Tire and Lube Technician Jobs in Tucson, AZ
Tire and lube work is one of the most common first jobs in Tucson's auto trade, and most shops train from zero. Discount Tire posted $16 to $19 an hour for a tire technician on East Speedway in 2026. Current openings are below, followed by who hires and what it pays.
Current Tire Lube Technician Openings in Tucson, AZ
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Tire and Lube Technician Work in Tucson
Tucson's tire and lube jobs are spread across national tire chains, quick-lube bays and the express lanes at dealerships. Discount Tire, Big Brand Tire and Service, and BRAKEmax hire tire and general service techs at stores from East Speedway to North Thornydale Road, Take 5 Oil Change runs pit-style oil change bays, and Jim Click Automotive, now part of Gee Automotive Companies, hires express lane lube techs for its dealership service drives.
Two local conditions keep the bays busy. Tucson heat is hard on tires, batteries and fluids, and the emissions testing area that covers the Tucson part of Pima County requires tests on most vehicles more than five years old. Some shops run state emissions and safety inspections in-house, which is why BRAKEmax asks new general service techs to hold or earn a state inspector license within 30 days of hire.
Top Tucson Employers for Tire and Lube Technicians
These Tucson employers hire tire, lube and general service technicians, and most will train new hires:
- Discount Tire - tire technicians, including part-time morning shifts, with paid training, weekly pay and educational assistance.
- Big Brand Tire and Service - tire technicians and general service technicians on an hourly rate plus commission and overtime.
- BRAKEmax Tire and Service Centers - general service technicians who mount and balance tires, run oil changes and handle state inspections, with tuition reimbursement up to $3,000 a year.
- Take 5 Oil Change - lube technicians for its quick oil change bays, working in and out of a service pit.
- Jim Click Automotive (Gee Automotive Companies) - express lane lube technicians at its dealerships, a common step toward line technician work.
Tire and Lube Technician Salaries in Tucson
- Entry level: roughly $16 to $19 an hour.
- Experienced, with commission or overtime: roughly $19 to $22 an hour.
- Lead and general service techs with inspection or ASE credentials: roughly $22 to $27 an hour.
These are estimates that vary by employer and experience. Commission on tires and services and overtime in busy seasons push experienced techs above base pay, and an inspector license or ASE certifications move you toward the top band. Inside Tucson city limits the 2026 minimum wage is $15.45 an hour, and $15.15 statewide, so no shop can start below those floors, but most posted rates sit above them.
How to Become a Tire and Lube Technician in Tucson
Arizona has no license for tire or lube technicians. Most Tucson shops want a high school diploma or GED, a valid driver's license with a clean record, and the ability to lift about 50 pounds and work on your feet in the heat. Training happens on the job. Shops that do emissions and safety inspections may ask for a state inspector license, which they usually let you earn after hire. To move up to technician work, Pima Community College's Automotive Mechanics Certificate and Automotive Technology AAS run in person at the Downtown Campus, and Pima JTED offers automotive training for high school students at PCC Downtown.
What the Job Involves
You mount, balance and rotate tires, repair flats, and reset tire pressure sensors, then change oil and filters, top off fluids and test batteries. Each car gets a quick inspection, and anything bigger goes on the write-up for the service advisor or manager. Quick-lube techs often work from a pit under the car, and every tech keeps the bays and tire racks clean between jobs.
Skills Employers Look For
- Safe use of lifts, tire machines and wheel balancers
- Basic maintenance: oil, filters, fluids, batteries and tire pressure systems
- A clean driving record for moving customer vehicles
- Stamina for lifting and standing in hot bays
- Willingness to learn and take coaching
- Friendly, clear communication with customers
Career Path and Advancement
The bay is a starting point. Tucson tire and lube techs move to general service and brake work, then to automotive technician once they add ASE certifications or Pima's automotive training. Others move to the counter as a service writer or service advisor, and chain stores promote into assistant manager and store manager roles.
Related Careers in Tucson
These Tucson guides cover the next steps from a tire and lube bay:
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you need experience to get a tire and lube job in Tucson?
No. Discount Tire, Big Brand Tire and Service, Take 5 Oil Change and other Tucson shops hire people without automotive experience and train them on the job. A valid driver's license, reliability and the ability to lift and stand all shift are the usual requirements.
How much do tire and lube technicians make in Tucson?
Most start around $16 to $19 an hour, and experienced techs earn about $19 to $22 with commission and overtime. Lead and general service techs with inspection or ASE credentials can reach the mid-$20s. These are estimates that vary by employer and experience.
Do you need a license to do emissions or safety inspections?
Arizona does not license tire or lube technicians, but shops that run state inspections need techs with a state inspector license. BRAKEmax, for example, lets new general service techs earn one within 30 days of hire.
Is a tire and lube job a good way to become a mechanic in Tucson?
Yes. Many Tucson technicians started in a lube or tire bay, added ASE certifications and moved into repair work. Pima Community College's automotive programs at the Downtown Campus and employer tuition help, like BRAKEmax's, shorten the climb.
Which Tucson employers hire the most tire and lube technicians?
Discount Tire, Big Brand Tire and Service, BRAKEmax and Take 5 Oil Change hire across their Tucson stores, and Jim Click Automotive hires express lane lube techs at its dealerships.
Ready to apply? Browse all tire and lube technician jobs in Tucson, AZ on TucsonHIRED and apply today.