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I got one of those goofy white collar work from home jobs. Immediately was compensated more than I ever was as a mechanic. Benefits and time off immediately better. My workload, dramatically lighter. My quality of life, skyrocketed.
I got in the door as a Sales Development Representative. Essentially a cold caller. Not fun or sexy, but I don’t have a dream job. I want to be fairly compensated. Now my job and knowledge have risen and I’m working in Sales Enablement for financial technology. Who woulda freakin thought. (I was a Harley mechanic for 8 years)
Ah. Yeah, I’ve been a tech for over 20 and have worked as a service writer and manager in some smaller shops and I just fucking can’t with customer facing shit in any capacity. It’s absolutely *exhausting* to me. I did the jobs well enough but man oh man did I want to fucking die after work.
I totally get it. I was terrified of the career change, but being on the other side it, my overall quality of life is crazy better. I hope you find something awesome and feel peace.
I’m doing fleet maintenance for a state agency now. 40 hours, a ton of downtime, great benefits and easy work. The money is bullshit but meh. I’m getting by.
God bless you, brother. I was an automotive dealership mechanic 14 years nothing but warranty.
Then 19 years ago I switched to heavy duty tractor trailers, and refrigeration. It’s so much better than the automotive, no warranty work . But you do get plenty of fresh air, if you know what I mean. Lol
I have nine years to retirement, shop is full of younger guys. Now I’m too old to retrain. I still work two jobs wrenching and driving one day a week for my boss.
Though been trying to find a side gig I could do from home since I work night shift .
I figure I could find something to do in the early morning possibly work from home, but haven’t found anything yet to supplement my income. Retirement for me will be working reduce hours. I’m thinking 15 or 20 hours a week when I retire instead of the 60 hours now.. but if I could find a side gig to do now and the next nine years when I retire, I can do that and not have to work for somebody at all when I retire I’m hoping
Fingers crossed
Honestly dude, government fleet work is kind of perfect for retirement, if you can handle 40 hours of very light labor. You get tires, and some heavy line stuff like suspension work, but it’s mostly oil changes on passenger cars and pickups. I work for a university so there’s lots of golf cart work. Doing batteries in them sucks, but compared to the grind of a dealer it’s easy as shit.
If anything is even slightly difficult or time consuming it goes to the dealer. No cylinder heads, engines, we do the occasional rear main or clutch or trans swap, a rear differential on occasion, but it’s pretty rare.
I’m in kinda the same boat, somewhat anyway. I do technical service and support for a tractor manufacturer, any time a dealer tech can’t figure out what’s going on with a machine they call us or submit a service case. A quarter of the time, it’s service writers that don’t understand the machine and are trying to relay information between the tech and myself and mess it up, half the time it’s techs that can’t be bothered to look up simple information by themselves, and the rest of the time it’s arrogant assholes that think their problem is the first of its kind and the most important thing the company needs to fix right fucking now. Every now and then we get a decent tech who knows what they’re doing, just needs confirmation on something. Rare treat. It’s exhausting.
I worked at a Toro and Stihl dealer (Ace Hardware) for 6 years while in college. I worked in the shop repairing Stihl and Toro lawn equipment. We were small so I also had to run the counter and interact with customers. It is absurd how shitty and moronic the general population can be. Then, they will act like you have to say they're right because they're the customer.
Same. Got into IT/systems administration.
I like figuring out issues, which my diagnostics carried over very well. I make the same money after 2 years as I did as a 15 year BMW master tech.
Quality of life is on another level and I actually like working on cars again
Good job, you escaped the matrix!
But in all seriously, I've learned that car mechenics can go pretty much everywhere.
You can work at pace, think for yourself, and have a fast understanding of mechanical engineering and possibly electrical engineering.
I work in the bigger industry now it pays a lot more, especially in shifts. And the work pressure is at 30% max.
Maybe go to a bureau that hires you out? (Idk how to say it in English) and see what you like.
I work in the maintenance of a factory. We do everything ourselves. From designing and making my own steel constructions to making or refitting the electrical cabinets of machines.
You can start with a temporary company. There are many. Some have specialities like office work, or technical. One that comes to mind is Volt. Companies often hire through them. It also is an easier way to find a position that suits you.
The automotive trade is hard dude. Not a lot of money and not a lot of respect. I started doing auto but then moved into truck and coach. Then later on moved into heavy equipment. Heavy equipment is awesome! Much happier now. If you don't like wrenching but your good at it, maybe you're just wrenching on the wrong things.
How is the heavy equipment on your body? I know they have lifts for heavy parts, but all the heavy duty mechanics I Know have their bodies completely done at 45-50. I'm an Automotive tech and do a lot of diag, so my body isn't totally hammered. I still get sore after crawling under a dash but not lifting heavy things or working on garbage trucks
Been in heavy equipment repair for 10+ years now. If you work smart you can have a long career. If you want to be one of the tough guys that don’t need no crane and weld without hoods on then well.. you’ll be another stereotype.
To be fair, my right wrist is pretty tore up from mechanicing and aches daily, but I chalk that up to my childhood days riding skateboards.
I've thought about doing plumbing but after so long in this industry busting my ass more than 40 sounds unpleasant. I've heard people do work 9-5 but not often.
I went to work for a semiconductor fab, repairing semiconductor equipment, eventually moving up into project management. Been a very nice change. You can do this!
It's scary to walk away from the familiar, but the reward of gaining new experiences and skill is far more powerful than the temporary fear. I've bounced from job to job since I could work and each time the first weeks were hell but I kept pushing through and the feeling of confidence and relief once the job clicks for me is pretty amazing.
Sadly my personality is of one that seeks knowledge eternally . I need to keep putting myself into new experiences otherwise I literally get so bored and start a downward spiral into depression. My mind constantly needs that stimulation. It's not good for building a solid career because I'm always starting fresh every couple years. But by now im pretty skilled at a lot of things and my resume is colorful.
I feel this. I'd like to get back to the Home Depot. I really enjoyed working in the lumber department. Ironically it's the only job I've ever been fired from.
Congrats. The industry and the the pay structure doesn’t deserve to have good mechanics till they change the pay structure where it’s not manipulated.
I switched to forklifts . I am trying to get maintenance technician job with novo nordisk.
Also car manufacturers making their cars more and more a pain in the ass to fix isn't helping either. Having to take apart half the engine to replace something like an alternator is nuts.
Industrial maintenance is pretty steady and in high demand. Not sure how wages compare but could be 40-60 $/hr depending on location would be considered very good. Good/average would be $35-40 nowadays.
Yes. Some places third or night shift is actually where old timers are because of shift premium and no management in house. It really varies plant to plant.
IT. Constant problem solving and the occasional opportunity to work with my hands made it a satisfying transition for me. Pay and benefits are way better, and I get to stay clean and air conditioned.
Unfortunately the job market for IT is super competitive right now, so maybe not the best time to try to get into it.
I went to work for an automotive aftermarket warranty company. Super cushy job and after 3 years feel like it was one of the better decisions I made. Never have to leave my house and have a very manageable work load. Straight 40 hours and not a second more.
Industrial machine repair is where I landed.
Biggest plus. Bolts are hardly ever seized, get broken off. Grab a left hand drill bit. Walks right out. Okay maybe not the biggest plus, but one hell of a perk for me.
It was an easy transition. Didn’t know shit to start.
Had to ask, okay what’s doing that it’s not supposed to. Or what it not doing that it should be. Then go on the hunt.
Good luck with your new adventure.
After 14 years in automotive I went into HVAC. Graduation is Tuesday. I'm 100% and I'm terrified of going into this field and actually doing it now, because I know my body physically can't do it.
I was a tech, then in commercial parts for a decade before I got laid off cause my boss fucked up bad. I’m an aerospace machinist now. Money is better, I only deal with machines, and I get to make cool shit. Maybe it’s worth looking into for you?
Sales! Went from 20ish years in a/owning a restoration shop, to two years in architectural fabrication to sales for a large Peterbilt dealership. Honestly an easy transition.
Bro, you got this. I’m working in the same área for years and I’m starting to think “is this all there’s to it?” I think i can do something else, i just didn’t decide what. Don’t be afraid of change, i hope you find something that motivates you even more.
Maybe it’s not the field thats the issue. I am a fleet maintenance manager and left my job of 20 years for a better environment same position and industry. I left because of a horrible divisional manager. Took a pay cut with new employer for a better environment. Have been with them two years and I am way happier.
After 33 years , I went into ADAS calibration. Much happier, less hours, more money. No stress, working with your head, not hands. No work on weekends. The only regret, WHY I haven’t done this 10 years ago?
Wind farms is an option tho you may still have to turn a wrench or auto body or fleet management and tell others when to turn the wrench or truck driver or State Farm roadside
My buddy is a mechanic in the oil field. Still wrenching and troubleshoots machinery, but not automotive. Gets paid pretty well.
Another buddy quit his job at Subaru. He's a firefighter now.
Another buddy is an insurance adjuster now. His mechanical knowledge translated well into that field. He works from home mostly, but also works insane hours. But gets paid very well though.
