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== History ==
== History ==
{{expand section|date=October 2026}}{{Globalize|date=October 2026|2=US|section}}
{{expand section|date=October 2026}}{{Globalize|date=October 2026|2=US|section}}
The [[Industrial Revolution]] brought forth the widespread use of machines in the manufacturing of goods. [[Artisan|Artisans]], particularly in metalwork crafts like [[watchmaking]] and [[Tool and die maker|tool-making]], had existing skills which could readily be put to use in the creation and [[maintenance]] of machinery.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Kelly |first1=Morgan |title=The Mechanics of the Industrial Revolution |journal=Journal of Political Economy |date=16 December 2022}}</ref>
The [[Industrial Revolution]] brought forth the widespread use of machines in the manufacturing of goods. [[Artisan|Artisans]], particularly in metalwork crafts like [[watchmaking]] and [[Tool and die maker|tool-making]], had existing skills which could readily be put to use in the creation and [[maintenance]] of machinery.{{|Kelly|| |2022}}


Before the [[institutionalisation]] of mechanics arrived, a lot of learning would be done [[ad hoc]]. To educate artisans on their fields' underlying sciences, many mechanics' institutes were created during the Industrial Revolution and continued opening up, especially during the [[interwar period]].<ref>{{cite journal |last=Kelly |first=Thomas |year=1952 |title=The Origin of Mechanics' Institutes |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/3119430 |journal=British Journal of Educational Studies |volume=1 |issue=1 |pages=17–27 |doi=10.2307/3119430 |jstor=3119430 |access-date=26 October 2026 |via=JSTOR |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260203100307/https://www.jstor.org/stable/3119430 |archive-date=3 February 2026 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite thesis |last=Pearson |first=Michael |date=2021 |title=Grease monkeys : A history of Australia's motor mechanic trade, 1900-1970 |url=https://acuresearchbank.acu.edu.au/items/51561530-4bbb-4049-9300-71520234f8b6 |publisher=Australian Catholic University |doi=10.26199/ACU.8XQY1 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251217072039/https://acuresearchbank.acu.edu.au/items/51561530-4bbb-4049-9300-71520234f8b6 |archive-date=17 December 2025 |access-date=26 October 2026 |url-status=live}}</ref> In the [[Victorian era]], [[Mechanics' institute|Mechanics' institutes]] were set up in many countries to help improve [[adult education]] but with a particular focus on industry, mechanics and knowledge for the adult working class.<ref name="b581">{{cite book |last=Walker |first=Martyn |title=The Development of the Mechanics' Institute Movement in Britain and Beyond: Supporting further education for the adult working classes |date=2016 |publisher=Taylor and Francis |isbn=1-317-41092-0 |publication-place=Milton |page=1-12}}</ref>
Before the [[institutionalisation]] of mechanics arrived, a lot of learning would be done [[ad hoc]]. To educate artisans on their fields' underlying sciences, many mechanics' institutes were created during the Industrial Revolution and continued opening up, especially during the [[interwar period]].{{|Kelly|1952}}{{|Pearson|2021}} In the [[Victorian era]], [[Mechanics' institute|Mechanics' institutes]] were set up in many countries to help improve [[adult education]] but with a particular focus on industry, mechanics and knowledge for the adult working class.<ref name="b581">{{cite book |last=Walker |first=Martyn |title=The Development of the Mechanics' Institute Movement in Britain and Beyond: Supporting further education for the adult working classes |date=2016 |publisher=Taylor and Francis |isbn=1-317-41092-0 |publication-place=Milton |page=1-12}}</ref>


=== United States ===
=== United States ===
During the early 19th century, the term ''mechanic'' referred broadly to skilled artisans working in trades such as [[metalworking]], [[carpentry]], and machinery construction. Mechanical knowledge was transmitted through apprenticeships, workshop experience, and exchanges among skilled workers. The establishment of institutions such as the [[Franklin Institute]] in [[Philadelphia]], founded in 1824, provided additional opportunities for technical education and the exchange of information about machinery and manufacturing processes.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Ferguson |first=Eugene S. |year=1962 |title=On the Origin and Development of American Mechanical "Know-How" |journal=Midcontinent American Studies Journal |volume=3 |issue=2 |pages=7–9}}</ref> Between 1818 and 1850, approximately 100 mechanics' institutes and libraries were established in the United States. These organizations provided instruction in mathematics, mechanical drawing, chemistry, and other subjects, alongside libraries, lectures, and exhibitions of machinery. Their educational programs sought to improve technical skills and provide opportunities for occupational advancement. Machinists, toolmakers, and foundry workers increasingly needed knowledge of mathematics and scientific principles, particularly when seeking supervisory or managerial positions.<ref>{{cite book
During the early 19th century, the term ''mechanic'' referred broadly to skilled artisans working in trades such as [[metalworking]], [[carpentry]], and machinery construction. Mechanical knowledge was transmitted through apprenticeships, workshop experience, and exchanges among skilled workers. The establishment of institutions such as the [[Franklin Institute]] in [[Philadelphia]], founded in 1824, provided additional opportunities for technical education and the exchange of information about machinery and manufacturing processes.{{|Ferguson|1962|=}} Between 1818 and 1850, approximately 100 mechanics' institutes and libraries were established in the United States. These organizations provided instruction in mathematics, mechanical drawing, chemistry, and other subjects, alongside libraries, lectures, and exhibitions of machinery. Their educational programs sought to improve technical skills and provide opportunities for occupational advancement. Machinists, toolmakers, and foundry workers increasingly needed knowledge of mathematics and scientific principles, particularly when seeking supervisory or managerial positions.{{
⚫
|last=Stevens
⚫
|first=Edward W., Jr.
⚫
|year=1995
|chapter=New Educational Institutions for a New Society: Schools for Mechanics
⚫
|title=The Grammar of the Machine: Technical Literacy and Early Industrial Expansion in the United States
⚫
|publisher=Yale University Press
|pages=105–111, 129–131
}}</ref>


