Tire Repairers and Changers
Repair and replace tires.
Also called: Alignment Technician (Alignment Tech), Auto Tire Worker (Automotive Tire Worker), Commercial Tire Service Technician (Commercial Tire Service Tech), Commercial Tire Technician (Commercial Tire Tech), Lube Technician (Lube Tech), Mobile Tire Technician (Mobile Tire Tech)
Median pay
$37,710
per year, U.S.
Pay range (10th–90th)
$30,010 – $50,230
People employed
108,410
Holland code
RCI
Realistic · Conventional · Investigative
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
Is this career right for you?
These are the things that stand out in this job compared with other U.S. jobs (O*NET 31.0 work context). Answer honestly.
- 1.Are you OK working outdoors in all kinds of weather?
- 2.Are you OK with physical risk, such as hazardous equipment or conditions, with proper training?
- 3.Are you OK being on your feet and moving most of the day?
The hard parts
- Long hours on your feet
- Work outdoors in all weather
- Tight deadlines are common
Tire Repairers and Changers pay by state
Annual median pay by state (50 states with published data). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025.
What tire repairers and changers do
- 01Unbolt and remove wheels from vehicles, using lug wrenches or other hand or power tools.
- 02Place wheels on balancing machines to determine counterweights required to balance wheels.
- 03Identify tire size and ply and inflate tires accordingly.
- 04Raise vehicles, using hydraulic jacks.
- 05Reassemble tires onto wheels.
- 06Glue tire patches over ruptures in tire casings, using rubber cement.
Skills that matter most
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Critical Thinking
- Monitoring
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Learning
Knowledge
- Mechanical
- Customer and Personal Service
- Administration and Management
- Production and Processing
- Education and Training
Work styles that stand out
- Dependability
Education and first steps
O*NET has no education survey data for this job.
How people get started
- Usually needs a high school diploma (O*NET Job Zone 2).
- Related work experience: none.
- On-the-job training: anything beyond short demonstration, up to and including 1 month.
Most common answers from O*NET 31.0 Education, Training and Experience.
Interest fit (Holland code)
O*NET occupational interest scores, scale 1–7. Take the Free Career Test to compare with your own.
Career changes
Change from tire repairers and changers
- Tire Builders85% · +52%
- Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendants83% · −5%
- Engine and Other Machine Assemblers80% · +42%
- Recycling and Reclamation Workers79% · group pay
- Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment79% · −5%
Change into tire repairers and changers
Jobs whose skills carry over best (skill match, their median pay).
- Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendants83% · $35,670
- Recycling and Reclamation Workers79% · $40,240
- Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment75% · $35,830
- Pressers, Textile, Garment, and Related Materials73% · $35,060
- Shoe and Leather Workers and Repairers71% · $37,800