Tire Repairers and Changers
SOC Code: 49-3093.00
Installation, Maintenance & RepairTire repairers and changers are automotive service technicians who handle the high-volume, time-sensitive work of mounting, balancing, rotating, and repairing tires on passenger vehicles, trucks, and other motorized equipment. They are a frontline presence in automotive service centers, dealerships, truck stops, and independent tire shops, performing a critical safety function in maintaining the rolling components that connect vehicles to the road. While the core tasks are straightforward to learn, speed, physical conditioning, and accurate torque application distinguish experienced technicians who can turn tire services efficiently without compromising safety. The role is often an entry point into broader automotive service careers for workers who develop an interest in vehicle maintenance and repair.
Salary Overview
Median
$37,120
25th Percentile
$33,990
75th Percentile
$43,810
90th Percentile
$48,900
Salary Distribution
Job Outlook (2024–2034)
Growth Rate
+5.7%
New Openings
15,300
Outlook
As fast as average
Key Skills
Knowledge Areas
What They Do
- 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.
- Reassemble tires onto wheels.
- Seal punctures in tubeless tires by inserting adhesive material and expanding rubber plugs into punctures, using hand tools.
Tools & Technology
★ = Hot Technology (in-demand)
Education Requirements
Typical entry-level education: High School Diploma
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Top Career Pivot Targets
View all 3 →Careers with the highest skill compatibility from Tire Repairers and Changers.
A Day in the Life
A tire technician's day is defined by a steady flow of service appointments and walk-in customers whose vehicles are queued for tire changes, rotations, or flat repairs. Workers use lifts or floor jacks to raise vehicles, remove wheels, dismount and mount tires on rims using tire changing machines, and balance assemblies on spin balancers before reinstalling them with calibrated torque wrenches. Flat tire repairs involve removing the tire, locating the puncture, installing a proper plug-patch repair from inside the tire, and verifying the repair before remounting. Busy periods demand efficiency and physical stamina, as technicians may service dozens of vehicles during peak morning and afternoon rushes.
Work Environment
Tire service work is performed in service bay environments that vary from busy dealerships and chain retail service centers to independent shops and outdoor commercial truck lanes. Technicians work on concrete floors, spending time crouching, lifting, and manipulating wheels that can range from a few pounds for compact car tires to over a hundred pounds for commercial truck tires. The physical demands are significant, including repeated lifting, bending, and impact tool use throughout the shift. Exposure to road grime, lubricants, and rubber tire dust is constant, and safety hazards include tire bead explosions during mounting and torque tool injuries if procedures are not followed correctly.
Career Path & Advancement
Most tire technicians enter directly from high school with no prior automotive experience, receiving on-the-job training in tire mounting, balancing, rotation, and flat repair from shop supervisors. Those who demonstrate aptitude and reliability often cross-train in wheel alignment, brake inspection, and basic maintenance services within a few months. From there, technicians who pursue further training through programs such as ASE (Automotive Service Excellence) certification can advance to full automotive service technician roles with significantly higher earning potential. Experienced technicians who build strong customer relationships and technical credibility can advance to service advisor, shop foreman, or service manager positions.
Specializations
Commercial truck tire specialists work in truck stop service lanes or fleet maintenance facilities, handling large commercial tires that require different equipment, higher torque specifications, and knowledge of tire pressure inflation systems specific to trucking. Performance and racing tire specialists serve track-day customers, motorsport teams, and performance vehicle owners, with knowledge of tire compound characteristics, stagger, and camber alignment requirements. Off-road and specialty vehicle technicians mount and balance oversized tires for lifted trucks, ATVs, agricultural equipment, and construction machinery. Mobile tire service technicians provide on-site flat repair and tire change services to commercial fleet customers and roadside motorists, operating from specially equipped service vans.
Pros & Cons
Advantages
- ✓Very accessible entry point into the automotive service industry with no experience required
- ✓Resilient demand regardless of economic cycles as vehicles always need tire maintenance
- ✓Clear pathway to higher-paying automotive technician roles through training and certification
- ✓Many shops offer benefits including health insurance, paid time off, and employee discounts
- ✓Physical work that keeps the body active throughout the workday
- ✓Fast-paced environment with variety in vehicle types and customer interactions each day
- ✓Mobile tire service specialists can enjoy a degree of independence and outdoor work
Challenges
- ✗Median salary of $37,120 is entry-level and limits to advancement without additional training
- ✗Physically intense work with heavy lifting and sustained bending takes a toll on the body
- ✗Risk of serious injury from tire bead explosion during improper mounting procedures
- ✗Exposure to road grime, chemicals, and rubber dust creates an unpleasant working environment
- ✗Customer-facing pressure during peak service hours creates stress in high-volume shops
- ✗Standing on concrete floors throughout full shifts causes fatigue and joint stress
- ✗Limited intrinsic job complexity can lead to disengagement without active career development effort
Industry Insight
Tire service demand is structurally resilient because every registered vehicle needs periodic tire maintenance regardless of economic conditions, and road hazards create an ongoing stream of emergency repair and replacement demand. Electric vehicle adoption is influencing tire demand patterns, as EVs consume tires faster due to their additional torque and weight, creating higher-frequency service intervals. The shift toward tire-as-a-service subscription models in commercial fleet management is creating new opportunities for technicians in fleet tire management roles. Labor shortages across automotive services have elevated entry-level wages, and shops are increasingly offering benefits and training incentives to attract and retain quality technicians.
How to Break Into This Career
Entry into tire service is among the most accessible in the automotive trades, with most shops hiring entry-level technicians and providing all necessary task training within the first few weeks. A valid driver's license is typically required, and physical fitness for sustained lifting and manual work is important. National tire retail chains including Discount Tire, Mavis Tires, and Firestone offer structured multi-location training programs that provide rapid skill development. Demonstrating a strong work ethic, punctuality, and genuine interest in vehicles during the hiring process is often sufficient to secure a first position without any prior automotive experience.
Career Pivot Tips
Tire service experience builds foundational automotive mechanical skills including wheel and brake system familiarity, torque procedures, and diagnostic inspection habits that support advancement into full service technician roles. Workers who pursue ASE certification while in tire service substantially improve their marketability for broader automotive technician positions at significantly higher pay. Customer-facing experience in high-traffic service environments develops service advisor and service manager competencies valued in automotive retail careers. Those who build fleet service relationships can transition into commercial fleet maintenance coordination or tire account management sales roles with the right interpersonal skills.
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