Mechanics also participated in the development of [[organized labor|organized labour]]. In 1827, [[journeymen]] in Philadelphia established the Mechanics' Union of Trade Associations, which brought workers together from several skilled trades to advocate for improved wages and working conditions. The organization reflected the broad occupational meaning of ''mechanic'' during this period.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Arky |first=Louis H. |year=1952 |title=The Mechanics' Union of Trade Associations and the Formation of the Philadelphia Workingmen's Movement |journal=The Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography |volume=76 |issue=2 |pages=142–144, 153–156}}</ref>
Mechanics also participated in the development of [[organized labor|organized labour]]. In 1827, [[journeymen]] in Philadelphia established the Mechanics' Union of Trade Associations, which brought workers together from several skilled trades to advocate for improved wages and working conditions. The organization reflected the broad occupational meaning of ''mechanic'' during this period.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Arky |first=Louis H. |year=1952 |title=The Mechanics' Union of Trade Associations and the Formation of the Philadelphia Workingmen's Movement |journal=The Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography |volume=76 |issue=2 |pages=142–144, 153–156}}</ref>
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[[Industrialization]] changed the nature of mechanical work during the 19th century. As factory production expanded, machinery increasingly replaced tasks previously performed by skilled artisans, while creating demand for workers capable of constructing, installing, and maintaining industrial equipment. This contributed to a distinction between factory operatives, who performed production tasks using machinery, and mechanics, whose work requiring specialized technical knowledge. The term ''mechanic'' nevertheless continued to encompass several skilled occupations, including machinists, [[blacksmiths]], and [[engineers]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Katz |first1=Lawrence F. |last2=Margo |first2=Robert A. |year=2014 |chapter=Technical Change and the Relative Demand for Skilled Labor: The United States in Historical Perspective |title=Human Capital in History: The American Record |editor-last1=Boustan |editor-first1=Leah Platt |editor-last2=Frydman |editor-first2=Carola |editor-last3=Margo |editor-first3=Robert A. |publisher=University of Chicago Press |pages=16–18, 21–27, 31–32 |isbn=9780226163895}}</ref> In the early 20th century, [[electrification]] and the introduction of specialized machinery further changed mechanical work. [[Electric motors]] replaced centralized [[steam-powered]] systems in many factories, allowing machinery to be rearranged into more efficient production sequences. Manufacturers increasingly divided production into specialized tasks, some of which required less training than traditional craft work. Although [[mechanization]] reduced demand for certain skilled operations, machine repair, inspection, and other technical activities remained difficult to [[automate]]. An analysis of American manufacturing between 1880 and 1940 found that electrification was associated with declining relative demand for occupations required skilled manual dexterity and increasing demand for clerical and supervisory work.<ref>{{cite report |last=Gray |first=Rowena |year=2011 |title=Taking Technology to Task: The Skill Content of Technological Change in Early Twentieth Century United States |series=EHES Working Papers in Economic History |number=9 |publisher=European Historical Economics Society |pages=4–6, 15–17 |url=https://hdl.handle.net/10419/246940}}</ref>
[[Industrialization]] changed the nature of mechanical work during the 19th century. As factory production expanded, machinery increasingly replaced tasks previously performed by skilled artisans, while creating demand for workers capable of constructing, installing, and maintaining industrial equipment. This contributed to a distinction between factory operatives, who performed production tasks using machinery, and mechanics, whose work requiring specialized technical knowledge. The term ''mechanic'' nevertheless continued to encompass several skilled occupations, including machinists, [[blacksmiths]], and [[engineers]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Katz |first1=Lawrence F. |last2=Margo |first2=Robert A. |year=2014 |chapter=Technical Change and the Relative Demand for Skilled Labor: The United States in Historical Perspective |title=Human Capital in History: The American Record |editor-last1=Boustan |editor-first1=Leah Platt |editor-last2=Frydman |editor-first2=Carola |editor-last3=Margo |editor-first3=Robert A. |publisher=University of Chicago Press |pages=16–18, 21–27, 31–32 |isbn=9780226163895}}</ref> In the early 20th century, [[electrification]] and the introduction of specialized machinery further changed mechanical work. [[Electric motors]] replaced centralized [[steam-powered]] systems in many factories, allowing machinery to be rearranged into more efficient production sequences. Manufacturers increasingly divided production into specialized tasks, some of which required less training than traditional craft work. Although [[mechanization]] reduced demand for certain skilled operations, machine repair, inspection, and other technical activities remained difficult to [[automate]]. An analysis of American manufacturing between 1880 and 1940 found that electrification was associated with declining relative demand for occupations required skilled manual dexterity and increasing demand for clerical and supervisory work.<ref>{{cite report |last=Gray |first=Rowena |year=2011 |title=Taking Technology to Task: The Skill Content of Technological Change in Early Twentieth Century United States |series=EHES Working Papers in Economic History |number=9 |publisher=European Historical Economics Society |pages=4–6, 15–17 |url=https://hdl.handle.net/10419/246940}}</ref>


[[Railroad]] expansion during the second half of the 19th century created demand for workers specializing in the operation, repair, and maintenance of [[locomotives]] and railway equipment. Railroad companies employed machinists and other skilled mechanics in repair shops, while locomotive engineers operated trains. As railroad equipment became more standardized, companies reorganized repair work into specialized tasks and increasingly employed helpers and apprentices alongside skilled machinists. These changes reduced the relative importance of some traditional craft skills in railroad shops, although locomotive engineers retained greater control over their work. Railroad mechanics responded to changing working conditions through trade unions and other labour organizations.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Stromquist |first=Shelton |year=1983 |title=Enginemen and Shopmen: Technological Change and the Organization of Labor in an Era of Railroad Expansion |journal=Labor History |volume=24 |issue=4 |pages=485–499}}</ref>
[[Railroad]] expansion during the second half of the 19th century created demand for workers specializing in the operation, repair, and maintenance of [[locomotives]] and railway equipment. Railroad companies employed machinists and other skilled mechanics in repair shops, while locomotive engineers operated trains. As railroad equipment became more standardized, companies reorganized repair work into specialized tasks and increasingly employed helpers and apprentices alongside skilled machinists. These changes reduced the relative importance of some traditional craft skills in railroad shops, although locomotive engineers retained greater control over their work. Railroad mechanics responded to changing working conditions through trade unions and other labour organizations.{{|Stromquist|1983}}


The expansion of the [[automotive industry]] during the early 20th century increased demand for mechanics specializing in vehicle maintenance and repair. Unlike established mechanical trades, automobile repair initially lacked a formal apprenticeship system, and many mechanics acquired their skills through practical experience. [[Vocational schools]], private organizations, and the military subsequently developed training programs, although their quality varied.<ref>{{cite book|last=Borg|first=Kevin L.|year=2007|title=Auto Mechanics: Technology and Expertise in Twentieth-Century America|publisher=Johns Hopkins University Press|page=54}}</ref> Beginning in 1913, the [[Ford Motor Company]] sought to standardize automobile repair through prescribed procedures, specialized tools, and predetermined repair times. During the 1920s, manufacturers introduced service manuals and training programs and encouraged the division of repair work into specialized tasks. However, the varied nature of mechanical problems limited efforts to apply factory production methods to automobile repair, which continued to require skilled diagnosis and judgment.<ref>{{cite journal|last=McIntyre|first=Stephen L.|year=2000|title=The Failure of Fordism: Reform of the Automobile Repair Industry, 1913–1940|journal=Technology and Culture|volume=41|issue=2|pages=274–275, 278–283, 296–298|doi=10.1353/tech.2000.0075}}</ref>
The expansion of the [[automotive industry]] during the early 20th century increased demand for mechanics specializing in vehicle maintenance and repair. Unlike established mechanical trades, automobile repair initially lacked a formal apprenticeship system, and many mechanics acquired their skills through practical experience. [[Vocational schools]], private organizations, and the military subsequently developed training programs, although their quality varied.{{|Borg|2007|=:= 54}} Beginning in 1913, the [[Ford Motor Company]] sought to standardize automobile repair through prescribed procedures, specialized tools, and predetermined repair times. During the 1920s, manufacturers introduced service manuals and training programs and encouraged the division of repair work into specialized tasks. However, the varied nature of mechanical problems limited efforts to apply factory production methods to automobile repair, which continued to require skilled diagnosis and judgment.<ref>{{cite journal|last=McIntyre|first=Stephen L.|year=2000|title=The Failure of Fordism: Reform of the Automobile Repair Industry, 1913–1940|journal=Technology and Culture|volume=41|issue=2|pages=274–275, 278–283, 296–298|doi=10.1353/tech.2000.0075}}</ref>


=== Tanzania ===
=== Tanzania ===
In [[Tanzania]], automobiles were introduced during German and later British colonial rule. European-style cars had great difficulty traversing Tanzania due to the East African climate and unpaved roads, which they were not built for. As a result, informal garages called ''gereji bubu'' ({{Literal translation|muted garages}}) were formed by Tanzanian mechanics so that they could work independently. Because of these factors, Tanzania has become a hub for mechanics and automobiles.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Grace |first=Joshua |title=African motors: technology, gender, and the history of development |date=2021 |publisher=Duke University Press |isbn=978-1-4780-2127-8 |location=Durham}}</ref>
In [[Tanzania]], automobiles were introduced during German and later British colonial rule. European-style cars had great difficulty traversing Tanzania due to the East African climate and unpaved roads, which they were not built for. As a result, informal garages called ''gereji bubu'' ({{Literal translation|muted garages}}) were formed by Tanzanian mechanics so that they could work independently. Because of these factors, Tanzania has become a hub for mechanics and automobiles.{{|Grace|2021}}


