Do automotive service technicians need a license in District of Columbia?

No statewide license is required for automotive service technicians in District of Columbia. Most employers expect industry certifications such as ASE or OEM certification.

How to Become an Automotive Service Technician in District of Columbia (2026)

Q: How long does automotive service technician training take in District of Columbia?

Most people become an Automotive Service Technician in District of Columbia through a postsecondary automotive, diesel, motorcycle, marine, or collision program plus ASE or OEM credentials. This is not a default RAPIDS apprenticeship.

Q: How much do automotive service technicians earn in District of Columbia?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), automotive service technicians in District of Columbia earned a median annual wage of approximately $68,660. Employment concentration in District of Columbia is roughly 0.10 of the national average, meaning fewer workers per capita than the U.S. as a whole.

Q: What is the job outlook for automotive service technicians in District of Columbia?

District of Columbia currently employs approximately 310 workers, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 4.2% national employment change for this occupation from 2024 to 2034.

Updated September 2, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

District of Columbia automotive service technicians and mechanics earn a median annual wage of $68,660 ($33.01/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 310 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately 35.6% above the national median of $50,620 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $68,660 ($33.01/hr)
25th percentile: $56,530 per year
75th percentile: $78,770 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $89,960 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $46,230 per year
Workers employed in District of Columbia: 310
Versus national median: 35.6% above the U.S. median of $50,620
Job concentration: Location quotient 0.10 - this occupation is less concentrated in District of Columbia than the national average

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. Last reviewed September 2, 2026.

District of Columbia employs about 310 automotive service technicians earning a median $68,660 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Training as an Automotive Service Technician here means completing a postsecondary automotive, diesel, motorcycle, marine, or collision program plus ASE or OEM credentials. This is not a default RAPIDS apprenticeship.

Compare Automotive Service Technician Schools in District of Columbia

BOC Score, tuition, graduation rate, and median graduate earnings from federal IPEDS and U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard data. Tuition is the published annual figure for the latest reported year and excludes room, board, books and fees. Earnings are reported across all programs at the school (all majors), not a single trade. Distance is measured from the page's primary location.
#	School	BOC Score (0–100)	Tuition (published, per year)	Median grad earnings (all majors)	Graduation rate	Online	Distance
1	York County School of Technology-Adult & Continuing Education	77.6	Contact school for pricing	$48,902	90%	—	73 mi
2	James Rumsey Technical Institute	74.9	Contact school for pricing	$53,906	77%	—	62 mi
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3	Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology	67.0	$9,050	$57,788	71%	—	87 mi
4	Lancaster County Career and Technology Center	64.1	Contact school for pricing	$56,037	91%	—	85 mi
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5	Northern Virginia Community College	62.5	$5,891 in-state / $12,409 out-of-state	$57,487	33%	Yes*	12 mi
6	Germanna Community College	61.1	$5,257 in-state / $11,648 out-of-state	$51,929	46%	Yes*	60 mi
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7	Polytech Adult Education	60.8	Contact school for pricing	$54,607	70%	—	80 mi
8	Montgomery College	59.0	$5,394 in-state / $14,250 out-of-state	$55,199	32%	Yes*	14 mi
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9	Prince George's Community College	48.7	$4,034 in-state / $8,762 out-of-state	$62,100	18%	Yes*	11 mi
10	Delaware Technical Community College-Terry	48.4	$5,445 in-state / $12,308 out-of-state	$55,102	22%	Yes*	81 mi
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Schools closest to the page's primary location are gathered first, then ranked by BOC Score; distance from the page's primary location is shown for reference. The BOC Score is an independent measure of school outcomes (graduation, earnings, net price, retention) expressed as a 0–100 percentile within each school's peer group; higher is better and advertising never affects it. *Online availability refers to coursework; hands-on trade training is completed in person. Read the full methodology.

District of Columbia employs approximately 310 automotive service technicians according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $68,660 ¹. Nationally, automotive service technician employment is projected to grow 4.2% from 2024 to 2034, with about 70,000 openings per year ². This page covers how to become an Automotive Service Technician in District of Columbia, including licensing requirements, training programs, and salary data.