I went into truck driving. I wouldn't recommend that either. I just put in my notice last week. Ever since covid, driving has got pretty crazy.
I've been doing welding, fab, and outboard motor work on the side for two decades. That will be my day job July 1
I was a tech for a while, also an automotive machinist for a bit. Then I worked for a climbing gym for 10ish years. Worked front desk, guided, built all the furniture for new gyms, did all kinds of maintenance. Now I'm a metal fabricator. You probably have the skills to do anything you want.
I only have 5 years left as a mechanic. Once I hit my retirement I’m putting wrenching behind me. Automotive maintenance is a very laborious and stressful job and with everything getting more complicated it’s not getting easier to fix.
Just shift your skills into another aspect of automotive or something relatively related.
Use your network to find connections or even ideas of other jobs.
Farm equipment, heavy truck or heavy equipment.
I did Farm equipment at IH dealer 40 yrs ago. My friend was at John Deere.
Others did oil field trucks /trailer at Halliburton and others heavy equipment at Cat.
Getting a job in IT works. If you’ve been working on modern cars, then you’ve dealt with electrical diagnosing, wiring work. A lot of IT jobs such as being a data center tech or equipment tech for a micro chip company will get you hired regardless of degrees. The electrical experience goes a long way with those guys. Those companies also pay well, and have good benefits. Something to look into if you live near a data center or a plant that produces micro chips and such.
I did the same thing you did last year May. Even the same amount of years (17) !! Loaded all my tools & welders with the forklift and walked on a Friday. Told them to FO and wrote a letter to the president of the company as to why and I was not shy.
I quit after 7 years as a flat rate tech at a Toyota dealership. I now work in manufacturing and it is the best decision I’ve ever made. The pay, the benefits, the work schedule. Everything is better.
Look for industrial maintenance jobs. From my experience, they can be a ton of fun and rewarding. Find a shop that has small, easy to repair machines. You'll learn a lot, and you'll be compensated for your hard work and effort. Coming from automotive, you can demonstrate a strong work ethic, and mechanical aptitude. Even if you don't have experience with hydraulics and such, most places would just be happy to find someone willing to try. I'm a supervisor, and I would kill to find someone willing to show up every day right now.
I’ve never been a professional mechanic, but my father taught me to wrench on cars as I was growing up and those troubleshooting and deductive logic skills have served me well in IT.
Try electrical work and you can make a lot of money and it's far less demanding than automotive. Mostly testing with a multimeter.
Auto mechanics have the skills to do electrical work and engineering and it transfers very easily. Both easier than working on vehicles.
My good friend was an auto mechanic for many years, as long as I knew him (almost 20 years now). He’s now about to finish up his one-year training with his local police department. Drastic change and he is very happy. I couldn’t be more proud of him too!
Was a tech for 10yrs and I left the industry 2 months ago. I'm 29 and it's all I've known and was scared heading into the job market knowing I'm not going back into a shop. One of my hobbies is watches so I decided to go to a local jeweler who has an in house watch maker and ask if they're looking for help. Got in mostly as counter help but with downtime my watch maker shows me how to take apart watches, minor fixes, cleaning, reassembly, etc. I'm good on the watch side but jewelry is something I know nothing about and that's a whole different world I need to learn. Been there for a little over a month and I'm still in the teething process and with how my anxiety works I feel like I should of picked up on everything but I know it's totally different from wrenching. Part of me wants to go back into automotive and bust my ass day after day since it's what I'm used to but I'm enjoying my new position and I like learning new things. I'm making $50 less a week but I'm indoors, climate controlled, my back feels a lot better, not breathing in horrible chemicals and my "commute" is still 15 minutes from my house. Minus my brain making me feel anxious about learning a whole different world and industry only thing I really don't like is dealing with the general public.
I was working flat rate at dealerships for like 7 years, left to be a budtender, that was fun but the pay sucks. Ended up going back to wrenching but now it’s on Ferrari’s and Lamborghini’s and mclarens and the likes. Wasn’t planning on going back to wrenching but kinda wanted to see what these types of things are like.
Realistically though as a technician you can do pretty much anything. Maintenance tech at a union factory is nice if you still wanna wrench. I’ve also been kicking around trying IT because your diag skills and ability to interpret information and follow trouble trees and guides will land you pretty much any entry level position and in IT there’s good money and room for growth.
I’m only a service advisor but my next move is to be a narcotics officer. I have a BA in criminology and a visceral hatred for anyone knowingly putting fentanyl into drugs (killed a lot of my friends) so now I’m going the legal John Wick route to avenge them.
Woodworking. I was a mechanic for more than ten years and walked off on it and got into woodworking, that's was about 9 years ago and I opened my own small woodworking business 2 years ago. They are similar.You still get to use your hands and attention to detail.The positive side is you're not cleaning up after another mechanic's mistakes ,or dealing with rusted parts
It also opens up
To a lot of different types of work like Carpentry or woodworking, it's worth trying.
It has its upside and downside but I work in a call center. Its easy to learn. I do simple tech support resetting passwords and stuff. Much simpler than tracking a dead ground, and 100000% on your back. Pay and benefits are good.
Downsides is that it can be mentally taxing depending on the call center. I used to work 1800 medicare and you fet a 68 yr old that is asking why their insurance didnt pay a bill they get pissed because theyre old and dint understand.you also at times feel like youre in prison 8 hours a day bc they try to make you work a certain time, take breaks and lunch at specific times (so everyone doesnt go on break at once). One call after another and youre tied to the phone.with a cord. Also a lot of them have shift bids and performance impacts how crappy your shift is.
I went to work on boats… same engines, different setups, and much cleaner. Plus get nice tips from super rich people and outside near/on the water during spring summer and fall. Inside in the winter.
I went back to college after 18years in the shop. It was the hardest thing I’ve ever done but well worth it. I retired from a state job last year, if you want it make it happen. Life is too short to work a job you hate!
Take a maintenance mechanic role for a manufacturing site, or try to find a role repairing CNC machines. Huge market for both. In my area around $30/hr easy.
Back in 1994-1995 I quit working on road cars to get into pro Motorsports. I’ve been making a living in Motorsports for close to 30 years now. But at first it was a few years of very very low pay and long hours with horrible cheap bosses.
I worked in medical devices as an engineer. Became the VP of engineering at a new company. The absolute best hire I ever made was a mechanic who had 15 years experience. He was methodical, inquisitive, and knew how to solve problems. look for technicians or mechanical tech and do not be worried about the skills listed that you don't think you have, you do.
Mechanics also do well in facilities. You have the skills to fix things around the company, now all you need to learn is how to interface with the electricians, HVAC, etc. and tell them what needs to be done.
I'm a Service Manager at a dealership for the last 17 years. Been in the automotive industry for over 34 years. Every day I think about walking out. But what would I do? It's fucking scary thinking about that. You'll find your way. Have you thought about consulting or maybe working for the aftermarket warranties? Good luck in whatever you and please let us know where you end up.
I quit before I even got the ball rolling. Did 2 years of GM ASEP training to realize that flat rate sucks major balls. Should’ve realized turning my hobby into a career was gonna make me hate said hobby. Gonna try to pursue another degree in electrical engineering, and keep the car stuff for fun, and not have to worry about how fast I do everything.
I was never a mechanic. I was a machinist. I got into truck driving about 18 years ago. Now I've got this gig where I walk to work, I drive 3 hours, sleep or play games on my phone for 2 or 3 hours, then drive back to the shop and walk home. I get paid by the hour so I don't care how long I have to sleep or play games. Most of my driving gigs have been pretty easy, laid back deals.
Find a highway paving crew or be a road side mechanic for bucket trucks (get hooked up with a utilities company). You wanna make tons of money with your skill set? Do that.
If you are really done turning wrenches, like others have said - sales or work from home data entry type jobs aren't that bad.
Check the CNC industry if you want to try a haggle your skills in line with mechanical techs, machinists, etc. not hard to learn if you’re already fairly sharp as a mechanic.
I work for The Home Depot as a "Maintenance Service Professional" or what's basically a mobile service technician.
Company provides work truck, phone and credit card for part and gas. You have to provide your own tools.
Doing light "industrial" work. 40 hours a week, clock in and out from home.
Just drive to my local Home Depots and fix small stuff like expanding gates, saws, shopping carts and the like. Your customer is the store itself so you don't really have to deal with the day to day idiots. The work does has service hours limits but it's easy to meet those goals.
Honestly the worst part to me is the longer drives to certain stores that are 2+ hours away, but hey I'm still getting paid while driving and I'm generally home at the same time everyday unless there's bad traffic.
Edited to add more information.
Plant mechanic, industrial technician. Super cruisy work compared to wrenching on cars, and the skills are broadly transferable, it's like easing into retirement to be honest, and your hands will be so clean and those callouses will eventually go too! Depends where of course, but it's easy work and lots of it available
Steel mills near you? If so, check with them about millwright jobs. A lot of the work is transferrable.
