Like all machines, electric cars require service, for which there are electric car mechanics. Unlike traditional cars, electric cars need more technical assistance. If you’re up for the job, you can train to become an electric car mechanic. Since this is still a relatively new concept, many people wonder if training to become an electric car mechanic is even feasible. This guide will discuss an electric car mechanic’s salary to help you decide if this is a sustainable career choice for you.
Before we go into details, it is important to note that electric is the unparalleled future of the automotive industry. There are several automotive companies that are planning to switch to all-electric models.
Given the rise of electric cars, there is likely to be greater demand for electric car mechanics as well. EV companies such as Tesla will need electric car mechanics, so this looks like a promising career in today’s day and age.
In fact, EV companies are already facing a shortage of electric car technicians as a higher number of all-electric cars continue to hit the road.
Industry experts are pressing for training technicians on how to handle electric vehicles to avoid any problems later on. Given the predicted demand, EV training is now the latest trend.
What Does an Electric Car Mechanic Do?
Just like traditional automotive mechanics, electric car mechanics will inspect, repair, and maintain electric vehicles.
The primary difference between traditional car mechanics and electric car mechanics is that the latter requires more technical know-how. They need to know how to handle high-level technology.
Electric cars use integrated and complex electronic systems to function. An electric car mechanic should be well-acquainted with this as these systems are critical to an electric vehicle’s functioning.
You should be able to deal with traditional hand equipment and tools along with various advanced electronic components.
How to Become an Electric Car Mechanic?
Pursuing a career as an electric car mechanic is viable for anyone who wants to secure a future in the automotive industry.
If you want to become an electric car mechanic, you should thoroughly research the position, complete your education, secure the relevant internship, and complete the on-job training. This guide will break it all down for your convenience.
1. Understand the Job Description
While auto mechanics have been around since the inception of cars, being an electric car mechanic is a relatively new role.
If you want to start a career in the EV industry, you should research and understand the position first. You should know what the job entails, and what skills are required from you.
In addition, it is important to research the salary of electric car mechanics to know what you should expect to get.
Knowing this will help you match your financial situation and needs with your average annual salary. This is the biggest factor that will help you decide if this is the right career choice for you.
Read Why you should not buy an electric car
2. Complete a Degree in Automotive Technology
If you want to be an electric vehicle mechanic, you should complete the relevant programs. To do that, you first need to select the program in which you want to enroll. Check the skills required for the program and see if they match your skill-set and area of interest.
Once you have picked your desired program, you also need to choose the electric cars in which you wish to receive certification. Then you can proceed to register for the required course. Here are some of the electric cars and their specifications to help you make an informed decision:
Hybrid:
They use electrical power and fuel to promote greater fuel efficiency.
Plug-in Hybrid:
Uses more electric flow and can switch to ICE for motion power.
All Electric:
Relies only on electric power for optimal performance.
Converted Electric:
These are standard cars but with ICE. They are upgraded with an electric system.
3. Get an Internship
Next, you will need to secure an internship at a car dealer. Training while on the job is considered invaluable and will help secure a well-paying job as an electric car mechanic.
Most often, companies offer their interns a job with them. There is a higher likelihood of this if you do a good job, so do your best even as an intern.
Completing your internship program will boost your portfolio and provide you with the work experience that you need. This is an important step that you should not miss. Car dealerships often don’t provide jobs to mechanics who have no prior experience.
Securing and successfully completing an internship will get you noticed and get you just the sweet spot experience that car dealerships and auto repair shops need.
Read Useful Tips for Buying a Used Electric Car
4. Get ASE Certification
ASE stands for National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence. This organization has existed since 1972 and tests and certifies automotive professionals like electric car mechanics. You will be eligible to receive the ASE certification after you acquire a degree, complete the internship and gain employment.
You can apply for ASE certification after completing approximately 2 to 5 years of employment. You will then receive this certification after you pass the relevant exams. ASE certification is important for electric car mechanic as it may help them secure a good job and bag a higher salary effectively.
Read How Long Does It Take To Charge An Electric Car
What Skills Does an Electric Car Mechanic Need?
Since dealing with electric cars is more complicated than dealing with regular cars, you should have a willingness to learn. There are now many training programs that provide mechanics with the necessary skills needed to work with and fix electric cars.
In order to become an adept electric car mechanic, you will also require basic mechanical skills. For example, you should know how engine components work. You should also have good hand-eye coordination as well as a certain amount of physical strength.
Just like any other service-based job, you will also need excellent customer service skills. You should also have great attention to detail. Lastly, you should be up-to-date, as that is literally the future of the automotive industry.
What is Electric Car Mechanic Salary?
If anyone wants to pursue a career as a mechanic, they will want to know the average salary of an electric car mechanic. As of 2022, the median salary of an electric car mechanic stands at $78,000 per year and approximately $37.82 hourly.
However, one should note that this is the median salary. The entry-level salary and the advanced level salary would be lower and higher, respectively, so don’t forget to factor that in when you’re considering this as a career choice.
At the lower end spectrum, you can expect to receive a median salary of approximately $64,000 annually, while at the higher end spectrum, you can get approximately $95,000 per year.
