Become a World Class Automotive Technician

How to Become a World Class
Automotive Technician

Kick-start your career and enroll in a GM Automotive Service Educational Program (ASEP).

Kick-start your career and enroll in a GM Automotive Service Educational Program (ASEP).

The Automotive Industry is on the Cusp of an Exciting New Era

Automotive technicians aren’t just working under the hood anymore — with the arrival of new high-tech features, microchip-controlled systems and even fully electric vehicles, working as a Dealer Technician with General Motors offers a well-rounded training regimen of skills.

Learn the Latest in GM Automotive Technology

Work with cutting-edge technology every day as a GM Dealer Technician.

Get Certified Fast, for Less Than Most 4-Year Degrees

Become a GM Dealer Technician without as much student debt as most traditional bachelor’s degrees.

Potential to Move Up Quickly and Earn a Six-Figure Salary

You could earn $100,000 annually as a GM Dealer Technician.

Find a World-Class Career Path

Find a World-Class Career Path

Build your career while driving the future of the automotive industry forward.

View GM Technician Stories

Build your career while driving the future of the automotive industry forward.

View GM Technician Stories

Apprentice

$28,000–$36,000
Potential annual income
6 month — 2 year average time spent in role

When you’re first starting out, you’ll focus largely on express service and vehicle inspections, gaining basic familiarity with the vehicles and tools of the trade, and learning from more experienced technicians.

Main Line

$40,000–$70,000
Potential annual income
2 — 5 year average time spent in role

Once you excel to the Main Line level, you’ll be able to handle most repairs without oversight. In this stage, you’ll work toward your bronze, silver and gold certifications.

Watch New Technician Ashley’s Story

Master Technician

$54,000–$84,000
Potential annual income

A Master Technician is trusted to handle the more challenging work that comes in and to help support new apprentices in their career development. This is where you get the opportunity to focus specifically on your areas of interest. A Master Certification in Hybrid/Electric vehicles or Electrical/Electronics systems will be valuable as vehicle technology continues to advance.

You can also specialize in 11 other areas, including:

• Automatic Transmissions
• Body Structure Repair (I-CAR)
• Brakes
• Diesel Engine Performance
• Engine Performance
• Engine Repair

• Heating, Ventilation & Air Conditioning (HVAC)
• Manual Drivetrain & Axle
• Mechanical/Electric Body Repair
• Paint & Refinish
• Steering & Suspension

World Class Technician

Income boost based on experience.

Achieving world-class status is the highest honor a technician can earn — and it's a great opportunity to increase your knowledge, your income and your value to the shop. To reach world-class status, a technician must achieve a Master Technician Certification in either Engine Performance or Diesel Engine Performance, as well as seven other related Master Technician Certifications.

Learn from the Experts

Apprentice

$28,000–$36,000
Potential annual income
6 month — 2 year average time spent in role

When you’re first starting out, you’ll focus largely on express service and vehicle inspections, gaining basic familiarity with the vehicles and tools of the trade, and learning from more experienced technicians.

Main Line

$40,000–$70,000
Potential annual income
2 — 5 year average time spent in role

Once you excel to the Main Line level, you’ll be able to handle most repairs without oversight. In this stage, you’ll work toward your bronze, silver and gold certifications.

Master Technician

$54,000–$84,000
Potential annual income

A Master Technician is trusted to handle the more challenging work that comes in and to help support new apprentices in their career development. This is where you get the opportunity to focus specifically on your areas of interest. A Master Certification in Hybrid/Electric vehicles or Electrical/Electronics systems will be valuable as vehicle technology continues to advance.

You can also specialize in 11 other areas, including:

• Automatic Transmissions
• Body Structure Repair (I-CAR)
• Brakes
• Diesel Engine Performance
• Engine Performance
• Engine Repair

• Heating, Ventilation & Air Conditioning (HVAC)
• Manual Drivetrain & Axle
• Mechanical/Electric Body Repair
• Paint & Refinish
• Steering & Suspension

World Class Technician

Income boost based on experience.

