Automotive Technology major
Automotive Technology: courses, careers, and where to study
Automotive Technology trains you to diagnose, service, and repair the engines, brakes, electrical systems, and drivetrains of cars and light trucks using shop tools and scan equipment.
Automotive Technology is a hands-on program built around the systems that make a vehicle run and stop safely: engine performance and repair, braking systems, electrical and electronic circuits, suspension and steering, automatic and manual transmissions and driveline components, and heating and air conditioning. Coursework pairs classroom theory with lab and bay time, where students read wiring diagrams, interpret diagnostic trouble codes through OBD-II scan tools, use multimeters and lab scopes, and follow manufacturer service procedures. Where Aviation Maintenance focuses on inspecting and repairing aircraft structures and systems under aviation regulations, Automotive Technology centers on consumer and commercial road vehicles. And where Mechanical Engineering Technology trains students to design, test, and improve machines alongside engineers, this field concentrates on diagnosing and fixing vehicles already on the road.
Most programs lead to a certificate, diploma, or associate degree at a community or technical college, and many students enter the field through a postsecondary award rather than a four-year degree. Graduates often work as automotive service technicians and mechanics in dealerships, independent shops, fleets, and specialty repair facilities, frequently advancing by adding skills in diagnostics, hybrid and electric vehicles, or a particular vehicle line. Many technicians pursue voluntary ASE (National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence) certification, and anyone handling vehicle air conditioning refrigerant must hold EPA Section 609 certification; verify current requirements with the relevant body. A program builds a strong technical foundation, but it is not a guarantee of a specific job, and employer demand and pay vary by region and specialty.
In federal data for the closely related occupation of automotive service technicians and mechanics, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a 2024 median wage of $49,670 and projects employment to grow about 4.2% from 2024 to 2034; a postsecondary nondegree award is the typical entry-level education for that occupation. National figures are occupation-wide medians across all experience levels, not starting wages or graduate outcomes.
Academic classification (CIP)
In the federal Classification of Instructional Programs, Automotive Technology maps to CIP 47.0604, Automobile/Automotive Mechanics Technology/Technician, within the MECHANIC AND REPAIR TECHNOLOGIES/TECHNICIANS family. The official definition:
A program that prepares individuals to apply technical knowledge and skills to repair, service, and maintain all types of automobiles. Includes instruction in brake systems, electrical systems, engine performance, engine repair, suspension and steering, automatic and manual transmissions and drive trains, and heating and air condition systems.
Source: U.S. Department of Education (NCES), Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) 2020. View on nces.ed.gov
What credential Automotive Technology is awarded as
Of the 34,278 Automotive Technology credentials U.S. colleges reported conferring in 2023-24:
- Certificate71%24,222
- Associate29%10,030
- Bachelor's<1%26
This is one of the fields where the answer genuinely depends on where you study: across the 41 states reporting it, certificates run from 24% of credentials in the 10th-percentile state to 91% in the 90th. Check the mix in your state before assuming which credential a program leads to. See the full study.
Credentials conferred in 2023-24, U.S. Department of Education IPEDS completions. A certificate is a different credential from a degree, not a lesser one, and this counts what was awarded rather than what a college currently offers.
What you'll study
- Diagnosing engine performance problems and interpreting OBD-II diagnostic trouble codes
- Servicing and rebuilding disc and drum brake systems, including ABS components
- Testing automotive electrical and electronic circuits with multimeters and lab scopes
- Repairing internal combustion engines, from valve trains to timing and lubrication systems
- Inspecting and aligning suspension and steering components
- Servicing automatic and manual transmissions, clutches, and driveline assemblies
- Diagnosing and repairing heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems with proper refrigerant handling
- Reading wiring diagrams and following manufacturer service information and procedures
- Practicing shop safety, hazardous-material handling, and customer service write-ups
Typical careers
- Automotive service technician
- Automotive mechanic
- Brake and front-end specialist
- Transmission technician
- Service advisor
- Shop foreman
Typical salary range: Early-career wages vary by employer, region, and experience (BLS, 2024 automotive service technicians and mechanics median $49,670).Ranges are early-career estimates. Any BLS figure shown is the occupation-wide median across all experience levels, not a starting wage, and is informational only.
Related occupations
Occupations the federal CIP–SOC crosswalk associates with Automotive Technology, with what each one pays and how many openings it is projected to average each year. Ordered by projected annual openings, largest first. Linked titles open the full CampusPin career page.
| Occupation | Median pay | Openings / yr | Projected change | Most entrants hold |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics | $49,670 | 70,000 | +4.2% | Postsecondary nondegree award |
| Electrical and Electronics Installers and Repairers, Transportation Equipment | $82,730 | 600 | +6.1% | Postsecondary nondegree award |
| Electronic Equipment Installers and Repairers, Motor Vehicles | $47,940 | 600 | -13.6% | High school diploma or equivalent |
Crosswalk: U.S. Department of Education (NCES), CIP 2020 to SOC 2018. Pay, openings and projections: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (2024 wages, Employment Projections). 3 of these 3 occupations report a median wage.
