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Becoming an Auto Mechanic or Automotive Technician in Nevada

Anyone with a passion for cars and looking to build a career in the automotive industry in Nevada will find a lucrative opportunity waiting for them. Job choices include automotive technicians, automotive body and related repairers, automotive glass installers and repairers, and truck or diesel mechanics. [En Español]

A great way to start one’s education would be at a high school that offers a program accredited by the Automotive Youth Educational Systems (AYES). After secondary graduation, one can expect to work in an entry-level position as an automotive mechanic. Anyone who wants to increase their chances of landing a higher-paying job should be ready to take a post-secondary automotive technology certificate or degree program offered by many colleges and universities in the state. Afterwards, they would have the opportunity to take the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) examination to get that coveted ASE certificate.

There are various different exams offered by the ASE, each specially designed to test the skills and knowledge of those in specific areas of the automotive field, some of these tests include:

  • Truck equipment certification tests
  • Light repair certification test
  • Light truck certification tests
  • Alternate fuels certification test
  • Transit bus certification tests
  • School bus certification tests
  • Collision repair and refinish certification tests
  • Refinish prep technician certification test
  • Non-structural analyst certification test
  • Painter certification test
  • Parts specialist certification test
  • Estimator certification test

Salary ranges go up as particular skills become a requirement for the position. Gathering years of experience as an auto mechanic also means higher pay. Overall, a positive outlook awaits anyone who has a desire to enter the automotive technology profession.

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Job Outlook in Nevada

Nevada employed 5,270 automotive service technicians according to May 2020 data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). An additional 1,100 people worked as automotive body and related repairers, 280 as automotive glass installers and repairers and 1,740 as heavy vehicle mechanics. A projected employment increase of 1 percent is expected in the automotive industry in Nevada until 2030, as more cars and trucks on the road will need continuous repair and maintenance service.

Mechanic Salaries in Nevada

Automotive mechanics in the silver state earned a decent salary averaging $47,120 annually or $22.66 per hour according to figures released by BLS. Entry-level positions for the job started at an average of $29,780 annually or $14.32 per hour. The average salary increased to $61,820 annually or $36.1 per hour as training and experience grew. Meanwhile, truck mechanics receive a yearly pay at an average of $59,130 or $28.43 per hour. Those in entry-level positions made an average of $31,510 annually or $15.15 hourly, up to an average of $76,150 yearly or $36.61 hourly with additional training and experience.

Salaries in Nevada by Occupation

OccupationTotal EmployedAverage Hourly WageAverage Annual SalaryLowest 10%
Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics4,730$22.66$47,120$29,250
Automotive Glass Installers and Repairers300$18.62$38,720$28,820
Automotive Body and Related Repairers1,290$22.98$47,800$37,650
Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists1,720$28.43$59,130$37,650

Auto Mechanic Salaries in Nevada by Region

RegionTotal EmployedMean Hourly WageMean Annual Salary
Carson City, NV180$23,88$49,660
Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV3,200$23,43$48,740
Reno, NV980$24,44$50,840

Popular Automotive Programs in Nevada

The demand for quality education to earn a degree or a certificate in automotive technology is satisfied by the various programs offered by colleges and universities throughout Nevada.

Post-Secondary Programs:

  • Western Nevada College – WNC in Carson City offers an Associate Degree in Automotive Mechanics program that provides students with diagnostic and repair skills to work in a service facility. This program is accredited by ASE.
  • Advanced Training Institute – Within 14 months, ATI in Las Vegas promises to prepare students for a career in the automotive industry and a path towards ASE Certification. Through their Associate Degree program in Automotive Technology, students can expect to become entry-level auto mechanics, automotive air conditioning repairers, brake repairers, front-end mechanics, transmission technicians and rebuilders, or tune-up technicians.
  • College of Southern Nevada – CSN in Las Vegas offers both degree and certificate programs in automotive technology that are accredited by National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE). One of the largest automotive technology degree programs in the West, CSN helps students become successful automotive mechanics by partnering with automobile manufacturers to provide internship and practical experience. Meanwhile, the certificate program, with a 34-credit requirement, focuses in equipping students with engine performance diagnostic skills.
  • Truckee Meadows Community College – Graduates of TMCC’s Associate Degree Program in Transportation Technologies can expect to acquire diagnostic, maintenance and repair skills. Accredited by NATEF, students who complete the program will have the necessary knowledge to pass the ASE certification exams and be able to handle passenger vehicles and light-duty trucks. For those who would like to enter the workforce as soon as possible, they can complete the certificate program that provides the necessary core knowledge and skills for an entry-level position in the automotive industry.

Colleges and universities from nearby states such as California, Oregon, Idaho, Utah and Arizona also offer automotive technology programs that Nevada residents can explore.

Secondary Programs

  • Southeast Career Technical Academy – Students who are trained under the AYES program get the AYES certification upon its completion. SCTA also helps students prepare for ASE certification exams. After completion of the Automobile Service Technology Program, they are prepared to join the workforce as automotive service technicians.

Where to Find Work in Nevada

When looking to start a career as an auto mechanic in Nevada, Carson City offers the highest entry-level salary and least competition with only 170 employed according to BLS. Meanwhile, more job opportunities as truck mechanics are available at Reno and Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise with just 400 and 880 employed, respectively. Automotive technicians and mechanics can work in repair shops, auto dealerships and independent businesses.

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