Automotive Technician Trainee
Harbor Occupational Center - LAUSD · San Pedro, CA
- Cost
- $3,822
- Length
- 36 weeks
- Working 6 months later
- 43%
Program names and program descriptions appear here in English, because that is the only language the federal and state records publish them in. Occupation titles are translated where O*NET publishes a Spanish name. Everything else on this page is translated.
What happened to people who took this
- People enrolled
- 157
- Finished the program
- 51%Based on 181 peopleTypical California program: 85% of 1,951 reportingThat median pools every California program that reported this measure, whatever its length, credential, or field, and leaves out the ones that reported nothing. It is a reference point, not a rating of this program.
- Working 6 months later
- 43%Typical California program: 69% of 1,690 reportingThat median pools every California program that reported this measure, whatever its length, credential, or field, and leaves out the ones that reported nothing. It is a reference point, not a rating of this program.
- Earnings in one quarter after
- $15,400A single quarter of earnings, roughly three months, not a yearly salary. Do not compare it directly with the yearly pay shown for the occupation.Typical California program: $10,900 of 1,339 reportingThat median pools every California program that reported this measure, whatever its length, credential, or field, and leaves out the ones that reported nothing. It is a reference point, not a rating of this program.
The jobs this trains for
This describes the jobs people do, not the classes this program teaches. It comes from the U.S. Department of Labor, which asks people already doing the work. The Department publishes it in English only, so the job names and the sentences below stay in English on this page.
Shrinking -20%
California projects this job will shrink over the next ten years. Fewer openings may mean a harder search.
Trains for more than one job. The outlook shown is the weakest of them.
Related work California expects more of
The U.S. Department of Labor lists these as related to the job above, and California projects growth in them rather than decline. Related is not the same as interchangeable: the training, the licenses and the pay can all differ, and this program does not train for these. It is a place to start asking, not a recommendation.
- Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment$89,542 · +5.1% · 7 programs here
- Radio, Cellular, and Tower Equipment Installers and Repairers$64,617 · +9.1% · 4 programs here
- Avionics Technicians$95,095 · +8.3% · 1 program here
- Audiovisual Equipment Installers and Repairers$64,154 · +3.4% · No programs here train for it
Where California publishes a separate figure for Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale MD (Los Angeles County), it appears beneath the statewide one. Statewide stays the headline: people who train here do not necessarily work here.
Electrical and Electronics Installers and Repairers, Transportation Equipment
Job ads may call this: Electronics Mechanic · Locomotive Electrician · Critical Systems Technician · Electronic Bench Technician
Some of what people in this job do. The Department rates how important each one is, and they appear in that order.
- Inspect and test electrical systems and equipment to locate and diagnose malfunctions, using visual inspections, testing devices, and computer software.
- Reassemble and test equipment after repairs.
- Confer with customers to determine the nature of malfunctions.
- Adjust, repair, or replace defective wiring and relays in ignition, lighting, air-conditioning, and safety control systems, using electrician's tools.
Show 4 more things this job involves
- Install electrical equipment such as air-conditioning, heating, or ignition systems and components such as generator brushes and commutators, using hand tools.
- Splice wires with knives or cutting pliers, and solder connections to fixtures, outlets, and equipment.
- Locate and remove or repair circuit defects such as blown fuses or malfunctioning transistors.
- Maintain equipment service records.
What this pays in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale MD (Los Angeles County)
Each bar runs from the lowest-paid tenth to the highest-paid tenth. The darker middle is where half the people are, and the line is the median.
| Area | The lowest-paid tenth earn under | Half earn under | The highest-paid tenth earn over |
|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale MD (Los Angeles County) | $50,101 | $86,169 | $113,145 |
| Across California | $49,234 | $87,218 | $126,056 |
The federal Bureau of Labor Statistics' 2026 figures for Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale MD (Los Angeles County) beside the same figures for the whole state. A region can sit well below or above the statewide spread, and the statewide number is the one most often quoted — so where they differ, the local row is the one that describes the work near this program.
- Typical pay in California
- $87,218per yearLos Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale MD: $83,983
- Projected openings
- 1,190Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale MD: 180
- Projected change
- 0%
- Usually needs
- Postsecondary non-degree award
Getting in
- Experience needed first
- None
- Training after you are hired
- More than a year
New hires are trained on the job for more than a year after they start. The classroom part is the beginning of this work, not the whole of it.
These are the federal government's answers for the occupation, not rules this provider sets. California publishes the same two answers for every one of these jobs.
Electronic Equipment Installers and Repairers, Motor Vehicles
Pay, hiring, and what people studied
Job ads may call this: Installer · Car Audio Installer · Car Stereo Installer · Automotive Technician
- Install equipment and accessories, such as stereos, navigation equipment, communication equipment, and security systems.
- Inspect and test electrical or electronic systems to locate and diagnose malfunctions, using visual inspections and testing instruments, such as oscilloscopes and voltmeters.
- Cut openings and drill holes for fixtures and equipment, using electric drills and routers.
- Splice wires with knives or cutting pliers, and solder connections to fixtures and equipment.
Show 4 more things this job involves
- Diagnose or repair problems with electronic equipment, such as sound, navigation, communication, and security equipment, in motor vehicles.
- Run new speaker and electrical cables.
- Confer with customers to determine the nature of malfunctions.
- Remove seats, carpeting, and interiors of doors and add sound-absorbing material in empty spaces, reinstalling interior parts.
