Career comparison
Automotive Service Technician vs. Industrial Maintenance Technician
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Industrial maintenance technicians earn more at the median ($64,520 vs. $50,620), while automotive service technicians usually get to work faster (6–24 months of training). Automotive service technicians inspect, diagnose and repair cars and light trucks, including hybrids and EVs. Industrial maintenance technicians keep factory machinery running with mechanical, electrical and PLC troubleshooting.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Automotive Service Technician | Industrial Maintenance Technician | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $50,620 ($24.34/hr) | $64,520 ($31.02/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $34,660 – $81,790 | $46,120 – $95,170 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +5.0% (faster than average) | +17.8% (much faster than average) |
| Openings per year | 66,200 | 44,400 |
| Typical entry education | Postsecondary nondegree award | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Training time | 6–24 months | 1–4 years |
| Key credential | ASE A1–A9 | CMRT (SMRP) |
| Work setting | Technicians work in dealerships, independent repair shops, chain stores, fleet garages and government agencies. | Technicians work in manufacturing plants, warehouses, food processing facilities and utilities. |
What each job does
Automotive Service Technician
- Perform inspections and preventive maintenance
- Diagnose problems with scan tools and test equipment
- Repair brakes, steering, suspension and drivetrain components
- Repair engines and electrical systems
- Service heating and air-conditioning systems
Industrial Maintenance Technician
- Perform preventive and predictive maintenance on equipment
- Troubleshoot mechanical, electrical, hydraulic and pneumatic problems
- Repair or replace bearings, belts, motors, pumps and gearboxes
- Read schematics, prints and PLC ladder logic
- Align shafts and adjust machinery
How they’re similar
Both careers involve hands-on work, problem-solving, indoor work, and a fast pace. Both are part of the mechanics, maintenance & manufacturing field, so many skills transfer between them.
Which should you choose?
Choose automotive service technician if…
- I enjoy working on cars
- I like diagnosing problems with tools and data
- I’m comfortable explaining technical problems simply
Choose industrial maintenance technician if…
- I like figuring out how machines work and why they break
- I’m comfortable with both mechanical and electrical work
- I can stay calm when production is down
Still torn? Take the Automotive Service Technician fit quiz and the Industrial Maintenance Technician fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, automotive service technician or industrial maintenance technician?
Industrial Maintenance Technicians earn more at the median: $64,520 versus $50,620 for automotive service technicians, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Automotive Service Technicians typically train faster (6–24 months) than industrial maintenance technicians (1–4 years).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects industrial maintenance technicians to grow +17.8% from 2025–35, compared with +5.0% for automotive service technicians.