== Duties ==
== Duties ==
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In the [[United States]], automotive service technicians and mechanics held about 704,640 jobs as of May 2025. Automobile dealers employed roughly 32 per cent of them, automotive repair and maintenance shops about 25 per cent, and self-employed workers about 15 per cent.<ref name="bls.gov">{{cite web |title=Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics |url=https://www.bls.gov/ooh/installation-maintenance-and-repair/automotive-service-technicians-and-mechanics.htm |access-date=25 October 2026 |website=Occupational Outlook Handbook |publisher=U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20261013071713/https://www.bls.gov/ooh/installation-maintenance-and-repair/automotive-service-technicians-and-mechanics.htm |archive-date=13 October 2026 |url-status=live}}</ref>
In the [[United States]], automotive service technicians and mechanics held about 704,640 jobs as of May 2025. Automobile dealers employed roughly 32 per cent of them, automotive repair and maintenance shops about 25 per cent, and self-employed workers about 15 per cent.<ref name="bls.gov">{{cite web |title=Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics |url=https://www.bls.gov/ooh/installation-maintenance-and-repair/automotive-service-technicians-and-mechanics.htm |access-date=25 October 2026 |website=Occupational Outlook Handbook |publisher=U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20261013071713/https://www.bls.gov/ooh/installation-maintenance-and-repair/automotive-service-technicians-and-mechanics.htm |archive-date=13 October 2026 |url-status=live}}</ref>


Automotive mechanics usually have an apprenticeship under a master mechanic for a specified amount of time before working on their own. This can take place in both a formal and informal manner.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Gilles |first=Tim |url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/1-40181-234-1 |title=Automotive service: inspection, maintenance, and repair |date=2004 |publisher=Delmar/Thomson Learning |isbn=978-1-4018-1234-8 |edition=2nd |location=Clifton Park, NY |pages=16–23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251229150544/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/1-40181-234-1 |archive-date=29 December 2025 |access-date=26 October 2026 |url-status=live}}</ref> The average [[Median wage|median annual wage]] for automotive service [[technician]]s and mechanics is US$15,000–22,000.<ref name="Website-2">{{Cite web |title=Monthly salary of auto mechanics in selected countries |url=https://www.statista.com/statistics/1267108/average-monthly-salary-of-auto-mechanic-in-selected-countries/ |access-date=2026-10-26 |website=Statista |language=en}}</ref> In wealthier countries (like France and the United States) a mechanic earns approximately US$35,000–50,000 annually.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mechanic Salary in France (2026) |url=https://www.salaryexpert.com/salary/job/mechanic/france |access-date=26 October 2026 |website=Salary Expert |language=en}}</ref><ref name="bls.gov" /> However, in developing countries (like India) a mechanic earns approximately US$3,000 annually.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Automotive Service Technician / Mechanic Salary in India in 2026 {{!}} PayScale |url=https://www.payscale.com/research/IN/Job=Automotive_Service_Technician_%2F_Mechanic/Salary |access-date=2026-10-26 |website=www.payscale.com}}</ref>
Automotive mechanics usually have an apprenticeship under a master mechanic for a specified amount of time before working on their own. This can take place in both a formal and informal manner.{{|Gilles|2004|=}} The average [[Median wage|median annual wage]] for automotive service [[technician]]s and mechanics is US$15,000–22,000.<ref name="Website-2">{{Cite web |title=Monthly salary of auto mechanics in selected countries |url=https://www.statista.com/statistics/1267108/average-monthly-salary-of-auto-mechanic-in-selected-countries/ |access-date=2026-10-26 |website=Statista |language=en}}</ref> In wealthier countries (like France and the United States) a mechanic earns approximately US$35,000–50,000 annually.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mechanic Salary in France (2026) |url=https://www.salaryexpert.com/salary/job/mechanic/france |access-date=26 October 2026 |website=Salary Expert |language=en}}</ref><ref name="bls.gov" /> However, in developing countries (like India) a mechanic earns approximately US$3,000 annually.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Automotive Service Technician / Mechanic Salary in India in 2026 {{!}} PayScale |url=https://www.payscale.com/research/IN/Job=Automotive_Service_Technician_%2F_Mechanic/Salary |access-date=2026-10-26 |website=www.payscale.com}}</ref>


In the United States, employment in the occupation is projected to grow 5% from 2025 to 2035, faster than the average for all occupations.<ref name="bls.gov" /> However, the financial volume of the global repair industry is projected to increase by a larger 7.2% [[Compound annual growth rate|CAGR]] from 2025 to 2035.
In the United States, employment in the occupation is projected to grow 5% from 2025 to 2035, faster than the average for all occupations.<ref name="bls.gov" /> However, the financial volume of the global repair industry is projected to increase by a larger 7.2% [[Compound annual growth rate|CAGR]] from 2025 to 2035.
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=== Marine ===
=== Marine ===
Marine mechanics specialise in repairing and maintaining boats and other [[watercraft]]. They work on engines, transmissions, [[propellers]], steering systems, and other mechanical components of [[boats]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Occupational Outlook Handbook: Water Transportation Workers. |url=https://www.bls.gov/ooh/transportation-and-material-moving/water-transportation-occupations.htm#tab-5|website=Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2021).}}</ref> In Britain, the ship repair and maintenance industry reached its peak in the 1940s, when over 20,000 men and women were employed for such work in [[Merseyside]]. Specialities included fitters in the [[engine room]], boilermakers, blacksmiths, plumbers, riveters, burners, welders, and more.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Moore |first1=Kevin |title=The Mersey ship repairers: life and work in a port industry |date=1988 |publisher=Docklands History Project |isbn=0-9512107-2-6 |pages=3–7}}</ref>
Marine mechanics specialise in repairing and maintaining boats and other [[watercraft]]. They work on engines, transmissions, [[propellers]], steering systems, and other mechanical components of [[boats]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Occupational Outlook Handbook: Water Transportation Workers. |url=https://www.bls.gov/ooh/transportation-and-material-moving/water-transportation-occupations.htm#tab-5|website=Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2021).}}</ref> In Britain, the ship repair and maintenance industry reached its peak in the 1940s, when over 20,000 men and women were employed for such work in [[Merseyside]]. Specialities included fitters in the [[engine room]], boilermakers, blacksmiths, plumbers, riveters, burners, welders, and more.{{|Moore|1988|=}}


