Why Be a Technician at Serra Traverse City
The answer to why be a technician at Serra Traverse City comes down to a transparent career path, paid training, and a Monday through Friday schedule that fits family life. Technicians from Traverse City, Petoskey, and Charlevoix, Michigan, can grow here from a first express service to master-level diagnostics. You can step in with years of shop experience or bring a strong drive to learn, and the team will help you build from there.
Turn More Hours with Flat Rate Pay
A busy shop means more opportunity to turn hours. With 14 brands plus a large used car department, you work on a wide range of vehicles and see steady repair orders all year. Northern Michigan seasons along US-31 keep tire changes, battery service, and drivetrain work flowing into well-maintained bays, and every facility was built in 2018 or later with special tools and current diagnostic equipment.
The flat rate pay plan ties your earnings directly to your performance, knowledge, and skill. You also receive:
- A competitive benefits package
- A tool credit program that rewards work performance with credits toward new tools
- A loyalty bonus paid every April to celebrate your years on the team
- Work boot reimbursement
These perks add value to every hour you spend in the bay.
Follow a Clear Technician Career Path
The technician career path lays out every expectation and suggested timeline, so you always know your next step. It includes five levels:
- Express Technician: basic services and quality fundamentals, open to new technicians
- Lead Express Technician: four state certifications, basic diagnostics, and mentoring
- Guaranteed Technician: eight state certifications and a yearly earnings guarantee
- Line Technician: State Master certification, complex repairs, and specialization
- Master Technician: State Master and ASE Master certifications, elite diagnostics, and a mentor role
Each level brings more responsibility and higher compensation.
Paid training supports every step. You learn on the job beside certified technicians; the apprentice program pairs you with master technicians, and continued manufacturer education keeps your skills current. Off-campus classes include hotel rooms, rental cars, and daily meal allowances, and passed ASE tests are reimbursed. If you're finishing automotive coursework at Northwestern Michigan College, this structure gives you a strong place to keep learning.
Enjoy Weekends Off in Northern Michigan
A set Monday through Friday schedule, with holidays off, lets you plan doctor appointments, school meetings, and family time in advance. Your weekends stay open for a beach day at Sleeping Bear Dunes, a ski trip, or projects around the house.
Paid time off starts accruing on your first day. You also receive PTO payout checks on key anniversaries: one week at year one, two weeks at year two, and three weeks at year five.
FAQs
Do you need a certification to be a mechanic in Michigan?
Yes. Michigan requires anyone repairing vehicles for pay to hold a state mechanic certification through the Michigan Department of State. Trainees can work under a certified mechanic while preparing for their certification tests.
Do dealership technicians have to buy their own tools?
Yes, most technicians build their own tool set over time. A tool credit program helps: you earn credits toward new tools based on work performance, while the shop supplies special tools and diagnostic equipment.
Is flat rate pay good for auto technicians?
Yes, for technicians who work efficiently. Flat rate pays a set labor time for each repair, so accurate, efficient work lets you turn more hours, and steady volume across 14 brands keeps those hours coming.
Apply for Automotive Technician Jobs Today
Our dealership is ready to help you build a rewarding technician career close to home in Traverse City, Petoskey, and Charlevoix, MI. Now that you know why be a technician at Serra Traverse City, you can explore job opportunities and apply today.