photo by steed media service

mechanics can make six-figure incomes

For car owners, vehicles can mean more money and more problems. For car technicians with the proper training and certification like Tommy Lawyer, vehicles can mean more money.and more money. Lawyer, who was one of BMW's top 10 automotive technicians in the country in 2006, was awarded with an all expenses paid five-day vacation to Ireland. That's just one of his job's benefits. An automotive technician who secures a position at a reputable dealership can earn more than $50,000 their first year out of school, Lawyer says, and that can increase rapidly.

"The [dealership] atmosphere is better, [compared to the normal automotive shop]," he explains. "The pay is better and the benefits are better." The Savannah, Ga. native, who is a graduate of Atlanta Technical College's Automotive Technology program, became fascinated by mechanics as a child because his uncle repaired cars for a living. He chose Atlanta Tech because it was close to home and he knew it would provide the best environment. Since graduation, Lawyer has excelled at his profession, crediting his strong work ethic to a solid educational background. "Atlanta Tech laid a good foundation," Lawyer says. "They kept on me and made sure I did all the schoolwork." Lawyer received a HOPE scholarship and used it to finance a portion of his education. In addition to undergoing extensive training in mechanics, he was also required to study general subjects like Mathematics, English and Psychology during the two-year program.

Lawyer, who has also worked for Firestone and Goodyear, says the opportunity to work for a major dealership was a perk of attending Atlanta Tech. During his second year in the program, BMW's Metro Step program selected him to participate in their unique recruiting program. He spent six months alternating weeks between classes and hands-on training. Lawyer's superior customer service skills earned him a place as a fulltime employee at the largest BMW dealership in the city.

Schools around the nation offer degrees, diplomas and certificates in various concentrations of Automotive Technology, Automotive Collision Repair, and Automotive Front End/Align/Brakes/Steering Systems at incredibly low tuition rates. Atlanta Tech charges $31 per credit hour for Georgia residents, and $62 for out-of-state students. So, for all you handy guys and gals out there, take your talents out of your garage and profit on your passion.

"When you wake up in the morning and you don't have to get mad that you have to go to work, that's a good feeling," Lawyer remarks. "You love what you're doing because you know what you're doing." -kiara pesante