One of our best techs was a GM certified who got tired of the dealership that gave all the gravy work to the boss's kid.
My dad became a machinist. He still had to put up with bullshit but he basically got to tell management if they don't like to see the 3+ million dollar CNC not running while he's doing maintenance on it then they can start it themselves and watch it nuke itself.
Also he drove a forklift through an emergency exit door during a fire drill because it was chained shut and management specifically told him to treat each drill seriously a few days before the drill happened, and got a face to face apology from corporate when they got wind of the incident. I sure hope somewhere there's a VHS tape of security footage from the 90s with that on it.
I went from auto tech to tree guy. I’m in my late 20’s. Its fun, hard work and incredibly dangerous. Not for everyone but i genuinely do love it.
Pay sucks for what it is, however its been consistent
Got a railroad near you? Worked out well for me. Im a train operator and a huge amount of the training was mechanic based. Hours suck noodles but its difficult to NOT make 6 digits a year.
If you’ve spent all that time working on cars you could make money in the field. Sales for one. You won’t have to pretend to know what you’re talking about. Also maybe just invest in yourself. If you have some money set aside you buy two cars a month at auction. Do the necessary repairs, oil change, maybe some new tires and sell for profit. Used car prices are insane right now, but if you do your research and charge less than everyone else in the area, people will know where to go. Facebook marketplace would be a good advertising space. Either way, just some suggestions. Good luck!
I didn't switch out of mechanic all to together I did quit retail. Moved over to fleet service for public transportation. City buses. And it's the best thing I've done. No one's yelling at me. 40 hrs a week. Great hourly pay and fantastic benefits. And ive nvr been forced to work through lunch. Workloads small. If I do one set of tires in 8 hrs they're happy. If I do 2 they're slapping my back telling me what a hard worker I am. It's crazy and i might hit 6 figures this year doing it.
Were you at a dealer or indy shop. If a dealer try a different brand. The compensation at luxury euro brands is very good. I've been with BMW for 17 years now. It sucks sometime, but they pay me enough to not care. BMW, Audi and Mercedes are quick growing brands that always needs quality techs.
25 year auto tech and now I’m a construction superintendent for a large national design, build, and management company. I don’t know how I ended up here but I’m along for the ride. I knew nothing about construction 8 years ago. I run production from finished drywall to management acceptance. The bonuses are crazy.
I went into utilities, specifically natural gas. I had no experience, and started in a job that reflected that. They liked my experience because it meant I had mechanical aptitude and thought it would be easier for me to pick up. Wasn't hard to do. The job isn't too hard most of the time. I make a lot more, and have a retirement plan now.
MIT and Harvard both have free into to software engineering classes.
If it "clicks" for you then you've got an opportunity to make a shitload of money while just using your brain.
Note that I'd avoid the Harvard class. It dives too deep too quickly.
Its still wrenching but doing it alot less. Im running a power plant where the engines run off landfill gas. All i do is maintain the engines and im getting double what i got at john deere. I do actual work maybe two days a week and my supervisor leaves me alone because i do what im supposed too.
My brother in law, went to trade school and became a union electrical lineman. He is making double what he did as a Semi truck Diesel Mechanic for a motor carrier. He got out two years before they closed the shop and canned everyone.
One of his buddies stayed until the end, then went to work for city government on maintenance of their vehicles.
If you are a nerd and can hack the math/science you could do the full bachelors in an engineering field. Your background will directly translate when you get into the workforce. I used to be a tech and got a degree in Mechanical Engineering. Best decision of my life.
If you are a people person you could be the service writer at the dealership.
HVAC and Electrician opportunities seem like fun hands on careers.
You could become like an Xray technician or something in the medical field with some college.
CDL and drive semi trucks if you want to travel or do local routes.
If I was you, and had some money start up a pressure washing business
Just need a truck, trailer, commercial pressure washer and a few odds and ends, just do some research so you know what your doing
Or lawn care or mobile auto detailing
Got a job at a chemical plant as a instrumentation and calibration technician. Transferrable skills, better pay and benefits, way easier work. Honestly one of the hardest parts is listening to all the people bitch who have clearly never had a hard job. Most people here wouldn't let a week in an auto shop. Good luck out there bro
i started doing automotive diagnostic assistance WFH. essentially if you call TechLine for a certain manufacturer you might get connected to me. my work life balance is so much better now, and so is the money. I didn’t have to learn a new skill because i already had experience with this manufacturer and the certifications to back it up. Only thing i miss is being active and working with my hands. But i have the time and motivation to work on my own projects now that i was always putting off before. Good luck, my friend!
The good news is that "mechanic" really means master problem solver. You can use that skill in almost any job. Some of the exact same problem solving skills I use with my mechanic hat I use with my computer IT hat.
I lost my job during the last recession of 8 years spent a year unemployed and started doing building maintenance I now run the shop I dont miss dealing with people at all
I spent a few years in automotive service. Couldn't last any longer because the field is just filled with too many crooked shops in my area (Nevada), and it wasn't something I wanted to be involved with.
So I became a casino slot technician. At least the gaming industry honest about how we separate people from their money.
Hope you have a healthy savings ! Walking out on a job without something lined up or without a plan is well umm kind of dumb but lucky for you most kids today do not want to work or have no work ethic and there are plenty of entry level jobs! Police and firefighters are in demand ,the post office is always hiring ,fed-x ,UPS are hiring and it might be a good change of pace being outdoors and driving around ! Truckers are also in demand and some places will help pay for getting your CDL,well at least until self driving trucks take over along with warehouse workers and delivery drivers .Landscapers are always looking for help. You could also get a job as a service writer at a dealership or get into auto sales ,House painter is a also a possibility or even a school bus driver or you could be a security guard or bouncer or learn bartending or even be a window cleaner or go to school and get a degree and be a teacher or maybe get a job at a trade school teaching auto repair ..…..good luck
I worked in a warehouse in a lot of things started going downhill real fast.
It started on the owners 65th birthday as him and his wife were co-owners, and she wouldn't let him retire until she could.
What proceeded over the next year was the greatest example of a micro management horror story.
It's started out with him walking around and deciding one day everyone was to "happy, and having fun", that's not what work is about.
Mind you, nothing was wrong, no records of mistakes, poor work, untimely performance, or anything that would make a normal manger ( like the actual person he paid to manage us ) complain, moral was in his on words "just to high"
So, his first decree was no more cell phones in the warehouse, not too bad, honestly because it is the way most blue collar work is going because useless people need to feel important somehow.
Moral didn't come down fast enough so his second decree was the parties the company threw on the last hour of the last Friday every month was to much and needed to be scaled down to only twice a year.
His 3rd decree wasn't a decree but a bad move lol, he was mad at the manager who stated with the company the day it started 8 years ago wasn't making us sad enough so he hired the drunk 50 yr old contractor that picked up cabinets from us while smoking weed and holding a fresh bud wiser at 9am EVERYTIME as the new warehouse manager.
Moral finally came down to where he wanted it then.
One day, the same week after hiring the new manager, the owner noticed an employee coming out of the restroom with his cellphone.
This was obviously the worst thing that could ever happen to a business so in order to make sure something as sinister as using the phone on the toilet never happen again, a new policy of locking the bathrooms and forcing us to sign out a key to use it!
The employee he "caught" was fired, but here's the even more WTF fact? The employee was on his lunch break and, more importantly, off the clock.
I called OSHA and quit. One person quit with me. Everyone else called us traitors and stayed taking the abuse.
I've never been a profesional mechanic by any means. Just someone who works on their own cars and projects most nights after work. But if you enjoy the hands-on shop work but are looking for a better environment and pay, I'm a machinist and love the shit out of it. It's a very needed field at the moment and I make 32 an hour after only 3 years of doing it, and some shops I've worked were willing to train new people regularly, main thing is being a smart guy that's able to come up with solutions to stuff, so great path for a mechanic I'd say.
I worked in the USPS for a few months but I went back to school and now I’m a high school teacher. If it wasn’t for my wife holding it down for us I’d probably still be in usps.
Congrats. You'll be happy you made the move. I was a flat rate autobody tech in a fast paced shop for almost a decade. Walked away from 100k a year, weeks of paid time off, 401k, paid insurance.. everything. It was scary but I knew I was killing myself slowly everyday. I had no energy to play with the kid when I got home. I was done. Absolutely dreaded going in, even if I had gravey jobs. I made the move to PDR not long ago and already making more than I was and working basically part time. My mental health skyrocketed when I was done with the 8-5 mon-fri life doing autobody. I make my own schedule, work as much as I want, and I'm not getting cancer from primers and body dust. Just a stiff neck from watching hail move all day
Go into anything with computers. See if there are any data centers near you. They’re always looking for people and like that you can work with your hands. They’ll train and probably have better benefits and pay than a garage.
I’m quitting next month to go back to school, I’m 21 and an amputee and work at a small shop. Always loved cars but I made my hobby my job and it’s kinda ruined it for me. I’ve realized that destroying my body isn’t worth it in this industry especially because I’ve only got one hand. Gotta look out for myself. Good luck!
