AI Automation Index

Will AI Replace Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics?

Task-level automation exposure for Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics: 30 O*NET tasks scored against their work activities, plus the simulator.

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Developed & audited by Gini Loh

Automation Exposure

20% weighted task index

30 of 30 tasks scored

Median Salary

$50,620 / year

BLS OEWS, May 2025 — this exact occupation

Employment Level

Very High

704,640 people hold this job — size, not growth

Projected 2025–35

+5.0% employment change

66,200 openings a year · BLS line item

Pay by state

BLS OEWS publishes 54 state estimates for this occupation. Each is its own survey estimate, not the national median adjusted for local prices.

$22,680 – $68,660

Highest medians

District of Columbia $68,660

California $64,980

Colorado $61,280

Alaska $60,840

Massachusetts $60,760

Lowest medians

Puerto Rico $22,680

West Virginia $37,660

Mississippi $37,820

Virgin Islands $39,170

Guam $39,220

State figures come from the 49-3023 row in the May 2025 state panel. States where the estimate was suppressed or too small to publish are absent.

What the score is made of

Each task is mapped to its work activities, scored for AI automation potential, and weighted by how important those activities are to the job. These are the components.

Automation potential 20%

Importance-weighted mean of the scored tasks. This is the headline index.

Physical work 69%

Share of weighted tasks in hands-on or machine-operating work activities.

Judgment & influence 7%

Share in analysis, decisions, teaching, directing, advising, or caring for others.

Routine administration 4%

Share in documenting, recording, and administrative activities.

Rewritten by O*NET 0%

Share of weighted tasks O*NET rewrote in a recent update. Reported, not folded into the score.

Consequence of error 36/100 Moderate

O*NET's own rating of how serious an uncorrectable mistake would be here — respondents, not us. Deliberately not in the index: the score measures what AI can do with the task content, and multiplying it by stakes would be our judgment dressed as data.

Constituent Task Mix

30 tasks for this occupation, weighted by work-activity importance. Shares below are of total task weight, not task count.

High exposure (≥ 60% of the task is automatable) 6%

2 tasks

Medium exposure (≥ 35%) 15%

4 tasks

Low exposure (below 35%) 79%

24 tasks

How would you survive?

Move your week away from the high-exposure tasks and toward the ones that need judgment. The simulator recalculates the index as you shift the mix.

Simulate Upskilling →

Constituent Tasks

#23534 · Core · 18% automatable

Follow checklists to ensure all important parts are examined, including belts, hoses, steering systems, spark plugs, brake and fuel systems, wheel bearings, and other potentially troublesome areas.

visual inspection — Mechanical component inspection requires hands-on access

Inspect mechanical components of vehicles to identify problems.

#23524 · Core · 21% automatable

Test and adjust repaired systems to meet manufacturers' performance specifications.

physical manipulation — Physical system testing with hands-on instrumentation

Test mechanical systems to ensure proper functioning. Adjust equipment to ensure optimal performance.

#23533 · Core · 8% automatable

Perform routine and scheduled maintenance services, such as oil changes, lubrications, and tune-ups.

physical manipulation — Hands-on vehicle servicing

Service vehicles to maintain functionality.

#23523 · Core · 50% automatable

Inspect vehicles for damage and record findings so that necessary repairs can be made.

text generation — Record parts and repair details from provided data

Inspect vehicles to determine overall condition. Record information about parts, materials or repair procedures.

#23537 · Core · 8% automatable

Align wheels, axles, frames, torsion bars, and steering mechanisms of automobiles, using special alignment equipment and wheel-balancing machines.

physical manipulation — Physical alignment of machinery requires hands

Align equipment or machinery.

#23525 · Core · 9% automatable

Repair, reline, replace, and adjust brakes.

physical manipulation — Hands-on vehicle component adjustment

Adjust vehicle components according to specifications. Replace worn, damaged, or defective mechanical parts. Repair non-engine automotive or vehicle components.

#23539 · Core · 9% automatable

Repair, replace, or adjust defective fuel injectors, carburetor parts, and gasoline filters.

physical manipulation — Hands-on vehicle component adjustment

Adjust vehicle components according to specifications. Replace worn, damaged, or defective mechanical parts. Repair defective engines or engine components.

#23530 · Core · 8% automatable

Align vehicles' front ends.

physical manipulation — Physical alignment of machinery requires hands

Align equipment or machinery.

#23540 · Core · 13% automatable

Repair and service air conditioning, heating, engine cooling, and electrical systems.

physical manipulation — HVAC service is hands-on diagnostic and repair

Service heating, ventilation or air-conditioning (HVAC) systems or components. Repair worn, damaged, or defective mechanical parts.

#23527 · Core · 54% automatable

Review work orders and discuss work with supervisors.

decision support — Diagnosis from description aided, repair judgment human

Read work orders or descriptions of problems to determine repairs or modifications needed. Confer with coworkers to coordinate work activities.

#23528 · Core · 45% automatable

Troubleshoot fuel, ignition, and emissions control systems, using electronic testing equipment.

decision support — Troubleshooting aided; hands-on diagnosis human

Troubleshoot equipment or systems operation problems.

#23522 · Core · 5% automatable

Test drive vehicles and test components and systems, using equipment such as infrared engine analyzers, compression gauges, and computerized diagnostic devices.

physical manipulation — Operating transport equipment by hand

Operate transportation equipment to demonstrate function or malfunction.

