Open Options Consulting Group, LLC.

Automotive Career Comparison: Diesel Service Technician and Automotive Service Technician

Automotive Career Comparison: Diesel Service Technician and Automotive Service Technician

Open Options Consulting Group, LLC.

Automotive Career Comparison: Diesel Service Technician and Automotive Service Technician

Prepared for: James Jones Student 456 W. Wabash Ave, Chica o, !" 6#656 Prepared b$: %ri& "auesen Senior Consu'tant (## W. Con ress P'a)a, At'anta, *A (+#56

,ate: -ctober 24, 2#(.

-ctober 24, 2#(. James Jones 456 W. Wabash Ave Chica o, !" 6#656

,ear /r. Jones, 0he fo''o1in is the report $ou re2uested on -ctober 2#, 2#(.. 0his report contains information re ardin career advisin based on $our indicated criteria. 3our criteria 'ed me to choose a path in the automotive industr$, and throu h much research, ! found t1o careers that shou'd interest $ou: ,iese' Service 0echnician and Automotive Service 0echnician. 0hese 1ere chosen based on $our previous e4perience 1ith vehic'e repair and e'ectronic dia nostics. 0his report 1i'' cover various aspects of each career, inc'udin pros and cons of each one. ! inc'uded 5ob descriptions, sa'aries and benefits, promotions, education re2uirements and trainin , 1or& environment description, and pro5ected 5ob ro1th. *iven the information ! found, ! 1as ab'e to ma&e a recommendation for the career ! thin& $ou 1i'' en5o$ the most. ! reat'$ appreciate $our consu'tin the fo''o1in information usefu'. 0han& $ou, 1ith us. ! hope $ou 1i'' find

Erik Lauesen
%ri& "auesen Senior Consu'tant

Ta le o! Contents
!ntroduction...............................................................................6 C'ient6s Stated Criteria.................................................................7 Job ,escriptions..........................................................................8 ,iese' Service 0echnician9/echanic.............................................8 Automotive Service 0echnician9/echanic.....................................+ %ducation90rainin ....................................................................(( Wor& %nvironment.....................................................................(( Sa'ar$ .....................................................................................(2 Pro5ected Job *ro1th.................................................................(. Conc'usion and :ecommendation.................................................(4 Appendi4: ;sefu' and <e'pfu' Websites.........................................(5 :eferences...............................................................................(6

List o! "igures
=i ure (...................................................................................(2 =i ure 2...................................................................................(.

#ntroduction
Automotive /aintenance is a ver$ important industr$ in toda$6s 1or'd. Since 29. of Americans drive, there is a'1a$s reat demand for a s&i''ed repairman. ><i h1a$ Statistics Series, 2#(#? !ncreased use of techno'o $ and sophisticated computers re2uire even more s&i''s to comprehend and dia nose them. 0hrou hout $our 'ife, vehic'e repair has been $our passion and $ou have dedicated much effort in pursuin /aintenance. @ased on the criteria $ou different a career in Automotive ave me, ! have found t1o

professions inside the Automotive /aintenance: ,iese'

Service 0echnician and Automotive Service 0echnician. @oth options are dominant in toda$6s econom$, but -pen -ptions 1i'' attempt to compare both professions b$ providin this report and deep ana'$sis of both options. After our initia' intervie1 $ou provided us 1ith career uni2ue. A'on report detai'in oa's, primar$

interests, previous e4perience, education and s&i''s that ma&e $ou 1ith this va'uab'e information, $ou have mentioned for. 0his report is a comprehensive 5ob descriptions, 1or& environment descriptions, certain criteria $ou are 'oo&in

sa'aries, education re2uirements and trainin , and pro5ected 5ob ro1th based on information provided that 1i'' suit $our needs.

Client$s Stated Criteria

,urin our initia' meetin , $ou provided me 1ith certain criteria $ou 1ou'd 'i&e in a career: 0he position shou'd pa$ no 'ess than A.#,### per $ear. 0he position shou'd not re2uire a bache'or6s de ree. 0he position can re2uire overtime or e4tended hours. 0he position shou'd have a positive ro1th out'oo&. /ost careers in the automotive sector meet these criteria. 0he t1o ! have se'ected for revie1 are the best matched for $our needs.

