Becoming an Auto Mechanic or Automotive Technician in Oregon
Individuals looking for jobs in the automotive industry in Oregon will find themselves with many options. Popular automotive careers fall under categories such as automotive technicians and mechanics, automotive body and related repairers, automotive glass installers and repairers, bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists. [En Español]
Educational opportunities and gaining experience are the best ways to advance in the automotive industry. Once a mechanic receives the Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) certification, they can obtain higher-ranking and higher paying jobs. ASE certifications are given to mechanics who have enough related experience and pass the certification exam.
A few ASE certifications available to mechanics include:
- Truck equipment certification tests
- Light truck certification tests
- Light repair certification test
- Engine machinist certification tests
School bus certification tests
- Alternate fuels certification test
- Damage analysis and estimating certification test
- Transit bus certification tests
Parts specialist certification tests
Job Outlook in Oregon
Job Outlook in OregonIn May of 2020 there were approximately 7,370 automotive service technicians and mechanics employed in the state of Oregon, according to the most recent report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Additionally, there were 1,520 automotive body repairers, 230 automotive glass installers and repairers, and 3,640 bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists employed throughout the state.
Mechanic Salaries in Oregon
This includes information for Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics, Automotive Glass Installers and Repairers, Automotive Body and Related Repairers, and Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists. The salary data is categorized by percentile and region, highlighting significant variations based on experience and geographic location.
In Oregon, Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics earn between $28,000 and $70,000 annually. Automotive Glass Installers and Repairers have salaries ranging from $26,000 to $66,000. Automotive Body and Related Repairers earn between $30,000 and $76,000, while Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Specialists earn between $32,000 and $80,000.
Salaries in Oregon by Occupation
| Occupation | 10th Percentile | 25th Percentile | Median | 75th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics | $14.00 / $29,120 | $17.50 / $36,400 | $21.50 / $44,720 | $28.00 / $58,240 | $34.00 / $70,720 |
| Automotive Glass Installers and Repairers | $13.00 / $27,040 | $16.50 / $34,320 | $20.00 / $41,600 | $25.00 / $52,000 | $31.00 / $64,480 |
| Automotive Body and Related Repairers | $14.50 / $30,160 | $18.00 / $37,440 | $23.50 / $48,880 | $30.50 / $63,440 | $37.50 / $78,000 |
| Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Specialists | $15.50 / $32,240 | $19.50 / $40,560 | $25.00 / $52,000 | $32.50 / $67,600 | $38.50 / $80,080 |
Auto Mechanic Salaries in Oregon by Region
| Region | Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics | Automotive Glass Installers and Repairers | Automotive Body and Related Repairers | Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Specialists |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portland | $30,000 – $65,000 | $28,000 – $62,000 | $33,000 – $72,000 | $36,000 – $78,000 |
| Eugene | $29,000 – $63,000 | $27,000 – $60,000 | $32,000 – $70,000 | $35,000 – $76,000 |
| Salem | $28,000 – $62,000 | $26,000 – $58,000 | $31,000 – $68,000 | $34,000 – $74,000 |
| Bend | $30,000 – $64,000 | $28,000 – $61,000 | $33,000 – $71,000 | $36,000 – $77,000 |
Auto Mechanic Schools in Oregon
Although there are no National Automotive Technicians Education Foundation (NATEF) certified high school programs in Oregon, there are many educational opportunities in post-secondary schools.
Blue Mountain Community College in Pendelton, Oregon, offers associate and certification programs in diesel technology. The associate program in diesel technology is two years fully focused on diesel engines and technology. Blue Mountain Community College also offers a diesel technology teaching assistant certification.
NATEF-certified Mount Hood Community College offers both certificate and degree programs. The certificate programs available include a nine-month maintenance and light repair program and the Ford ASSET program with certification in automotive technology. Courses for the maintenance and light repair program can count towards completion of any Chrysler MCAP, Subaru-U and Ford ASSET programs.
Linn-Benton Community College in Albany, Oregon, offers a certificate program and two associate degree programs for automotive technology. Like Mount Hood Community College, Linn-Benton offers an Associate of Applied Sciences for automotive technology as well as an automotive maintenance and light-repair certificate program that takes one year to complete. Linn-Benton Community College is also NATEF certified and works in partnership with Chrysler.
