Nearly six in 10 repair shops indicated the tech shortage was having a “high” or “moderate” impact on the business

LAS VEGAS – March 10, 2026 – The top factors contributing to the auto technician shortage are “low compensation” and a “negative perception of the industry.”

That’s according to a recent study titled “The U.S. General Auto Repair Shop Survey Report,” by PartsTech, an OEC company.  The technology provider polled 700 U.S. auto repair shops in September 2025.

Most of the respondents identified as shop owners (40%) or shop managers (36%). Another 16% said they were service advisors and 3% were auto technicians.

On average, respondents to this survey said their shop has the following resources:

• 3.25 locations;
• 8.15 service bays;
• 12.25 daily car count;
• 6.42 techs employed; and
• 2.09 service advisors.

The report covers a wide range of matters that are important to shop owners, including a substantive section on the acquisition of skilled labor. That’s what stood out to us the most; below are three of the highlights.

1. How serious is the auto technician shortage?

The survey asked respondents, “How significant is the impact of the technician shortage on your shop?”  Nearly six in 10 (59%) repair shops indicated the shortage was having either a high or moderate impact on the business.

Here’s how the answers broke out:

• 37% said the shortage is highly significant;
• 22% said the shortage is moderately significant;
• 22% said the shortage is slightly significant; and
• 18% said the shortage is not significant.

2. What’s causing the auto technician shortage?

The answers were varied as the report notes, “the shortage is not driven by one issue alone but by a combination of workforce challenges, economic pressures, and the need for broader industry outreach.”

The top five reasons respondents identified stacked up this way:

• 24% attribute the shortage to low compensation;
• 23% attribute the shortage to a negative perception of the profession;
• 14% attribute the shortage to limited access to training;
• 13% attribute the shortage to lack of awareness about the profession; and
• 12% attribute the shortage to competition from other industries.

3. How much are repair shops paying techs on average?

Compensation can vary based on the type of work performed and an individual technician’s skill set. Even so, the survey identified average labor rates. About half of the respondents (47%) put their average labor rate at between $100-$139.

And here’s the breakout:

• 7% of shops pay less than $100;
• 24% of shops pay between $100-$119;
• 23% of shops pay between $120-139;
• 19% of shops pay between $140-$159;
• 12% of shops pay between $160-179;
• 9% of shops pay between $180-200;
• 3% of shops pay more than $200; and
• 3% of shops pay unsure of their average labor rate.

Get the full report

The full report can be downloaded here: The U.S. General Auto Repair Shop Survey Report (reg. req.)

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