Automotive Mechanic Apprenticeship in Virginia

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.

VA Median Salary
$56,320/yr
+13% vs. national
National Median
$49,670/yr
VA Employment
17,740
Automotive Mechanics employed
VA Sponsors
37
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 Virginia: Quick Facts

What apprenticeship means here

A registered automotive mechanic apprenticeship in Virginia 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.

Virginia pay vs. national

Median automotive mechanic wages in Virginia are $56,320/year, +13% above the national median of $49,670. Wages scale with experience — journey-level workers earn substantially more than apprentices.

Where to find programs

Virginia has 37 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 — Virginia-specific outlook can vary from national figures.

Virginia Wage Spread

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

10th pct
$35,180
Median
$56,320
90th pct
$90,640
Middle 50% of workers earn $39,730$71,220

Current Automotive Mechanic Apprenticeship Openings in Virginia

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

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

Organization City County
Pioneer Chevrolet Abingdon Washington County
Rosslyn Auto Body Alexandria Fairfax County
Global Center for Automotive Performance Simulation (GCAPS) Alton Halifax County
Berglund Ford GMC of Bedford Bedford Bedford County
Lonesome Pine CDJR Big Stone Gap Wise County
Shelor Motor Mile, Inc. Christiansburg Montgomery County
Morgan McClure Chevrolet Coeburn Wise County
Battlefield Ford - Culpeper Culpeper Culpeper County
Chrysler of Culpeper Culpeper Culpeper County
Bisbee Honda of Danville Danville Danville City
Blackwell Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram Fiat Kia Danville Danville City
Robert Woodall Chevrolet Inc Danville
Tim's Car Care (TEST ACCOUNT) Danville
Fairfax County Department of Vehicle Services Fairfax Fairfax County
Mr. Tire Auto Service Centers - Fredericksburg Fredericksburg Spotsylvania County
Pohanka Honda of Fredericksburg Fredericksburg Stafford County
Radley Chevrolet - Fredericksburg Fredericksburg Fredericksburg City
Safford Mazda of Fredericksburg Fredericksburg Fredericksburg City
ASE Education Foundation Leesburg Loudoun County
Berglund KIA of Lynchburg Lynchburg Lynchburg City
Berglund Luxury Lynchburg Lynchburg Lynchburg City
Berglund Toyota Lynchburg Lynchburg Bedford County
Convenience Tire & Auto Manassas
Virginia Tire & Auto Mclean Fairfax County
Southern Ford New Port News
+ 12 more sponsors in Virginia
Search apprenticeship.gov for current Automotive Mechanic openings

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

Automotive Mechanic Apprenticeship in Virginia

Program availability in Virginia is moderate: 37 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 do Automotive Mechanics earn in Virginia?
The BLS reports a median wage of $56,320/yr for Automotive Mechanics in Virginia (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?
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?
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.
Where can I apply for an Automotive Mechanic apprenticeship in Virginia?
Our directory surfaces 37 Automotive Mechanic-related registered sponsors in Virginia. 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?
Yes. Apprentices earn wages from day one, typically starting at 40–60% of the journeyman rate (roughly $28,160/yr in Virginia). 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 Virginia →
Or see all 337 programs nationwide.

Automotive Mechanic in Other States

Other Apprenticeships in Virginia

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