“Most entrants hold” is what BLS observes about people already working in the occupation. It is not a legal requirement, not an admission rule, and not a guarantee of entry. Studying Automotive Technology does not guarantee any specific occupation, and many of these roles are entered from several different fields. Projected openings are a projection, not jobs promised.
Before you commit to a Automotive Technology major
CampusPin does not rank programs. Use these prompts to pressure-test whether a specific Automotive Technology program fits your goals, they are decision questions, not claims about any school.
Ask the Automotive Technology department
- Which concentrations or specializations are offered, and which faculty lead them?
- What does the typical course sequence look like, and how much is required vs. elective?
- What labs, studios, clinical placements, or research opportunities are available to undergraduates?
- Is there a capstone, thesis, internship, or co-op requirement?
Ask current students & check the curriculum
- How heavy is the workload, and how accessible is the faculty?
- What internships or co-ops did you do, and where do recent graduates end up?
- Does the required curriculum actually match the careers listed above?
- How easy is it to add a minor, double major, or switch tracks later?
Find a Automotive Technology program
CampusPin lists U.S. universities and community colleges by state, tuition, school size, acceptance rate, and campus setting, no account required.
Colleges that awarded the most Automotive Technology credentials
Largest by credentials conferred in 2023-24. This measures the size of the graduating class, not quality, and it is not a ranking.
- Dallas CollegeTX · 768
- Ivy Tech Community CollegeIN · 729
- Universal Technical Institute of Arizona IncAZ · 647
- Universal Technical Institute-Dallas Fort WorthTX · 630
- Universal Technical Institute of California IncCA · 539
- NASCAR Technical InstituteNC · 506
- WyoTechWY · 477
- Universal Technical Institute of Texas Inc.TX · 468
- Universal Technical Institute-Southern CaliforniaCA · 423
- GateWay Community CollegeAZ · 413
- Jefferson Community and Technical CollegeKY · 399
- Universal Technical Institute of Northern California IncCA · 394
Based on credentials this institution reported conferring in the federal IPEDS completions collection for 2023-24. It confirms the field was awarded that year, not that the program currently accepts students, and it covers only the fields CampusPin tracks. Confirm current offerings with the institution.
Where Automotive Technology credentials were awarded
22 states have a distinct enough set of Automotive Technology colleges to be worth its own page.
Search Automotive Technology schools by state
- Automotive Technology in California
- Automotive Technology in Florida
- Automotive Technology in Georgia
- Automotive Technology in Illinois
- Automotive Technology in Maryland
- Automotive Technology in Massachusetts
- Automotive Technology in New York
- Automotive Technology in North Carolina
- Automotive Technology in Pennsylvania
- Automotive Technology in Texas
Related majors
Aviation Maintenance
Aviation maintenance trains students to inspect, repair, and service aircraft structures and systems, the hands-on technical work that keeps planes airworthy and ready to fly.
Mechanical Engineering Technology
Mechanical Engineering Technology is the hands-on, applied side of mechanical engineering, training students to build, test, and improve real machines and parts alongside engineers.
Welding Technology
Welding Technology trains you to join and cut metal with arc, oxyfuel, and other processes, building precise hands-on skill in fabrication, blueprint reading, and weld quality.
Mechatronics
Mechatronics integrates mechanical parts, electronics, sensors, and control software so students learn to build, test, and maintain automated systems like robots and production lines.
HVAC Technology
HVAC Technology trains you to install, service, and repair heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration systems, blending applied mechanics, electrical work, and hands-on diagnostics.
Put this major in context
The salary above is an occupation-wide median from federal data, not a starting wage or a guarantee. These CampusPin guides and reports help you read it well, see where a Automotive Technology degree can lead, and weigh it against cost and program quality.
Explore Installation & Repair careers
Median pay, job outlook, and the occupations this field covers.
How one major leads to many careers
Why a single Automotive Technology degree can open more than one path, and how to read the occupations above.
Why a median wage is not a starting salary
How to read a BLS median, and why early-career pay usually sits below it.
When accreditation and licensure matter
How program accreditation and state licensure can shape a Automotive Technology path before you enroll.
Does a pricier college pay off?
How college cost lines up with graduation and earnings, an association, not a ranking.
Does picking a major narrow your college list?
Across the federal completions data, most fields barely change which colleges are on the table. Which ones genuinely do.
Certificate or degree?
What credential a field is usually awarded as is mostly set by the field itself, not by the state, with a short list of exceptions.
How this guide is sourced
This is an editorial guide from the CampusPin Editorial Team. Career and wage figures are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, occupation-wide medians across all experience levels, not starting wages, and link to each career page. Program availability comes from CampusPin's free institution search; CampusPin does not assert that any specific school offers this exact major until that program data is verified. Last reviewed 2026-06-15. How CampusPin sources data · Report a correction.