Career · Machines, transport and industry
Car mechanic
Finds faults in cars and fixes them so they drive safely and without breakdowns.
Career overview
What a day looks like
A car mechanic listens to the owner's complaint, inspects the car and looks for the cause of the problem. Then they replace or adjust the part and check that everything works.
Try it yourself this week
30 minutes
Look closely at a mechanism and draw how it works
- Choose a simple thing at home: a door lock, a bike or a desk lamp. You don't need to take anything apart, just look.
- Draw the whole thing and label the main parts.
- Use arrows to show what passes movement to what: for example, where you press and what moves.
- Write down three questions you don't know the answer to, and find the answer to one of them.
What you'll learn about yourself: Whether you're drawn to finding out how things work inside, and whether you have the patience to get to the cause.
What you can do next
Next 3 months
Learn how a car works
Find a diagram of a car and label the main parts: engine, brakes, suspension.
In six months
See how a diagnosis works
Ask people you know how they found out what was wrong with their car, and write down the steps in order.
In a year
Find out where car mechanics train
Together with your parents, find out what training programmes exist and how the work placement is organised.
What it pays
Pay varies by region, experience and employer. The figures below are approximate ranges from public sources.
Notes on sources are in Russian, as in the original source.
In Kazakhstan
- BeginnerAlmatyfrom job ads
300,000–600,000 ₸ per month
varies in job ads: some take-home, some before tax · data: September 2026 · checked: September 2026
Опыт 1–3 года.
Source: almaty.hh.kz (opens in a new tab) - ExperiencedAlmatyfrom job ads
450,000–1,500,000 ₸ per month
varies in job ads: some take-home, some before tax · data: September 2026 · checked: September 2026
Опыт 3–6 лет: 450–700 тыс.; больше 6 лет: до 1,5 млн ₸ (тяжёлая техника).
Source: almaty.hh.kz (opens in a new tab)
Where to study
Notes on sources are in Russian, as in the original source.
Colleges
You can apply after grade 9 or 11 — you get a profession faster than at university.
- AKMIS — Алматинский колледж менеджмента и сервиса (opens in a new tab)
Almaty
Техническое обслуживание, ремонт и эксплуатация автомобильного транспорта · Техник-механик
after grade 9 or 11 - Алматинский многопрофильный колледж (opens in a new tab)
Almaty
Техническое обслуживание автомобильного транспорта · Механик
after grade 9 or 11 - Атырауский колледж транспорта и коммуникации (opens in a new tab)
Atyrau
Техническое обслуживание автомобильного транспорта · Электрик автомобильный
after grade 9 or 11 - Astana Polytechnic College (opens in a new tab)
Astana
Техническое обслуживание, ремонт и эксплуатация автомобильного транспорта · Техник-механик
state-funded places available
The UNT, if you apply to university
Required subjects: History of Kazakhstan, Reading Literacy, Mathematical Literacy. Profile subjects for this career: Mathematics + Physics.
Programme group: B065 Транспортная техника и технологии. Checked: September 2026.
Source: National Testing Centre list (opens in a new tab)How to get into college
College gets you a profession faster than university. You can apply after grade 9 or after grade 11.
- Colleges accept students both after grade 9 and after grade 11. After grade 9 you study longer — about 3 years 10 months; after grade 11, about 2 years 10 months. The exact length depends on the college and the specialty.
Source: kchk.edu.kz (opens in a new tab) - About 80% of students admitted to colleges in the 2024/25 school year study on a state order, which means in state-funded places (in 2023/24 it was about 70%). But each college and each specialty has its own number of state-funded places.
Source: inbusiness.kz (opens in a new tab) - There are also paid colleges. For example, training as a nurse at ADILMED costs 450,000 ₸ per year. Check the price and conditions on the college's website.
Source: adilmed.kz (opens in a new tab)
UNT: which subjects to take for university
The UNT (Unified National Testing) is Kazakhstan's national university entrance test. You need it to get into university after grade 11.
- The UNT 2026 has three compulsory subjects: History of Kazakhstan, Reading Literacy and Mathematical Literacy. On top of these, you take two profile subjects, chosen to match your specialty.
Source: testcenter.kz (opens in a new tab) - In total, the test has 120 questions (maximum 140 points) and you get 4 hours. The format is the same as in 2025.
Source: testcenter.kz (opens in a new tab) - Profile subjects depend on the group of specialties. For example: information technology — Mathematics and Computer Science; nursing and veterinary medicine — Biology and Chemistry; electrical engineering — Mathematics and Physics; law — World History and Fundamentals of Law. The full list is published by the National Testing Center.
Source: testcenter.kz (opens in a new tab) - For creative specialties (for example, media and design), you take History of Kazakhstan and Reading Literacy through the UNT, and two creative exams at the university itself.
Source: testcenter.kz (opens in a new tab) - Some universities have their own admission rules. Nazarbayev University, for example, requires a UNT score of at least 85, a GPA of 4.0 and English at IELTS 6.0 level.
Source: nu.edu.kz (opens in a new tab)
Courses and opportunities
Courses
This selection has no free courses with verified sources. Paid ones are listed for reference — check the price and terms on their website.
- PaidonlineAstanausually for adults — check the ageKazFactor курсы автомеханика (opens in a new tab)
KazFactor
Дистанционное обучение за 30 000 ₸ (для допуска и повышения квалификации); очно в Астане — по запросу.
Checked: September 2026
Source: kazfactor.kz (opens in a new tab)
Opportunities near this field
- Programmeenbek.kz job portal (opens in a new tab)
Министерство труда и социальной защиты РК
Who it's for: anyone looking for a job or an internship.
When: all year round.
The government job vacancy portal. It has a section for students and young specialists called «Жастарға» (For young people).
Checked: September 2026
Source: enbek.kz (opens in a new tab) - Programmeup to age 35Youth internship programme (opens in a new tab)
Министерство труда и социальной защиты РК
Who it's for: college and university graduates (not for school students).
When: ongoing, up to 12 months.
A paid internship for graduates (under the terms on enbek.kz, at least 30 MCI (monthly calculation index) per month). The rules have changed before, so check them on the day you apply.
Checked: September 2026
Source: enbek.kz (opens in a new tab) - Programmeup to age 35First job programme (opens in a new tab)
Министерство труда и социальной защиты РК
Who it's for: young specialists (not for school students).
When: subsidy for up to 18 months.
The state helps pay a young specialist's salary for up to 18 months. Check the conditions on enbek.kz.
Checked: September 2026
Source: enbek.kz (opens in a new tab) - ProgrammefreeAtlas of New Professions (opens in a new tab)
Минтруда РК и Центр развития трудовых ресурсов
Who it's for: everyone.
When: reference guide, always available.
Atlas of New Professions: which jobs will appear, change or disappear in the next 5–10 years. Free to read.
Checked: September 2026
Source: atlasbt.enbek.kz (opens in a new tab)
Can you work before you turn 18?
Under Kazakhstan's Labour Code, teenagers can work, but with limits.
- Usually you can work from age 16. From 15 — if you are getting basic or general secondary education. From 14 — only in your free time outside school and only light work. If you are under 16, you need a signature from a parent or legal guardian.
Source: kodeksy-kz.com (opens in a new tab) - From 14 to 16 you can work no more than 24 hours a week; from 16 to 18, no more than 36 hours a week.
Source: kodeksy-kz.com (opens in a new tab) - Under-18s must not be given heavy or hazardous work, jobs with full financial liability, night work, overtime or business trips.
Source: mybuh.kz (opens in a new tab)
History of the career
No verified information is available in this section yet.
Well-known people in this field
No verified information is available in this section yet.