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Tire Repairers and Changers

Typical education: High school diplomaModerate pressure Bright Outlook

What they do

Repair and replace tires.

Kinds of work

  • Realistic: Hands-on work with tools, machines, plants or animals, often outdoors.
  • Conventional: Organizing information, following clear procedures and working with data and details.

Moderate pressure: How much pressure workers in this job report: deadlines, conflict, dealing with upset people, the cost of mistakes, responsibility for others' safety, competition and long hours. It varies a lot from one employer to the next. Source: U.S. Department of Labor worker surveys.

Pay, tasks and more

Salary

United States $37,710 Median per year · $18.13/hr Most earn $30,010–$50,230

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025.

What you might do

  • Raise vehicles, using hydraulic jacks.
  • Patch tubes with adhesive rubber patches or seal rubber patches to tubes, using hot vulcanizing plates.
  • Assist mechanics and perform various mechanical duties, such as changing oil or checking and replacing batteries.
  • Order replacements for tires or tubes.
  • Unbolt and remove wheels from vehicles, using lug wrenches or other hand or power tools.
  • Reassemble tires onto wheels.

Job outlook

Bright Outlook Rapid Growth

United States
3% more jobs by 2035, about as fast as average · about 12,900 openings a year

Openings include new jobs and jobs left by workers who retire or change careers. Projections: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Bright Outlook": U.S. Department of Labor.

Where they work

  • Automotive parts, accessories, and tire retailers69.5%
  • General merchandise retailers9.0%
  • Automotive mechanical and electrical repair and maintenance5.0%
  • Motor vehicle and motor vehicle parts and supplies merchant wholesalers4.0%
  • Other automotive repair and maintenance3.7%

Share of all workers in this career. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Employment Matrix.

Experience before this job: 1 to 3 months

Some people start through an apprenticeship: paid training on the job, often with classes. Search apprenticeships on Apprenticeship.gov (opens in a new tab) ↗

Career path

How people usually get into this career, from school to their first job and beyond.

Typical education: High school diplomaExperience before this job: 1 to 3 monthsEntry-level

Tire repair and changing is an entry-level job. Most people start with a high school diploma and learn the work on the job, usually within about 1 to 3 months.

  1. High school diploma

    4 years

    Finish high school, with a focus on math, shop, or auto classes if you can. This is the education most employers ask for in this job.

  2. Tire Repairer and Changer

    1-3 months to learn the job, then ongoing

    Learn to remove, mount, balance, and patch tires, usually on the job with a more experienced worker. Once you know the basics, you're doing the work on your own.

Where it can lead

  1. Automotive Service Technician

    1-2 years of experience first

    Move into general car repair, which covers brakes, engines, and diagnostics. This usually takes a certificate or apprenticeship from a trade or community college program.

  2. Bus and Truck Mechanic

    1-2 years of experience first

    Work on large commercial vehicles with diesel engines. Most people need a certificate or apprenticeship and some hands-on experience first.

What you can do now

Ideas for high school and college students.

In high school

  • Take auto shop or automotive classesHands-on shop classes teach you how vehicles and tires work, which is the foundation for this job.
  • Take math and reading classesMeasuring tire pressure, reading work orders, and following instructions all use math and reading skills.
  • Get a part-time or summer job at a tire or auto shopEven sweeping floors or helping with tire changes gets you real experience and a reference.
  • Join a career or technical student clubGroups like SkillsUSA, if your school has one, let you practice skills and meet people in the trades.
  • Practice safety habitsLearning to use lifts, jacks, and air tools safely shows employers you're responsible.

In college

  • Earn an automotive technology certificateA short certificate from a community or technical college teaches tire, brake, and engine basics that employers value.
  • Work part-time at a tire or auto shopSteady hands-on work builds the speed and skill that employers look for in new hires.
  • Take customer service or communication coursesExplaining repairs and prices to customers is a big part of the job and helps you move up.
  • Learn workplace safety basicsMany shops require safety training. Knowing it already makes you a stronger candidate.
  • Join a trade or automotive student groupClubs and student chapters connect you with instructors, shops, and possible internships.

Tips for getting started

  • Ask a local tire or auto shop if you can shadow or work a summer or after-school job. Hands-on experience is often more valuable than classes alone.
  • Learn to be on time, careful with safety, and friendly with customers. Those skills help you get hired and move up.
  • If you want to go further, look into a short auto technology certificate at a community or technical college. It can open doors to better-paying repair jobs.

Related jobs a step up

Education, experience and related careers: U.S. Department of Labor. The step-by-step path, where it can lead and what you can do now were written by AI as typical examples; many people take other ways.

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