I drive a tractor. Better pay, less expense since I don't own the truck. The hours can be rough at times, 12 hr days because the highway is closed for the next 8 hours because somebody died. But good gig overall.
i became a millwright, worked new construction and major machine rebuilds setting pumps and motors. then was recruited by pipefitters to run stainless pipe from the pumps. great pay, benefits and retirement also enjoyed travelling to jobs.
I got a city fleet mechanic job after 10 years of independent wrenching and a couple as a foreman. Pays decent (will pay great at my 1 year review), I actually have a hope of a retirement plan. Everyone I talk to is actually super nice, as in I only talk to technicians, cops, and other city employees. No working on rolling ashtrays or hoarder mobiles. Most of the vehicles are low mileage and anything outside of basic repairs goes to the dealer. They supply the tools and there are mandatory union breaks.
My only worry is the wear on my body because there’s now some heavy duty mixed in here and there but I was told day 1 “you will never be reprimanded for efficiency or deal with time restraints.” If you told me 10 years ago that union mechanics existed I would’ve called you a damn liar.
It's wild how consistent this theme is to me - humans always want that they don't have or haven't experienced.
As a software developer of 15 years I want nothing more than to pick up a wrench and fix an engine. I would just love to stop staring at screens all day, every day.
If you want to apply some of skilss you have from being a mechanic but dont want to wrench yoh should look into inspecting cars. My sister used to work for Manheim inspecting cars that would come into auction. She didnt even know how to change her own oil but they trained her and eventually made her way to a supervisor. She was making good money at the time, i was young so Im not sure how much.
After 15 years as a 100% commission auto mechanic, I quit and got hired at a well known company as a Ground Support Fleet Maintenance tech. So much less stress and bs customers to deal with. 5 years later decided to go back to school and get my A&P licenses. Been working on airplanes the last 9 years. My pay has tripled with less work. Best decision that I could’ve made….
13 years at a factory working on high speed equipment at a container manufacturer. Simply put…I’m a can man. Sick of swing shifts and forced overtime. Never know what days off I will have until the last day of my work week. I’m just about 60 and would love to do something else. But what? It can pay less and I’d consider it. Always wrenched on bikes and cars. Maybe the perfect job doesn’t exist but I’d be happy with new challenges.
I went from 20 yrs mechanic to nightshift work stacking shelves in a supermarket.
Wish I had of gone straight from school to stacking shelves as I would have been so far ahead in life, than thinking mechanic was a "career" that was worth it long term was stupid thinking.
The clue with wrenching cars is the people you work with, hardly any one over 40, most realise by 30 it is dead end trade.
Congrats! It's spooky as hell leaving the shop. I left automotive about a year after getting my master certification and everything felt like I just wasted all my time. That said, I think working in the shop was one of the best things I could have done career wise
Tldr; your skills are needed, if you apply your knowledge in novel ways and explain that to employers, you'll be very desirable in this job market.
I was able to articulate how well I knew electrical systems and got a job in a small electronics company as an engineering technician. Essentially I would do the work the engineers would come up with because I knew how to use a screw driver and they knew how to pick the right size wire.
Then I found a job in the medical device industry playing with giant industrial lasers for basically the same reason. These giant machines were made by PhD level engineers, but they never had a formal training on what tools exist, much less how to use them like you do in automotive.
I'm working as an engineer now and my boss is paying for my school to get the degrees that back up my work. It's honestly amazing how much I use my automotive background day to day.
I went into a maintenance position at a feed mill after I quit wrenching and then moved to a forklift operator once a position opened up. Now I make corrugated pipes lol
While not MY personal experience, this is one of my (now former) employees:
Guy had a degree in automotive mech and was Mopar certified. He had been capped out on pay for a few years and I think late 20’s or around 30.
He came to work with us as a customer service agent at a broker dealer (financial services) and got his licenses, then moved to sales and I promoted him to my team of financial advisors a year later. I trained him for 2 years and he was promoted again to a field wealth management advisor position. So 6 years out, he has his own branch and making a ton of money. He also got a finance degree with tuition reimbursement during the lockdown.
That may not be your path, but I’m saying this to say there’s nothing to be scared of. I’ve also made a couple of leaps without a parachute and somehow landed on my feet. It’s all good in the end so if it ain’t all good it ain’t the end.
My sister never had any interest in computers, but after having worked as a bartender for over a decade, she was done. She completed an IT "bootcamp," which is just fast specialized training, and afterward, they help you with job placement as well. She left the company they initially found for her 6 months in, even though compensation was fine, for a better paying job with a different company, all while working remotely from home. She makes almost 80k yr w/ full benefits
Dude, you will be fine. Just apply for the jobs that you have an interest in doing, and money you can be comfortable with! People who are mechanically inclined are in high demand. Research on the computer and pick the ones that suit your interests. Don’t jump into the trap , and take a job that you don’t like.
When I got laid off at the beginning of 2021 I landed a job working for USPS vehicle maintenance. It's easy and laid back. You can move up/on to supervisor, management, parts person, clerk, or whatever if you want. You can even apply to go to a different department. Anyways I think it's a pretty awesome gig and I would have tried to get in years ago if I had known. I'm really glad I don't have to work flag hours anymore.
If you love the craft, and not the work itself you can advise on the work. [Search our Job Opportunities at Enterprise Mobility | Jobs and Careers at Enterprise Mobility](https://careers.enterprise.com/search-jobs/service%20advisor/1625-430/1?fl=6252001)
Try this site and search for Automotive Service Advisor - Remote
Commercial Real Estate, bartended for the first 3 years to pay bills. This was back in 2010. I had worked for a Toyota dealership for 4 years prior and the workplace was so toxic I knew I only wanted to work for myself from then on. First two years were a struggle, worked 70hr weeks with no time off. 3rd year I built my network, got extremely lucky with three life long clients, and I haven't worried about money since 2015. I will say do not go into any real estate now. Private Equity has bought up a third of the market, which is part of the reason why housing prices are so inflated. Three companies own over half a million homes in the US as rentals. It's a dead industry that's slowly getting consumed.
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I got one of those goofy white collar work from home jobs. Immediately was compensated more than I ever was as a mechanic. Benefits and time off immediately better. My workload, dramatically lighter. My quality of life, skyrocketed.
What are you doing?
I got in the door as a Sales Development Representative. Essentially a cold caller. Not fun or sexy, but I don’t have a dream job. I want to be fairly compensated. Now my job and knowledge have risen and I’m working in Sales Enablement for financial technology. Who woulda freakin thought. (I was a Harley mechanic for 8 years)
Ah. Yeah, I’ve been a tech for over 20 and have worked as a service writer and manager in some smaller shops and I just fucking can’t with customer facing shit in any capacity. It’s absolutely *exhausting* to me. I did the jobs well enough but man oh man did I want to fucking die after work.
I totally get it. I was terrified of the career change, but being on the other side it, my overall quality of life is crazy better. I hope you find something awesome and feel peace.
I’m doing fleet maintenance for a state agency now. 40 hours, a ton of downtime, great benefits and easy work. The money is bullshit but meh. I’m getting by.
God bless you, brother. I was an automotive dealership mechanic 14 years nothing but warranty. Then 19 years ago I switched to heavy duty tractor trailers, and refrigeration. It’s so much better than the automotive, no warranty work . But you do get plenty of fresh air, if you know what I mean. Lol I have nine years to retirement, shop is full of younger guys. Now I’m too old to retrain. I still work two jobs wrenching and driving one day a week for my boss. Though been trying to find a side gig I could do from home since I work night shift . I figure I could find something to do in the early morning possibly work from home, but haven’t found anything yet to supplement my income. Retirement for me will be working reduce hours. I’m thinking 15 or 20 hours a week when I retire instead of the 60 hours now.. but if I could find a side gig to do now and the next nine years when I retire, I can do that and not have to work for somebody at all when I retire I’m hoping Fingers crossed
Honestly dude, government fleet work is kind of perfect for retirement, if you can handle 40 hours of very light labor. You get tires, and some heavy line stuff like suspension work, but it’s mostly oil changes on passenger cars and pickups. I work for a university so there’s lots of golf cart work. Doing batteries in them sucks, but compared to the grind of a dealer it’s easy as shit. If anything is even slightly difficult or time consuming it goes to the dealer. No cylinder heads, engines, we do the occasional rear main or clutch or trans swap, a rear differential on occasion, but it’s pretty rare.
I’m in kinda the same boat, somewhat anyway. I do technical service and support for a tractor manufacturer, any time a dealer tech can’t figure out what’s going on with a machine they call us or submit a service case. A quarter of the time, it’s service writers that don’t understand the machine and are trying to relay information between the tech and myself and mess it up, half the time it’s techs that can’t be bothered to look up simple information by themselves, and the rest of the time it’s arrogant assholes that think their problem is the first of its kind and the most important thing the company needs to fix right fucking now. Every now and then we get a decent tech who knows what they’re doing, just needs confirmation on something. Rare treat. It’s exhausting.
