Becoming an Automotive Technician or Mechanic in Utah
If you’re good with your hands and have an aptitude for working with mechanical parts, consider a job in auto mechanics. Jobs in this field include not only mechanic positions but also opportunities as auto body repairers, glass installers, bus and truck service technicians, and diesel mechanics.
Requirements for becoming an Automotive Service Technician in Utah
In Utah, you don’t need to have a professional license to work as an auto mechanic. However, all auto mechanics in Utah must have at least a high school diploma or GED. Furthermore, you should also possess strong problem solving and communication skills. Additionally, many employers prefer to hire applicants with experience working on cars.
ASE Certification
Many mechanics are not certified by the ASE (Automotive Service Excellence), but many employers prefer applicants who have this credential. To become certified, you must pass the tests set by the ASE Certification Program and have experience in the field or a combination of education and experience.
There are over 40 ASE exams to choose from. Some of the more popular tests include:
- Damage analysis and estimating certification test
- Light truck certification tests
- School bus certification tests
- Engine Machinist certification tests
- Alternate fuels certification test
- Truck equipment certification tests
- Transit bus certification tests
- Parts specialist certification tests
- Collision repair and refinish certification tests
- Auto maintenance and light repair certification test
Auto mechanic training in Utah
Utah has about 9,350 working automotive service technicians and mechanics, according to BLS May 2025 OEWS data. That number gives you a clear sense of the job market you are entering. The state has 25 ASE-accredited schools running 30 programmes, spread from St. George in the south to Ogden in the north. ASE accreditation means the ASE Education Foundation, the nationally recognised quality standard for automotive training, has reviewed and approved the programme. This page lists every accredited programme in the state so you can compare your options in one place.
Why ASE accreditation matters to you
When a programme carries ASE accreditation, it has met a defined set of standards for equipment, curriculum, and instructor qualifications. Many dealerships and independent shops specifically look for graduates of accredited programmes when they hire. Some manufacturer training partnerships also require an ASE-accredited background before they will sponsor you. Choosing an accredited programme is one of the lowest-risk decisions you can make at the start of a mechanic career.
Community colleges generally cost less per credit hour than private technical institutes, though exact figures vary and are not listed here. Contact each school directly for current tuition information. Financial aid may be available to those who qualify.
All post-secondary programmes in Utah
All 16 post-secondary programmes in Utah are listed below. These are the programmes you can enrol in as an adult. The accreditation expiry date shown is the date on file in the ASE Education Foundation directory. A programme with a date that has passed may be in the renewal process; contact the school directly to confirm current status.
| School | City | Series | Level | Accreditation expires |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dixie Technical College | St. George | Automobile | Post-secondary | December 2029 |
| Emery High/USU Eastern | Castle Dale | Automobile | Secondary and post-secondary | April 2029 |
| Mountainland Technical College – Lehi | Lehi | Automobile | Secondary and post-secondary | February 2029 |
| Mountainland Technical College – Lehi | Lehi | Medium/Heavy Duty Truck | Secondary and post-secondary | February 2029 |
| Mountainland Technical College – Payson | Payson | Automobile | Secondary and post-secondary | February 2029 |
| Mountainland Technical College – Payson | Payson | Medium/Heavy Duty Truck | Secondary and post-secondary | February 2029 |
| Ogden-Weber Technical College | Ogden | Automobile | Secondary and post-secondary | September 2026 |
| Salt Lake Community College | Sandy | Automobile | Post-secondary | May 2028 |
| Snow College – Richfield Campus | Richfield | Automobile | Secondary and post-secondary | May 2027 |
| Southwest Technical College | Cedar City | Automobile | Post-secondary | March 2031 |
| UAW-LETC – Clearfield Job Corps Center | Clearfield | Automobile | Post-secondary | September 2029 |
| UAW-LETC – Clearfield Job Corps Center | Clearfield | Collision Repair and Refinishing | Secondary and post-secondary | December 2027 |
| UAW-LETC – Clearfield Job Corps Center | Clearfield | Medium/Heavy Duty Truck | Secondary and post-secondary | January 2028 |
| Utah Valley University | Orem | Automobile | Post-secondary | April 2030 |
| Utah Valley University | Orem | Medium/Heavy Duty Truck | Post-secondary | June 2024 |
| Weber State University | Layton | Automobile | Post-secondary | January 2028 |
Manufacturer-sponsored programmes in Utah
Some automakers run their own training partnerships, often called OEM (original equipment manufacturer) programmes. An OEM programme means a carmaker has partnered with a school to train technicians specifically for that brand’s vehicles. You train on that brand’s actual tools and diagnostic systems, and the manufacturer often connects graduates directly with its dealer network. In Utah, Weber State University and Utah Valley University both have histories of hosting manufacturer-aligned tracks alongside their ASE-accredited programmes. Contact each school directly to ask which OEM partnerships are currently active, because programme agreements change year to year.
