Auto technician jobs have seen plenty of growth over the years. And there’s plenty of good reason for that! As the automotive industry has changed and vehicles have become increasingly more complex, it has become essential to have trained and capable technicians to diagnose and repair them.

But if you’re considering training to become an automotive technician, where are the best places to start a new career?

With well over 10,000 auto techs employed, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Houston is ranked tenth in the nation for metropolitan areas with the highest employment level of automotive service technicians and mechanics. Houston auto techs, including those in The Woodlands and Sugar Land, Texas, earn an hourly mean wage of about $21 and an annual mean wage of nearly $44,000.

Automotive technicians, mechanics, and service techs work on cars to ensure they’re reliable and running smoothly. They identify and diagnose problems, estimate the work needed, perform care and maintenance, repair and replace parts, test parts and systems, and explain both problems and their repairs to clients.

According to the BLS, nearly a third of automotive technicians work in dealerships, with more working in mechanic and repair shops, in automotive parts and tire stores, or as self-employed techs. It’s common for auto techs to work full-time—including overtime on weekends or in the evenings, depending on their employer.

Most auto techs and mechanics have a postsecondary nondegree award and participate in on-the-job training in order to have successful careers in the industry. Diploma, certificate, and associate degree programs typically include both classroom and lab time to help students learn how vehicles function and to get hands-on experience to work on them.

The BLS shows that automotive service technicians and mechanics earned median annual pay of nearly $41,000 in 2018, or an hourly rate of nearly $20, nationwide. The number of jobs for this occupation is expected to grow about as fast as the average for all occupations, at a rate of 6 percent between 2016 and 2026.

Ready to find a school in your area? The Imagine America Foundation has a robust database of schools that can help you get on the path to a new career as an automotive technician—in Los Angeles or anywhere in the country. We want to help you get started!