Career comparison
Automotive Service Technician vs. Tire Technician
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Automotive service technicians earn more at the median ($50,620 vs. $37,710), while tire technicians usually get to work faster (A few weeks on the job of training). Automotive service technicians inspect, diagnose and repair cars and light trucks, including hybrids and EVs. Tire technicians mount, balance and repair tires on cars, trucks and equipment.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Automotive Service Technician | Tire Technician | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $50,620 ($24.34/hr) | $37,710 ($18.13/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $34,660 – $81,790 | $30,010 – $50,230 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +5.0% (faster than average) | +3.4% (about as fast as average) |
| Openings per year | 66,200 | 12,900 |
| Typical entry education | Postsecondary nondegree award | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Training time | 6–24 months | A few weeks on the job |
| Key credential | ASE A1–A9 | TIA ATS certification |
| Work setting | Technicians work in dealerships, independent repair shops, chain stores, fleet garages and government agencies. | Technicians work in tire shops, dealerships and on the road.. |
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
Tire Technician
- Mount and dismount tires
- Balance wheels
- Repair punctures
- Rotate tires
- Check tread and pressure
How they’re similar
Both careers involve hands-on work and indoor work. 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 tire technician if…
- I like hands-on work
- I’m strong and active
- I want short training
Still torn? Take the Automotive Service Technician fit quiz and the Tire Technician fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, automotive service technician or tire technician?
Automotive Service Technicians earn more at the median: $50,620 versus $37,710 for tire technicians, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Tire Technicians typically train faster (A few weeks on the job) than automotive service technicians (6–24 months).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects automotive service technicians to grow +5.0% from 2025–35, compared with +3.4% for tire technicians.