If a dealership job is your goal, completing an OEM-aligned programme at an ASE-accredited school is one of the fastest paths to getting hired by a franchise dealer. Dealers pay for the specialised training they want, so they are more willing to take you on with little prior work experience when you already know their systems.
High school programmes: starting your mechanic career now
This section is written directly to you as a high school student. These programmes are only open to students currently enrolled in secondary school. They are not listed in the main table above and are not open to adult career-changers.
If you are in high school right now, you do not have to wait until graduation to start building mechanic skills. Utah has 14 high school auto programmes that carry ASE accreditation. Three of those are AYES programmes. AYES stands for Automotive Youth Educational Systems. It is a structured pipeline that connects your high school class directly to a participating dealership, not just a general shop class. Through AYES you get supervised, paid or credited work experience at a real dealer while you are still in school. That experience counts when you apply for a full-time technician job after graduation.
All 14 secondary programmes in Utah are listed below, showing 14 of the 14 available:
| School | City | Series | AYES | Accreditation expires |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bingham High School | South Jordan | Automobile | No | June 2027 |
| Bonneville High School | Ogden | Automobile | Yes | January 2031 |
| Cyprus High School | Magna | Automobile | No | November 2024 |
| Fremont High School | Plain City | Automobile | No | June 2028 |
| Granger High School | West Valley City | Automobile | No | September 2028 |
| Herriman High School | Herriman | Automobile | No | October 2026 |
| Kearns High School | Kearns | Automobile | No | November 2027 |
| Ogden High School | Ogden | Automobile | No | October 2027 |
| Olympus High School | Holladay | Automobile | No | November 2027 |
| Riverton High School | Riverton | Automobile | No | June 2027 |
| Roy High School | Roy | Automobile | Yes | May 2026 |
| Timpview High School | Provo | Automobile | Yes | November 2024 |
| Tooele High School | Tooele | Automobile | No | March 2024 |
| Weber High School | Pleasant View | Automobile | No | May 2026 |
If you attend one of the three AYES schools (Bonneville, Roy, or Timpview), ask your automotive instructor specifically about the dealership placement side of the programme. That connection to a working dealer is what separates AYES from a standard shop class, and it is worth asking about early in your junior year so you have time to line up a placement before graduation.
For programmes with an accreditation date that has passed, contact the school directly. Schools often renew accreditation on a rolling basis, and the programme may still be active.
What mechanics earn in Utah
Wages vary quite a bit depending on which type of vehicle you work on. The figures below come from BLS May 2025 OEWS data. They show the full spread from entry-level pay to experienced-technician pay, so you can see where you might start and where you could go.
Automotive service technicians and mechanics
This is the main category for car and light-truck technicians. Utah has 9,350 employed in this role. The median wage is $46,570 per year, meaning half of all technicians in Utah earn more than that and half earn less. The bottom 10 percent earn around $30,460. The top 10 percent earn $77,320. The 25th-percentile figure of $37,140 is a realistic target for someone in their first two or three years on the job. The 75th-percentile figure of $62,400 represents what a solid mid-career technician with ASE certifications can expect.
Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists
If you move into diesel and heavy-duty truck work, the pay picture improves. Utah employs 2,690 people in this role. The median wage is $64,350, which is about $18,000 more per year than the median for car technicians. Entry-level pay starts around $46,970, and experienced specialists reach $83,140. The medium/heavy duty truck programmes at Mountainland Technical College (Lehi and Payson campuses), UAW-LETC Clearfield Job Corps Center, and Utah Valley University give you a direct path into this higher-paying segment.
Automotive body and related repairers
Body repair work in Utah pays a median of $50,200 per year, with 1,590 people in the field. The bottom 10 percent earn $32,660 and the top 10 percent earn $78,040. The Collision Repair and Refinishing programme at UAW-LETC Clearfield Job Corps Center is the only ASE-accredited collision programme currently listed in Utah, so if body work is your interest it is worth looking at closely.
Automotive glass installers and repairers
Glass work is a smaller specialty, with 270 employed in Utah. The median wage is $49,310. The top 10 percent earn $73,260. This is a niche that some technicians move into after gaining general experience.
How pay progresses across a career
Looking at the data as a whole, a clear pattern emerges. You can expect to start somewhere around the 10th or 25th percentile for your role. With three to five years of experience, a few ASE certifications, and a track record at a shop, you move toward the median. Senior technicians with a full set of ASE credentials and specialised skills in diesel, advanced driver-assistance systems, or hybrid and electric vehicles tend to land in the top quarter of earners. Diesel and heavy-duty truck work pays more at every level than light-vehicle work, so the choice of specialisation you make in school has a direct effect on your long-term earnings.
Auto Mechanic Salaries in Utah by Region
| Region | Total Employed | Mean Hourly Wage | Mean Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Logan, UT-ID | 310 | $40,850 | $40,850 |
| Ogden-Clearfield, UT | 1,710 | $49,570 | $49,570 |
| Provo-Orem, UT | 1,130 | $46,130 | $46,130 |
| Salt Lake City, UT | 490 | $45,190 | $45,190 |
| St. George, UT | 3,280 | $51,980 | $51,980 |
Working as an Auto Mechanic in Utah
Whether you’re just starting out or have been in the business for years, there are plenty of job opportunities for automotive technicians and mechanics in Utah. In addition to traditional dealerships, many independent shops also provide stability and good wages. Furthermore, many mechanics choose to specialize in a specific area like diesel engines, brakes and suspensions, or auto body repair.
It is important to note that even though you may not need a license to work as an auto mechanic in Utah, having the ASE Certification can help you stand out from the competition and increase your earning potential.
Choosing a programme that fits your situation
A few practical things to think about as you compare your options:
- Location: Utah is a large state. A programme in Cedar City may be the right choice if you live in Iron County, even if a school in Salt Lake has a longer accreditation runway.
- Series: Decide early whether you want to focus on automobiles, diesel and heavy trucks, or collision repair. Not every school offers every series. Only three schools in Utah have an ASE-accredited heavy-truck programme.
- Accreditation expiry: A programme expiring soon is not automatically a problem, but it is worth asking the school when renewal is expected and whether the programme is under review.
- Programme level: Some schools serve both high school students and adult post-secondary students in the same facility. If you are an adult, confirm you are enrolling in the post-secondary track.
Next steps
Pick two or three schools from the table above that are within reasonable distance. Go to each school’s website, look for the automotive or transportation department page, and find the contact details for the programme director. Call or email directly. Ask about current enrolment dates, what tools you need to bring on day one, and whether any manufacturer partnerships are currently active. Those conversations take about 15 minutes each and will tell you more than any website can. The programmes are listed above; the next move is yours.