# Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics

> Diagnose, adjust, repair, or overhaul automotive vehicles.

- **SOC code:** 49-3023.00
- **Canonical URL:** https://singulariki.com/roles/role-49-3023-00
- **Also known as:** Automotive Mechanic (Auto Mechanic), Automotive Technician (Auto Tech), Mechanic, Service Technician (Service Tech), Automotive Drivability Technician (Auto Drivability Tech), Automotive Service Technician (Auto Service Tech), Diagnostic Technician (Diagnostic Tech), Heavy Line Technician (Heavy Line Tech)
- **Frame:** "AI exposure" means task overlap (how codifiable the work is), not jobs lost or a forecast. Every figure below is traced to a named public dataset.

## What this work is

**Core tasks** (O*NET):
- Inspect vehicles for damage and record findings so that necessary repairs can be made.
- Test drive vehicles and test components and systems, using equipment such as infrared engine analyzers, compression gauges, and computerized diagnostic devices.
- Test and adjust repaired systems to meet manufacturers' performance specifications.
- Repair, reline, replace, and adjust brakes.
- Review work orders and discuss work with supervisors.
- Conduct visual inspections of compressed natural gas fuel systems to identify cracks, gouges, abrasions, discoloration, broken fibers, loose brackets, damaged gaskets, or other problems.
- Estimate costs of vehicle repair.
- Confer with customers to obtain descriptions of vehicle problems and to discuss work to be performed and future repair requirements.
- Align vehicles' front ends.
- Align wheels, axles, frames, torsion bars, and steering mechanisms of automobiles, using special alignment equipment and wheel-balancing machines.
- Tear down, repair, and rebuild faulty assemblies, such as power systems, steering systems, and linkages.
- Perform routine and scheduled maintenance services, such as oil changes, lubrications, and tune-ups.

## Skills, tools, capabilities

**Knowledge, skills & abilities** (O*NET, highest importance first):
- Mechanical _(knowledge)_
- Deductive Reasoning _(ability)_
- Manual Dexterity _(ability)_
- Repairing _(transferable_skill)_
- Problem Sensitivity _(ability)_
- Inductive Reasoning _(ability)_
- Finger Dexterity _(ability)_
- Near Vision _(ability)_
- Troubleshooting _(transferable_skill)_
- Arm-Hand Steadiness _(ability)_
- Control Precision _(ability)_
- Critical Thinking _(essential_skill)_

**Skills in demand:**
- Deductive Reasoning _(Common Skill)_
- Inductive Reasoning _(Common Skill)_
- Finger Dexterity _(Common Skill)_
- Critical Thinking _(Common Skill)_
- Visualization _(Specialized Skill)_
- Information Ordering _(Specialized Skill)_
- Equipment Maintenance _(Specialized Skill)_
- Active Listening _(Common Skill)_
- Complex Problem Solving _(Common Skill)_
- Time Management _(Common Skill)_
- Systems Analysis _(Specialized Skill)_
- Social Perceptiveness _(Common Skill)_

**Tools & technology:**
- Apple Safari _(hot technology)_
- Microsoft Edge _(hot technology)_
- Microsoft Excel _(hot technology)_
- Microsoft Office software _(hot technology)_
- Microsoft Outlook _(hot technology)_
- Microsoft Windows _(hot technology)_
- Microsoft Word _(hot technology)_
- Mozilla Firefox _(hot technology)_
- SAP software _(hot technology)_
- Alliance Automotive Shop Controller
- Amcom AUTOS2000
- AutoZone ALLDATA

## AI exposure & outlook

- **AI task-overlap index:** 24th percentile (Low) across all occupations — composite of current-era exposure studies (ai-exposure-index-v1).
- **Overall AI exposure (Felten et al.):** 20th percentile (Low) — source: felten_aioe.
- **LLM task exposure, γ (OpenAI / Eloundou):** 17th percentile (Low) — source: eloundou_gamma.
- **AI assistant applicability (Microsoft):** 41st percentile (Moderate) — source: microsoft_applicability.
- **Frey–Osborne (2013, historical computerization estimate):** 50th percentile — kept separate from current-era studies.
- **Remote-capable (Dingel–Neiman):** no — task structure, not who actually works remote.
- **Projected employment (BLS 2024–34):** 4.2% growth (About average); 70k annual openings; 805.6k → 839.2k jobs.
- **Pay & employment (BLS OEWS, May 2024):** median $49,670; 688,840 employed.

## Sources

- **O*NET** (30.3) — U.S. Department of Labor / National Center for O*NET Development. https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html
- **BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)** (May 2024) — U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. https://www.bls.gov/oes/
- **BLS Employment Projections** (2024–2034) — U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. https://www.bls.gov/emp/
- **Anthropic Economic Index** (v4 (2026-01-15) + v2 (2025-03-27)) — Anthropic. https://www.anthropic.com/economic-index
- **Microsoft “Working with AI”** (working-with-ai) — Microsoft Research. https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/research/
- **“GPTs are GPTs” (Eloundou et al.)** (arXiv 2303.10130) — OpenAI / academic. https://arxiv.org/abs/2303.10130
- **AI Occupational Exposure (AIOE)** (Felten, Raj & Seamans) — academic. https://github.com/AIOE-Data/AIOE
- **Frey & Osborne (2013)** (frey-osborne-automation) — academic. https://www.oxfordmartin.ox.ac.uk/publications/the-future-of-employment/
- **Dingel & Neiman (2020)** (dingel-neiman-workathome) — academic. https://github.com/jdingel/DingelNeiman-workathome

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_Generated from Singulariki's joined dataset; data snapshot 2026-06-02T21:00:32.945303+00:00. https://singulariki.com/roles/role-49-3023-00_