What this pays in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale MD (Los Angeles County)
Each bar runs from the lowest-paid tenth to the highest-paid tenth. The darker middle is where half the people are, and the line is the median.
| Area | The lowest-paid tenth earn under | Half earn under | The highest-paid tenth earn over |
|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale MD (Los Angeles County) | $50,987 | $64,454 | $87,005 |
| Across California | $35,290 | $49,871 | $90,828 |
The federal Bureau of Labor Statistics' 2026 figures for Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale MD (Los Angeles County) beside the same figures for the whole state. A region can sit well below or above the statewide spread, and the statewide number is the one most often quoted — so where they differ, the local row is the one that describes the work near this program.
- Typical pay in California
- $49,871per year
- Projected openings
- 490
- Projected change
- -20%
- Usually needs
- High school diploma or equivalent
California publishes no separate figure for this job in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale MD. The statewide figures above are the only ones there are.
Getting in
- Experience needed first
- None
- Training after you are hired
- 1 to 12 months
Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics
Pay, hiring, and what people studied
Job ads may call this: Mechanic · Automotive Technician (Auto Tech) · Service Technician (Service Tech) · Lube Tech (Lubrication Technician)
- Inspect vehicles for damage and record findings so that necessary repairs can be made.
- Test drive vehicles and test components and systems, using equipment such as infrared engine analyzers, compression gauges, and computerized diagnostic devices.
- Test and adjust repaired systems to meet manufacturers' performance specifications.
- Repair, reline, replace, and adjust brakes.
Show 4 more things this job involves
- Review work orders and discuss work with supervisors.
- Conduct visual inspections of compressed natural gas fuel systems to identify cracks, gouges, abrasions, discoloration, broken fibers, loose brackets, damaged gaskets, or other problems.
- Estimate costs of vehicle repair.
- Confer with customers to obtain descriptions of vehicle problems and to discuss work to be performed and future repair requirements.
What this pays in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale MD (Los Angeles County)
Each bar runs from the lowest-paid tenth to the highest-paid tenth. The darker middle is where half the people are, and the line is the median.
| Area | The lowest-paid tenth earn under | Half earn under | The highest-paid tenth earn over |
|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale MD (Los Angeles County) | $37,579 | $64,576 | $93,465 |
| Across California | $39,260 | $66,817 | $97,974 |
The federal Bureau of Labor Statistics' 2026 figures for Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale MD (Los Angeles County) beside the same figures for the whole state. A region can sit well below or above the statewide spread, and the statewide number is the one most often quoted — so where they differ, the local row is the one that describes the work near this program.
- Typical pay in California
- $66,817per yearLos Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale MD: $64,495
- Projected openings
- 66,070Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale MD: 12,970
- Projected change
- +4.1%
- Usually needs
- Postsecondary non-degree award
Getting in
- Experience needed first
- None
- Training after you are hired
- Under a month
No earlier job experience is expected, and new hires are not put through a long training period. For work like this, a program is usually the way in.
Program details
This program provides in-person instruction only.
This competency-based course prepares and qualifies students for entry-level positions as imported car mechanics in auto dealerships, service garages, and specialized repair shops. Meets NATEF standards and identifies priority tasks in engine performance, electrical/electronic systems, brakes, and suspension and steering. Check the NATEF manual for explanation of priority 1, 2, or 3 tasks.
http://www.laadulted.com
We could not reach this page when we checked on 2026-08-17.
Someone else may be able to pay for this
This program was on California's Eligible Training Provider List when the state last reported it to the U.S. Department of Labor (2026-09-18). Programs on that list can be paid for through an Individual Training Account. Listings are renewed periodically and can lapse, so a program listed when the state last reported may not be listed today. Ask before you rely on it.
Ask before you enroll, not after
The order the rules set out starts at the center rather than at the school. Before a center can find somebody eligible for training services it has to gather enough to decide, at a minimum through an interview, evaluation or assessment and career planning. Referring a person to the provider they have chosen and setting up the account both come after that, and both are the center's to do — the account is a payment agreement with the training provider, and it is the provider that is paid through it. So the call belongs before enrolling and before paying. Anyone who has already done either should still ask, and ask what it means for them.
The place to ask is an America's Job Center of California
Harbor Gateway WorkSource Center & AJCCAffiliate site
Phone: 310-732-5700
1111 Figueroa PlaceLA Harbor College-Science Complex Room 101Wilmington, CA 90744about 3.7 miles away
Hours: Monday - Friday 8:00am-5:00pm
South Bay One-Stop Business & Career Center - CarsonAffiliate site
Phone: 310-680-3870
801 E Carson StreetRoom 116 Congresswoman Juanita Millender-McDonald Community CenterCarson, CA 90745about 7.2 miles away
Hours: Monday - Thursday 8:00am – 5:00pm; Every other Friday 8:00-3:30pm Closed every other Friday
Has a veterans' representative
Long Beach Workforce Innovation Network Youth Career Services CenterAffiliate site
Phone: 562-570-4700
508 W Willow StreetLong Beach, CA 90806about 7.3 miles away
Hours: Monday-Thursday 11am-6pm and Fridays 11am-5pm
At a comprehensive center all the required partner programs can be reached; an affiliate site offers some of them. Distances are straight-line, so the drive is longer. Call before you travel: opening hours here are as the federal directory published them, and the state notes its own staff are not present at every location.
Find a center anywhere in California, and check what is on the list today:
CareerOneStop — American Job Center Finder (U.S. DOL) · California EDD — Office Locator · California EDD — Eligible Training Provider List
How this gets paid for, and what to ask →
Whether a person can have a program paid for is decided by their local workforce development board and the America's Job Center staff who interview them — not by this site, and not by the training provider. California has 45 local workforce development areas and each sets its own policies, so the answer can differ between two people in neighboring counties. Nothing here is a promise of funding or a determination of eligibility.
The rules cited here, and the state and federal sites linked to, are published in English.
How this site gets its figures, and what they do not tell you →