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Mechanic

A mechanic services, diagnoses and repairs cars and other vehicles, keeping them safe and running well. It suits practical, methodical people who enjoy problem-solving, working with their hands and understanding how things work.

Mechanic

4

Transport & Logistics

AI IMPACT
AI CAN DO4%moving to49%
THE DOOR, NOWB
THE DOOR, 20 YRSD
STARTING PAYnot published
MOAT NOT YET CLASSIFIEDA real score, but the moat is not yet classified. No claim either way.
AI can do very little of this work today
Hands-on work, caring for people and dealing with the real world are among the hardest things to automate, and this job leans on them. We have not yet formally classified its moat, so we make no claim either way, but the exposure score speaks for itself.

The role

The work is servicing vehicles, finding faults using diagnostic tools and know-how, repairing or replacing parts, and explaining the work and costs to customers. Problem-solving, attention to detail and keeping up with newer vehicle technology matter, along with the physical side of working under and around cars.

The work is hands-on in a garage, can be dirty, noisy and physical, often with regular weekday hours plus some Saturdays, and pay rises well with skill and experience. Many mechanics work for garages or dealerships, while some become self-employed or open their own workshop.

Most people get in through a motor vehicle apprenticeship or college course, learning on the job towards recognised qualifications. No degree is needed, and experience can lead to specialist work, MOT testing or running a garage.

Daily responsibilities

  • Service and inspect vehicles
  • Diagnose faults with tools and tests
  • Repair or replace worn parts
  • Carry out brake, engine and electrical work
  • Explain repairs and costs to customers
  • Test vehicles after repair
  • Keep tools and the workshop safe and tidy
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AI EXPOSURE = the share of a job's day-to-day tasks AI can already do today, from the same exposure engine used across this site (Anthropic labour market research, 2026, observed real-world AI usage by occupation). Higher means more exposed. It is a measurement of now, not a prediction. THE DOOR = how hard the job is to get into, grade A (easy) to E (extremely hard), from each career's published forecast (OpenAI, "The AI Jobs Transition Framework", Richmond 2026, CC BY 4.0). A card marked MOAT NOT YET CLASSIFIED has a real exposure score but no entry yet in our moat register, so we make no claim about what structurally protects it. Scorecard grades and verdicts are Careermash editorial judgment: we show forecasts as forecasts and own our conclusions. Salary and pathway figures are each career's own published profile. Careermash is a service provided by What School Ltd.

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