Automotive Mechanic Apprenticeship in Tennessee

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.

TN Median Salary
$47,460/yr
-4% vs. national
National Median
$49,670/yr
TN Employment
16,390
Automotive Mechanics employed
TN Sponsors
13
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 Tennessee: Quick Facts

What apprenticeship means here

A registered automotive mechanic apprenticeship in Tennessee 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.

Tennessee pay vs. national

Median automotive mechanic wages in Tennessee are $47,460/year, -4% below the national median of $49,670. Wages scale with experience — journey-level workers earn substantially more than apprentices.

Where to find programs

Tennessee has 13 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 — Tennessee-specific outlook can vary from national figures.

Tennessee Wage Spread

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

10th pct
$33,010
Median
$47,460
90th pct
$78,830
Middle 50% of workers earn $37,660$61,790

Current Automotive Mechanic Apprenticeship Openings in Tennessee

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

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

Organization City County
Friendship Ford Bristol
Mr. Clean Auto & Detailing Brownsville Haywood County
Bowers Automotive Group Chattanooga
Automotive Technician Development Training Clarksville Montgomery County
NAPA AUTO PARTS Jackson Madison County
NORTH KNOXVILLE CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP RAM Knoxville Knox County
Cannon Automotive Solutions Mcdonald
GREATER MEMPHIS AUTO DEALERS ASSOCIATION Memphis Shelby County
FORD MOTOR CO.NASHVILLE Nashville Davidson County
Lonnie Cobb Ford North Henderson
LEGENDARY AUTO LOGISTICS, INC Readyville Cannon County
Nissan North America Smyrna Rutherford County
JTEKT Automotive Vonore Monroe County
Search apprenticeship.gov for current Automotive Mechanic openings

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

Automotive Mechanic Apprenticeship in Tennessee

Apprenticeship seekers in Tennessee can contact any of 13 trade-specific sponsors our directory surfaces. Coverage is reasonable in urban centers, thinner in rural regions.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do Automotive Mechanics make in Tennessee?
The median annual wage for Automotive Mechanics in Tennessee is $47,460 as of May 2024. Wages range from $33,010 at the 10th percentile to $78,830 at the 90th percentile.
What is the length of an Automotive Mechanic apprenticeship program?
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.
Should I do an Automotive Mechanic apprenticeship or go to trade school?
An apprenticeship lets you earn while you learn over 4 years with no tuition cost. Trade school is faster (6–24 months) but costs money upfront. Both can lead to the same journeyman credential.
How do I find an Automotive Mechanic apprenticeship in Tennessee?
Contact one of the 13 Automotive Mechanic-adjacent registered sponsors in Tennessee (listed below), or search apprenticeship.gov for current openings. Local union halls, community colleges, and the state apprenticeship agency are good first stops.
Do Automotive Mechanic apprentices get paid during training?
Yes. Apprentices earn wages from day one, typically starting at 40–60% of the journeyman rate (roughly $23,730/yr in Tennessee). 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 Tennessee →
Or see all 337 programs nationwide.

Automotive Mechanic in Other States

Other Apprenticeships in Tennessee

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