AUTO MECHANIC - Job Duties, Education And Training, Pros And Cons, Other Options, For More Information - Salary

Do you have an interest in cars? Maybe you spend your free time watching race-car driving on television or collecting miniatures of hot rods of the past. Maybe you've even begun to fix up your own car. Auto mechanics doesn't have to remain just a hobby. Many people make a living fixing cars. In fact, there were 790,000 people working as automotive mechanics and service technicians in the United States in 1998. Like many of the careers in this book, auto mechanics are needed everywhere. In addition, the U.S. Department of Labor reports that opportunities are expected to increase in this industry in the future.

Salary

Auto mechanics are usually paid well. In 1998, the average hourly wage for auto mechanics was $13. The highest 10 percent of people in this field earned $21 per hour. There may be opportunities for overtime, too.