=== Industrial ===
=== Industrial ===
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Mechanics are also frequently exposed to harmful chemicals. Exposure to engine oils causes automotive mechanics to experience [[contact dermatitis]] over twice as frequently as office workers.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Javad Zare Sakhvidi |first=Mohammad |last2=Loukzadeh |first2=Ziba |last3=Dehghan Tezerjani |first3=Hamid |last4=1 Department of Occupational Health, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran |last5=2 Industrial Diseases Research Center, Center of Excellence for Occupational Medicine, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran |last6=3 Yazd Rural Water and Waste Water Company, Yazd, Iran |date=2019 |title=Occupational hand dermatitis in car repair workers |url=http://www.aimspress.com/article/10.3934/publichealth.2019.4.577 |journal=AIMS Public Health |language=en |volume=6 |issue=4 |pages=577–586 |doi=10.3934/publichealth.2019.4.577 |issn=2327-8994 |pmc=6940577 |pmid=31909077 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260130104400/http://www.aimspress.com/article/10.3934/publichealth.2019.4.577 |archive-date=30 January 2026 |access-date=26 October 2026 |url-status=live}}</ref> Automotive mechanics are exposed to elevated levels of [[volatile organic compounds]] released by processes such as applying [[brake cleaner]] and [[Automotive paint|painting]].<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Lothrop |first=Nathan |last2=Gutenkunst |first2=Shannon |last3=Fimbres |first3=Jocelyn |last4=Quijada |first4=Carolina |last5=Chaires |first5=Marvin |last6=Cortez |first6=Imelda |last7=Sandoval |first7=Flor |last8=Camargo |first8=Fernanda J. |last9=Ramírez |first9=Denise Moreno |last10=Gallardo |first10=Emma V. |last11=Torabzadeh |first11=Elmira |last12=Wagoner |first12=Rietta |last13=Lopez-Galvez |first13=Nicolas |last14=Ingram |first14=Maia |last15=Carvajal |first15=Scott |date=1 July 2025 |title=Characterizing full-shift worker exposures to VOCs in small-sized auto repair shops in the Tucson, Arizona, USA metropolitan area |url=https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-025-08546-6 |journal=Scientific Reports |language=en |publisher=Nature Publishing Group |volume=15 |issue=1 |pages=20382 |doi=10.1038/s41598-025-08546-6 |issn=2045-2322 |pmc=12219875 |pmid=40595322 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260114002602/https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-025-08546-6 |archive-date=14 January 2026 |access-date=26 October 2026 |url-status=live}}</ref> These chemicals have been found to increase the prevalence of [[Respiratory disease|respiratory health conditions]] and impair lung function in workers exposed to them.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Ahmad |first=Ijaz |last2=Balkhyour |first2=Mansour A. |date=1 March 2020 |title=Occupational exposure and respiratory health of workers at small scale industries |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1319562X20300206 |journal=Saudi Journal of Biological Sciences |volume=27 |issue=3 |pages=985–990 |doi=10.1016/j.sjbs.2020.01.019 |issn=1319-562X |pmc=7051098 |pmid=32140043 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240413002602/https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1319562X20300206 |archive-date=13 April 2024 |access-date=26 October 2026 |url-status=live}}</ref> They are also at risk of [[Carbon monoxide|carbon monoxide poisoning]], with a study by the United States [[National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health]] reporting 34 fatalities caused by carbon monoxide in [[vehicle exhaust]] from 1992–2008.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Henn |first=Scott A. |last2=Bell |first2=Jennifer L. |last3=Sussell |first3=Aaron L. |last4=Konda |first4=Srinivas |date=2011–2013 |title=Occupational carbon monoxide fatalities in the US from unintentional non‐fire related exposures, 1992–2008 |url=https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ajim.22226 |journal=American Journal of Industrial Medicine |language=en |volume=56 |issue=11 |pages=1280–1289 |doi=10.1002/ajim.22226 |issn=0271-3586 |pmc=4552320 |pmid=23868822 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241226130417/https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ajim.22226 |archive-date=26 December 2024 |access-date=26 October 2026 |url-status=live}}</ref>
Mechanics are also frequently exposed to harmful chemicals. Exposure to engine oils causes automotive mechanics to experience [[contact dermatitis]] over twice as frequently as office workers.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Javad Zare Sakhvidi |first=Mohammad |last2=Loukzadeh |first2=Ziba |last3=Dehghan Tezerjani |first3=Hamid |last4=1 Department of Occupational Health, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran |last5=2 Industrial Diseases Research Center, Center of Excellence for Occupational Medicine, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran |last6=3 Yazd Rural Water and Waste Water Company, Yazd, Iran |date=2019 |title=Occupational hand dermatitis in car repair workers |url=http://www.aimspress.com/article/10.3934/publichealth.2019.4.577 |journal=AIMS Public Health |language=en |volume=6 |issue=4 |pages=577–586 |doi=10.3934/publichealth.2019.4.577 |issn=2327-8994 |pmc=6940577 |pmid=31909077 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260130104400/http://www.aimspress.com/article/10.3934/publichealth.2019.4.577 |archive-date=30 January 2026 |access-date=26 October 2026 |url-status=live}}</ref> Automotive mechanics are exposed to elevated levels of [[volatile organic compounds]] released by processes such as applying [[brake cleaner]] and [[Automotive paint|painting]].<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Lothrop |first=Nathan |last2=Gutenkunst |first2=Shannon |last3=Fimbres |first3=Jocelyn |last4=Quijada |first4=Carolina |last5=Chaires |first5=Marvin |last6=Cortez |first6=Imelda |last7=Sandoval |first7=Flor |last8=Camargo |first8=Fernanda J. |last9=Ramírez |first9=Denise Moreno |last10=Gallardo |first10=Emma V. |last11=Torabzadeh |first11=Elmira |last12=Wagoner |first12=Rietta |last13=Lopez-Galvez |first13=Nicolas |last14=Ingram |first14=Maia |last15=Carvajal |first15=Scott |date=1 July 2025 |title=Characterizing full-shift worker exposures to VOCs in small-sized auto repair shops in the Tucson, Arizona, USA metropolitan area |url=https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-025-08546-6 |journal=Scientific Reports |language=en |publisher=Nature Publishing Group |volume=15 |issue=1 |pages=20382 |doi=10.1038/s41598-025-08546-6 |issn=2045-2322 |pmc=12219875 |pmid=40595322 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260114002602/https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-025-08546-6 |archive-date=14 January 2026 |access-date=26 October 2026 |url-status=live}}</ref> These chemicals have been found to increase the prevalence of [[Respiratory disease|respiratory health conditions]] and impair lung function in workers exposed to them.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Ahmad |first=Ijaz |last2=Balkhyour |first2=Mansour A. |date=1 March 2020 |title=Occupational exposure and respiratory health of workers at small scale industries |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1319562X20300206 |journal=Saudi Journal of Biological Sciences |volume=27 |issue=3 |pages=985–990 |doi=10.1016/j.sjbs.2020.01.019 |issn=1319-562X |pmc=7051098 |pmid=32140043 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240413002602/https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1319562X20300206 |archive-date=13 April 2024 |access-date=26 October 2026 |url-status=live}}</ref> They are also at risk of [[Carbon monoxide|carbon monoxide poisoning]], with a study by the United States [[National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health]] reporting 34 fatalities caused by carbon monoxide in [[vehicle exhaust]] from 1992–2008.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Henn |first=Scott A. |last2=Bell |first2=Jennifer L. |last3=Sussell |first3=Aaron L. |last4=Konda |first4=Srinivas |date=2011–2013 |title=Occupational carbon monoxide fatalities in the US from unintentional non‐fire related exposures, 1992–2008 |url=https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ajim.22226 |journal=American Journal of Industrial Medicine |language=en |volume=56 |issue=11 |pages=1280–1289 |doi=10.1002/ajim.22226 |issn=0271-3586 |pmc=4552320 |pmid=23868822 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241226130417/https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ajim.22226 |archive-date=26 December 2024 |access-date=26 October 2026 |url-status=live}}</ref>


