Tire Repairers and Changers: Career Overview
Repair and replace tires.
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What Do Tire Repairers and Changers Perform?
The day-to-day responsibilities of tire repairers and changers include:
- Raise vehicles, using hydraulic jacks.
- Remount wheels onto vehicles.
- Unbolt and remove wheels from vehicles, using lug wrenches or other hand or power tools.
- Place wheels on balancing machines to determine counterweights required to balance wheels.
- Identify tire size and ply and inflate tires accordingly.
- Replace valve stems and remove puncturing objects.
- Hammer required counterweights onto rims of wheels.
- Reassemble tires onto wheels.
Skills and Knowledge
Effective tire repairers and changers rely on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Key Skills
The abilities most important for this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Core Knowledge
Types of Tire Repairers and Changers Jobs
People in this occupation may also be known by titles such as:
- Alignment Technician
- Automotive Tire Worker (Auto Tire Worker)
- Brake and Alignment Technician (Brake and Alignment Tech)
- Commercial Tire Service Tech (Commercial Tire Service Technician)
- Commercial Tire Tech (Commercial Tire Technician)
- Lube Technician
- Maintenance Technician
- Mobile Tire Tech (Mobile Tire Technician)
Job Outlook
There are about 481,999 tire repairers and changers working in the United States today. This occupation is expected to grow by +4.2% over the projection horizon.
Tire Repairers and Changers Pay
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $60,154 |
| Hourly median | $28.92 |
| 10th percentile | $42,086 |
| 25th percentile | $51,120 |
| 75th percentile | $69,188 |
| 90th percentile | $78,222 |
Pay can vary substantially based on experience, location, and industry.
Pay by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| Hawaii | $48,300 |
| Oregon | $45,560 |
| Rhode Island | $45,370 |
| District of Columbia | $45,110 |
| Delaware | $43,920 |
| Washington | $43,400 |
| California | $42,420 |
| Ohio | $41,840 |
| New York | $40,870 |
| Wyoming | $40,590 |
| Minnesota | $40,340 |
| Maryland | $40,260 |
| Montana | $40,000 |
| Wisconsin | $39,340 |
| Alaska | $39,060 |
| Colorado | $38,990 |
| Vermont | $38,730 |
| New Jersey | $38,560 |
| Idaho | $38,260 |
| Iowa | $38,140 |
| North Dakota | $38,080 |
| Georgia | $37,910 |
| Pennsylvania | $37,710 |
| Arizona | $37,240 |
| Illinois | $37,050 |
| Maine | $37,030 |
| Massachusetts | $36,850 |
| Michigan | $36,820 |
| Missouri | $36,650 |
| Kansas | $36,570 |
| Nebraska | $36,420 |
| South Dakota | $36,390 |
| New Hampshire | $36,320 |
| Indiana | $36,060 |
| Utah | $36,060 |
| Texas | $35,930 |
| Connecticut | $35,870 |
| Virginia | $35,810 |
| Tennessee | $35,740 |
| Nevada | $35,660 |
| Kentucky | $35,050 |
| Louisiana | $34,640 |
| Oklahoma | $34,640 |
| North Carolina | $34,570 |
| Florida | $33,660 |
| Mississippi | $33,480 |
| South Carolina | $33,350 |
| Arkansas | $32,650 |
| New Mexico | $31,030 |
| Alabama | $29,790 |
| West Virginia | $29,710 |
| Guam | $27,000 |
| Puerto Rico | $21,160 |
Top-Paying U.S. Regions
Compensation for tire repairers and changers vary by region. Top regions by median wage:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Far Western US | $42,548 | 16.5% | 1.09 |
| Middle Atlantic | $38,962 | 6.9% | 0.62 |
| Rocky Mountains | $38,323 | 6.8% | 1.82 |
| Great Lakes | $38,049 | 13.9% | 1.02 |
| Plains States | $37,574 | 7.1% | 1.10 |
| New England | $37,326 | 2.7% | 0.61 |
| Southwest | $35,721 | 19.7% | 1.59 |
| Southeast | $34,362 | 25.8% | 1.07 |
Where the Jobs Cluster
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Napa, CA | CA | $51,600 | 50 |
| Urban Honolulu, HI | HI | $47,770 | 130 |
| Grants Pass, OR | OR | $47,110 | 50 |
| Bend, OR | OR | $46,740 | 200 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | CA | $46,740 | 50 |
| Salem, OR | OR | $46,650 | 220 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | CA | $46,060 | 1,010 |
| Bozeman, MT | MT | $45,910 | 110 |
Which Industries Hire Tire Repairers and Changers
The bulk of tire repairers and changers are concentrated in the following sectors:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Retail Trade | 86,110 | $36,880 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) | 10,250 | $35,760 |
| Wholesale Trade | 4,880 | $42,610 |
| Manufacturing | 1,500 | $45,850 |
| Transportation and Warehousing | 1,050 | $41,660 |
| Real Estate and Rental and Leasing | 730 | $40,560 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | 620 | $37,910 |
| Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction | 150 | $83,360 |
Below are examples of industries where tire repairers and changers work:
Tools and Technology
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Electronic mail software: Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
The Day-to-Day Environment
The on-the-job environment of tire repairers and changers tends to involve the following characteristics:
- Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls
- Spend Time Standing
- Indoors, Not Environmentally Controlled
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
Getting Started in This Career
Most tire repairers and changers positions require a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education. This career aligns with Some Preparation Needed (Job Zone 2), signaling the level of preparation typically expected.
Related Careers
Similar Occupations
- Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators (Supplemental)
- Electric Motor, Power Tool, and Related Repairers (Primary-Long)
- Automotive Body and Related Repairers (Primary-Long)
- Automotive Glass Installers and Repairers (Primary-Long)
- Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics (Primary-Short)
- Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists (Primary-Long)
- Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines (Supplemental)
- Rail Car Repairers (Primary-Short)
References
Statistics shown above are sourced from the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 49-3093.00 (Tire Repairers and Changers).