Services a race car during pit stops, changing tires, jacking the car and refueling in a few seconds as part of a choreographed crew. BLS does not publish separate figures for automotive service technicians and mechanics; it counts them within automotive service technician and mechanic (SOC 49-3023), whose median pay is $50,620 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.
- SOC 49-3023
- Installation, Maintenance, and Repair
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Pit Crew Member in four numbers
- Median pay
- $50,620a year, or $24.34/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $35KTop 10% $82K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- +5.0%Faster than averageBLS EP, 2025–2035This career+5%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career +5% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 66,200825,800 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 2025825.8K
- Projected 2035866.7K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 825.8K Projected 2035 866.7K - Typical education
- High schoolneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
Also advertised as: Pit Crew Tire Changer, Pit Crew Tire Carrier, Jackman, Fueler, Over-the-Wall Crew Member.
Pay
How much do Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics make?
Every pit crew member in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$50,620
Middle half earn $38,900 to $70,430
- 10th
- $34,660
- 25th
- $38,900
- 75th
- $70,430
- 90th
- $81,790
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $34,660 |
| 25th | $38,900 |
| Median | $50,620 |
| 75th | $70,430 |
| 90th | $81,790 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $50,620
- Median hourly wage
- $24.34/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $56,420
- People employed
- 704,640
Versus all US occupations
At $50,620, the median for Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics sits in line with the $50,980 median across all US occupations.
Versus installation, maintenance, and repair occupations
Inside the Installation, Maintenance, and Repair group, where the middle occupation pays $61,150, this is 17% below the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $81,790 or more while the bottom 10% earn $34,660, a gap of 2.4×. That is a typical spread for a US occupation.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 23% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Cost of living
District of Columbia posts the highest raw median ($68,660), but once local prices are taken into account North Dakota leads at $64,479 in national-average dollars.
Pay by state
Which states pay Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1District of Columbia | $68,660 | $62,474 | 310 |
| 2California | $64,980 | $58,689 | 65,420 |
| 3Colorado | $61,280 | $59,465 | 12,300 |
| 4Alaska | $60,840 | $59,438 | 1,420 |
| 5Massachusetts | $60,760 | $57,452 | 12,710 |
| 6Connecticut | $60,220 | $58,122 | 6,960 |
| 7Virginia | $59,330 | $58,682 | 17,880 |
| 8New Hampshire | $59,020 | $56,660 | 4,840 |
| 9Montana | $58,740 | $62,064 | 2,900 |
| 10Oregon | $58,520 | $56,617 | 6,990 |
Job outlook
Is Pit Crew Member a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
Faster than average. +5.0% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics | +5% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
Faster than average
BLS projects employment of Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics to change 5.0% over 2025–2035, against 3.5% projected for all occupations. That is 40,900 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 66,200 openings are projected each year, 8.0% of the 825,800 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Getting in
How to become a Pit Crew Member
Many professional pit crew members are former college athletes recruited for speed, strength and composure under pressure. The NASCAR Drive for Diversity Pit Crew Development Program, run with Rev Racing, recruits athletes through combines and trains them in tire changing, carrying, jacking and fueling, along with strength and agility work.
Others come up through racing shops and lower series, learning pit work as mechanics. Teams and development programs are concentrated around Charlotte and Mooresville, North Carolina, so relocation is often needed.
- 1
Typical entry-level education
High school diploma or equivalent
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
None
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
Short-term on-the-job training
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Some preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
The work
What does a Pit Crew Member do?
Pit crew members go over the wall during a race to service the car as fast as possible. In NASCAR, a crew includes tire changers who remove and tighten lug nuts with air guns, tire carriers who bring and position new tires, a jackman who lifts the car, and a fueler, all moving in a rehearsed sequence.
At top levels, pit crew is a specialized athletic job. Crew members practice stops repeatedly during the week, study video of each stop, follow strength and conditioning programs, and often also work in the team shop on cars, equipment or logistics. Teams in NASCAR, IndyCar and other series employ them.
Day-to-day tasks
- Change tires during pit stops using air guns and lug nuts
- Carry and position replacement tires
- Jack the car quickly and safely during stops
- Refuel the car while following safety procedures
- Practice and time pit stops repeatedly during the week
- Review pit stop video with coaches to improve speed
- Maintain pit equipment and support shop work
Typical tasks, researched by NueCareer from the sources below.
Working conditions and hours
Pit crew members train and work at team shops during the week and travel to races most weekends in season. The job is physically demanding and involves risk around moving cars, hot equipment and fuel, with fire-resistant suits and helmets required. Practice and conditioning take up much of the week.
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayOutdoors in all weather
NeverEvery day
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeStanding
NeverAlmost all the timeOn their feet more than half the working day.
Bending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the timeRegular bending or twisting.
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantFace-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayFace-to-face discussions every day.
Dealing with the public
Not importantExtremely important
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayMeeting strict deadlines at least weekly.