Achieving world-class status is the highest honor a technician can earn — and it's a great opportunity to increase your knowledge, your income and your value to the shop. To reach world-class status, a technician must achieve a Master Technician Certification in either Engine Performance or Diesel Engine Performance, as well as seven other related Master Technician Certifications.

Learn from the Experts

Get Started With Training at a GM ASEP School

General Motors Automotive Service Educational Program

Streamline your path to a promising career as an automotive technician with a GM Dealer.

Hands-On Experience

At a GM ASEP school, you can earn an associate degree and gain valuable hands-on experience at a sponsoring dealer, helping to streamline your career path.

Built-In Paid Internships

GM ASEP aims to guide you every step of the way, offering built-in paid internships while providing you with connections to a network of experienced industry professionals in your field.

Streamlined Career Path

Receive a comprehensive education in your field and find a career that provides competitive pay and benefits, without the financial pressure of a 4-year bachelor’s degree.

High-Demand Skill Set

GM ASEP delivers advanced and customized automotive service training focused on technical training, problem-solving, digital prowess and critical thinking.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. Speaks to GM ASEP Students

Do you enjoy working with your hands, mastering technology, and earning while you learn? If the answer is yes, GM ASEP is a great opportunity to start your career in the automotive industry. Watch as Dale Earnhardt Jr. speaks to a new generation of GM ASEP students about how to take the first steps to success.

GM Dealers provide automotive technicians a variety of career and growth opportunities. Any time is a good time to get started on your path to a promising career.  

Find GM Dealers Hiring Today

Find GM Dealers
Hiring Today

GM Dealers are searching for problem solvers to help change the automotive world through advanced technology, ingenuity and expertise.

Why Work at a GM Dealership?

Why Work at a
GM Dealership?

Competitive Benefits

Many GM Dealers offer technicians a robust collection of benefits, including health coverage, paid time off and retirement options.

Excellent Compensation

As a GM Dealer Technician, you can count on competitive compensation and many opportunities to increase your pay throughout your career.

Future-Proof Career

As the automotive industry evolves and changes, demand for technicians remains high. This is a great opportunity to achieve job stability and learn valuable technical skills as GM works to achieve its vision of an all-electric future.

Find Career Opportunities

If you’re a trained technician or looking for a new opportunity, call your local GM Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac Dealership to learn more about open positions. Use the tool below to locate a dealer near you. Most dealers will have a Technician Career page under “About Us”.

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the difference between GM ASEP and a 4-Year College Degree?

CAREER DEMAND

Automotive technicians are in high demand. Mastering an imperative skill like technician work can help make you a valuable commodity in the job market. GM ASEP provides a different kind of program than a traditional 4-year college to help streamline your path to a bright future.

ACCESSIBILITY & AFFORDABILITY

With GM ASEP, you can earn your degree in as little as 2 years. And while an education at a 4-year college costs more than $100,000 on average, GM ASEP tuition typically costs between $9,000 and $16,000 — for a more manageable investment in your future.

CAREER SUPPORT & OPPORTUNITIES

Unlike a traditional college experience, where getting job experience and finding career opportunities are essentially left up to you, GM ASEP aims to guide you every step of the way, offering paid internships as a built-in part of its programs and providing you with connections to a network of experienced industry professionals in your field.

What’s a career as an automotive technician like?

With advancements in engineering and new vehicle technology, a career as an automotive technician is constantly evolving, creating a variety of daily work and opportunities for growth. You can explore real-life technicians’ stories at every career point here.

What is different about being a technician today versus 30 years ago?

Today, GM-certified technicians are part of an innovative movement that is looking toward the future by understanding and diagnosing advanced technology in infotainment systems, electric vehicles, hybrids, and autonomous vehicles.

An Electric Future
on the Horizon

Learn More About General Motors