The table below will help you understand the different stages of an electric car mechanic’s salary.
| Percentile | Rate/Hour ($) | Annual Salary ($) | Monthly Salary ($) |
| 10th Starting level | 27 | 57,000 | 4750 |
| 75th Senior level | 44 | 92,000 | 7667 |
| 90th High Level | 51 | 106,000 | 8833 |
| Median | 38 | 78,000 | 6550 |
In addition to this, most electric car mechanics receive a commission according to the total cost the customer pays. These flag rates are linked to the amount of work a mechanic does. You get this commission on top of a fixed salary.
Read What Would Happen if Everyone Switched to an Electric Car
Average Electric Car Mechanic Salary by State
The average electric car mechanic salary also differs by state, so you should also consider that when deciding if you want to take this up as a career.
Let’s look at the top 5 states that offer the highest average electric car mechanic salary.
| State | Average Salary (approximately) | No. Of Jobs (approximately) |
| California | $93,000 | 3700 |
| Arizona | $91,000 | 700 |
| Connecticut | $90,000 | 235 |
| New Mexico | $90,200 | 190 |
| District of Columbia | $89,000 | 220 |
Highest Paying Cities
Below is a list of the highest paying cities for electric car mechanics, from highest to lowest:
- San Francisco, CA: $100,142 per year
- Greenwich, CT: $91,124 per year
- Washington, DC: $89,400 per year
- McLean, VA: $86,105 per year
- Everett, WA: $85,939
Electric Car Mechanic Salary by Year
Given the increased production of electric vehicles, the demand for electric car mechanics has increased as well. More and more people are taking this on as a profession in the hopes of making it big in the automotive industry. Here, we will analyze the electric car mechanic’s salary by year.
- 2018: $74,000 per year
- 2019: $74,000 per year
- 2020: $73,800 per year
- 2021: $75,400 per year
- 2022: $78,700 per year
As you can see, the gradual increase in the electric car mechanic’s salary shows that it can be a viable profession given the future of the automotive industry.
Read Are electric cars eco-friendly?
Electric Car Mechanic Salary by Gender and Race
If you are a woman considering becoming an electric car mechanic, you might face a slight difference in pay.
Female electric car mechanics will receive 97 cents for every $1 that a male electric car mechanic gets. The yearly pay for a male electric car mechanic is approximately $75, 808 while the average yearly pay for a female electric car mechanic is $73,529.
Similarly, Blacks or African American electric car mechanics might receive 92 cents for every $1 that is earned by an Asian electric car mechanic. Asian electric car mechanics receive the highest pay, approximately $78,784 per year. This is followed by white electric car mechanics, who receive approximately $74,411 per year.
Hispanic and Latino electric car mechanics get an estimated $73,447. Black or African American electric car mechanics make the lowest salary, approximately $72,000.
Electric Car Mechanic Salary by Degree
Your education level and degree will also determine the salary that you get as an electric car mechanic.
Electric car mechanics that hold a doctorate will receive the highest salary, approximately $94,402 per year. Those holding a Master’s degree might receive approximately $87,000, while those with a bachelor’s degree will get $75,808 annually.
How Long Does it Take to Become an Electric Car Mechanic?
The period of apprenticeship for electric motor technicians is approximately 4 years, including an estimated count of 1560 hours of on-the-job training. After this, you can apply for certification and also start practicing as a professional electric car mechanic.
Read Best Portable Electric Car Heaters
Can a Traditional Car Mechanic Work On Electric Cars?
If you think you don’t need any specialization to work on electric cars, this section will tell you otherwise. The Institute of Motor Industry, a whopping 97% of auto mechanics don’t have the expertise to work on electric cars. Therefore, if you want to become an electric car mechanic, you need the relevant specialization and qualifications.
Who is The Highest Paying Automotive Technician?
If you want to become an automotive technician, you can expect to make a high salary every year. If you are particularly ambitious, look at the highest-paying automotive technician jobs that will ensure you are able to live a financially secure life.
Automotive Master Technician
Automotive master technicians are able to earn a salary of around $52,000 on the lower end of the spectrum and a salary of approximately $71,000 on the higher end of the spectrum.
ASE Certified Technician
An ASE certified technician in the United States can expect to earn anywhere between $41,500 and $58,000 every year. The job market for ASE-certified technicians is very active, so you can easily find a well-paying job.
Read Components in Electric Cars and How Electric Cars Work
Final Word
Given how quickly the automotive industry is churning out electric cars, it is safe to say that there is considerable scope to become an electric car mechanic. Electric cars are the future, so there is a meager chance that learning this skill will ever go to waste, at least for a considerable time.
Electric car mechanics earn a considerable salary, and this keeps increasing as they gain more experience and move on from the junior level to a senior level. Choosing to become an EV mechanic is a pretty simple process and doesn’t even take much time. You can also earn ASE certification and increase the chances of getting an even higher income as an electric car mechanic.
There are several training programs where you can apply and become a professional electric car mechanic. This is a viable career choice, now more than ever.
You may like the following electric car articles:
- Should I Buy a Used Electric Car?
- Buying an electric car?
- Are Electric Cars Good for Road Trips and Highway Driving?
- Is It Worth It to Buy an Electric Car?
- Which electric car has the longest range?
My name is Matthew, staying in Seattle, Washington. Electric Vehicles (Electric Cars & Electric bikes) caught my attention for the last few years and my love for electric cars and bikes is everlasting. I spend many of my weekends traveling to various places all over various cities with my electric vehicle (e-bike and electric car). Here I am sharing my expertise, experience, and invaluable information about electric cars and electric bikes. Check out more.