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.
Penn Foster College – Online Auto Repair Technician Career Diploma
Earn your Career Diploma online through Penn Foster College’s Regionally and nationally accredited school. The Automotive Repair Technician Program, developed by ASE Master Technicians and leading experts in the field of auto repair, will teach you relevant skills and subject matter. You’ll even get preparation for the ASE certification exams on major systems such as brakes, suspension and steering, manual drive train and axles, and more! Call 1-800-851-1819 today.
Mechanic Salaries in Oregon
The average salary for an automotive service technician or mechanic in Oregon in 2021 was $47,860 per year, or $23,01 an hour, depending on the job. Entry-level positions for automotive service technicians paid about $17,20 an hour, or $34,780 annually. The average salary for more experienced service mechanics increased to $75,410 annually, or $36,25 per hour, according to the BLS.
The salary for auto body and related repairers in Oregon averaged $48,030 per year in 2021, or $23,09 per hour, but mechanics earned as much as $82,120 a year. Automotive repairers beginning their careers can expect an entry-level salary of $14,9 an hour, or an annual salary of around $31,010.
For those in the smallest population of mechanics in Oregon, automotive glass installers and repairers earned an average salary of $37,740 or an hourly wage of $18,14. Entry-level positions typically paid around $14,31 an hour, or $29,760 annually, in 2021, and the most advanced positions paid $52,620 annually.
The largest population of mechanics in Oregon consists of truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists. In 2021, these specialists earned an average salary of $48,720 per year, or $23,42 per hour. Truck mechanics or diesel specialists entering the workforce made an average of $37,070 annually, or $17,82 an hour, and with additional experience the expected salary is around $65,180 yearly or an hourly wage of $31,34.
Salaries in Oregon by Occupation
| Occupation | Total Employed | Average Hourly Wage | Average Annual Salary | Lowest 10% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics | 7,370 | $23.01 | $47,860 | $35,780 |
| Automotive Glass Installers and Repairers | ** | $18.14 | $37,740 | $29,760 |
| Automotive Body and Related Repairers | 1,520 | $23.09 | $48,030 | $31,010 |
| Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists | 3,640 | $23.42 | $48,720 | $37,070 |
Auto Mechanic Salaries in Oregon by Region
| Region | Total Employed | Mean Hourly Wage | Mean Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albany, OR | 130 | $23,96 | $49,830 |
| Bend-Redmond, OR | 440 | $24,36 | $50,670 |
| Corvallis, OR | 120 | $24,54 | $51,030 |
| Eugene, OR | 650 | $24,22 | $50,390 |
| Grants Pass, OR | 140 | $23,36 | $48,590 |
| Medford, OR | 380 | $24,13 | $50,200 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | 3,670 | $25,93 | $53,930 |
| Salem, OR | 580 | $25,50 | $53,030 |
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.