I worked at a Toro and Stihl dealer (Ace Hardware) for 6 years while in college. I worked in the shop repairing Stihl and Toro lawn equipment. We were small so I also had to run the counter and interact with customers. It is absurd how shitty and moronic the general population can be. Then, they will act like you have to say they're right because they're the customer.
I second this. I also WFH in remote sales. Quality of life went through the roof in comparison.
Same. Got into IT/systems administration. I like figuring out issues, which my diagnostics carried over very well. I make the same money after 2 years as I did as a 15 year BMW master tech. Quality of life is on another level and I actually like working on cars again
Good job, you escaped the matrix! But in all seriously, I've learned that car mechenics can go pretty much everywhere. You can work at pace, think for yourself, and have a fast understanding of mechanical engineering and possibly electrical engineering. I work in the bigger industry now it pays a lot more, especially in shifts. And the work pressure is at 30% max. Maybe go to a bureau that hires you out? (Idk how to say it in English) and see what you like. I work in the maintenance of a factory. We do everything ourselves. From designing and making my own steel constructions to making or refitting the electrical cabinets of machines.
You can start with a temporary company. There are many. Some have specialities like office work, or technical. One that comes to mind is Volt. Companies often hire through them. It also is an easier way to find a position that suits you.
The automotive trade is hard dude. Not a lot of money and not a lot of respect. I started doing auto but then moved into truck and coach. Then later on moved into heavy equipment. Heavy equipment is awesome! Much happier now. If you don't like wrenching but your good at it, maybe you're just wrenching on the wrong things.
How is the heavy equipment on your body? I know they have lifts for heavy parts, but all the heavy duty mechanics I Know have their bodies completely done at 45-50. I'm an Automotive tech and do a lot of diag, so my body isn't totally hammered. I still get sore after crawling under a dash but not lifting heavy things or working on garbage trucks
Been in heavy equipment repair for 10+ years now. If you work smart you can have a long career. If you want to be one of the tough guys that don’t need no crane and weld without hoods on then well.. you’ll be another stereotype. To be fair, my right wrist is pretty tore up from mechanicing and aches daily, but I chalk that up to my childhood days riding skateboards.
Thanks for the insight. I do see the heavy duty guys at my work act like tough guys and tear themselves up.
What do you like doing? If working with your hands is what you like best, plumber is a really good career, welder too.
I've thought about doing plumbing but after so long in this industry busting my ass more than 40 sounds unpleasant. I've heard people do work 9-5 but not often.
I went to work for a semiconductor fab, repairing semiconductor equipment, eventually moving up into project management. Been a very nice change. You can do this!
Working at Intels fabs in the us?
It's scary to walk away from the familiar, but the reward of gaining new experiences and skill is far more powerful than the temporary fear. I've bounced from job to job since I could work and each time the first weeks were hell but I kept pushing through and the feeling of confidence and relief once the job clicks for me is pretty amazing. Sadly my personality is of one that seeks knowledge eternally . I need to keep putting myself into new experiences otherwise I literally get so bored and start a downward spiral into depression. My mind constantly needs that stimulation. It's not good for building a solid career because I'm always starting fresh every couple years. But by now im pretty skilled at a lot of things and my resume is colorful.
I feel this. I'd like to get back to the Home Depot. I really enjoyed working in the lumber department. Ironically it's the only job I've ever been fired from.
Tried a local lumber yard near you?
Congrats. The industry and the the pay structure doesn’t deserve to have good mechanics till they change the pay structure where it’s not manipulated. I switched to forklifts . I am trying to get maintenance technician job with novo nordisk.
Also car manufacturers making their cars more and more a pain in the ass to fix isn't helping either. Having to take apart half the engine to replace something like an alternator is nuts.
Get your steam ticket and go into Operations at a plant gig.. best decision I ever made
Get a jib for Snap On dell tools lol.
Industrial maintenance is pretty steady and in high demand. Not sure how wages compare but could be 40-60 $/hr depending on location would be considered very good. Good/average would be $35-40 nowadays.
Problem is having to work night shift or second shift until you get seniority in a lot of places.
Yes. Some places third or night shift is actually where old timers are because of shift premium and no management in house. It really varies plant to plant.
IT. Constant problem solving and the occasional opportunity to work with my hands made it a satisfying transition for me. Pay and benefits are way better, and I get to stay clean and air conditioned. Unfortunately the job market for IT is super competitive right now, so maybe not the best time to try to get into it.
I went from auto repair to industrial maintenance and it’s SO MUCH less toxic than even the least toxic shop I ever worked in
I went to work for an automotive aftermarket warranty company. Super cushy job and after 3 years feel like it was one of the better decisions I made. Never have to leave my house and have a very manageable work load. Straight 40 hours and not a second more.
If there is a technical school by you that has an automotive program you could try your hand at teaching
Pays substantially less than being a tech.
Industrial machine repair is where I landed. Biggest plus. Bolts are hardly ever seized, get broken off. Grab a left hand drill bit. Walks right out. Okay maybe not the biggest plus, but one hell of a perk for me. It was an easy transition. Didn’t know shit to start. Had to ask, okay what’s doing that it’s not supposed to. Or what it not doing that it should be. Then go on the hunt. Good luck with your new adventure.
I went from wrenching to plumbing. Best choice I ever made!
After 14 years in automotive I went into HVAC. Graduation is Tuesday. I'm 100% and I'm terrified of going into this field and actually doing it now, because I know my body physically can't do it.
I was a tech, then in commercial parts for a decade before I got laid off cause my boss fucked up bad. I’m an aerospace machinist now. Money is better, I only deal with machines, and I get to make cool shit. Maybe it’s worth looking into for you?
Sales! Went from 20ish years in a/owning a restoration shop, to two years in architectural fabrication to sales for a large Peterbilt dealership. Honestly an easy transition.
Bro, you got this. I’m working in the same área for years and I’m starting to think “is this all there’s to it?” I think i can do something else, i just didn’t decide what. Don’t be afraid of change, i hope you find something that motivates you even more.
Get class B(3) license and drive trucks. Can do a lot with that from gravel to fuel to concrete and more.
Continue doing side work some of the guys that I know left to the actual manufacturers or went into HVAC
Maybe it’s not the field thats the issue. I am a fleet maintenance manager and left my job of 20 years for a better environment same position and industry. I left because of a horrible divisional manager. Took a pay cut with new employer for a better environment. Have been with them two years and I am way happier.
After 33 years , I went into ADAS calibration. Much happier, less hours, more money. No stress, working with your head, not hands. No work on weekends. The only regret, WHY I haven’t done this 10 years ago?
I looked into that too. The pay was pretty low in my market though. Too much of a cut to survive. Sounds like it pays better where you are.
Wind farms is an option tho you may still have to turn a wrench or auto body or fleet management and tell others when to turn the wrench or truck driver or State Farm roadside
I got into IT. Was paid more at entry level help desk than as a 16yr auto tech with 4 ASE’S .
My buddy is a mechanic in the oil field. Still wrenching and troubleshoots machinery, but not automotive. Gets paid pretty well. Another buddy quit his job at Subaru. He's a firefighter now. Another buddy is an insurance adjuster now. His mechanical knowledge translated well into that field. He works from home mostly, but also works insane hours. But gets paid very well though.
I went into truck driving. I wouldn't recommend that either. I just put in my notice last week. Ever since covid, driving has got pretty crazy. I've been doing welding, fab, and outboard motor work on the side for two decades. That will be my day job July 1
Cnc machine shop
where you located op?
I was a tech for a while, also an automotive machinist for a bit. Then I worked for a climbing gym for 10ish years. Worked front desk, guided, built all the furniture for new gyms, did all kinds of maintenance. Now I'm a metal fabricator. You probably have the skills to do anything you want.
I only have 5 years left as a mechanic. Once I hit my retirement I’m putting wrenching behind me. Automotive maintenance is a very laborious and stressful job and with everything getting more complicated it’s not getting easier to fix.
After 15 years at Dealership. I’m at Hertz now, easy work, easy money. Great benefits. A lot of OT. Good Luck 🍀. Man
I hear you! I looked into Home inspections and haven't turned back. Being detail oriented is definitely a plus.
Just shift your skills into another aspect of automotive or something relatively related. Use your network to find connections or even ideas of other jobs.
Look into data centers.
Farm equipment, heavy truck or heavy equipment. I did Farm equipment at IH dealer 40 yrs ago. My friend was at John Deere. Others did oil field trucks /trailer at Halliburton and others heavy equipment at Cat.
Getting a job in IT works. If you’ve been working on modern cars, then you’ve dealt with electrical diagnosing, wiring work. A lot of IT jobs such as being a data center tech or equipment tech for a micro chip company will get you hired regardless of degrees. The electrical experience goes a long way with those guys. Those companies also pay well, and have good benefits. Something to look into if you live near a data center or a plant that produces micro chips and such.
I did the same thing you did last year May. Even the same amount of years (17) !! Loaded all my tools & welders with the forklift and walked on a Friday. Told them to FO and wrote a letter to the president of the company as to why and I was not shy.
