Ever wonder about the future of a career in vehicle repair, given how much our cars and trucks have been altered by technology? So did a reader on Boston.com, who wrote to columnist John Paul, the AAA CarFacts Car Doctor. Paul has more than 30 years in the automobile industry and is an ASE-Certified Master Technician.
The reader, who has a son in middle school, noted that the boy really enjoys computers as well as taking things apart and putting them back together. “With the complexity of cars today, is there a future in auto repair?”
Paul’s reply, in a nutshell: Definitely.
“I believe the future looks bright for young automotive technicians,” he says. “Recently, Ford Motor Company stated they need an additional 5,500 technicians in the near future. In fact, in my opinion, as cars get more complicated, technicians will become more valuable and better paid.”
More good news for the middle-school kid: Paul says the potential annual salary for talented technicians could exceed six figures — without four years of college.
“Plus, one more advantage,” he writes. “These jobs can’t ship overseas like some ‘high-tech’ jobs.”