Automotive Mechanic Apprenticeship in North Carolina

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.

NC Median Salary
$48,530/yr
-2% vs. national
National Median
$49,670/yr
NC Employment
25,260
Automotive Mechanics employed
NC Sponsors
43
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 North Carolina: Quick Facts

What apprenticeship means here

A registered automotive mechanic apprenticeship in North Carolina 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.

North Carolina pay vs. national

Median automotive mechanic wages in North Carolina are $48,530/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

North Carolina has 43 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 — North Carolina-specific outlook can vary from national figures.

North Carolina Wage Spread

Annual wages for Automotive Mechanics in North Carolina across all experience levels.

10th pct
$31,140
Median
$48,530
90th pct
$77,720
Middle 50% of workers earn $36,780$62,670

Current Automotive Mechanic Apprenticeship Openings in North Carolina

No automotive mechanic apprenticeship openings are currently listed on apprenticeship.gov for North Carolina. 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 North Carolina

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

Organization City County
Asheboro Ford Asheboro
C&L Automotive Asheboro
Thomas Tire & Automotive Asheboro
Anderson Automotive Group Cary
Chapel Hill Tire Cary
Crossroads Automotive Group, Inc. Cary
ASE Education Foundation Charlotte
Capital Ford of Charlotte, Inc. Charlotte
Capitol Ford of Charolette, Inc. Charlotte
Hendrick Automotive Group Durham
Continental Automotive Systems Flat Rock Henderson County
Prestige Subaru Flat Rock
Western NC Automotive Apprenticeship Program Flat Rock
Continental Automotive Systems, Inc. Fletcher
GKN Driveline Graham
AUTOTRENDS/THE Z SHOP, LTD Greensboro
Bill Black Chevrolet Cadillac Greensboro
Mercedes Benz of Winston Salem Greensboro
Toyota of Greensboro Greensboro
Hastings Ford Greenville
Griffin Automotive Group Hamlet
Boyd Chevrolet Cadillac Buick Hendersonville
Four Seasons Ford Hendersonville
Hunter Automotive Group Hendersonville
Cloninger Ford of Hickory Hickory
+ 18 more sponsors in North Carolina
Search apprenticeship.gov for current Automotive Mechanic openings

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

Automotive Mechanic Apprenticeship in North Carolina

Apprenticeship seekers in North Carolina can contact any of 43 trade-specific sponsors our directory surfaces. Coverage is reasonable in urban centers, thinner in rural regions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What do Automotive Mechanics earn in North Carolina?
The BLS reports a median wage of $48,530/yr for Automotive Mechanics in North Carolina (May 2024 data). Experience, union membership, and specialization all affect where you fall in the range.
How long is an Automotive Mechanic 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.
Is an apprenticeship better than trade school for Automotive Mechanics?
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 North Carolina?
Our directory surfaces 43 Automotive Mechanic-related registered sponsors in North Carolina. Start with your local trade union hall, joint apprenticeship committee (JAC), or state apprenticeship agency. You can also search apprenticeship.gov by occupation and ZIP.
How much do Automotive Mechanic apprentices earn?
Yes. Apprentices earn wages from day one, typically starting at 40–60% of the journeyman rate (roughly $24,265/yr in North Carolina). 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 North Carolina →
Or see all 337 programs nationwide.

Automotive Mechanic in Other States

Other Apprenticeships in North Carolina

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