Montana (MT) Car Mechanic Salaries, Certifications, and Career Growth
Thankfully throughout the State of Montana, any automotive technician is not obligated to possess a license to diagnose and fix cars and trucks!
Having said that, even if there is no official or national requirement does not always mean virtually all auto technicians are equally skilled for a position in an automotive repair shop.
Operating in Montana, auto specialists that match the following prerequisites are much almost certainly going to be given a job in an automobile mechanic shop in comparison with job seekers which do not satisfy some of these minimum criteria:
- Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) Certification (Master Mechanic certification preferred)
- Montana work experience in one of the following areas:
- Parts Specialist – 2 years
- Collision Damage Estimator – 2 years
- On-the-job training from local automotive dealers
- 2 years prior experience in the automotive repair industry
- Formal education training such as:
- Trade-school courses
- Tech school training and classes
- Lubrication technician experience
Salaries and Incomes for Automobile Specialists in Montana
Total Number of Auto Mechanics | 2,770 |
---|---|
Average Annual Salary | $36,470 |
Average Hourly Wage | $17.53 |
Employment (per 1,000 jobs) | 6.309 |
Annual Job Growth Rate | 4.0% |
Estimated Job Openings per Year | 139 |
Some Additional Credentials
In order to make oneself substantially more marketable to potential auto repair shops, many auto technicians will discover that his or her employment prospects improve if they can obtain additional certifications and education:
Automobile Service Excellence (ASE) Certification in Montana
Quite a few auto technicians decide to acquire extra qualification from the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) (www.ase.com). ASE is an private, non-profit institution that works to improve quality of automotive repair and service by certifying and assessing maintenance and auto service individuals. ASE Certification is invariably a significant part of an auto technician’s experience and resume, and definately will help highlight abilities and make technicians much more valuable to potential auto repair shops. Just make sure to devote some time to study for the examinations by using our absolutely free testing articles and questions. Car technicians and various other service industry experts that want to get ASE certification may take each of ASE’s 40 exams. After passing these job-related capability exams, the automotive specialist becomes ASE certified in any of the following areas: medium/heavy truck, truck equipment, school bus, and more.
Refrigerant Licensing in Montana
The U . S . Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) calls for all vehicle professionals that work with or buy refrigerants to have certification in suitable handling of refrigerants. Currently there is not a formalised examination preparation necessary, but several labor unions, technical schools, and company groups offer training and seminars for examination preparation. More information about this official certification can be found at the official EPA website.
ASE Student Certification in Montana
ASE Student Certification will help you proceed on the ideal track for establishing a professional career as an effective service skilled professional within the vehicle industry. Compared with the actual ASE qualification, there isn’t any mechanic experience qualifications for student certification. The applicant simply would need to successfully pass one or more of the student certification tests. When the applicant has skillfully finished one of these assessments, the faculty prints the qualification and has it approved by the school principal and it is presented to the student. The student qualification is valid for 2 years from the examination date.
Individual Characteristics for Montana Professional Mechanics
Eagle Eyes: Motor vehicle problems can often times be caused by unnoticed misalignments or things which could be caught by a really aware technician. The nature of an car technician is to examine every plausible problem with outstanding detail when producing a diagnosis or repair service.
Robust Customer Service Background: Automotive service mechanics work with potential customers regularly, and the greatest mechanics develop close personal connections with their clientele that keep them returning for possible future Assistance. A number of technicians undervalue this part of the Montana auto repair service marketplace.
Ability to Diagnose: An important skill of automotive professionals is the ability to diagnose electrical, mechanical, and wear-related complications with cars and trucks as well as other sophisticated systems. The capability to identify and correct complications generally comes along with on-the-job experience and training in a maintenance shop.
Typical Earnings in Montana by City:
City / Region | Typical Salary | Salary Range | Job Count |
---|---|---|---|
Billings | $33,970 | $18K - $59K | 660 |
Great Falls | $29,330 | $18K - $57K | 280 |
Missoula | $31,810 | $18K - $58K | 340 |
Next Steps towards ASE Certification
Now that you’re familiar with all of the ASE Certification requirements in Montana, try out our free Automotive Service Excellence Tests to see how much you know!