Automotive Mechanic Apprenticeship in Florida

Wages, programs & career outlook

Automotive mechanics diagnose and repair cars, SUVs, and light trucks — engines, brakes, transmissions, electrical systems, and the computer controls that tie it all together. Work happens in dealership service bays, independent repair shops, or fleet maintenance garages.

FL Median Salary
$48,520/yr
-2% vs. national
National Median
$49,670/yr
FL Employment
46,090
Automotive Mechanics employed
FL Sponsors
12
Registered programs
Training Term
4.0 yrs
Time-Based
Job Growth
4.2%
2024–2034 projected
Annual Openings
70,000
Nationally, per yr

Automotive Mechanic Apprenticeship in Florida: Quick Facts

What apprenticeship means here

A registered automotive mechanic apprenticeship in Florida combines paid on-the-job training with classroom instruction. Programs typically run 4.0 years and follow a time-based structure. You earn wages from day one — apprentices are employees, not students.

Florida pay vs. national

Median automotive mechanic wages in Florida are $48,520/year, -2% below the national median of $49,670. Wages scale with experience — journey-level workers earn substantially more than apprentices.

Where to find programs

Florida has 12 registered apprenticeship sponsors for automotive mechanic listed in the U.S. Department of Labor's apprenticeship.gov directory. The sponsor list further down includes joint labor-management programs (JATCs), individual employers, and contractor associations.

Job-market outlook

The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 4.2% job growth for automotive mechanics nationally between 2024 and 2034, with approximately 70,000 annual openings each year (replacement plus growth combined). Apprenticeship demand tends to track local construction and infrastructure spending — Florida-specific outlook can vary from national figures.

Florida Wage Spread

Annual wages for Automotive Mechanics in Florida across all experience levels.

10th pct
$31,590
Median
$48,520
90th pct
$79,100
Middle 50% of workers earn $36,620$63,540

Current Automotive Mechanic Apprenticeship Openings in Florida

No automotive mechanic apprenticeship openings are currently listed on apprenticeship.gov for Florida. The sponsors listed below accept applications on a rolling basis — contact them directly. Consider setting up an alert on apprenticeship.gov to be notified when new listings are posted.

Listings aggregated from apprenticeship.gov (US Dept. of Labor). Data refreshed daily.

Automotive Mechanic Apprenticeship Sponsors in Florida

12 automotive mechanic-related registered sponsors identified in the DOL ApprenticeshipUSA directory for Florida. Directory lists sponsor names only — contact each organization directly to confirm current automotive mechanic apprenticeship openings.

Organization City County
Cox Auto Body, Inc. Bradenton
Fitzgerald Motors Inc. dba Fitzgerald AutoMalls Clearwater
Right Way Auto Part & Repair LLC Clearwater
Voluntires LLC dba Noble Auto Service Clearwater
Cocoa Ford Cocoa
Gary Yeomans Ford Apprenticeship Program, INJ Daytona Beach Volusia County
Andy's Automotive and Transmission Repair LLC dba Cars Unlimited Auto Repair Largo
Duane's Dealer Alternative LLC Safety Harbor
Central Florida Auto Dealers Association, Inc., GNJ Sanford Seminole County
Crown Automotive Management, Inc. St. Petersburg
Proctor Motor Company, Inc. Tallahassee
Tampa L Automotive Management, LLC dba Land Rover Tampa Tampa
Search apprenticeship.gov for current Automotive Mechanic openings

Filter by occupation code 49-3023 and state FL for the most relevant results.

Automotive Mechanic Apprenticeship in Florida

Program availability in Florida is moderate: 12 Automotive Mechanic-related sponsors in our directory. Candidates in major cities will find multiple options; those in smaller markets may need to commute or relocate within the state.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average Automotive Mechanic salary in Florida?
The BLS reports a median wage of $48,520/yr for Automotive Mechanics in Florida (May 2024 data). Experience, union membership, and specialization all affect where you fall in the range.
How many years does it take to become an Automotive Mechanic through apprenticeship?
A typical Automotive Mechanic apprenticeship lasts approximately 4 years (8,000 hours of on-the-job training). The program combines paid work experience with related classroom instruction.
What's the difference between an Automotive Mechanic apprenticeship and trade school?
Apprenticeships offer paid training with no tuition, while trade school requires upfront costs but may be shorter. Many Automotive Mechanics combine both — starting with trade school basics before entering an apprenticeship.
How do I find an Automotive Mechanic apprenticeship in Florida?
Contact one of the 12 Automotive Mechanic-adjacent registered sponsors in Florida (listed below), or search apprenticeship.gov for current openings. Local union halls, community colleges, and the state apprenticeship agency are good first stops.
How much do Automotive Mechanic apprentices earn?
Yes. Apprentices earn wages from day one, typically starting at 40–60% of the journeyman rate (roughly $24,260/yr in Florida). Wages increase at regular intervals — usually every 6 months — as you progress through the program.

Prefer Trade School Instead?

Apprenticeships pay from day one, but the classroom-first path may fit better for some. Automotive Mechanics also train through trade school programs — shorter timeline, more upfront cost.

Compare Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies programs in Florida →
Or see all 337 programs nationwide.

Automotive Mechanic in Other States

Other Apprenticeships in Florida

Data: Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS May 2024, DOL RAPIDS Registered Apprenticeship database, ApprenticeshipUSA Sponsor Directory.