%o Descriptions
Diesel Service Technician&'echanic
,iese' service technicians and mechanics inspect, repair, maintain, and overhau' app'ications usin a diese' en ine. ,iese' service technicians and mechanics t$pica''$ do the fo''o1in :
=o''o1 a chec&'ist of inspection procedures 0est drive vehic'es to dia nose ma'functions :ead and interpret dia nostic test resu'ts, often b$ usin dia's, au es, and other computer e2uipment :aise truc&s, buses, and heav$ parts or e2uipment b$ usin h$drau'ic 5ac&s or hoists !nspect bra&e s$stems, steerin mechanisms, transmissions, en ines, and other parts of vehic'es ,o routine maintenance, such as chan in oi', chec&in batteries, and 'ubricatin e2uipment and parts Ad5ust and a'i n 1hee's, ti hten bo'ts and scre1s, and attach s$stem components :epair or rep'ace ma'functionin components, parts, and other mechanica' or e'ectrica' e2uipment ,isassemb'e and reassemb'e e2uipment and parts 0est drive vehic'es to ensure that the$ run smooth'$

,iese' en ines have become ver$ popu'ar due to their po1er and durabi'it$. Wor& that re2uires transportin but are not 'imited to:
@uses SemiBtrai'er truc&s *arba e truc&s ,e'iver$ truc&s "ar e pic&up truc&s Severa' cars, inc'udin /ercedesB@en) and Co'&s1a en "ocomotives @u''do)ers Cranes *enerators

heav$ 'oads or movin

heav$ machiner$ usua''$ uti'i)es a diese' en ine. Some uses inc'ude,

,iese' mechanics hand'e man$ &inds of repairs. 0he$ ma$ 1or& on a vehic'e6s e'ectrica' s$stem, ma&e ma5or en ine repairs, or retrofit en ines 1ith emission contro' s$stems to comp'$ 1ith po''ution re u'ations. ,iese' en ine maintenance is becomin increasin '$ comp'e4 as s$stems

en ines and other components use more computer s$stems to contro' their operation. =or e4amp'e, fue' in5ection and en ine timin re'$ heavi'$ on microprocessors to ma4imi)e fue' efficienc$. !n most shops, 1or&ers often use handBhe'd or 'aptop computers to dia nose prob'ems and ad5ust en ine functions. !n addition to computeri)ed dia nostic e2uipment, diese' mechanics use a variet$ of po1er and machine too's, such as pneumatic 1renches, 'athes, too's, inc'udin used. rindin machines, and 1e'din e2uipment. <and p'iers, 1renches, and scre1drivers, are a'so common'$

Automotive Service Technician&'echanic

Automotive service technicians and mechanics inspect, repair,

maintain, and overhau' cars and 'i ht truc&s. Automotive service technicians and mechanics t$pica''$ do the fo''o1in :
0est parts and s$stems to ensure that the$ are 1or&in proper'$ !dentif$ mechanica' prob'ems, often b$ usin computeri)ed dia nostic e2uipment =o''o1 chec&'ists to ensure that a'' critica' parts are e4amined 0est and 'ubricate the vehic'e6s en ine and other ma5or components Perform basic care and maintenance, inc'udin oi' chan es, tuneBups, and tire rotations

 :epair or rep'ace 1orn parts, such as bra&e pads and 1hee' bearin s ,isassemb'e and reassemb'e parts %4p'ain to c'ients their automotive prob'ems and the repairs done on their vehic'es

Automotive

service

technicians

1or&

on

traditiona' ro1in

mechanica' number of s$stems are

components, such as en ines, transmissions, be'ts, and hoses. <o1ever, the$ must a'so be fami'iar 1ith a computer s$stems. @ra&e, transmission, and steerin inte rated e'ectronic s$stems, such as airba

contro''ed primari'$ b$ computers and e'ectronic components. -ther s$stems, are becomin ro1in number of more commonp'ace as 1e''. !n addition, a fue's, such as ethano' and e'ectricit$. Automotive service technicians use man$ different too's, inc'udin computeri)ed dia nostic too's and po1er too's such as pneumatic 1renches, 'athes, 1e'din torches, and 5ac&s and hoists. Service enera''$ are their o1n. !n fact, technicians a'so use man$ common hand too's, such as p'iers, 1renches, and scre1drivers, 1hich persona' too' co''ection. e4perienced 1or&ers often have thousands of do''ars invested in their

technicians are re2uired to 1or& on vehic'es that run on a'ternative

(#

Education&Training
=or both diese' and automotive mechanics, a hi h schoo' dip'oma is enera''$ re2uired, a'thou h a certificate from a trade schoo' or communit$ co''e e is preferred. 0his certificate can 'ead to an associate6s de ree, 1hich is hi h'$ favored. 0rainin is re2uired, and on the 5ob. 1ith can ta&e .B5 $ears. /ost technicians comp'ete trainin and

0rainees usua''$ start as technicians6 he'pers or 'ubrication 1or&ers radua''$ ac2uire and practice their s&i''s b$ 1or&in e4perienced mechanics and technicians. -ver the course of their careers, mechanics must 'earn ne1 techni2ues and e2uipment in order to meet demands of ne1er vehic'es. %mp'o$ers often send e4perienced mechanics to specia' trainin c'asses conducted b$ manufacturers and vendors to 'earn about the 'atest techno'o $. Certification from the Dationa' !nstitute of Automotive Service %4ce''ence >AS%? 1i'' a'most uarantee a 5ob as mechanic.
>@ureau of "abor Statistics, 2#(2?

