Pub. 4 Issue 4

23 Issue 4 2018 in almost lab-clean classrooms, and they’re generally more fo- cused on computer equipment than greasy mechanical parts. Stakes are high for BMW and other carmakers, as service de- partments are big moneymakers for dealerships. According to a recent report from the National Automobile Dealers Association, service and parts brought in about $110 billion in 2016—nearly 12 percent of dealers’ total revenue. A dearth of qualified techni- cians imperils dealerships’ satisfaction ratings and revenues, as customers often have difficulty securing appointments and need to endure longer wait times, according to BMW. To address the tech shortage, schools, manufacturers, and the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence—an orga- nization responsible for certifying technicians in vehicle diag- nosis and repair skills and for accrediting automotive-education programs—have developed partnerships to encourage and help potential technicians to join the industry. The Lincoln Techni- cal Institute—a national vocational school offering programs in automotive technology, HVAC repair, applied health sciences, and other hands-on disciplines—has linked up with Audi, BMW, and Fiat Chrysler. Robert Paganini, president of LTI’s Mahwah, New Jersey, campus, says that the majority of students who participated in its prestigious Audi apprenticeship, which adds an extra two months onto a 13-month program, found jobs within the VW Group after graduation. But participation in a manufacturer-specific program isn’t required for job placement. “I have more automotive job orders than I can fill,” says Nella Santangelo, director of career services at LTI Mahwah. “There’s a major shortage of technicians, so I don’t have to fight too much for salaries. Opportunities are better now than 25 years ago.” She admits, however, that salaries tend to start on the low side, about $10 to $15 per hour, but can get up to $30 or $40 per hour. According to the BLS, median annual auto-tech pay was $38,470 in 2016, but how much a tech makes depends on the individual, with top-tier salaries cresting $64,000 per year. Not bad considering the U.S. Census Bureau puts median household income at $59,039. Peter Tahinos, senior vice president of marketing at LTI Mahwah, says that after working for five to 10 years, talented techs could even make six figures. It all depends on the dealer- ship or shop, its location, as well as the sort of vehicles it services: Higher-end cars typically mean better pay for technicians. At BMW\'s training center, a classroom of students looks pretty much like a classroom at any university but with a higher percentage of blue shirts. Paul LeBlanc, who with his father and brother owns Paul’s Auto Repair, an independent shop in East Hartford, Connecti- cut, says the pay structure has a lot to do with how techs make money—or don’t. Warranty work, which is prevalent at dealer- ships, earns a lower hourly rate, and techs are often pushed to finish it quickly. Although LeBlanc has trouble finding qualified  AUTOMOTIVE TECHNICIANS — continued on page 24