A new 2026 Voice of Technician Survey from WrenchWay and the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) suggests the automotive repair industry still has major work to do on technician retention, pay structure and day-to-day workplace satisfaction.
The survey, conducted online from Nov. 10 through Dec. 22, 2025, drew responses from more than 5,500 people across the automotive, diesel, and collision sectors.
Pay and benefits
The findings point to a widening gap between what technicians want from employers and what many say shops and dealerships actually provide.
Paid vacation, retirement benefits, proper equipment and paid training ranked among the most important factors in choosing an employer, while only 56% of respondents said their shop provides fair compensation, 49% said their shop provides good benefits, and just 27% said their employer offers a clear career path.
Compensation structure
Compensation remains the biggest pressure point. Higher pay was ranked the most urgent industry issue by 84% of respondents, followed by better pay structure at 71%.
At the same time, technicians showed a clear preference for compensation models that offer more income stability, with hourly or salary plus a production bonus ranked as the top pay structure.
Traditional flat rate was the least preferred option.
Sentiment toward the profession
Sentiment about the profession itself also continued to slide. The report said overall technician Net Promoter Score fell to -60 in 2026, down from -52 in 2025 and -24 in 2024, showing that detractors heavily outnumber promoters when technicians are asked whether they would recommend the profession to a friend.
Among automotive technicians, the score was even worse at -66.
The outlook on the industry was similarly bleak. According to the survey, 77% of technicians said they do not believe the industry is improving. While 62% said they expect to remain in the industry over the next five years, 21% said they will probably leave and another 17% said they expect to retire, meaning 38% could exit the field within that timeframe.
The report also highlighted pipeline concerns. Shops’ support for local schools remains limited, with 39% saying they hired students for internships or part-time roles, 23% saying they hosted job shadows or shop tours, and 32% saying they did not support schools at all in the past year.
Just 1% of respondents identified collision as their industry, but the caution is obvious even if the survey was dominated by broader automotive responses. Technicians are getting louder about what they expect, and employers that still treat pay, career development and shop conditions like optional extras are going to keep losing people.
