificate, 30% is requiring less than a high school diploma, and 26% is requiring a high school diploma or equivalent. O*NET also lists 18 registered apprenticeship titles (such as Automotive Mechanic, Transmission Mechanic, Front-End Mechanic, and Brake Repairer) and 960 training programs (mostly in automotive mechanical technology and automotive engineering technology). On the mainland China side, training is mainly through motor vehicle repair related vocational skills training and mentoring by experienced workers, with specific requirements set by the employer. | Education and preparation |
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| Conclusion boundary | Education, industry certification (such as U.S. ASE A1–A9 and L1–L4 and ADAS and electric vehicle related certifications), air conditioning repair certification through an EPA-approved program, registered apprenticeship experience, institutional authorization to work and work authorization, and the special operations certificate are different statuses: education does not bring work authorization, and certification does not mean you can independently handle high-voltage systems, airbag systems, or safety parts, or carry out repair work in any setting. | Not interchangeable |
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Education and major pathways
Authorization to work and work permits
Equipment and site safety
Shifts and working hours
Continuing training and review
Customer information, vehicle data, and repair images may involve personal information; information security and confidentiality requirements vary by institution, and the access scope and compliance obligations must be confirmed before onboarding.
The RCI order is Realistic Realistic100, Conventional Conventional55, and Investigative Investigative43; the detailed interests are mechanical and electronics 96, physical and hands-on work 76, and engineering 59. These are occupational group interests, not individual ability, psychological scale validity, or an admission threshold.
Work context: 86% wear common protective or safety equipment every day, 83% work indoors in an enclosed vehicle or operate enclosed equipment every day, 83% continually use hands to handle, control, or feel objects and tools, 69% are exposed to contaminants every day, 52% face time pressure every day, 41% are exposed to hazardous equipment every day, 38% are exposed to hazardous conditions every day, 36% consider the consequences of error extremely serious. These fields describe occupational-group characteristics and do not constitute an individual competency threshold.
O*NET lists 16 software skill categories and 9 hot technologies; in 2025 U.S. occupation-linked unique recruiting, Safari, Firefox, and Edge are 2% each, Office, Outlook, and Excel are 1% each, and Word, SAP, and Windows are each below 1%. The proportions are postings mentioning the item divided by occupation-linked postings, not usage rates, a Chinese position threshold, or generative AI deployment.
Before using diagnostic systems and estimating and work-order tools in the diagnosis and settlement process, confirm that parts sourcing and batch traceability, customer information protection, and manual review arrangements are in place.
Real vehicles must not be handled and real lifting, high-voltage, and refrigerant equipment must not be operated in the exercise; work involving safety parts, high-voltage systems, airbags, and refrigerant handling must be handled by authorized personnel according to procedure.
The exercise does not replace institutional procedures and work authorization and does not constitute any diagnosis, repair, or on-site handling instruction.
Handling customer information and vehicle information and repair images requires prior authorization, and the access scope, retention period, and destruction arrangements must be recorded.
| Able to explain that an intermittent fault requires reproduction conditions and actual-measurement verification, to first explain the uncertainty and the recommended inspection steps to the customer and record them truthfully, and only then decide whether to deliver the vehicle. |
| Do not declare it repaired while the cause is unconfirmed, and do not promise to release work beyond your authorization. |
| Probation period | Complete inspection and repair and testing per procedure, and accept review by mentors and quality inspectors of the basis for the judgment and the measurements and records. | Work records are complete and traceable; measured values are compared against specifications; anomalies and open items are explicitly marked. | Do not skip hazardous-energy isolation and actual-measurement verification, and do not proceed when the authorization for safety-part work is unclear. |
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| 90 days after onboarding | Check whether pre-job training, work authorization scope, quality inspection and rework processes, and hazardous-energy control and chemical and refrigerant and waste disposal training are actually in place. | Able to independently handle work on common vehicle models and systems and accept quality inspection; training and authorization status have been confirmed in writing. | Authorization and training must be confirmed in writing and not replaced by verbal promises. |
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Output: review comments and a revision note.
Output: a one-page decision statement with an evidence list.