Poor [[ergonomics]] also contributes to workplace injuries. Mechanics can experience [[repetitive strain injuries]] and pain caused by straining to lift heavy objects or maintain an awkward posture to reach inside machinery.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Tamene |first=Aiggan |last2=Mulugeta |first2=Hailemichael |last3=Ashenafi |first3=Tesfaye |last4=Thygerson |first4=Steven M. |date=7 May 2020 |title=Musculoskeletal Disorders and Associated Factors among Vehicle Repair Workers in Hawassa City, Southern Ethiopia |url=https://www.hindawi.com/journals/jeph/2020/9472357/ |journal=Journal of Environmental and Public Health |language=en |volume=2020 |pages=1–11 |doi=10.1155/2020/9472357 |issn=1687-9805 |pmc=7229541 |pmid=32454844 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240214181257/https://www.hindawi.com/journals/jeph/2020/9472357/ |archive-date=14 February 2024 |access-date=26 October 2026 |url-status=live}}</ref> Vibrations produced by [[power tools]] put mechanics at risk of [[nerve damage]], which can lead to [[Raynaud syndrome]], [[neurosensory]] injury, and [[carpal tunnel syndrome]].<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Nilsson |first=Tohr |last2=Wahlström |first2=Jens |last3=Burström |first3=Lage |date=13 July 2017 |title=Hand-arm vibration and the risk of vascular and neurological diseases—A systematic review and meta-analysis |url=https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0180795 |journal=PLOS ONE |language=en |publisher=Public Library of Science |volume=12 |issue=7 |pages=e0180795 |doi=10.1371/journal.pone.0180795 |issn=1932-6203 |pmc=5509149 |pmid=28704466 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260925181225/https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0180795 |archive-date=25 September 2026 |access-date=26 October 2026 |url-status=live}}</ref>{{sfn|Moore|1988|p=75}} [[Musculoskeletal disorders]] associated with mechanic work are most prevalent in the [[Low back pain|lower back]], [[Shoulder pain|shoulders]], and [[Wrist pain|wrists]].<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Basager |first=Ahmed |last2=Alrabghi |first2=Abdullah |date=30 January 2026 |title=Ergonomic Risk Profiles of Auto Body Specialists: Evidence from Saudi Arabia with Global Lessons for Labor-Intensive Industries |url=https://www.mdpi.com/2313-576X/12/1/16 |journal=Safety |language=en |volume=12 |issue=1 |pages=16 |doi=10.3390/safety12010016 |issn=2313-576X |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260130182519/https://www.mdpi.com/2313-576X/12/1/16 |archive-date=30 January 2026 |access-date=26 October 2026 |url-status=live}}</ref>
Poor [[ergonomics]] also contributes to workplace injuries. Mechanics can experience [[repetitive strain injuries]] and pain caused by straining to lift heavy objects or maintain an awkward posture to reach inside machinery.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Tamene |first=Aiggan |last2=Mulugeta |first2=Hailemichael |last3=Ashenafi |first3=Tesfaye |last4=Thygerson |first4=Steven M. |date=7 May 2020 |title=Musculoskeletal Disorders and Associated Factors among Vehicle Repair Workers in Hawassa City, Southern Ethiopia |url=https://www.hindawi.com/journals/jeph/2020/9472357/ |journal=Journal of Environmental and Public Health |language=en |volume=2020 |pages=1–11 |doi=10.1155/2020/9472357 |issn=1687-9805 |pmc=7229541 |pmid=32454844 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240214181257/https://www.hindawi.com/journals/jeph/2020/9472357/ |archive-date=14 February 2024 |access-date=26 October 2026 |url-status=live}}</ref> Vibrations produced by [[power tools]] put mechanics at risk of [[nerve damage]], which can lead to [[Raynaud syndrome]], [[neurosensory]] injury, and [[carpal tunnel syndrome]].<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Nilsson |first=Tohr |last2=Wahlström |first2=Jens |last3=Burström |first3=Lage |date=13 July 2017 |title=Hand-arm vibration and the risk of vascular and neurological diseases—A systematic review and meta-analysis |url=https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0180795 |journal=PLOS ONE |language=en |publisher=Public Library of Science |volume=12 |issue=7 |pages=e0180795 |doi=10.1371/journal.pone.0180795 |issn=1932-6203 |pmc=5509149 |pmid=28704466 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260925181225/https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0180795 |archive-date=25 September 2026 |access-date=26 October 2026 |url-status=live}}</ref>{{|Moore|1988|p=75}} [[Musculoskeletal disorders]] associated with mechanic work are most prevalent in the [[Low back pain|lower back]], [[Shoulder pain|shoulders]], and [[Wrist pain|wrists]].<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Basager |first=Ahmed |last2=Alrabghi |first2=Abdullah |date=30 January 2026 |title=Ergonomic Risk Profiles of Auto Body Specialists: Evidence from Saudi Arabia with Global Lessons for Labor-Intensive Industries |url=https://www.mdpi.com/2313-576X/12/1/16 |journal=Safety |language=en |volume=12 |issue=1 |pages=16 |doi=10.3390/safety12010016 |issn=2313-576X |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260130182519/https://www.mdpi.com/2313-576X/12/1/16 |archive-date=30 January 2026 |access-date=26 October 2026 |url-status=live}}</ref>


== See also ==
== See also ==
Line 139: Line 131:
== References ==
== References ==
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}

=== Sources===
{{refbegin}}

* {{cite book |last=Borg |first=Kevin L. |year=2007 |title=Auto Mechanics: Technology and Expertise in Twentieth-Century America |publisher=[[Johns Hopkins University Press]] |location=[[Baltimore]] |isbn=978-0-8018-8606-5}}

* {{cite journal |last=Ferguson |first=Eugene S. |author-link=Eugene S. Ferguson |year=1962 |title=On the origin and development of American mechanical "know-how" |journal=[[American Studies (journal)|Midcontinent American Studies]] |volume=3 |issue=2 |pages=2–16 |jstor=40640391}}

* {{cite book |last=Gilles |first=Tim |title=Automotive Service: Inspection, Maintenance, and Repair |date=2004 |publisher=Delmar/Thomson Learning |isbn=978-1-4018-1234-8 |edition=2nd |orig-year=1998 |location=[[Clifton Park, New York|Clifton Park, NY]]}}

* {{cite book |last=Grace |first=Joshua |title=African Motors: Technology, Gender, and the History of Development |year=2021 |publisher=[[Duke University Press]] |isbn=978-1-4780-1059-3 |location=[[Durham, North Carolina|Durham, NC]]}}

* {{cite journal |last=Kelly |first=Thomas |year=1952 |title=The origin of mechanics' institutes |journal=[[British Journal of Educational Studies]] |volume=1 |issue=1 |pages=17–27 |doi=10.2307/3119430 |jstor=3119430}}

* {{cite journal |last1=Kelly |first1=Morgan |last2=Mokyr |first2=Joel |last3=Ó Gráda |first3=Cormac |title=The mechanics of the industrial revolution |journal=[[Journal of Political Economy]] |year=2022 |volume=131 |issue=1 |pages=59&ndash;94 |doi=10.1086/720890}}

* {{cite book |last=Moore |first=Kevin |title=The Mersey Ship Repairers: Life and Work in a Port Industry |year=1988 |publisher=Docklands History Project |location=[[Liverpool]] |isbn=978-0-9512107-3-4}}

* {{cite thesis |last=Pearson |first=Michael Patrick Robert |year=2021 |degree=PhD |title=Grease Monkeys : A History of Australia's Motor Mechanic Trade, 1900-1970 |publisher=[[Australian Catholic University]] |doi=10.26199/ACU.8XQY1}}

* {{cite book
⚫
|last=Stevens
⚫
|first=Edward W., Jr.
⚫
|year=1995
| chapter = New educational institutions for a new society: schools for mechanics
⚫
|title=The Grammar of the Machine: Technical Literacy and Early Industrial Expansion in the United States
⚫
|publisher=Yale University Press
| location = [[New Haven, Connecticut|New Haven, CT]]
| isbn = 978-0-300-06106-2
}}

* {{cite journal |last=Stromquist |first=Shelton |author-link=Shelton Stromquist |year=1983 |title=Enginemen and shopmen: technological change and the organization of labor in an era of railroad expansion |journal=[[Labor History (journal)|Labor History]] |volume=24 |issue=4 |pages=485–499 |doi=10.1080/00236568308584727}}