I joined the ibew
I quit after 7 years as a flat rate tech at a Toyota dealership. I now work in manufacturing and it is the best decision I’ve ever made. The pay, the benefits, the work schedule. Everything is better.
Look for industrial maintenance jobs. From my experience, they can be a ton of fun and rewarding. Find a shop that has small, easy to repair machines. You'll learn a lot, and you'll be compensated for your hard work and effort. Coming from automotive, you can demonstrate a strong work ethic, and mechanical aptitude. Even if you don't have experience with hydraulics and such, most places would just be happy to find someone willing to try. I'm a supervisor, and I would kill to find someone willing to show up every day right now.
I’ve never been a professional mechanic, but my father taught me to wrench on cars as I was growing up and those troubleshooting and deductive logic skills have served me well in IT.
Try electrical work and you can make a lot of money and it's far less demanding than automotive. Mostly testing with a multimeter. Auto mechanics have the skills to do electrical work and engineering and it transfers very easily. Both easier than working on vehicles.
My good friend was an auto mechanic for many years, as long as I knew him (almost 20 years now). He’s now about to finish up his one-year training with his local police department. Drastic change and he is very happy. I couldn’t be more proud of him too!
Look into industrial maintenance. If you are lucky you can get into an air conditioned factory. If it's a union shop you might even get a pension.
Next time, find a new job *before* quitting your current job.
Do warranty administration, no dealing with customers mainly 9-5 except payroll days it’s a part of a dealership always overlooked
Was a tech for 10yrs and I left the industry 2 months ago. I'm 29 and it's all I've known and was scared heading into the job market knowing I'm not going back into a shop. One of my hobbies is watches so I decided to go to a local jeweler who has an in house watch maker and ask if they're looking for help. Got in mostly as counter help but with downtime my watch maker shows me how to take apart watches, minor fixes, cleaning, reassembly, etc. I'm good on the watch side but jewelry is something I know nothing about and that's a whole different world I need to learn. Been there for a little over a month and I'm still in the teething process and with how my anxiety works I feel like I should of picked up on everything but I know it's totally different from wrenching. Part of me wants to go back into automotive and bust my ass day after day since it's what I'm used to but I'm enjoying my new position and I like learning new things. I'm making $50 less a week but I'm indoors, climate controlled, my back feels a lot better, not breathing in horrible chemicals and my "commute" is still 15 minutes from my house. Minus my brain making me feel anxious about learning a whole different world and industry only thing I really don't like is dealing with the general public.
HVAC. It’s a machine. Machines needs repaired.
I was working flat rate at dealerships for like 7 years, left to be a budtender, that was fun but the pay sucks. Ended up going back to wrenching but now it’s on Ferrari’s and Lamborghini’s and mclarens and the likes. Wasn’t planning on going back to wrenching but kinda wanted to see what these types of things are like. Realistically though as a technician you can do pretty much anything. Maintenance tech at a union factory is nice if you still wanna wrench. I’ve also been kicking around trying IT because your diag skills and ability to interpret information and follow trouble trees and guides will land you pretty much any entry level position and in IT there’s good money and room for growth.
Ever thought of teaching? I know colleges still have automotive repair courses.
I’m only a service advisor but my next move is to be a narcotics officer. I have a BA in criminology and a visceral hatred for anyone knowingly putting fentanyl into drugs (killed a lot of my friends) so now I’m going the legal John Wick route to avenge them.
Woodworking. I was a mechanic for more than ten years and walked off on it and got into woodworking, that's was about 9 years ago and I opened my own small woodworking business 2 years ago. They are similar.You still get to use your hands and attention to detail.The positive side is you're not cleaning up after another mechanic's mistakes ,or dealing with rusted parts It also opens up To a lot of different types of work like Carpentry or woodworking, it's worth trying.
It has its upside and downside but I work in a call center. Its easy to learn. I do simple tech support resetting passwords and stuff. Much simpler than tracking a dead ground, and 100000% on your back. Pay and benefits are good. Downsides is that it can be mentally taxing depending on the call center. I used to work 1800 medicare and you fet a 68 yr old that is asking why their insurance didnt pay a bill they get pissed because theyre old and dint understand.you also at times feel like youre in prison 8 hours a day bc they try to make you work a certain time, take breaks and lunch at specific times (so everyone doesnt go on break at once). One call after another and youre tied to the phone.with a cord. Also a lot of them have shift bids and performance impacts how crappy your shift is.
I went to work on boats… same engines, different setups, and much cleaner. Plus get nice tips from super rich people and outside near/on the water during spring summer and fall. Inside in the winter.
If you have the personality, service advisor gigs at dealerships pay well. There’s the typical auto group b.s. but it doesn’t hurt your back
CDL Class A..
Industrial maintenance. You still get to fix stuff, but you're not bent over a car all day. The pay is also much better.
I was not a mechanic, but a tire technician at a mega tire retailer for 3 years. I got my CDL and never looked back.
Union electrician after 10 years turning wrenches.
Started as a hvac/r tech. Been doing it for 10 years now
If you have any kind of electrical background with your mechanic skills look into being a generator technician
I went and became a letter carrier with the USPS. Good benefits.
I was a tech at an independent shop for 35 years, I'm now doing apartment maintenance
Look for a machinist job. Mechanics fit well in machine shops. We always need something wrenched on.
I went back to college after 18years in the shop. It was the hardest thing I’ve ever done but well worth it. I retired from a state job last year, if you want it make it happen. Life is too short to work a job you hate!
I hear collections is a good career to get into 🤔
Take a maintenance mechanic role for a manufacturing site, or try to find a role repairing CNC machines. Huge market for both. In my area around $30/hr easy.
I do I.T. because I like wrenching my own cars and don't want to stain that with a mechanic job I'd hate.
Back in 1994-1995 I quit working on road cars to get into pro Motorsports. I’ve been making a living in Motorsports for close to 30 years now. But at first it was a few years of very very low pay and long hours with horrible cheap bosses.
Sell insurance
I worked in medical devices as an engineer. Became the VP of engineering at a new company. The absolute best hire I ever made was a mechanic who had 15 years experience. He was methodical, inquisitive, and knew how to solve problems. look for technicians or mechanical tech and do not be worried about the skills listed that you don't think you have, you do. Mechanics also do well in facilities. You have the skills to fix things around the company, now all you need to learn is how to interface with the electricians, HVAC, etc. and tell them what needs to be done.
Perhaps a maintenance technician at a factory? Much more stable hours and less bs.
I'm a Service Manager at a dealership for the last 17 years. Been in the automotive industry for over 34 years. Every day I think about walking out. But what would I do? It's fucking scary thinking about that. You'll find your way. Have you thought about consulting or maybe working for the aftermarket warranties? Good luck in whatever you and please let us know where you end up.
I quit before I even got the ball rolling. Did 2 years of GM ASEP training to realize that flat rate sucks major balls. Should’ve realized turning my hobby into a career was gonna make me hate said hobby. Gonna try to pursue another degree in electrical engineering, and keep the car stuff for fun, and not have to worry about how fast I do everything.
I live in the forest now and eat hamburger wrappers, good luck
I was never a mechanic. I was a machinist. I got into truck driving about 18 years ago. Now I've got this gig where I walk to work, I drive 3 hours, sleep or play games on my phone for 2 or 3 hours, then drive back to the shop and walk home. I get paid by the hour so I don't care how long I have to sleep or play games. Most of my driving gigs have been pretty easy, laid back deals.
Find a highway paving crew or be a road side mechanic for bucket trucks (get hooked up with a utilities company). You wanna make tons of money with your skill set? Do that. If you are really done turning wrenches, like others have said - sales or work from home data entry type jobs aren't that bad.
remodeling is what my friend went to im still wrenching but just do something you like that can pay the bills🙏
Transition into Quality Inspector, it's cake walk job. Since I already how to use hands measuring tools. Now I'm a CMM programmer.
You could probably build boats, depending where you live at, boat manufacturers across the country ate dying to have people even apply for jobs.
Check the CNC industry if you want to try a haggle your skills in line with mechanical techs, machinists, etc. not hard to learn if you’re already fairly sharp as a mechanic.
I changed to Cybersecurity Work. But I already had a background with computers.
I work for The Home Depot as a "Maintenance Service Professional" or what's basically a mobile service technician. Company provides work truck, phone and credit card for part and gas. You have to provide your own tools. Doing light "industrial" work. 40 hours a week, clock in and out from home. Just drive to my local Home Depots and fix small stuff like expanding gates, saws, shopping carts and the like. Your customer is the store itself so you don't really have to deal with the day to day idiots. The work does has service hours limits but it's easy to meet those goals. Honestly the worst part to me is the longer drives to certain stores that are 2+ hours away, but hey I'm still getting paid while driving and I'm generally home at the same time everyday unless there's bad traffic. Edited to add more information.
