Automotive Mechanic Apprenticeship in New Jersey

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.

NJ Median Salary
$57,290/yr
+15% vs. national
National Median
$49,670/yr
NJ Employment
16,820
Automotive Mechanics employed
NJ Sponsors
17
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 New Jersey: Quick Facts

What apprenticeship means here

A registered automotive mechanic apprenticeship in New Jersey 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.

New Jersey pay vs. national

Median automotive mechanic wages in New Jersey are $57,290/year, +15% above the national median of $49,670. Wages scale with experience — journey-level workers earn substantially more than apprentices.

Where to find programs

New Jersey has 17 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 — New Jersey-specific outlook can vary from national figures.

New Jersey Wage Spread

Annual wages for Automotive Mechanics in New Jersey across all experience levels.

10th pct
$34,790
Median
$57,290
90th pct
$88,710
Middle 50% of workers earn $39,290$75,840

Current Automotive Mechanic Apprenticeship Openings in New Jersey

No automotive mechanic apprenticeship openings are currently listed on apprenticeship.gov for New Jersey. 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 New Jersey

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

Organization City County
Car Electric Inc. Atco Camden County
Dayton Toyota Dayton
Route 18 Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram East Brunswick
Nielsen Dodge East Hanover Morris County
NJ CAR Ewing Mercer County
DeBoer's Auto Hamburg Sussex County
Automotive Magic Kenvil Morris County
Malouf Buick/GMC North Brunswick
Malouf Chevrolet/Cadillac North Brunswick
Global Auto Mall North Plainfield
Lester Glenn Ford Ocean
Circle Chevrolet/Hyundai Shrewsbury
Lester Glenn Mazda Toms Riber
Lester Glenn Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram Toms River
Lester Glenn Hyundai Toms River
Lester Glenn Subaru Toms River
Puleos Auto Clinic LLC Washington Warren County
Search apprenticeship.gov for current Automotive Mechanic openings

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

Automotive Mechanic Apprenticeship in New Jersey

Apprenticeship seekers in New Jersey can contact any of 17 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 New Jersey?
The BLS reports a median wage of $57,290/yr for Automotive Mechanics in New Jersey (May 2024 data). Experience, union membership, and specialization all affect where you fall in the range.
What is the length of an Automotive Mechanic apprenticeship program?
The standard Automotive Mechanic apprenticeship is 4 years of combined on-the-job training and classroom education. Some programs offer accelerated paths for candidates with prior experience.
Should I do an Automotive Mechanic apprenticeship or go to 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 New Jersey?
Our directory surfaces 17 Automotive Mechanic-related registered sponsors in New Jersey. 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.
Do Automotive Mechanic apprentices get paid during training?
Apprentices are paid employees from the start. In New Jersey, a first-year Automotive Mechanic apprentice might earn around $28,645/yr (roughly half the $57,290 journeyman median), with scheduled raises throughout the 4-year 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 New Jersey →
Or see all 337 programs nationwide.

Automotive Mechanic in Other States

Other Apprenticeships in New Jersey

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