How to Become a Diesel Technician?

Are you thinking of becoming a Diesel Technician or already started your career and planning the next step? Learn how to become a Diesel Technician, what skills you need to succeed, how to advance your career and get promoted, and what levels of pay to expect at each step on your career path. Explore new Diesel Technician job openings and options for career transitions into related roles.
"Automotive Technician" was the nearest match for you query "Diesel Technician".

Steps to Become an Automotive Technician

If you're considering starting your Automotive Technician career path, it's important to note the skills, qualifications, and time it takes to become a professional Automotive Technician and how to advance your career path. Below are the steps generally required to begin and advance your Automotive Technician career.
Contents
1

Earn a Degree

To begin your Automotive Technician career path, a Bachelor's Degree in engineering metallurgy or a related field is usually necessary in order to remain a competitive option for employers. Focus on industry-specific skill development during your education in order to be properly equipped when applying for entry-level positions and entering the job force. An Automotive Technician internship may be required to earn your Bachelor's Degree and acquire necessary on-the-job skills before entering the workforce.

What type of degree should you pursue to become an Automotive Technician?

38% of people working as an Automotive Technician earned a Bachelor's Degree

What skills do you need to be an Automotive Technician?

  • Estimates
  • Diagnosis
  • Exhaust
  • Dexterity
  • eNGINE Repair
  • Excellent Communication
  • Strong WORK Ethic
  • ASE Certified
Based on resume data from Glassdoor users who reported working as an Automotive Technician in the United States.
2

Choose a Specialty in Your Field

As an Automotive Technician, you may be required to choose a specialty within your field. Determine which part of the Automotive Technician field you feel strongest in, and continue taking active steps toward growing in your chosen Automotive Technician specialty.
3

Get an Entry-Level Position as an Automotive Technician

Once you've acquired a Bachelor's Degree in engineering metallurgy or a related field, you'll typically begin your career as an entry-level Automotive Technician. In general, you can become an Automotive Technician after completing your 4 year Bachelor's Degree in a related discipline. Depending on the type of Automotive Technician role you’re pursuing, you may want to explore certification in certified automotive technician benefits.
4

Advance in Your Automotive Technician Career

Following entry-level, there are several Automotive Technician career path levels to advance into. It can take 2 years as an entry-level Automotive Technician to progress to the senior automotive technician position. Each advanced Automotive Technician position requires approximately 2 years of experience at each level to advance in your Automotive Technician career path. It may be necessary to receive additional education, an advanced degree such as a Master's Degree in a related field, or special certifications in order to advance your Automotive Technician career path.
5

Continued Education for Your Automotive Technician Career Path

Not all industries and companies require continued education to advance your Automotive Technician career path. However, earning this degree may help you advance to higher-earning positions more quickly. Earning a Bachelor's Degree in engineering metallurgy can take 4 years to complete. People that have earned their Bachelor's Degree typically make $84,011 compared to $32,896 for those without that type of degree.

Diesel Technician Career Path

Automotive Technician

2 - 4Years of Experience
$44K - $69K /yrMost Likely Range
Learn More

Senior Automotive Technician

No Years of Experience Reports
$54K - $91K /yrMost Likely Range
Learn More

Automotive Technician IV

5 - 7Years of Experience
$54K - $82K /yrMost Likely Range
Learn More

Total Pay Trajectory

Diesel Technician Career Path

Automotive Technician I
Automotive Technician
Assistant Manager of Auto Maintenance
Senior Automotive Technician
Automotive Technician Manager
Automotive Technician IV
Director of Auto Maintenance
$40K
$54K
$68K
$82K
$110K
Are you paid fairly? Get a free, personalized salary estimate based on today's job market
Get Your Estimate

Related Careers in the Skilled Labor & Manufacturing Industry

Interested in other Skilled Labor & Manufacturing careers? Below are occupations that have high affinity with Diesel Technician skills. Discover some of the most common Diesel Technician career transitions, along with skills overlap.

Electronics Technician
0% skills overlap
5% transitioned to Electronics Technician