Automotive & Repair Jobs in Arlington, TX
Arlington's repair work clusters along the I-20 dealership corridor and the shops on S Cooper St, where certified technicians are posted at $18 to $40 an hour depending on skill and brand. The guides below cover every automotive and repair role in Arlington, from oil change bays to diesel shops.
Why Automotive & Repair Work Is Different in Arlington
Arlington builds vehicles as well as fixing them. GM Arlington Assembly on E Abram St has built full-size SUVs since 1954, and the city's car culture shows in its dealership rows: Hiley's Volkswagen, Hyundai and Mazda stores sit on E I-20 and Tech Centre Pkwy, and Family Toyota of Arlington hires its own certified techs. Because 77 percent of commuters drive alone and Arlington has no fixed-route bus, most workers depend on a car, which keeps quick-service bays and independent shops busy year round.
The trade splits by shop type. Dealerships want factory-trained technicians and pay by brand certification and production bonuses. Independent and franchise shops on S Cooper St, Pioneer Pkwy and Green Oaks Blvd hire general techs, often on a guarantee plus commission. Collision shops sit on N Great Southwest Pkwy and W Pioneer Pkwy, and diesel work follows freight into Grand Prairie and Fort Worth, where truck dealers and fleet lessors post $27 to $32 an hour. A Texas state inspection certification adds value at shops that run inspections.
Top Automotive & Repair Employers in Arlington
These employers posted automotive roles in Arlington or the nearby metro this month:
- Family Toyota of Arlington - hires certified Toyota technicians at $18 to $38 an hour, with a state inspection license required.
- Hiley Volkswagen of Arlington - the E I-20 dealership hires certified VW and used-vehicle service technicians with production bonuses.
- Midas - the S Cooper St shop hires automotive technicians at $25 to $40 an hour, or a weekly guarantee plus commission.
- Texas Collision Centers - the N Great Southwest Pkwy shop's group hires auto body technicians, painters and helpers.
- Walmart Auto Care Center - the E Randol Mill Rd supercenter hires part-time auto care technicians for oil and tire work.
- Premier Truck Group - the Freightliner dealer's Fort Worth shop hires diesel mechanics with a sign-on bonus.
Automotive & Repair Career Paths in Arlington
- Quick service - Oil Change Technician and Tire Technician. The usual first job in a bay, with training on the job.
- Diagnosis and repair - Automotive Technician, Transmission Specialist and Diesel Mechanic. The core trade, where certifications and specialties set pay.
- Collision - Auto Body Repair Technician. Structural and panel work, often starting as a body tech helper.
- Front counter and parts - Automotive Service Advisor and Auto Parts Specialist. Customer-facing roles that run the service lane and parts desk.
How to Start an Automotive & Repair Career in Arlington
- Tarrant County College Automotive Service Technology - on TCC South in Fort Worth: a 60-hour AAS, a 12-hour General Service Technician award and Level 1 certificates. Students supply their own hand tools.
- TCC Diesel Technician Certificate - Level 1, 30 hours, also on TCC South.
- Dan Dipert Career and Technical Center - Arlington ISD's CTE campus on Browning Dr runs an automotive program for high school students.
- Private trade schools - Lincoln College of Technology in Grand Prairie (diesel and truck) and UTI Dallas/Fort Worth in Irving (diesel technology).
- ASE certification - the industry standard; diesel techs work toward the T-series Master Medium-Heavy Truck certification.
- Texas vehicle inspector certification - from the Department of Public Safety: 18 or older, a Texas driver license, approved training and a passing exam score of 80.
Texas has no state license for automotive technicians or mechanics; the DPS inspector certification is required only to perform state inspections, and ASE and factory certifications are employer preference that raise pay.
Automotive & Repair Salaries in Arlington
- Entry - about $15 to $19 an hour for oil change and tire technicians.
- Mid - about $18 to $30 an hour for automotive technicians and body techs as certifications build.
- Senior - about $30 to $40 an hour for master, dealer-certified and diesel technicians, with top commission techs earning more.
These are estimates from recent Arlington and DFW postings. Dealerships pay more for brand certifications and add production bonuses, independent shops often pay a weekly guarantee plus commission on labor hours, and diesel shops pay shift premiums and bonuses for each new ASE certification.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a license to be a mechanic in Texas?
No. Texas does not license automotive technicians or mechanics. You do need a DPS vehicle inspector certification to perform state inspections, and Family Toyota of Arlington lists it as a requirement for technicians.
How much do auto technicians make in Arlington?
Recent Arlington postings range from $18 an hour for newer dealership techs to $40 for experienced technicians at independent shops. Pay depends on certifications, brand training and how many labor hours you produce.
Where can I study automotive repair near Arlington?
Tarrant County College offers automotive and diesel programs at its South campus in Fort Worth. Lincoln College of Technology in Grand Prairie and UTI in Irving also train diesel technicians, and Arlington ISD students can start at the Dan Dipert Career and Technical Center.
What is the fastest way into a repair shop?
Start as an oil change or tire technician, which usually need no experience. You learn the bay, then add ASE certifications and move into general repair.
Do diesel mechanics earn more than car technicians around Arlington?
Usually. Diesel shops in Grand Prairie and Fort Worth post rates near $27 to $32 an hour, often with shift differentials and sign-on bonuses, while many car technicians start lower and build pay through certifications.
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