Automotive technicians have seen plenty of job growth over the years. And there’s good reason for that! As the auto industry has changed and vehicles have become increasingly more complex, it has become essential to have trained and capable technicians to diagnose and repair them.

But if you’re considering training to become an auto technician, where are the best places to start a new career?

One of the best places could be Washington DC! With one of the highest mean wages of all cities, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the District of Columbia is another great option for starting your automotive service technician career. The DC, Arlington, and Alexandria metropolitan area employs about 12,500 service techs and mechanics—and they earn annual mean wages of more than $53,000 and hourly mean wages of more than $25.

Automotive technicians, mechanics, and service techs work on cars to ensure they’re reliable and running smoothly. They identify and diagnose problems, estimate the work needed, perform care and maintenance, repair and replace parts, test parts and systems, and explain both problems and their repairs to clients.

According to the BLS, nearly a third of automotive technicians work in dealerships, with more working in mechanic and repair shops, in automotive parts and tire stores, or as self-employed techs. It’s common for auto techs to work full-time—including overtime on weekends or in the evenings, depending on their employer.

Most auto techs and mechanics have a postsecondary nondegree award and participate in on-the-job training in order to have successful careers in the industry. Diploma, certificate, and associate degree programs typically include both classroom and lab time to help students learn how vehicles function and to get hands-on experience to work on them.

The BLS shows that automotive service technicians and mechanics earned median annual pay of nearly $41,000 in 2018, or an hourly rate of nearly $20, nationwide. The number of jobs for this occupation is expected to grow about as fast as the average for all occupations, at a rate of 6 percent between 2016 and 2026.

Ready to find a school in your area? The Imagine America Foundation has a robust database of schools that can help you get on the path to a new career as an automotive technician—in Los Angeles or anywhere in the country. We want to help you get started!