Electronic equipment installers and repairers for motor vehicles install, maintain, and repair the complex electrical and electronic systems in cars, trucks, and other vehicles. It is hands-on, in demand, and you can start with a certificate. Here is what the work involves, what it takes, and how to get in.
Pathly builds you a free, personalized roadmap and helps your counselor champion you along the way.
You install and repair electronic systems and components in motor vehicles, including audio systems, navigation equipment, lighting, and diagnostic electronics. Your work involves getting information from technical manuals and customer descriptions, identifying problems through testing and inspection, and making decisions about repairs and replacements. You handle and move equipment, work with computers to diagnose issues, and update your knowledge as vehicle technology evolves. You communicate with customers about their vehicle needs and the work you have completed.
Core work activities
Career video courtesy of CareerOneStop.
Electronic Equipment Installers and Repairers, Motor Vehicles earn a median of $48,420 a year, based on 2025 data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and location.
The outlook is softer here. Employment is projected to fall 14 percent from 2024 to 2034, though there are still about 600 openings a year from turnover.
Top skills
Knowledge areas
Most positions require a certificate in automotive electronics or a related field. You will need medium-level preparation that includes knowledge of mechanical systems, computers and electronics, mathematics, and engineering principles. Training programs cover diagnostic techniques, electrical theory, and hands-on repair skills. Many programs include both classroom instruction and practical experience working on actual vehicles. Some positions may require on-the-job training with experienced technicians after you complete your certificate.
Your path typically starts with a certificate program in automotive electronics or vehicle electrical systems. If you are deciding between different training routes or timing, Pathly can map the electronic equipment installer and repairer, motor vehicle path that fits you with your counselor to build a step-by-step plan that fits your goals.
You do not need a license to work as an electronic equipment installer and repairer, motor vehicle, but professional certifications can strengthen your resume.
Common certifications
You are drawn to hands-on work with tools and systems, enjoy solving technical problems, and like working with real equipment and machinery rather than abstract concepts.
Reading about a career is the easy part. Turning it into a plan is where most students get stuck. Pathly takes you from curious to a clear next step, and gives your counselor the insight to champion you along the way.
Start with a quick quiz and assessments that surface your personality, your EQ, and what really motivates you, so your next steps are built around who you actually are.
Your free AI guide weighs this career against your strengths and goals, and surfaces the colleges, trades, and scholarships that match, so you know if it truly fits before you commit.
Get a personalized, step-by-step plan to reach this career, with the training, coursework, and credentials tracked in one place. Link your school or IEC and your counselor in the loop.
Last updated July 1, 2026.
Data sources. Career details from the O*NET 30.3 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under CC BY 4.0. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. Salary and outlook figures from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025 wages; 2024–2034 projections), delivered via the CareerOneStop API. Certification, licensing, wage, and outlook data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by USDOL/ETA and the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED).