Oil Change Technician Jobs in Arlington, TX
Oil change technician is one of the quickest ways into automotive work in Arlington, where quick-lube shops line Cooper Street, Matlock Road and Green Oaks Boulevard and train new hires from day one. Walmart's Randol Mill Road auto center is posting $17.50 an hour and up. Here are the current openings, then who is hiring.
Current oil change technician Openings in Arlington, TX
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Oil Change Technician Work in Arlington
Arlington is a driving city. Most working residents commute alone by car and the city has no fixed-route bus, so oil change bays stay busy all year. The work clusters on the big retail roads: South Cooper Street near The Parks Mall and I-20, Matlock Road and Southeast Green Oaks Boulevard in south and east Arlington, Sublett Road on the south side, and Randol Mill Road near the Entertainment District.
Most shops here are national chains or franchises, so the job comes with a set training program and a clear ladder. Some Arlington service shops, such as the Meineke on SW Green Oaks Boulevard, also perform Texas state vehicle inspections, which gives a lube tech a second skill to learn and a reason to earn the state inspector certification early.
Top Arlington Employers Hiring Oil Change Technicians
These employers have Arlington locations and have posted or named oil change and lube roles on their own careers sites:
- Walmart Auto Care Center - the Randol Mill Road supercenter is hiring part-time Auto Care Center Technicians to change oil and tires and handle general maintenance.
- Take 5 Oil Change - the stay-in-your-car chain runs Arlington shops on Southeast Green Oaks Boulevard, Matlock Road and North Cooper Street and hires Oil Change Team Members for them.
- Valvoline Instant Oil Change - with service centers on West Sublett Road and East Lamar Boulevard, it hires Entry-Level Lube Technicians on a path to certified and senior technician.
- Midas - the South Cooper Street shop lists General Service Technician among its openings, alongside full automotive technician roles.
Oil Change Technician Salaries in Arlington
- Entry level: about $15 to $17 per hour, with training provided.
- Experienced: roughly $17.50 to $20 per hour, often with service or sales bonuses.
- Lead tech / state inspector: about $20 to $24 per hour, usually as a step toward assistant manager or full technician.
These are estimates based on local postings and federal wage data for service attendants (national median about $17.15 an hour in 2025). Pay moves with the chain, full-time versus part-time hours, weekend shifts, and whether you hold a Texas inspector certification. Moving up to automotive technician is the biggest raise: BLS puts that median at $24.34 an hour.
How to Become an Oil Change Technician in Arlington
This is a true entry-level job. Most Arlington shops want you to be at least 18 with a valid driver license, able to lift and work under vehicles, and they train you on the rest. Texas does not license oil change work, but doing state inspections requires a vehicle inspector certification from the Texas Department of Public Safety: you must be 18 with a Texas driver license, finish approved training and pass the exam with a score of 80 or better. To move up faster, Tarrant County College offers a 12-credit General Service Technician award in Automotive Service Technology at TCC South Campus in Fort Worth, and Arlington ISD students can take automotive courses at the Dan Dipert Career and Technical Center on Browning Drive.
What the Job Involves
Oil change technicians drain and refill engine oil, replace filters, top off fluids, check tire pressure and run multi-point inspections. Daily work includes guiding cars into the bay, explaining recommended service to customers, recording each job in shop software and keeping the pit or bay clean and safe. Speed and accuracy both count, since the right oil and the right drain plug torque matter on every car.
Skills Employers Look For
- Mechanical aptitude and willingness to learn
- Attention to detail on oil type, fill level and torque
- Clear, friendly customer service
- A valid driver license and safe driving habits
- Ability to work quickly in a busy bay
- Reliability for weekend and evening shifts
Career Path and Advancement
In Arlington the usual ladder starts in the lube bay, adds state inspections and light maintenance, then leads to certified or senior technician, assistant manager and shop manager. Valvoline lays out that exact path on its careers site. Others use the lube bay as a launchpad into tire technician, automotive technician or service advisor work at the dealers along I-20.
Related Careers in Arlington
If oil change work interests you, these related Arlington roles are close matches:
- Automotive Technician Jobs
- Tire Technician Jobs
- Automotive Service Advisor Jobs
- Auto Parts Specialist Jobs
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you need experience to be an oil change technician in Arlington?
No. Quick-lube chains such as Take 5 and Valvoline hire entry-level team members and lube techs and train them on the job. A valid driver license, reliability and the ability to handle physical work are the main requirements.
How much do oil change technicians make in Arlington?
Entry-level techs generally start around $15 to $17 an hour, and experienced techs earn about $17.50 to $20. Walmart's Arlington auto center posts a range of $17.50 to $30.50 an hour for its technician role. These are estimates that vary by chain and hours.
Do I need a license to do state inspections in Texas?
Yes. State inspections require a vehicle inspector certification from the Texas Department of Public Safety. You need to be 18 with a Texas driver license, complete approved training and score at least 80 on the exam.
How fast can you move up from oil change technician?
Often within months. Techs who learn inspections and light maintenance can move to senior technician or assistant manager, or into tire and general automotive technician jobs. Adding a TCC automotive certificate speeds up the jump to full technician.
Is oil change work physically demanding?
Yes, moderately. You bend, lift, work under and over vehicles and stay on your feet in a busy bay, often through North Texas summer heat. Good stamina and safe habits matter.
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