How to hire automotive service technicians and mechanics
A job description you can copy, interview questions tied to the real work, and what to pay. Free.
Job description template
Copy it, fill in the brackets, and remove anything that does not fit your job. Keep only must-haves you would really turn someone away for.
[Job title] at [Company name] [City, State] · [Full-time / Part-time] · [Pay range] About the role [Two or three sentences about your team, the work and why it matters.] What you will do • Align vehicles' front ends. • Align wheels, axles, frames, torsion bars, and steering mechanisms of automobiles, using special alignment equipment and wheel-balancing machines. • Follow checklists to ensure all important parts are examined, including belts, hoses, steering systems, spark plugs, brake and fuel systems, wheel bearings, and other potentially troublesome areas. • Inspect vehicles for damage and record findings so that necessary repairs can be made. • Perform routine and scheduled maintenance services, such as oil changes, lubrications, and tune-ups. • Repair, reline, replace, and adjust brakes. • Repair, replace, or adjust defective fuel injectors, carburetor parts, and gasoline filters. • Test and adjust repaired systems to meet manufacturers' performance specifications. What you bring • [Required license, certification or years of experience, if any] • [Education, only if you truly need it. Typical to start in this job: Postsecondary nondegree award] • Strong critical thinking, active listening, monitoring, active learning and speaking skills • Working knowledge of mechanical • [Anything else you would really turn someone away for] Pay and benefits [Pay range]. For reference, the U.S. median for this job is $24.34 an hour ($50,620 a year). [Benefits, schedule and anything else candidates should know.] How to apply [Apply on JAI Bot. Every applicant hears back.]
Interview questions for automotive service technicians and mechanics
Ask every candidate the same questions, in the same order, and write down what they say. Questions about past work show what someone has actually done.
- Tell me about a time you had to align vehicles' front ends. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
- Tell me about a time you had to align wheels, axles, frames, torsion bars, and steering mechanisms of automobiles, using special alignment equipment and wheel-balancing machines. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
- Tell me about a time you had to follow checklists to ensure all important parts are examined, including belts, hoses, steering systems, spark plugs, brake and fuel systems, wheel bearings, and other potentially troublesome areas. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
- Tell me about a time you had to inspect vehicles for damage and record findings so that necessary repairs can be made. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
- Describe a decision at work where the obvious answer was wrong. How did you work out the better choice?
- Tell me about a time you had to understand a request or problem that was explained poorly. How did you make sure you got it right?
- How do you keep track of your own work quality during a busy shift or week? Give an example of catching a problem early.
- Why this job, and why now? What would make you stay here for the long term?
Good answers name a real situation, what the person did themselves and what happened. Avoid questions about age, family plans, religion, health, national origin or anything else unrelated to the job.
What automotive service technicians and mechanics do
- Align vehicles' front ends.
- Align wheels, axles, frames, torsion bars, and steering mechanisms of automobiles, using special alignment equipment and wheel-balancing machines.
- Follow checklists to ensure all important parts are examined, including belts, hoses, steering systems, spark plugs, brake and fuel systems, wheel bearings, and other potentially troublesome areas.
- Inspect vehicles for damage and record findings so that necessary repairs can be made.
- Perform routine and scheduled maintenance services, such as oil changes, lubrications, and tune-ups.
- Repair, reline, replace, and adjust brakes.
- Repair, replace, or adjust defective fuel injectors, carburetor parts, and gasoline filters.
- Test and adjust repaired systems to meet manufacturers' performance specifications.
Skills that matter most
Education, experience and outlook for automotive service technicians and mechanics
- Typical education to start: Postsecondary nondegree award (BLS)
- Related work experience most have: 1 to 2 years (O*NET)
- Training on the job: Short-term on-the-job training (BLS)
- Job outlook: +5% over ten years, faster than average · about 66,200 openings a year (BLS)
What to pay automotive service technicians and mechanics
Pay depends a lot on where the job is. Highest and lowest median yearly pay by state:
| State | Median yearly pay |
|---|---|
| California | $64,980 |
| Colorado | $61,280 |
| Alaska | $60,840 |
| Massachusetts | $60,760 |
| Connecticut | $60,220 |
| Arkansas | $44,160 |
| Mississippi | $37,820 |
| West Virginia | $37,660 |
See automotive service technicians and mechanics pay in every state
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Post a job freePay by areaJob duties and skills: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license; O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. JAI Bot has modified this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. Pay: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, May 2025. Interview questions and the job description template: JAI Bot, based on the duties and skills above.