At a Glance

Training paths: trade-school or community-college program in the specialty (find programs)
Typical timeline: a postsecondary automotive, diesel, motorcycle, marine, or collision program plus ASE or OEM credentials. This is not a default RAPIDS apprenticeship
Exam: ASE or OEM certification
Median wage (District of Columbia): $68,660 per year ¹

Quick Answers About How to Become an Automotive Service Technician in District of Columbia

How to become an Automotive Service Technician in District of Columbia? Complete a postsecondary automotive, diesel, motorcycle, marine, or collision program plus ASE or OEM credentials. This is not a default RAPIDS apprenticeship. Confirm credential rules with the program and employer.

How long does it take? Most people finish a postsecondary automotive, diesel, motorcycle, marine, or collision program plus ASE or OEM credentials. This is not a default RAPIDS apprenticeship. Confirm current hour totals with the program and employer.

Do I need a license in District of Columbia? Most states do not require a statewide occupational license. Employers typically expect ASE or OEM certification. See the licensing section below.

What do automotive service technicians earn in District of Columbia? The median annual wage for automotive service technicians in District of Columbia is $68,660 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $46,230 and experienced professionals can earn $89,960 or more ¹.

How to Become an Automotive Service Technician in District of Columbia

Meet program entry rules. Programs typically require a high school diploma or GED.
Complete a specialty program. Finish an automotive, diesel, motorcycle, marine, or collision program. Some union shops use apprenticeships; the default national path is a certificate plus ASE, not DAS as the only option.
Earn ASE or OEM credentials. Pass ASE tests or OEM training the employer requires. Some states add a separate smog or emissions credential; it is not the whole mechanic license.

Steps and hour totals vary by credential level; confirm current requirements with the program and employer before you enroll.

Automotive Service Technician License Requirements in District of Columbia

Most states do not license auto, diesel, motorcycle, marine, or collision techs as a statewide journeyman card. Employers expect ASE or OEM credentials. Some states add a smog or emissions credential.

Typical path

Complete a specialty program.
Earn ASE or OEM credentials.
Add a state smog or emissions credential only if that state and the job require one.

Hour totals, fees, and reciprocity rules change. Confirm current requirements with the employer before you enroll.

Automotive Service Technician Wages by Metro Area in District of Columbia

Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics Wages by Metro Area in District of Columbia

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), automotive service technicians and mechanics wages in District of Columbia vary by metro area.

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria	12,030	$61,860	$66,510	$38,110	$97,460

Wages reflect survey data and vary based on experience, credentials, employer, and local market conditions. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May .

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for automotive service technicians in District of Columbia? District of Columbia currently employs approximately 310 automotive service technicians ¹. Nationally, automotive service technician employment is projected to grow 4.2% from 2024 to 2034 ².

What training programs are available in District of Columbia? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and state-approved training programs. Use the school finder above to search for programs in District of Columbia.

How much do automotive service technicians earn in District of Columbia compared to the national average? The median annual wage for automotive service technicians in District of Columbia is $68,660, which is $18,990 above the national median of $49,670 according to BLS data ¹.

In District of Columbia

Best Trade Schools in Washington, DC (2026)

Explore More Trades in District of Columbia

Citations

About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.

References

Bureau of Labor Statistics - Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics: https://www.bls.gov/oes/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
Bureau of Labor Statistics - Employment Projections: https://www.bls.gov/emp/ ↩︎ ↩︎

Data sources

Figures on this page are sourced from the federal and state datasets below. Methodology: how we rank and source data.

Data	Provider	Vintage
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	May 2025
Employment Projections	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	2024-2034
Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System	National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)	2024
College Scorecard (school-level outcomes)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release
College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release (updated 2026-06-12)
Occupational licensing requirements	CareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor)	latest release (updated 2026-02-22)
Registered apprenticeship programs	CareerOneStop / Apprenticeship.gov (U.S. Department of Labor)	latest release (updated 2025-10-25)
O*NET occupation profiles (skills, tasks, tools, job zones)	U.S. Department of Labor (O*NET / Employment & Training Admin.)	O*NET 29.1 (updated 2026-06-13)