(ork Environment
@oth careers invo've 1or& in a repair shop, or in a ara e. When 1or&in

ara e, it is vita' that $ou &eep $our focus at a'' times. 0hese

1or&p'aces have the potentia' to be ver$ ha)ardous. Some ha)ards inc'ude 'oud noise, dan erous f'uids, harmfu' dust, heav$ machiner$, and hi h vo'ta e. A uniform is re2uired, not on'$ for safet$, but to 'oo& c'ean and professiona'. Shops shou'd be &ept c'ean to avoid accidents, such as c'eanin an oi' spi'' to prevent a fa''. When 1or&in in a shop, it is vita' that $ou &eep $our focus at a'' times. ((

Salar)
Sa'ar$ for both careers is comparab'e. 0he median annua' 1a e of diese' service technicians 1as A4#,85# in /a$ 2#(#. 0he median 1a e is the 1a e at 1hich ha'f the 1or&ers in an occupation earned more than that amount and ha'f earned 'ess. 0he 'o1est (# percent earned 'ess than A26,55#, and the top (# percent earned more than A6#,8.#. 0he median annua' 1a e of automotive service technicians 1as A.5,7+# in /a$ 2#(#. 0he median 1a e is the 1a e at 1hich ha'f the 1or&ers in an occupation earned more than that amount and ha'f earned 'ess. 0he 'o1est (# percent earned 'ess than A2#,2##, and the top (# percent earned more than A5+,5+#.
>@ureau of "abor Statistics, 2#(2?

$65,000.00 $50,000.00 $35,000.00 $20,000.00 $5,000.00 Diesel Mechanic !to"oti#e Mechanic Lowest Median Top 10% Salary 10% Salary Salary

Figure 1

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*ro+ected %o Gro,th
%mp'o$ment of diese' mechanics is e4pected to the ;nited States is ro1in ro1 (5E from 2#(# to 2#2#, about as fast as avera e for a'' occupations. 0he truc& f'eet of in order to meet demand for more even more durab'e, imports, 1hich means more truc&s 1i'' need to be maintained. <o1ever, ne1er diese' en ines are becomin hamperin overa'' emp'o$ment ro1th. Donethe'ess, emp'o$ers see&

mechanics 1ho are AS% certified, as the$ sometimes report a 'ac& of 2ua'ified mechanics. >@ureau of "abor Statistics, 2#(2? %mp'o$ment of automotive mechanics is e4pected to ro1 (7F from

2#(# to 2#2#, about as fast as avera e for a'' occupations. As the number of hi hBmi'ea e cars on the road increases, more technicians 1i'' be needed to do maintenance, such as oi' chan es and bra&e pad rep'acement. <o1ever, forma' trainin pro rams are necessar$ for the best 5ob prospects. >@ureau of "abor Statistics, 2#(2?

$"ploy"ent

&00000
' o( Mechanics

600000 %00000 200000 2010 2020

Diesel Mechanics !to"oti#e Mechanics

Figure 2

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Conclusion and -ecommendation

0he purpose of this report 1as to provide a thorou h ana'$sis from 1hich an educated decision on career choice cou'd be made. After carefu' revie1 of these t1o careers, ! be'ieve a career as an Automotive Service 0echnician 1ou'd be best for $ou. Whi'e both careers meet $our sa'ar$ re2uirements, automotive service sho1s a more rapid increase in 5ob out'oo& than diese' service does. An associate6s de ree is recommended for a successfu' career in both fie'ds. Whi'e both careers can re2uire 'on , odd hours and schedu'e interruptions, a career as an Automotive Service 0echnician 1i'' pa$ more than a ,iese' 0echnician. -pen -ptions 1ishes $ou the best of 'uc& 1ith 1hichever career $ou choose.

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Appendi.: /se!ul and 0elp!ul (e sites

Accreditin Commission of Career Schoo's and Co''e es >accsc.or ? Association of ,iese' Specia'ists >diese'.or ? Auto Career ,eve'opment Center >fi4h$brid.com? Dationa' !nstitute of Automotive Service %4ce''ence >AS%? >ase.com?

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-e!erences
<i h1a$ Statistics Series. >n.d.?. Chart ,CB(C G <i h1a$ Statistics 2#(# G -ffice of <i h1a$ Po'ic$ !nformation >-<P!? G =<WA. :etrieved -ctober 25, 2#(., from http:99111.fh1a.dot. ov9po'ic$information9statistics92#(#9dv(c.cfm Summar$. >n.d.?. ;.S. @ureau of "abor Statistics. :etrieved -ctober 25, 2#(., from http:99111.b's. ov9ooh9insta''ationBmaintenanceBandB repair9automotiveBserviceBtechniciansBandBmechanics.htmHtabB( Summar$. >n.d.?. ;.S. @ureau of "abor Statistics. :etrieved -ctober 25, 2#(., from http:99111.b's. ov9ooh9insta''ationBmaintenanceBandB repair9diese'BserviceBtechniciansBandBmechanics.htm

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