Where to Find Work in Oregon
The city with the most automotive technicians in Oregon is Eugene with 600 employees. For automotive technicians looking to work in a place with a greater need for mechanics, Corvallis, Albany and Grants Pass all have fewer than 200 employed technicians. The Bend-Redmond area has the highest annual salary of $61,210 for automotive technicians.
Albany, Bend and Medford are the best locations for automotive body repairers to work with fewer than 100 employees in each city. Medford would be a perfect location for automotive body repairers with a small number of employees and an average salary of $59,430 annually. Mechanics in the Portland area who are interested in glass installation and repair can expect an average salary around $52,620 a year.
Bend, Oregon, has the lowest reported annual salaries for bus and truck mechanics and diesel specialists, averaging around $46,920 per year, or $21 an hour. Albany has the smallest population of bus and truck mechanics and diesel specialists employing 100 mechanics as of May 2020, according to BLS. Between Medford and Eugene, Medford has the highest average income of $59,550, just $100 more than Eugene’s average annual salary. For bus and truck mechanics and diesel specialists, Medford has the most competitive wages, but Albany has the greatest need for mechanics and a relatively competitive income.
College Listings
| School | Type | Tuition and fees per year | Net price per year | Auto Mechanic programs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Central Oregon Community CollegeBend, OR(541) 383-75002600 NW College Way |
Public | $6,7052023-24 | $7,752 to $14,315by family income, 2022-23. Calculate your own net price |
|
Chemeketa Community CollegeSalem, OR(503) 399-50004000 Lancaster Dr NEAccredited by Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities |
Public | $6,3452024-25 | $6,562 to $14,741by family income, 2022-23. Calculate your own net price |
|
Clackamas Community CollegeOregon City, OR(503) 594-600019600 Molalla AveAccredited by Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities |
Public | $6,3452024-25 | $4,815 to $10,725by family income, 2022-23. Calculate your own net price |
|
Clatsop Community CollegeAstoria, OR(503) 325-09101651 Lexington AvenueAccredited by Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities |
Public | $5,1102024-25 | $11,112 to $16,106by family income, 2022-23. Calculate your own net price |
|
Klamath Community CollegeKlamath Falls, OR(541) 882-35217390 South Sixth StreetAccredited by Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities |
Public | $4,9652024-25 | $6,945 to $14,177by family income, 2022-23. Calculate your own net price |
|
Lane Community CollegeEugene, OR(541) 463-30004000 E 30th AveAccredited by Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities |
Public | $6,2022024-25 | not published |
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Linn-Benton Community CollegeAlbany, OR(541) 917-49996500 Pacific Blvd SWAccredited by Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities |
Public | $7,3172024-25 | $7,522 to $14,551by family income, 2022-23. Calculate your own net price |
|
Mt Hood Community CollegeGresham, OR(503) 491-642226000 SE Stark StAccredited by Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities |
Public | $5,2472024-25 | $4,193 to $12,483by family income, 2022-23. Calculate your own net price |
|
Portland Community CollegePortland, OR(971) 722-611112000 SW 49th AvenueAccredited by Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities |
Public | $5,2202024-25 | $8,626 to $15,645by family income, 2022-23. Calculate your own net price |
|
Rogue Community CollegeGrants Pass, OR(541) 956-75013345 Redwood HwyAccredited by Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities |
Public | $5,2562024-25 | $7,625 to $15,685by family income, 2022-23. Calculate your own net price |
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Umpqua Community CollegeRoseburg, OR(541) 440-46001140 Umpqua College Rd.Accredited by Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities |
Public | $5,9092023-24 | $8,930 to $14,581by family income, 2022-23. Calculate your own net price |
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Tuition and fees are from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS) for the year shown. Net price is the range of the average net prices each school published for different family incomes, from CareerSpy; it covers first-time, full-time students who received federal aid, so yours may differ. Schools that have closed are not listed. Programs shown without a link were added from federal completions data: the school awarded this program in 2022-23 or 2023-24. We have not yet recorded its own page for the program.