{{refend}}


== External links ==
== External links ==

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Mechanic
A mechanic at a steam pump in an electric power house, 1920
Occupation
Occupation type
Skilled trades
Activity sectors
Repairing
Description
Education required
Apprenticeship
Related jobs
Handyperson
Technician

A mechanic is a tradesperson who uses tools to build, maintain, repair, or restore machinery, especially vehicles or devices.[1] Formerly, the term meant any member of the handicraft trades, but by the early 20th century it came to mean someone who works with machinery.[2]

Etymology

The English word mechanic derives from the Middle French mécanique from the Latin mechanicus, which in turn derives from the Ancient Greek μηχανικός (mēchanikós; 'of machines, mechanical').[3]

History

The Industrial Revolution brought forth the widespread use of machines in the manufacturing of goods. Artisans, particularly in metalwork crafts like watchmaking and tool-making, had existing skills which could readily be put to use in the creation and maintenance of machinery.[4]

Before the institutionalisation of mechanics arrived, a lot of learning would be done ad hoc. To educate artisans on their fields' underlying sciences, many mechanics' institutes were created during the Industrial Revolution and continued opening up, especially during the interwar period.[5][6] In the Victorian era, Mechanics' institutes were set up in many countries to help improve adult education but with a particular focus on industry, mechanics and knowledge for the adult working class.[7]

United States

During the early 19th century, the term mechanic referred broadly to skilled artisans working in trades such as metalworking, carpentry, and machinery construction. Mechanical knowledge was transmitted through apprenticeships, workshop experience, and exchanges among skilled workers. The establishment of institutions such as the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia, founded in 1824, provided additional opportunities for technical education and the exchange of information about machinery and manufacturing processes.[8] Between 1818 and 1850, approximately 100 mechanics' institutes and libraries were established in the United States. These organizations provided instruction in mathematics, mechanical drawing, chemistry, and other subjects, alongside libraries, lectures, and exhibitions of machinery. Their educational programs sought to improve technical skills and provide opportunities for occupational advancement. Machinists, toolmakers, and foundry workers increasingly needed knowledge of mathematics and scientific principles, particularly when seeking supervisory or managerial positions.[9]

Mechanics also participated in the development of organized labour. In 1827, journeymen in Philadelphia established the Mechanics' Union of Trade Associations, which brought workers together from several skilled trades to advocate for improved wages and working conditions. The organization reflected the broad occupational meaning of mechanic during this period.[10]

Industrialization changed the nature of mechanical work during the 19th century. As factory production expanded, machinery increasingly replaced tasks previously performed by skilled artisans, while creating demand for workers capable of constructing, installing, and maintaining industrial equipment. This contributed to a distinction between factory operatives, who performed production tasks using machinery, and mechanics, whose work requiring specialized technical knowledge. The term mechanic nevertheless continued to encompass several skilled occupations, including machinists, blacksmiths, and engineers.[11] In the early 20th century, electrification and the introduction of specialized machinery further changed mechanical work. Electric motors replaced centralized steam-powered systems in many factories, allowing machinery to be rearranged into more efficient production sequences. Manufacturers increasingly divided production into specialized tasks, some of which required less training than traditional craft work. Although mechanization reduced demand for certain skilled operations, machine repair, inspection, and other technical activities remained difficult to automate. An analysis of American manufacturing between 1880 and 1940 found that electrification was associated with declining relative demand for occupations required skilled manual dexterity and increasing demand for clerical and supervisory work.[12]

Railroad expansion during the second half of the 19th century created demand for workers specializing in the operation, repair, and maintenance of locomotives and railway equipment. Railroad companies employed machinists and other skilled mechanics in repair shops, while locomotive engineers operated trains. As railroad equipment became more standardized, companies reorganized repair work into specialized tasks and increasingly employed helpers and apprentices alongside skilled machinists. These changes reduced the relative importance of some traditional craft skills in railroad shops, although locomotive engineers retained greater control over their work. Railroad mechanics responded to changing working conditions through trade unions and other labour organizations.[13]

The expansion of the automotive industry during the early 20th century increased demand for mechanics specializing in vehicle maintenance and repair. Unlike established mechanical trades, automobile repair initially lacked a formal apprenticeship system, and many mechanics acquired their skills through practical experience. Vocational schools, private organizations, and the military subsequently developed training programs, although their quality varied.[14] Beginning in 1913, the Ford Motor Company sought to standardize automobile repair through prescribed procedures, specialized tools, and predetermined repair times. During the 1920s, manufacturers introduced service manuals and training programs and encouraged the division of repair work into specialized tasks. However, the varied nature of mechanical problems limited efforts to apply factory production methods to automobile repair, which continued to require skilled diagnosis and judgment.[15]

Tanzania

In Tanzania, automobiles were introduced during German and later British colonial rule. European-style cars had great difficulty traversing Tanzania due to the East African climate and unpaved roads, which they were not built for. As a result, informal garages called gereji bubu (lit. 'muted garages') were formed by Tanzanian mechanics so that they could work independently. Because of these factors, Tanzania has become a hub for mechanics and automobiles.[16]

Duties

A mechanic is trained to maintain machinery, which may include interpreting and applying technical documentation, installing said machinery, repairing or replacing components including consumables such as oils and filters, testing and diagnosing defects or issues, and certifying the machinery is in working order and fit for use.[17]

Most mechanics specialise in a particular field, such as auto body mechanics, diesel mechanics, air conditioning and refrigeration mechanics, auto mechanics, bicycle mechanics, boiler mechanics, race car mechanics, aircraft mechanics, and other areas. There are also mobile mechanics who perform on-site work.[18]

Beginning in the early twentieth century, the process of becoming a mechanic was formalised, and standard courses of education and training were introduced.[19]: 262  Formal certification of a mechanic's skill is required in many jurisdictions before they are permitted to carry out work. For example, an automotive mechanic in Western Australia must hold a "motor vehicle repairer's certificate" (or work under the supervision of a mechanic with that certification) to offer those services to the public.[20][21]

Training and qualifications

Education and training requirements for mechanics vary by occupation and jurisdiction. In the United States, automotive service technicians and mechanics may complete vocational education programs offered by secondary schools, community colleges, and technical institutes. These programs combine classroom instruction with practical training and may lead to a certificate or associate degree. Some programs are sponsored by automobile manufacturers or dealerships and focus on particular vehicles or systems.[22]

Automotive mechanics may also enter the occupation without formal vocational education, acquiring skills through on-the-job training under experienced technicians. Apprenticeships provide another route into the occupation, combining paid employment with technical instruction.[22] Employers may require or prefer professional certifications in specialized areas of automotive repair, such as transmissions, braking systems, and electrical systems. Certain activities are subject to additional regulatory requirements, including federal certification for technicians who handle refrigerants in motor vehicle air-conditioning systems.[22]

In the United States, aircraft mechanics may qualify for certification from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) by completing a program at an FAA-certificated Aviation Maintenance Technician School or by obtaining qualifying practical experience through on-the-job training. Such experience may be acquired through civilian employment or military service and must be documented. Applicants pursuing certification through practical experience must demonstrate at least 18 months of experience for an airframe or powerplant rating, or 30 months for both ratings. Candidates must also pass the applicable written, oral, and practical examinations.[23]

Types

Bicycle

Bicycle mechanics are trade people who specialise in repairing and maintaining bicycles. They work on frames, wheels, brakes, gears, and other mechanical or electronic components.[24] In Europe, there is currently a deficit of bicycle mechanics, with an estimated 45,000 new mechanics needed to meet current demand.[25] Major brands such as the SRAM Corporation and Shimano offer training programmes for their products.[26][27]

Automotive

A U.S. Air Force Squadron vehicle maintainer putting a tyre back on a truck
Swedish mechanics, 1947