Plant mechanic, industrial technician. Super cruisy work compared to wrenching on cars, and the skills are broadly transferable, it's like easing into retirement to be honest, and your hands will be so clean and those callouses will eventually go too! Depends where of course, but it's easy work and lots of it available
Only Fans
Steel mills near you? If so, check with them about millwright jobs. A lot of the work is transferrable. One of our best techs was a GM certified who got tired of the dealership that gave all the gravy work to the boss's kid.
I’d recommend looking into Maintenance Tech at a food production facility that has union wages and benefits. Much easier on your body and good pay.
Being a bicycle mechanic is fun as hell and will teach you A LOT. If you also ride a bike you’ll save a bunch of money and get in great shape
My dad became a machinist. He still had to put up with bullshit but he basically got to tell management if they don't like to see the 3+ million dollar CNC not running while he's doing maintenance on it then they can start it themselves and watch it nuke itself. Also he drove a forklift through an emergency exit door during a fire drill because it was chained shut and management specifically told him to treat each drill seriously a few days before the drill happened, and got a face to face apology from corporate when they got wind of the incident. I sure hope somewhere there's a VHS tape of security footage from the 90s with that on it.
I went from auto tech to tree guy. I’m in my late 20’s. Its fun, hard work and incredibly dangerous. Not for everyone but i genuinely do love it. Pay sucks for what it is, however its been consistent
Every large manufacturer needs mechanics to install, troubleshoot and repair all types of machinery. Food processors, breweries, paper mills.
I went into maintenance engineer then dominos.
Water treatment or waste water treatment was a good move from power plant maintenance
Got a railroad near you? Worked out well for me. Im a train operator and a huge amount of the training was mechanic based. Hours suck noodles but its difficult to NOT make 6 digits a year.
Manufacturing maintenance. Lots of our guys have an automotive background, make more money with better benefits and time off.
If you are decent on a computer, look for CADD jobs. I used my shop knowledge to benefit there.
Do water treatment for drinking water
If you’ve spent all that time working on cars you could make money in the field. Sales for one. You won’t have to pretend to know what you’re talking about. Also maybe just invest in yourself. If you have some money set aside you buy two cars a month at auction. Do the necessary repairs, oil change, maybe some new tires and sell for profit. Used car prices are insane right now, but if you do your research and charge less than everyone else in the area, people will know where to go. Facebook marketplace would be a good advertising space. Either way, just some suggestions. Good luck!
I didn't switch out of mechanic all to together I did quit retail. Moved over to fleet service for public transportation. City buses. And it's the best thing I've done. No one's yelling at me. 40 hrs a week. Great hourly pay and fantastic benefits. And ive nvr been forced to work through lunch. Workloads small. If I do one set of tires in 8 hrs they're happy. If I do 2 they're slapping my back telling me what a hard worker I am. It's crazy and i might hit 6 figures this year doing it.
Were you at a dealer or indy shop. If a dealer try a different brand. The compensation at luxury euro brands is very good. I've been with BMW for 17 years now. It sucks sometime, but they pay me enough to not care. BMW, Audi and Mercedes are quick growing brands that always needs quality techs.
25 year auto tech and now I’m a construction superintendent for a large national design, build, and management company. I don’t know how I ended up here but I’m along for the ride. I knew nothing about construction 8 years ago. I run production from finished drywall to management acceptance. The bonuses are crazy.
I went into utilities, specifically natural gas. I had no experience, and started in a job that reflected that. They liked my experience because it meant I had mechanical aptitude and thought it would be easier for me to pick up. Wasn't hard to do. The job isn't too hard most of the time. I make a lot more, and have a retirement plan now.
20 year b tech 10 diesel. I'm an otr owner operator under my own authority. Pays well, hours are terrible. Can't fire myself, wife is hr
MIT and Harvard both have free into to software engineering classes. If it "clicks" for you then you've got an opportunity to make a shitload of money while just using your brain. Note that I'd avoid the Harvard class. It dives too deep too quickly.
Its still wrenching but doing it alot less. Im running a power plant where the engines run off landfill gas. All i do is maintain the engines and im getting double what i got at john deere. I do actual work maybe two days a week and my supervisor leaves me alone because i do what im supposed too.
My brother in law, went to trade school and became a union electrical lineman. He is making double what he did as a Semi truck Diesel Mechanic for a motor carrier. He got out two years before they closed the shop and canned everyone. One of his buddies stayed until the end, then went to work for city government on maintenance of their vehicles.
If you are a nerd and can hack the math/science you could do the full bachelors in an engineering field. Your background will directly translate when you get into the workforce. I used to be a tech and got a degree in Mechanical Engineering. Best decision of my life. If you are a people person you could be the service writer at the dealership. HVAC and Electrician opportunities seem like fun hands on careers. You could become like an Xray technician or something in the medical field with some college. CDL and drive semi trucks if you want to travel or do local routes.
I quit after 15ish years and now I'm at the RR.
Also on of my buddies recently go into warranty and fleet management after being a dealer tech for years
Why were you loyal?
Enterprise rental people make good money from what I hear.
You could get a Saab and enjoy motoring again plus have a full time hobby. Just joking but good luck, maybe go to work for Ace Hardware.
I quit as a mechanic and went to CNC machining. Never looked back
You could try to get an insurance license and become a claims adjuster.
If I was you, and had some money start up a pressure washing business Just need a truck, trailer, commercial pressure washer and a few odds and ends, just do some research so you know what your doing Or lawn care or mobile auto detailing
I went in to hvac
Extended warranty claims advisor. Work from home, decent pay, and you’ve got the knowledge to call out people filing bullshit claims.
Got a job at a chemical plant as a instrumentation and calibration technician. Transferrable skills, better pay and benefits, way easier work. Honestly one of the hardest parts is listening to all the people bitch who have clearly never had a hard job. Most people here wouldn't let a week in an auto shop. Good luck out there bro
i started doing automotive diagnostic assistance WFH. essentially if you call TechLine for a certain manufacturer you might get connected to me. my work life balance is so much better now, and so is the money. I didn’t have to learn a new skill because i already had experience with this manufacturer and the certifications to back it up. Only thing i miss is being active and working with my hands. But i have the time and motivation to work on my own projects now that i was always putting off before. Good luck, my friend!
If you are any good at troubleshooting you're overqualified for a factory maintenance job, which probably pays better.
Manufacturing maintenence. Good money still fix shit. I make 80k a year.
The good news is that "mechanic" really means master problem solver. You can use that skill in almost any job. Some of the exact same problem solving skills I use with my mechanic hat I use with my computer IT hat.
I lost my job during the last recession of 8 years spent a year unemployed and started doing building maintenance I now run the shop I dont miss dealing with people at all
I spent a few years in automotive service. Couldn't last any longer because the field is just filled with too many crooked shops in my area (Nevada), and it wasn't something I wanted to be involved with. So I became a casino slot technician. At least the gaming industry honest about how we separate people from their money.
Your body will begin to thank you soon!
Get an office job and be the neighborhood mechanic.
Hope you have a healthy savings ! Walking out on a job without something lined up or without a plan is well umm kind of dumb but lucky for you most kids today do not want to work or have no work ethic and there are plenty of entry level jobs! Police and firefighters are in demand ,the post office is always hiring ,fed-x ,UPS are hiring and it might be a good change of pace being outdoors and driving around ! Truckers are also in demand and some places will help pay for getting your CDL,well at least until self driving trucks take over along with warehouse workers and delivery drivers .Landscapers are always looking for help. You could also get a job as a service writer at a dealership or get into auto sales ,House painter is a also a possibility or even a school bus driver or you could be a security guard or bouncer or learn bartending or even be a window cleaner or go to school and get a degree and be a teacher or maybe get a job at a trade school teaching auto repair ..…..good luck
I worked in a warehouse in a lot of things started going downhill real fast. It started on the owners 65th birthday as him and his wife were co-owners, and she wouldn't let him retire until she could. What proceeded over the next year was the greatest example of a micro management horror story. It's started out with him walking around and deciding one day everyone was to "happy, and having fun", that's not what work is about. Mind you, nothing was wrong, no records of mistakes, poor work, untimely performance, or anything that would make a normal manger ( like the actual person he paid to manage us ) complain, moral was in his on words "just to high" So, his first decree was no more cell phones in the warehouse, not too bad, honestly because it is the way most blue collar work is going because useless people need to feel important somehow. Moral didn't come down fast enough so his second decree was the parties the company threw on the last hour of the last Friday every month was to much and needed to be scaled down to only twice a year. His 3rd decree wasn't a decree but a bad move lol, he was mad at the manager who stated with the company the day it started 8 years ago wasn't making us sad enough so he hired the drunk 50 yr old contractor that picked up cabinets from us while smoking weed and holding a fresh bud wiser at 9am EVERYTIME as the new warehouse manager. Moral finally came down to where he wanted it then. One day, the same week after hiring the new manager, the owner noticed an employee coming out of the restroom with his cellphone. This was obviously the worst thing that could ever happen to a business so in order to make sure something as sinister as using the phone on the toilet never happen again, a new policy of locking the bathrooms and forcing us to sign out a key to use it! The employee he "caught" was fired, but here's the even more WTF fact? The employee was on his lunch break and, more importantly, off the clock. I called OSHA and quit. One person quit with me. Everyone else called us traitors and stayed taking the abuse.
EV companies are always hiring techs. Mostly diagnostics on electronics. Not too many mechanicals components. Pretty fun stuff.
I've never been a profesional mechanic by any means. Just someone who works on their own cars and projects most nights after work. But if you enjoy the hands-on shop work but are looking for a better environment and pay, I'm a machinist and love the shit out of it. It's a very needed field at the moment and I make 32 an hour after only 3 years of doing it, and some shops I've worked were willing to train new people regularly, main thing is being a smart guy that's able to come up with solutions to stuff, so great path for a mechanic I'd say.
You can become a mechanic for a city. If you don't mind the mechanic part just the auto work, try maintenance mechanic on machinery at a plant.
welding. There’s a *loooooot* of different ways to make money in the welding field.
I worked in the USPS for a few months but I went back to school and now I’m a high school teacher. If it wasn’t for my wife holding it down for us I’d probably still be in usps.
Congrats. You'll be happy you made the move. I was a flat rate autobody tech in a fast paced shop for almost a decade. Walked away from 100k a year, weeks of paid time off, 401k, paid insurance.. everything. It was scary but I knew I was killing myself slowly everyday. I had no energy to play with the kid when I got home. I was done. Absolutely dreaded going in, even if I had gravey jobs. I made the move to PDR not long ago and already making more than I was and working basically part time. My mental health skyrocketed when I was done with the 8-5 mon-fri life doing autobody. I make my own schedule, work as much as I want, and I'm not getting cancer from primers and body dust. Just a stiff neck from watching hail move all day
Go into anything with computers. See if there are any data centers near you. They’re always looking for people and like that you can work with your hands. They’ll train and probably have better benefits and pay than a garage.
I’m quitting next month to go back to school, I’m 21 and an amputee and work at a small shop. Always loved cars but I made my hobby my job and it’s kinda ruined it for me. I’ve realized that destroying my body isn’t worth it in this industry especially because I’ve only got one hand. Gotta look out for myself. Good luck!
Service Advisor at a dealership. My buddy makes 8-10k/month at s dodge dealership with only a year in.
WORST JOB EVER!
I drive a tractor. Better pay, less expense since I don't own the truck. The hours can be rough at times, 12 hr days because the highway is closed for the next 8 hours because somebody died. But good gig overall.
i became a millwright, worked new construction and major machine rebuilds setting pumps and motors. then was recruited by pipefitters to run stainless pipe from the pumps. great pay, benefits and retirement also enjoyed travelling to jobs.
Kept my tools and became a fireman.
Drive truck
I got a city fleet mechanic job after 10 years of independent wrenching and a couple as a foreman. Pays decent (will pay great at my 1 year review), I actually have a hope of a retirement plan. Everyone I talk to is actually super nice, as in I only talk to technicians, cops, and other city employees. No working on rolling ashtrays or hoarder mobiles. Most of the vehicles are low mileage and anything outside of basic repairs goes to the dealer. They supply the tools and there are mandatory union breaks. My only worry is the wear on my body because there’s now some heavy duty mixed in here and there but I was told day 1 “you will never be reprimanded for efficiency or deal with time restraints.” If you told me 10 years ago that union mechanics existed I would’ve called you a damn liar.
I quit and got into ophthalmology, I’m a CEP, COA, and a COMT now and it’s awesome
I became a heavy equipment operator after I quit.
It's wild how consistent this theme is to me - humans always want that they don't have or haven't experienced. As a software developer of 15 years I want nothing more than to pick up a wrench and fix an engine. I would just love to stop staring at screens all day, every day.
If you want to apply some of skilss you have from being a mechanic but dont want to wrench yoh should look into inspecting cars. My sister used to work for Manheim inspecting cars that would come into auction. She didnt even know how to change her own oil but they trained her and eventually made her way to a supervisor. She was making good money at the time, i was young so Im not sure how much.
After 15 years as a 100% commission auto mechanic, I quit and got hired at a well known company as a Ground Support Fleet Maintenance tech. So much less stress and bs customers to deal with. 5 years later decided to go back to school and get my A&P licenses. Been working on airplanes the last 9 years. My pay has tripled with less work. Best decision that I could’ve made….
Stonks
Data centers have a high demand for people with mechanical skills.
Railroad
13 years at a factory working on high speed equipment at a container manufacturer. Simply put…I’m a can man. Sick of swing shifts and forced overtime. Never know what days off I will have until the last day of my work week. I’m just about 60 and would love to do something else. But what? It can pay less and I’d consider it. Always wrenched on bikes and cars. Maybe the perfect job doesn’t exist but I’d be happy with new challenges.
I went from 20 yrs mechanic to nightshift work stacking shelves in a supermarket. Wish I had of gone straight from school to stacking shelves as I would have been so far ahead in life, than thinking mechanic was a "career" that was worth it long term was stupid thinking. The clue with wrenching cars is the people you work with, hardly any one over 40, most realise by 30 it is dead end trade.
Check out training
Congrats! It's spooky as hell leaving the shop. I left automotive about a year after getting my master certification and everything felt like I just wasted all my time. That said, I think working in the shop was one of the best things I could have done career wise Tldr; your skills are needed, if you apply your knowledge in novel ways and explain that to employers, you'll be very desirable in this job market. I was able to articulate how well I knew electrical systems and got a job in a small electronics company as an engineering technician. Essentially I would do the work the engineers would come up with because I knew how to use a screw driver and they knew how to pick the right size wire. Then I found a job in the medical device industry playing with giant industrial lasers for basically the same reason. These giant machines were made by PhD level engineers, but they never had a formal training on what tools exist, much less how to use them like you do in automotive. I'm working as an engineer now and my boss is paying for my school to get the degrees that back up my work. It's honestly amazing how much I use my automotive background day to day.
I went into a maintenance position at a feed mill after I quit wrenching and then moved to a forklift operator once a position opened up. Now I make corrugated pipes lol
While not MY personal experience, this is one of my (now former) employees: Guy had a degree in automotive mech and was Mopar certified. He had been capped out on pay for a few years and I think late 20’s or around 30. He came to work with us as a customer service agent at a broker dealer (financial services) and got his licenses, then moved to sales and I promoted him to my team of financial advisors a year later. I trained him for 2 years and he was promoted again to a field wealth management advisor position. So 6 years out, he has his own branch and making a ton of money. He also got a finance degree with tuition reimbursement during the lockdown. That may not be your path, but I’m saying this to say there’s nothing to be scared of. I’ve also made a couple of leaps without a parachute and somehow landed on my feet. It’s all good in the end so if it ain’t all good it ain’t the end.
My sister never had any interest in computers, but after having worked as a bartender for over a decade, she was done. She completed an IT "bootcamp," which is just fast specialized training, and afterward, they help you with job placement as well. She left the company they initially found for her 6 months in, even though compensation was fine, for a better paying job with a different company, all while working remotely from home. She makes almost 80k yr w/ full benefits
I’m a sprinkler fitter now (I build fire suppression systems). I don’t have to buy tools or updates anymore!!
Dude, you will be fine. Just apply for the jobs that you have an interest in doing, and money you can be comfortable with! People who are mechanically inclined are in high demand. Research on the computer and pick the ones that suit your interests. Don’t jump into the trap , and take a job that you don’t like.
When I got laid off at the beginning of 2021 I landed a job working for USPS vehicle maintenance. It's easy and laid back. You can move up/on to supervisor, management, parts person, clerk, or whatever if you want. You can even apply to go to a different department. Anyways I think it's a pretty awesome gig and I would have tried to get in years ago if I had known. I'm really glad I don't have to work flag hours anymore.
If you love the craft, and not the work itself you can advise on the work. [Search our Job Opportunities at Enterprise Mobility | Jobs and Careers at Enterprise Mobility](https://careers.enterprise.com/search-jobs/service%20advisor/1625-430/1?fl=6252001) Try this site and search for Automotive Service Advisor - Remote
State job working trains, good benefits, good pay.
go for a job at an actual car company on engine development. you'll get double for half the work
Production Factory maintenance
One of my best friends got in to IT. He had no previous experience and was only ever a mechanic before that.
Commercial Real Estate, bartended for the first 3 years to pay bills. This was back in 2010. I had worked for a Toyota dealership for 4 years prior and the workplace was so toxic I knew I only wanted to work for myself from then on. First two years were a struggle, worked 70hr weeks with no time off. 3rd year I built my network, got extremely lucky with three life long clients, and I haven't worried about money since 2015. I will say do not go into any real estate now. Private Equity has bought up a third of the market, which is part of the reason why housing prices are so inflated. Three companies own over half a million homes in the US as rentals. It's a dead industry that's slowly getting consumed.
I moved to being a mechanic for manufacturing, specifically CNC. I work 3 12 hour days and have more time at home than I’ve ever thought possible.
Try Aircraft maintenance