| Completed according to the program length. |
| Education does not equal work authorization or certification. |
| Vocational school or training institution training (automotive mechanical technology direction) | People who want to improve their hiring chances | Related coursework provides systematic preparation; whether it meets employer requirements must be checked against the actual position, and a majority employer preference cannot be inferred from the course name. | BLS typically related coursework, with a path of on-the-job learning after not completing the coursework also possible. | The directory is a search entry point; the count of 960 programs was not rechecked, and the curriculum and assessment must be checked against the program. | Completed according to the course cycle. | Completing training does not equal institutional work authorization. |
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| Registered apprenticeship experience (such as Automotive Mechanic, Transmission Mechanic) | People who want to take the mentoring path | As a path to accumulate hands-on experience under supervision. | Not a universal threshold; carried out according to the employer and the program arrangement. | Check the training, assessment, and duration against the specific registered apprenticeship program; the count of 18 positions in the directory was not rechecked. | Completed according to the program cycle. | Apprenticeship experience does not equal being able to independently handle safety parts and high-voltage systems. |
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| Industry certification (the U.S. ASE series, such as A1–A9, L1–L4, ADAS and electric-vehicle related certifications) | People who want to demonstrate specialized ability | As third-party proof of diagnostic and repair ability. | BLS states that certification may be required or preferred; the specific specialty positions and promotion effect depend on the employer, and no uniform national threshold was checked. | U.S. ASE A1–A9 professional certification requires passing the corresponding exam and meeting 2 years of full-time equivalent related hands-on experience; qualifying education can substitute for part of the experience, and substitutions cannot be stacked. You may take the exam first, and if the experience is not met you only have a passing score and do not receive certification. L1–L4 is 3 years, G1 is 1 year; the Automobile Master requires holding both A1–A8, A9 is not required, and the relevant certifications are maintained every 5 years. It is not a uniform hands-on exam or a vehicle-wide work permit. | Maintained according to institutional arrangements and the certificate's validity period. | Certification does not equal institutional work authorization or recognition by all institutions. |
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| Air conditioning repair certification from an EPA-approved program (Section 609) | Those who service MVAC for compensation in the U.S. | Determines whether one may service motor vehicle air conditioning systems for compensation. | On the U.S. side this is a legal requirement. | In the U.S., when servicing motor vehicle air conditioning (MVAC) for compensation (including barter), any refrigerant requires Section609 approved training and certification, and approved recovery equipment must be used as required; before reuse it must be regenerated or recovered and purified. The intentional-release prohibition has an exception for CO2/R744 approved under SNAP, but that exception does not waive 609 personnel certification. It applies only to the corresponding U.S. MVAC scenario, not to a general Chinese auto repair certificate or to licensing for all air conditioning systems. | Maintained according to the program arrangement. | This certification covers only air conditioning refrigerant-related work and does not equal vehicle-wide work authorization. |
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| New energy high-voltage and ADAS specialized training | People who carry out new energy and intelligent driving related work | Adds safety and system capability for the corresponding tasks; training does not automatically determine work qualification or unit authorization. | Check the legal qualification, manufacturer training, and unit authorization for the specific high-voltage and ADAS tasks. | This round obtained no uniform certification requirement for all vehicle models or programs; training does not automatically grant work rights. | Refresher training according to standards and the program arrangement. | The scope of specialized training is determined by standards and institutional rules. |
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4-12-01-01 auto mechanic on the 2022 occupational classification PDF276 page (body page 269) includes automotive mechanical repair, electrical repair, inspection, detailing and trim, body shaping, paint repair, used-car reconditioning, new energy repair, intelligent operation and maintenance, and glass repair job types; the broad occupation tasks include inspection, adjustment, replacement, and repair of engine, chassis, body, and electrical systems, equipment maintenance, and repair records. This does not equal precise mutual recognition with the U.S. 49-3023.00 or a wage distribution. Mainland China's 2023 Order No. 14 amendment to the Provisions on the Administration of Motor Vehicle Repair: Article 7 requires operators to file with the county-level competent transport department after business registration; Article 5 encourages practitioners to obtain national vocational qualifications, and it is not a uniform requirement that all repair workers hold one specific certificate. Article 30 requires parts source records, prohibits counterfeit and substandard parts, allows conforming equivalent parts, and requires parts replaced to be handed to the repair client for their own handling; Article 33 requires the repair electronic file to be uploaded to the national motor vehicle repair health record system and allows the repair client to inquire, so lawful transmission cannot be prohibited wholesale. Business filing does not equal an individual work permit.
Practical suggestion: before onboarding, list 'education / specialized training / registered apprenticeship experience / industry certification / EPA air conditioning repair certification / institutional job qualification and work authorization / high-voltage and ADAS specialized training / safety and protection training' in one table and note the source and data date for each; leave items that cannot be verified blank and mark them as insufficient evidence, without filling them in with speculation.
Readiness evidence：Mentoring records, process and case-library documents, and difficult-case records.
Credential boundary：Complete training in mentoring and diagnostic process and case-library building.
Next moves：Mentor apprentices, participate in developing the diagnostic process and case library and inspection standards, and handle difficult intermittent faults.
Typical scope：Responsible for ADAS calibration quality, diagnostic capability, and the training system.
Readiness evidence：Calibration and diagnostic records, and capability-building and training documents.
Credential boundary：Additional training in ADAS and software-defined functions and calibration.
Next moves：Responsible for ADAS and software function calibration and diagnostic capability building, or shift to technical support and training.
Typical scope：High-voltage procedures and responsibilities should be verified against the actual appointment and qualifications; a job grade does not automatically bring team authorization.
Readiness evidence：Mentoring records, and procedure and emergency-case documents.
Credential boundary：Complete training in mentoring and high-voltage work procedures and emergency response.
Next moves：Mentor apprentices, participate in developing high-voltage work procedures and emergency response and inspection standards, and handle difficult problems.
Typical scope：Responsible for compliance processes, the training system, and quality.
Readiness evidence：Plan and compliance and recycling documents, and training records.
Credential boundary：Additional training in battery management and compliance and recycling and training.
Next moves：Responsible for battery management-related plans and compliance and recycling processes, or shift to technical training and the quality system.
Limitations：Editorial ratings use the existing occupational responsibilities and AI task analysis on this page. They are not adoption rates, measured effects, job-disappearance or personal-unemployment probabilities, or official scores from Stanford or another external institution. No measured time weights or future robot deployment are assumed.