Automotive mechanics, also called auto mechanics, repair and maintain cars, trucks, and motorcycles. They inspect vehicles for damage and wear, test components with computerised diagnostic equipment, replace worn or defective parts, and perform routine service such as oil changes and brake work. Much of the job now involves electronics and computer controls as well as mechanical systems.[28]

In the United States, automotive service technicians and mechanics held about 704,640 jobs as of May 2025. Automobile dealers employed roughly 32 per cent of them, automotive repair and maintenance shops about 25 per cent, and self-employed workers about 15 per cent.[29]

Automotive mechanics usually have an apprenticeship under a master mechanic for a specified amount of time before working on their own. This can take place in both a formal and informal manner.[30] The average median annual wage for automotive service technicians and mechanics is US$15,000–22,000.[31] In wealthier countries (like France and the United States) a mechanic earns approximately US$35,000–50,000 annually.[32][29] However, in developing countries (like India) a mechanic earns approximately US$3,000 annually.[33]

In the United States, employment in the occupation is projected to grow 5% from 2025 to 2035, faster than the average for all occupations.[29] However, the financial volume of the global repair industry is projected to increase by a larger 7.2% CAGR from 2025 to 2035.

A slang term for an automotive mechanic is "grease monkey".[19]: 261 

Motorsport

Motorsport teams employ specialised automotive mechanics to work on racing automobiles. Depending on the race series, some of these mechanics will form a pit crew, which carries out rapid work on a vehicle during a race.[34]

Truck

Truck mechanics specialise in repairing and maintaining trucks, such as tractor units, box trucks, dump trucks, and garbage trucks.[35][36] In the United States, about 316,000 people are employed as truck mechanics as of 2025.[36]

Two mechanics servicing a rotary aircraft engine in 1918[37]

Aircraft

Aircraft mechanics (also known as aviation mechanics) specialise in repairing and maintaining aircraft, including planes and helicopters. They work on engines, landing gear, avionics, and other mechanical and electrical systems.[38]

Marine

Marine mechanics specialise in repairing and maintaining boats and other watercraft. They work on engines, transmissions, propellers, steering systems, and other mechanical components of boats.[39] In Britain, the ship repair and maintenance industry reached its peak in the 1940s, when over 20,000 men and women were employed for such work in Merseyside. Specialities included fitters in the engine room, boilermakers, blacksmiths, plumbers, riveters, burners, welders, and more.[40]

Industrial

Industrial mechanics (also known as maintenance mechanics) work in industrial settings such as factories and manufacturing plants, sometimes being referred to as millwrights.[41] These mechanics are responsible for the maintenance and repair of equipment such as machine tools, pumps, generators and other heavy equipment.[41][42]

Heavy equipment

A heavy equipment mechanic maintaining a bulldozer

Heavy equipment mechanics specialise in repairing and maintaining heavy equipment such as bulldozers, excavators, and cranes.[43]

Occupational hazards

Mechanics face a variety of occupational hazards. Mechanics are frequently exposed to elevated sound levels; in an analysis of 1999–2004 NHANES data, vehicle and mobile equipment mechanics and repairers employed in manufacturing had an 82% prevalence of hazardous workplace noise exposure, the highest among occupations in that sector.[44]

Mechanics are also frequently exposed to harmful chemicals. Exposure to engine oils causes automotive mechanics to experience contact dermatitis over twice as frequently as office workers.[45] Automotive mechanics are exposed to elevated levels of volatile organic compounds released by processes such as applying brake cleaner and painting.[46] These chemicals have been found to increase the prevalence of respiratory health conditions and impair lung function in workers exposed to them.[47] They are also at risk of carbon monoxide poisoning, with a study by the United States National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health reporting 34 fatalities caused by carbon monoxide in vehicle exhaust from 1992–2008.[48]

Poor ergonomics also contributes to workplace injuries. Mechanics can experience repetitive strain injuries and pain caused by straining to lift heavy objects or maintain an awkward posture to reach inside machinery.[49] Vibrations produced by power tools put mechanics at risk of nerve damage, which can lead to Raynaud syndrome, neurosensory injury, and carpal tunnel syndrome.[50][51] Musculoskeletal disorders associated with mechanic work are most prevalent in the lower back, shoulders, and wrists.[52]

