Tire Technicians
Overview
Introduction
Tire technicians, employed by tire manufacturers, test tires to determine their strength, durability (how long they will last), and any defects in their construction. According to the market research group IBISWorld, there were approximately 114 tire manufacturers in operation in the United States, with nearly 45,000 employees, as of September 2020.
Quick Facts
Median Salary
Employment Prospects
Minimum Education Level
Experience
Skills
Personality Traits
Earnings
Tire technicians are classified with inspectors, testers, and graders. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, median hourly earnings of inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers who worked in motor vehicle parts manufacturing were $18.82 in May 2019 (for a mean annual, full-time salary of $39,140). Wages for all inspectors ranged from less than $11.85 an hour to more than $31.86 ...
Work Environment
Many plants operate 24 hours a day. Newly hired technicians may have to work off-shifts, nights, and weekends. More experienced tire technicians usually get a choice of shifts.
Tire technicians are responsible for filling out reports, making charts and graphs, and relaying important information, both verbally and in writing. As a result, they are under considerable stress to provide accu...
Outlook
The U.S. Department of Labor predicts that employment for quality control inspectors, including tire testers, will decline by 17 percent through 2029. Slow employment growth is expected due to the increased use of computer software and automated systems to run the machines that test tires. Tire manufacturers have also been impacted by the coronavirus pandemic, with lockdowns and business closur...
