If you want a career that involves cars and trucks and other motorized vehicles, you should look into getting your college education in automotive diagnostics. Those going into automotive diagnostics are often called automotive service technicians. It is their job to inspect and perform basic upkeep and maintenance on automobiles. These automobiles can be fueled by gasoline, diesel, ethanol, electricity, or alternative fuels. Automotive service technicians also do repair to motorized vehicles including diagnosing complicated problems dealing with engines and even electronic and computerized components on automobiles.
Most employers in the automotive diagnostics field like to hire employees with a high school diploma and certification from a college training program in automotive repair and diagnostics. The best paying jobs in this field will go to individuals with these two requirements. Generally, automotive service technicians work 40 hours per week but many work longer hours when needed. Some automakers and franchised dealerships have partnered with automotive service technician programs and actually offer both associate's degrees (2 years) and bachelor's degrees (4 years) in the automotive diagnostics and repair field.

Employment Outlook in Automotive Diagnostics
The employment outlook for automotive repair and diagnostics is very positive. According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, this field is expected to experience about five percent job growth between now and 2018. This growth will stem from more Americans purchasing cars. It will also come as the average lifespan of vehicles increases; therefore, increasing the need for repairs to vehicles. There will be more growth in entry level positions in this field, as turnover and transfers are high in the automotive repair field.
Wages for Automotive Diagnostics
Those going into automotive repair diagnostics can make good hourly wages. The Occupational Outlook Handbook found that in 2008, automotive repair technicians had average wages over $16.00 per hour. The middle 50 percent of automotive repair technician had hourly wages from $12.00 to $22.00. The highest paying industries for automotive repair technicians were local government averaging $20.00 per hour, automotive dealers averaging $19.00 per hour, and automotive repair and maintenance averaging $15.00 per hour. Those working for dealerships would generally also make a commission based on the number of customers serviced. This would also increase their earnings.
Automotive Diagnostic Repair Programs
Colleges and training centers have some excellent automotive diagnostics and repair programs available right now. You can even get your associate's degree (2 years of study) or your bachelor's degree (4 years of study) in automotive diagnostics and repair.