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1980 Census of Population: Classified Index of Industries and Occupations. U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census. 1982. p. O-68. Retrieved 18 December 2017.
  2. ↑ "Mechanic - Etymology, Origin & Meaning". etymonline. Retrieved 26 October 2026.
  3. ↑ "Mechanic". The Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary. Merriam-Webster. Archived from the original on 11 September 2026. Retrieved 25 October 2026.
  4. ↑ Kelly, Mokyr & Ó Gráda (2022).
  5. ↑ Kelly (1952).
  6. ↑ Pearson (2021).
  7. ↑ Walker, Martyn (2016). The Development of the Mechanics' Institute Movement in Britain and Beyond: Supporting further education for the adult working classes. Milton: Taylor and Francis. p. 1-12. ISBN 1-317-41092-0.
  8. ↑ Ferguson (1962), pp. 7–9.
  9. ↑ Stevens (1995), pp. 105–111, 129–131.
  10. ↑ Arky, Louis H. (1952). "The Mechanics' Union of Trade Associations and the Formation of the Philadelphia Workingmen's Movement". The Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography. 76 (2): 142–144, 153–156.
  11. ↑ Katz, Lawrence F.; Margo, Robert A. (2014). "Technical Change and the Relative Demand for Skilled Labor: The United States in Historical Perspective". In Boustan, Leah Platt; Frydman, Carola; Margo, Robert A. (eds.). Human Capital in History: The American Record. University of Chicago Press. pp. 16–18, 21–27, 31–32. ISBN 9780226163895.
  12. ↑ Gray, Rowena (2011). Taking Technology to Task: The Skill Content of Technological Change in Early Twentieth Century United States (Report). EHES Working Papers in Economic History. European Historical Economics Society. pp. 4–6, 15–17.
  13. ↑ Stromquist (1983).
  14. ↑ Borg (2007), p. 54.
  15. ↑ McIntyre, Stephen L. (2000). "The Failure of Fordism: Reform of the Automobile Repair Industry, 1913–1940". Technology and Culture. 41 (2): 274–275, 278–283, 296–298. doi:10.1353/tech.2000.0075.
  16. ↑ Grace (2021).
  17. ↑ International Standard Classification of Occupations: ISCO–08 (PDF). Vol. 1. Geneva: International Labour Organization. 2012. pp. 289–291. ISBN 978-92-2-125953-4. Archived (PDF) from the original on 5 September 2026. Retrieved 26 October 2026.
  18. ↑ Henderson, C.J.; Dolphin, J.; Fehl, P.; Davenport, R. (2010). Career Opportunities in the Armed Forces. Career Opportunities Series. Facts On File, Incorporated. p. 230. ISBN 978-1-4381-1062-2. Retrieved 18 December 2017.
  19. 1 2 Pearson, Michael P. R. (2024). "Grease monkeys: A history of Australia's motor mechanic trade, 1900–1970". Asia-Pacific Economic History Review. 64 (2). Wiley-Blackwell: 260–266. doi:10.1111/aehr.12293. ISSN 2832-157X. Archived from the original on 14 June 2025. Retrieved 26 October 2026.
  20. ↑ "Motor vehicle repairer certificate". www.wa.gov.au. 1 May 2026. Archived from the original on 16 May 2026. Retrieved 26 October 2026.
  21. ↑ Motor Vehicle Repairers Act 2003 (WA) s 39
  22. 1 2 3 "Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics". Occupational Outlook Handbook. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. 14 September 2026. Retrieved 26 October 2026.
  23. ↑ "Experience Requirements to Become an Aircraft Mechanic". Federal Aviation Administration. U.S. Department of Transportation. 16 July 2026. Retrieved 26 October 2026.
  24. ↑ "About Us". Professional Bicycle Mechanics Association (PBMA).[dead link]
  25. ↑ Koles, Istvan (20 October 2026). "ECI Webinar: Europe needs 105,000 more bike mechanics by 2032. How will we get there? - European Cycling Industries (ECI)". CIE. Retrieved 26 October 2026.
  26. ↑ Sutton, Mark (3 February 2022). "Shimano T.E.C. courses adopted by UCI mechanics programme". Cycling Industry News. Archived from the original on 17 February 2025. Retrieved 26 October 2026.
  27. ↑ "SRAM takes its Technical University on the road with STU2U". Bicycle Retailer and Industry News. 2 February 2017. Archived from the original on 16 January 2022. Retrieved 26 October 2026.
  28. ↑ "49-3023.00 – Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics". O*NET OnLine. U.S. Department of Labor. Archived from the original on 13 October 2026. Retrieved 25 October 2026.
  29. 1 2 3 "Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics". Occupational Outlook Handbook. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Archived from the original on 13 October 2026. Retrieved 25 October 2026.
  30. ↑ Gilles (2004), pp. 16–23.
  31. ↑ "Monthly salary of auto mechanics in selected countries". Statista. Retrieved 26 October 2026.
  32. ↑ "Mechanic Salary in France (2026)". Salary Expert. Retrieved 26 October 2026.
  33. ↑ "Automotive Service Technician / Mechanic Salary in India in 2026 | PayScale". www.payscale.com. Retrieved 26 October 2026.
  34. ↑ "How do F1 teams service their cars in less than two seconds?". www.formula1.com. Archived from the original on 23 January 2026. Retrieved 26 October 2026.
  35. ↑ "Diesel Service Technicians and Mechanics". Occupational Outlook Handbook. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Archived from the original on 12 October 2026. Retrieved 26 October 2026.
  36. 1 2 "Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists". O*NET OnLine. U.S. Department of Labor. Archived from the original on 13 October 2026. Retrieved 26 October 2026.
  37. ↑ "The Women's Royal Air Force 1914 – 1918". Imperial War Museums. 1918. Q 72639. Archived from the original on 10 June 2026. Retrieved 26 October 2026. Air mechanics of the Women's Royal Air Force (WRAF) servicing a rotary aircraft engine.
  38. ↑ "Aviation Maintenance Technician Handbook – General" (PDF). Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
  39. ↑ "Occupational Outlook Handbook: Water Transportation Workers". Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2021).
  40. ↑ Moore (1988), pp. 3–7.
  41. 1 2 "Industrial Machinery Mechanics, Machinery Maintenance Workers, and Millwrights". Bureau of Labor Statistics. Archived from the original on 13 October 2026. Retrieved 26 October 2026.
  42. ↑ "What is an industrial mechanic? (With in-depth guide)". Indeed Career Guide. 26 November 2025. Retrieved 26 October 2026.
  43. ↑ "49-3042.00 – Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines". O*NET OnLine. U.S. Department of Labor. Archived from the original on 13 October 2026. Retrieved 25 October 2026.
  44. ↑ Tak, SangWoo; Davis, Rickie R.; Calvert, Geoffrey M. (May 2009). "Exposure to hazardous workplace noise and use of hearing protection devices among US workers—NHANES, 1999–2004". American Journal of Industrial Medicine. 52 (5): 358–371. doi:10.1002/ajim.20690. ISSN 0271-3586. PMID 19267354.
  45. ↑ Javad Zare Sakhvidi, Mohammad; Loukzadeh, Ziba; Dehghan Tezerjani, Hamid; 1 Department of Occupational Health, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran; 2 Industrial Diseases Research Center, Center of Excellence for Occupational Medicine, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran; 3 Yazd Rural Water and Waste Water Company, Yazd, Iran (2019). "Occupational hand dermatitis in car repair workers". AIMS Public Health. 6 (4): 577–586. doi:10.3934/publichealth.2019.4.577. ISSN 2327-8994. PMC 6940577. PMID 31909077. Archived from the original on 30 January 2026. Retrieved 26 October 2026.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  46. ↑ Lothrop, Nathan; Gutenkunst, Shannon; Fimbres, Jocelyn; Quijada, Carolina; Chaires, Marvin; Cortez, Imelda; Sandoval, Flor; Camargo, Fernanda J.; Ramírez, Denise Moreno; Gallardo, Emma V.; Torabzadeh, Elmira; Wagoner, Rietta; Lopez-Galvez, Nicolas; Ingram, Maia; Carvajal, Scott (1 July 2025). "Characterizing full-shift worker exposures to VOCs in small-sized auto repair shops in the Tucson, Arizona, USA metropolitan area". Scientific Reports. 15 (1). Nature Publishing Group: 20382. doi:10.1038/s41598-025-08546-6. ISSN 2045-2322. PMC 12219875. PMID 40595322. Archived from the original on 14 January 2026. Retrieved 26 October 2026.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: unflagged free DOI (link)
  47. ↑ Ahmad, Ijaz; Balkhyour, Mansour A. (1 March 2020). "Occupational exposure and respiratory health of workers at small scale industries". Saudi Journal of Biological Sciences. 27 (3): 985–990. doi:10.1016/j.sjbs.2020.01.019. ISSN 1319-562X. PMC 7051098. PMID 32140043. Archived from the original on 13 April 2024. Retrieved 26 October 2026.
  48. ↑ Henn, Scott A.; Bell, Jennifer L.; Sussell, Aaron L.; Konda, Srinivas (2011–2013). "Occupational carbon monoxide fatalities in the US from unintentional non‐fire related exposures, 1992–2008". American Journal of Industrial Medicine. 56 (11): 1280–1289. doi:10.1002/ajim.22226. ISSN 0271-3586. PMC 4552320. PMID 23868822. Archived from the original on 26 December 2024. Retrieved 26 October 2026.
  49. ↑ Tamene, Aiggan; Mulugeta, Hailemichael; Ashenafi, Tesfaye; Thygerson, Steven M. (7 May 2020). "Musculoskeletal Disorders and Associated Factors among Vehicle Repair Workers in Hawassa City, Southern Ethiopia". Journal of Environmental and Public Health. 2020: 1–11. doi:10.1155/2020/9472357. ISSN 1687-9805. PMC 7229541. PMID 32454844. Archived from the original on 14 February 2024. Retrieved 26 October 2026.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: unflagged free DOI (link)
  50. ↑ Nilsson, Tohr; Wahlström, Jens; Burström, Lage (13 July 2017). "Hand-arm vibration and the risk of vascular and neurological diseases—A systematic review and meta-analysis". PLOS ONE. 12 (7). Public Library of Science: e0180795. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0180795. ISSN 1932-6203. PMC 5509149. PMID 28704466. Archived from the original on 25 September 2026. Retrieved 26 October 2026.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: article number as page number (link) CS1 maint: unflagged free DOI (link)
  51. ↑ Moore (1988), p. 75.
  52. ↑ Basager, Ahmed; Alrabghi, Abdullah (30 January 2026). "Ergonomic Risk Profiles of Auto Body Specialists: Evidence from Saudi Arabia with Global Lessons for Labor-Intensive Industries". Safety. 12 (1): 16. doi:10.3390/safety12010016. ISSN 2313-576X. Archived from the original on 30 January 2026. Retrieved 26 October 2026.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: unflagged free DOI (link)

Sources

  • Wikimedia Commons logo Media related to Mechanics (occupation) at Wikimedia Commons
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