Automotive Service Technician Career Assessment
Fixing and maintaining cars and light trucks
Welcome
Automotive service technicians find and fix problems with cars, pickups, and SUVs.
You will explore what this hands-on trade is really like and whether it fits you.
This takes about 15 minutes.
What is a Automotive Service Technician?
An automotive technician uses computers and tools to figure out what is wrong with a vehicle, then repairs it. They work on engines, brakes, steering, electrical systems, air conditioning, and more. Today's vehicles are full of computers, so techs need tech skills too.
The Reality: Modern cars are complex. You will spend a lot of time diagnosing problems with scan tools, not just turning wrenches. Many shops pay by the job ("flat rate"), so your pay can depend on how fast and accurate you are.
Your Responsibilities:
- Talk with customers or service writers about the problem
- Use scan tools and computers to diagnose problems
- Repair engines, brakes, steering, and suspension
- Fix electrical and computer systems
- Do oil changes, tire rotations, and inspections
- Service air conditioning systems
- Test drive vehicles to check repairs
- Write up the work done
You are part detective and part mechanic.
A Day in the Life
7:30 AM — Clock in. Check your job list: a check-engine light, a brake job, and two oil changes.
8:00 AM — Plug in the scan tool. The check-engine code points to a sensor. You test it to be sure before replacing it.
10:00 AM — Brake job: new pads and rotors. Test drive to make sure it stops smooth.
12:00 PM — Lunch.
12:30 PM — Oil changes and tire rotations.
2:00 PM — A tricky electrical problem: the headlights keep going out. You trace wires to find a bad connection.
4:00 PM — Write up your work so the service writer can explain it to the customer.
5:00 PM — Clean your bay and put away your tools.
Busy, hands-on days with a mix of quick jobs and puzzles.
Training in North Dakota
No state license is required. Most techs complete a 1–2 year college program. ASE certification is voluntary but valued by employers.
Training Pathways:
- College certificate (about 1 year): Covers core systems like brakes, electrical, and engines.
- Associate degree (2 years): Deeper training and better job options. Some programs are ASE-accredited.
- Registered apprenticeship: Earn while you learn at a shop (NDSCS's ApprenticeshipND lists automotive options).
Where to Train in North Dakota:
- ND State College of Science (Wahpeton) — Automotive Technology, AAS or certificate; stackable certificates; 3-year Automotive and Diesel Master Technician AAS
- Bismarck State College (Bismarck) — Automotive Technology, AAS with stackable certificates; ASE MAST accredited; toolbox provided through the Dean D. Gunsch Toolbox Program
- United Tribes Technical College (Bismarck) — Automotive Technology, AAS or diploma; ASE accredited
Before You Start: High school diploma or GED is usually expected. A valid driver's license is needed to test drive vehicles. Many programs require you to buy your own tool set.
Tip: Start with financial aid, scholarships, and any help an employer offers — that is where the money starts. After that, ask a career counselor or Job Service North Dakota whether WIOA or other programs can help with what is left over, like training, tools, work boots, or exam fees. What can be paid for depends on the program and on your own situation, so ask before you sign up rather than after. Registered apprenticeships let you earn a paycheck while you learn — see jobsnd.com/job-seeker/apprenticeships for ND programs.
Certification & Licensing
No license. ASE certification helps a lot. ASE (National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence) certifications show employers your skill level.
Certifications Employers Look For:
- ASE A-series tests (A1–A9) — engines, brakes, electrical, heating and A/C, and more
- ASE Master Technician — pass A1–A8
- EPA Section 609 — required to work on vehicle air conditioning for pay
The Exams: ASE tests are computer-based, timed, and multiple choice. You need 1–3 years of work experience (school can count toward part of it) to become certified.
Cost: About $34 to register plus $62 per test. Prices change, so check before you pay.
Keeping It Current: ASE certifications must be renewed every 5 years.
Salary & Job Outlook
North Dakota Automotive Service Technician Pay (May 2025):
- Starting out (bottom 10–25%): $18.08–$20.83/hour ($37,610–$43,330/year)
- Middle (median — half earn more, half earn less): $27.58/hour ($57,360/year)
- Experienced (top 25–10%): $30.56–$40.32/hour ($63,560–$83,860/year)
What that means: ND pays more than the national median. Pay often depends on flat-rate hours, so skilled, fast techs can earn more.
Jobs in North Dakota: About 2,260 people do this work in ND today. By 2034, that should be about 2,370 (about 5% growth). Expect about 200 job openings every year in ND from growth and people retiring or changing jobs. Across the U.S., the change is about 4% growth — average.
Outlook: Good, with about 200 openings a year in ND. Techs who understand electrical systems, computers, and electric/hybrid vehicles will be most in demand.
Who Hires in ND: Car dealerships, independent repair shops, tire and quick-lube shops, fleet garages (city, county, state), and rental companies.
Work Setting: Indoor shop bays. Usually weekday hours with some Saturdays.
Physical Demands: Moderate to high. Standing all day, bending, reaching under vehicles, lifting parts, and getting dirty. Noise and fumes are common.
Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, North Dakota, May 2025 (SOC 49-3023); North Dakota and U.S. long-term employment projections 2024–2034, via O*NET OnLine. Numbers are rounded.
Where This Leads
Path 1: Master Technician — Earn all 8 core ASE certifications.
Path 2: Diagnostic Specialist — Be the go-to person for tough electrical problems.
Path 3: Electric and Hybrid Vehicle Tech — A growing specialty.
Path 4: Service Writer or Advisor — Work with customers at the front desk.
Path 5: Shop Foreman or Manager — Lead a team of techs.
Path 6: Own Your Own Shop — Run your own business.
The Real Talk
What's Great:
- Lots of jobs in every ND town
- Hands-on puzzle solving
- Short training (1–2 years)
- Pay rises with skill
- Skills help you fix your own vehicles
- Many paths to grow
What's Hard:
- Buying your own tools is expensive
- Flat-rate pay can go up and down
- Physically tiring and dirty
- Technology changes fast
- Customers can be frustrated
- Noise and fumes
- Starting pay is modest
Be Honest: Do you like figuring out why something is broken? Can you handle physical, dirty work? Are you ready to keep learning as cars get more high-tech?