Conflict situations
NeverEvery dayCost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely serious
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lotA lot of freedom to make decisions without checking first.
Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Critical Thinking3.5
- Active Listening3.3
- Monitoring3.1
- Speaking3.0
- Active Learning3.0
- Reading Comprehension2.9
- Writing2.6
- Learning Strategies2.6
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Critical Thinking | 3.5 |
| Active Listening | 3.3 |
| Monitoring | 3.1 |
| Speaking | 3.0 |
| Active Learning | 3.0 |
| Reading Comprehension | 2.9 |
| Writing | 2.6 |
| Learning Strategies | 2.6 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Troubleshooting3.9
- Repairing3.9
- Equipment Maintenance3.8
- Operations Monitoring3.4
- Complex Problem Solving3.3
- Installation3.3
- Operation and Control3.3
- Quality Control Analysis3.3
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Troubleshooting | 3.9 |
| Repairing | 3.9 |
| Equipment Maintenance | 3.8 |
| Operations Monitoring | 3.4 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.3 |
| Installation | 3.3 |
| Operation and Control | 3.3 |
| Quality Control Analysis | 3.3 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Electronic mail software · in demand
- Enterprise resource planning ERP software · in demand
- Internet browser software · in demand
- Office suite software · in demand
- Operating system software · in demand
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Word processing software · in demand
- Analytical or scientific software
- Billing and invoicing software
- Calendar and scheduling software
- Data base reporting software
- Data base user interface and query software
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
Personality fit
What personality type suits a Pit Crew Member?
NueCareer estimate (Holland code RSE) built on O*NET's Automotive Service Technician and Mechanic profile, scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Pit Crew Member |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 7 |
| Investigative | 4 |
| Artistic | 1 |
| Social | 3 |
| Enterprising | 3 |
| Conventional | 4 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors, combined with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data.
- Realistic7.0
- Conventional4.3
- Investigative3.6
- Social2.9
- Enterprising2.9
- Artistic1.0
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
Careers related to Pit Crew Member
O*NET related occupations
- Installation, Maintenance, and Repair
Automotive Service Technician and Mechanic
$50,620median a year
Most earn $35K to $82K
+5.0%Certificate - Installation, Maintenance, and Repair
- Installation, Maintenance, and Repair
Bus and Truck Mechanic and Diesel Engine Specialist
$61,770median a year
Most earn $45K to $89K
+3.6%High school - Installation, Maintenance, and Repair
Electric Motor, Power Tool, and Related Repairer
$56,210median a year
Most earn $37K to $85K
+4.4%High school - Installation, Maintenance, and Repair
- Production
More installation, maintenance, and repair careers
Median annual pay, with automotive service technicians and mechanics highlighted
- Aircraft Mechanic$79,870
- Millwright$65,700
- Industrial Machinery Mechanic$64,520
- Bus and Truck Mechanic and Diesel Engine Specialist$61,770
- Medical Equipment Repairer$61,660
- Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanic and Installer$61,010
- Automotive Body and Related Repairer$54,890
- Automotive Service Technician and Mechanic$50,620
- Pit Crew Member$50,620
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Aircraft Mechanic | $79,870 |
| Millwright | $65,700 |
| Industrial Machinery Mechanic | $64,520 |
| Bus and Truck Mechanic and Diesel Engine Specialist | $61,770 |
| Medical Equipment Repairer | $61,660 |
| Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanic and Installer | $61,010 |
| Automotive Body and Related Repairer | $54,890 |
| Automotive Service Technician and Mechanic | $50,620 |
| Pit Crew Member | $50,620 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lists Pit Crew Member appears on
Questions
Pit Crew Member: frequently asked questions
How much do Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics make?
BLS does not publish a separate wage for automotive service technicians and mechanics. It counts them within automotive service technician and mechanic, whose median pay is $50,620 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of that occupation earn between $38,900 and $70,430, and the top 10% earn $81,790 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a Pit Crew Member?
No. A bachelor's degree is not the norm: BLS reports a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education for Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics. BLS also lists short-term on-the-job training as typical on-the-job training.
Is Pit Crew Member a growing career?
Yes. Employment is projected to grow 5.0% over 2025–2035, faster than the 3.5% average for all occupations (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 66,200 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a Pit Crew Member do?
Pit crew members go over the wall during a race to service the car as fast as possible. A typical task: change tires during pit stops using air guns and lug nuts. Employers most often ask for Electronic mail software, Enterprise resource planning ERP software, Internet browser software.
Which states pay Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics the most?
The highest state medians for Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics are District of Columbia ($68,660), California ($64,980), Colorado ($61,280) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Adjusted for local prices using BEA Regional Price Parities, North Dakota moves to the top at $64,479.
What personality type suits a Pit Crew Member?
O*NET scores Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics highest on the Realistic, Conventional and Investigative interest areas, so the work mixes hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping that lines up most closely with ISTJ personalities. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.