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Auto electrician

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Auto electricians fit and repair the electrics in motor vehicles.

£15,000 to £35,000 average per year

40 per week

1. Entry requirements

You’ll usually need 4 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent.

You could:

do a vehicle maintenance and repair college course that also covers auto electrical work
get into this career through an apprenticeship

You may need a driving licence that includes LGV (lorries) or PCV (buses), if you work with these vehicles.

Autocity has more information about becoming an auto electrician.

2. Skills required

You’ll need:

practical skills
the ability to work methodically and pay close attention to detail
problem-solving skills
the ability to read electrical wiring diagrams

3. What you'll do

Your day-to-day duties may include:

taking readings, using a laptop or hand-held device connected to an engine's electronic control unit
checking and testing wiring and parts in older vehicles using portable instruments
using readings to find faults
researching faults, using manufacturers' circuit diagrams and manuals
repairing or replacing faulty parts
retesting the system to make sure everything is working correctly and safely (this may include road testing the vehicle)
filling out a repair sheet listing the work you have done

You’ll work with a variety of electronic systems including:

ignitions, alarms, immobilisers and tracking devices
electric windows, mirrors and seats, towbar electrics and air-conditioning
customised LED or neon lighting kits, parking warning systems and reversing cameras

You’ll also deal with in-car phones, TV, and audio and DVD players.

You could specialise in light vehicles (cars, vans and motorcycles), heavy vehicles (lorries, buses and coaches), or one particular vehicle model if you work for a motor manufacturer.

4. Salary

Starter: £15,000 to £18,500

Experienced: £18,500 to £29,000

Highly Experienced: up to £35,000

These figures are a guide.

5. Working hours, patterns and environment

You’ll usually work 40 hours a week, Monday to Friday.

You might have to work shifts or be on-call.

You’ll be based in a garage or workshop. If your job includes call-out duties, you’ll also work outside in all weather conditions.

6. Career path and progression

With experience, you could progress to be a supervisor or manager, or move into vehicle sales or marketing.

You could also set up your own business.