#23529 · Core · 45% automatable

Confer with customers to obtain descriptions of vehicle problems and to discuss work to be performed and future repair requirements.

interpersonal — Assessing customer problems needs live diagnostic dialogue

Confer with customers or users to assess problems.

#23531 · Core · 25% automatable

Test electronic computer components in automobiles to ensure proper operation.

physical manipulation — Electrical probing and meter work by hand

Test electrical circuits or components for proper functioning.

#23536 · Core · 5% automatable

Maintain cleanliness of work area.

physical manipulation — Hands-on cleaning of work areas

Clean work areas.

#23543 · Core · 10% automatable

Overhaul or replace carburetors, blowers, generators, distributors, starters, and pumps.

physical manipulation — Manual replacement of mechanical parts

Replace worn, damaged, or defective mechanical parts. Repair worn, damaged, or defective mechanical parts.

#23538 · Core · 10% automatable

Tune automobile engines to ensure proper and efficient functioning.

physical manipulation — Hands-on vehicle component adjustment

Adjust vehicle components according to specifications.

#23544 · Core · 9% automatable

Repair or replace parts such as pistons, rods, gears, valves, and bearings.

physical manipulation — Manual replacement of mechanical parts

Replace worn, damaged, or defective mechanical parts. Repair non-engine automotive or vehicle components.

#23549 · Core · 8% automatable

Diagnose and replace or repair engine management systems or related sensors for flexible fuel vehicles (FFVs) with ignition timing, fuel rate, alcohol concentration, or air-to-fuel ratio malfunctions.

physical manipulation — Hands-on servicing of green vehicles

Service green vehicles to make repairs or maintain good working order.

#23532 · Core · 7% automatable

Tear down, repair, and rebuild faulty assemblies, such as power systems, steering systems, and linkages.

physical manipulation — Disassembly requires hands-on tool use

Reassemble equipment after repair. Disassemble equipment for maintenance or repair. Repair non-engine automotive or vehicle components.

#23535 · Core · 68% automatable

Plan work procedures, using charts, technical manuals, and experience.

decision support — Procedure drafting aided; context-specific validation human

Plan work procedures.

#23541 · Core · 8% automatable

Disassemble units and inspect parts for wear, using micrometers, calipers, and gauges.

physical manipulation — Disassembly requires hands-on tool use

Disassemble equipment for maintenance or repair. Disassemble equipment to inspect for deficiencies.

#23542 · Core · 8% automatable

Change spark plugs, fuel filters, air filters, and batteries in hybrid electric vehicles.

physical manipulation — Hands-on servicing of green vehicles

Service green vehicles to make repairs or maintain good working order.

#23545 · Core · 10% automatable

Rewire ignition systems, lights, and instrument panels.

physical manipulation — Rewiring systems is hands-on electrical work

Rewire electrical or electronic systems.

#23546 · Core · 8% automatable

Install, adjust, or repair hydraulic or electromagnetic automatic lift mechanisms used to raise and lower automobile windows, seats, and tops.

physical manipulation — Hands-on vehicle component adjustment

Install vehicle parts or accessories. Adjust vehicle components according to specifications. Repair non-engine automotive or vehicle components.

#23526 · Supplemental · 70% automatable

Estimate costs of vehicle repair.

data analysis — Labor/material cost estimation from rates

Estimate costs for labor or materials.

#23548 · Supplemental · 15% automatable

Conduct visual inspections of compressed natural gas fuel systems to identify cracks, gouges, abrasions, discoloration, broken fibers, loose brackets, damaged gaskets, or other problems.

physical manipulation — Gas leak detection needs physical sensors and access

Inspect gas systems or components to identify leaks or other potential hazards.

#23550 · Supplemental · 10% automatable

Repair or rebuild transmissions.

physical manipulation — Manual replacement of mechanical parts

Replace worn, damaged, or defective mechanical parts. Repair worn, damaged, or defective mechanical parts.

#23547 · Supplemental · 8% automatable

Rebuild parts, such as crankshafts and cylinder blocks.

physical manipulation — Manual rebuilding of physical components

Rebuild parts or components.

#23551 · Supplemental · 5% automatable

Retrofit vehicle fuel systems with aftermarket products, such as vapor transfer devices, evaporation control devices, swirlers, lean burn devices, and friction reduction devices, to enhance combustion and fuel efficiency.

physical manipulation — Vehicle part installation is physical labor

Install vehicle parts or accessories.

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Community Sentiment

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Method

How this was scored

1. Tasks. O*NET task statements for this occupation, from a release whose newest record is dated 08/2026.
2. Work activities. Each task maps to 1–5 Detailed Work Activities; each activity belongs to one of 41 Generalized Work Activities that O*NET rates for importance (1–5) in this occupation.
3. Automation potential. Every work activity carries one score for how far current AI can perform it end-to-end. Tasks inherit the mean of their activities.
4. Weighting. Task weight = 0.35 + 0.65 × (importance − 1)/4, scaled by how often the task is performed and by 0.7 for Supplemental tasks. Importance is the task's own O*NET rating where it exists (18,369 of 18,838 tasks); the rest inherit their work activities' importance. The index is the weighted mean.

Check: across the 910 occupations where O*NET also rates how far machine speed sets the pace, this index moves opposite to it (Spearman ρ = -0.49). The more a job is paced by equipment, the less of its task content AI can address — the relationship you would expect if the scoring is working.

Sources · O*NET 31.0 (task records to 08/2026) · BLS OEWS May 2025 · BLS projections 2025-2035 · rubric v2.1 · tasks for O*NET, not a forecast

See the full method →

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