Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics salary in the U.S.
Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics in the U.S. earn a median of $50,620 a year ($24.34 an hour), based on BLS data for 704,640 workers.
Pay ranges from $34,660 for the lowest-paid 10% to $81,790 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $56,420, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for automotive service technicians and mechanics in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $34,660 | $16.66 |
| 25th percentile | $38,900 | $18.70 |
| Median | $50,620 | $24.34 |
| 75th percentile | $70,430 | $33.86 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $81,790 | $39.32 |
| Average (mean) | $56,420 | $27.13 |
Half of automotive service technicians and mechanics earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $4,218.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,109.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,946.92 |
| Weekly | $973.46 |
| Hourly | $24.34 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
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Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $68,660 | 310 |
| California | $64,980 | 65,420 |
| Colorado | $61,280 | 12,300 |
| Alaska | $60,840 | 1,420 |
| Massachusetts | $60,760 | 12,710 |
| Connecticut | $60,220 | 6,960 |
| Virginia | $59,330 | 17,880 |
| New Hampshire | $59,020 | 4,840 |
| Montana | $58,740 | 2,900 |
| Oregon | $58,520 | 6,990 |
| Delaware | $58,410 | 1,910 |
| Minnesota | $58,390 | 11,980 |
| Maryland | $57,520 | 14,230 |
| North Dakota | $57,360 | 2,140 |
| Washington | $57,270 | 12,930 |
| New Jersey | $56,610 | 17,640 |
| Wisconsin | $54,350 | 12,270 |
| Michigan | $54,120 | 22,280 |
| New York | $54,120 | 32,020 |
| Hawaii | $52,160 | 2,710 |
| Maine | $52,040 | 3,390 |
| Rhode Island | $51,770 | 2,530 |
| Vermont | $51,630 | 1,610 |
| Wyoming | $51,330 | 1,560 |
| South Dakota | $51,160 | 2,010 |
| Nebraska | $50,560 | 4,560 |
| Iowa | $50,510 | 7,610 |
| Tennessee | $50,290 | 16,210 |
| Pennsylvania | $49,800 | 29,400 |
| Arizona | $49,570 | 16,400 |
| Indiana | $49,360 | 16,480 |
| Illinois | $49,170 | 29,510 |
| Missouri | $49,160 | 17,210 |
| Georgia | $49,060 | 22,070 |
| Ohio | $48,710 | 22,640 |
| Idaho | $48,420 | 5,030 |
| Texas | $48,310 | 69,750 |
| Nevada | $48,290 | 7,420 |
| Florida | $48,260 | 49,930 |
| North Carolina | $48,200 | 26,510 |
| South Carolina | $48,100 | 13,420 |
| Kansas | $47,790 | 6,240 |
| New Mexico | $47,300 | 5,080 |
| Utah | $46,570 | 9,350 |
| Oklahoma | $46,560 | 8,870 |
| Louisiana | $46,400 | 8,620 |
| Alabama | $45,640 | 9,040 |
| Kentucky | $44,890 | 11,140 |
| Arkansas | $44,160 | 7,310 |
| Guam | $39,220 | 220 |
| Virgin Islands | $39,170 | 120 |
| Mississippi | $37,820 | 7,410 |
| West Virginia | $37,660 | 4,490 |
| Puerto Rico | $22,680 | 3,800 |
Best-paying metro areas for automotive service technicians and mechanics
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $77,840 | 3,040 |
| Napa, CA | $76,450 | 160 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $76,030 | 7,270 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $75,080 | 1,000 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $72,020 | 4,870 |
| Vallejo, CA | $69,710 | 760 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $65,160 | 1,450 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $64,320 | 4,910 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $64,210 | 7,680 |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | $64,090 | 170 |
| Boulder, CO | $63,950 | 670 |
| Chico, CA | $63,070 | 320 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $63,060 | 9,360 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $62,840 | 1,310 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $62,820 | 22,330 |
Metro areas with the most automotive service technicians and mechanics
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 28,420 | $57,760 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 22,330 | $62,820 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 20,140 | $55,320 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 17,690 | $49,720 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 14,910 | $50,940 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 12,700 | $58,460 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 12,310 | $51,450 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 12,030 | $61,860 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 11,970 | $49,550 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | 11,340 | $50,090 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | 9,520 | $56,000 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 9,360 | $63,060 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | 7,990 | $53,660 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | 7,680 | $64,210 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | 7,590 | $58,190 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists | $61,770 | $29.70 |
| Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines | $65,510 | $31.50 |
| Automotive Body and Related Repairers | $54,890 | $26.39 |
| Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians | $79,870 | $38.40 |
| Tire Repairers and Changers | $37,710 | $18.13 |
| Farm Equipment Mechanics and Service Technicians | $56,550 | $27.19 |
| Outdoor Power Equipment and Other Small Engine Mechanics | $47,880 | $23.02 |
| Motorboat Mechanics and Service Technicians | $57,550 | $27.67 |
| Rail Car Repairer | $67,530 | $32.46 |
| Automotive Glass Installers and Repairers | $47,630 | $22.90 |
| Recreational Vehicle Service Technician | $52,000 | $25.00 |
| Motorcycle Mechanic | $48,580 | $23.35 |
| Bicycle Repairer | $42,780 | $20.57 |
| Maintenance and Repair Workers, General | $49,590 | $23.84 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 49-3023. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a automotive service technicians and mechanics make in the U.S.?
The median salary for automotive service technicians and mechanics in the U.S. is $50,620 a year, or $24.34 an hour. Pay ranges from $34,660 for the lowest-paid 10% to $81,790 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid automotive service technicians and mechanics make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of automotive service technicians and mechanics in the U.S. earn at least $81,790 a year. The top 25% earn $70,430 or more.
What is the starting pay for automotive service technicians and mechanics in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $34,660 a year, and a quarter of automotive service technicians and mechanics earn $38,900 or less.
How many automotive service technicians and mechanics work in the U.S.?
About 704,640 automotive service technicians and mechanics are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.