Auto tech shift high gear careers - The Scoop - Careers 2002 - Brief Article

The auto industry would like you to forget about the image of the self-taught, greasy-fingered mechanic working under the hood. Today's mechanics, or automotive technicians, are just as likely to be wielding a computer chip as they are a wrench. New cars with complex computer systems require a new kind of mechanic trained in electronics. And experts say there's great demand for these highly skilled workers--about 60,000 jobs will need to be filled in the next few years.

"If you tall to auto dealers, probably more than 90 percent will tell you that if they had the opportunity to get a quality technician, they would hire him or her immediately," says Don Gray, president of Automotive Youth Educational Systems, a group that matches car dealerships with high school students looking for training.

Auto technicians use sophisticated computer equipment to detect problems. They may replace a part or fix a short in a wire. Thanks to higher quality components, they are less likely to do the kind of major, and often dirty, repairs mechanics did in the past.

Technicians earn about $30,000 to $50,000, depending on experience. The Bureau of Labor Statistics notes that some talented technicians in major metropolitan areas may earn as much as $100,000 per year.

COPYRIGHT 2002 EM Guild, Inc.
COPYRIGHT 2002 Gale Group