Automotive Service Technician and Mechanic Salary in Chicago, IL
Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median $55,320 a year — 9% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $44,036 take-home, or $3,670 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median automotive service technician and mechanic salary in Chicago, IL. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$4,458
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,430
- Medicare (1.45%)$802
- Illinois income tax$2,594
- Take-home pay$44,036
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.95% state
The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro spans Illinois, Indiana. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Automotive Service Technician and Mechanic pay by experience in Chicago, IL
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $34,520 | $16.60 | $28,353 | $2,363 |
| 25th percentile | $39,240 | $18.87 | $31,912 | $2,659 |
| Median (50th) | $55,320 | $26.60 | $44,036 | $3,670 |
| 75th percentile | $78,370 | $37.68 | $60,229 | $5,019 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $92,460 | $44.45 | $69,444 | $5,787 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Illinois resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $55,320 buys in Chicago, IL
Prices in Chicago, IL are 3.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.12× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median automotive service technician and mechanic's $44,036 take-home pay has the buying power of $42,508 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Automotive Service Technician and Mechanic jobs are about as common in Chicago, IL as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.98).
Best-paying cities for automotive service technicians and mechanics, adjusted for cost of living
Chicago, IL ranks #32 of 51 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $77,840 | $59,563 | $53,941 |
| 2 | Sacramento, CA | $72,020 | $56,010 | $52,508 |
| 3 | Milwaukee, WI | $62,530 | $50,453 | $52,047 |
| 4 | Nashville, TN | $58,700 | $49,345 | $51,221 |
| 5 | San Francisco, CA | $76,030 | $58,458 | $50,564 |
| 6 | Richmond, VA | $61,510 | $48,881 | $49,950 |
| 7 | St. Louis, MO | $58,190 | $47,138 | $49,573 |
| 8 | Columbus, OH | $56,150 | $46,535 | $48,743 |
| 32 | Chicago, IL | $55,320 | $44,036 | $42,508 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 51 metros →
About the job: automotive service technicians and mechanics
Diagnose, adjust, repair, or overhaul automotive vehicles.
- Typical education
- Postsecondary nondegree award
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +5.0% (faster than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a automotive service technician and mechanic make in Chicago, IL?
The median automotive service technician and mechanic salary in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $55,320 a year, or about $26.60 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $39,240 and $78,370.
What is a automotive service technician and mechanic’s take-home pay in Chicago, IL?
On the median $55,320 salary, a single filer living in Illinois takes home about $44,036 a year ($3,670 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,594 in Illinois taxes in 2026.
Is Chicago, IL a good place to work as a automotive service technician and mechanic?
Pay here is 9% above the national median of $50,620. Local prices are 3.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $42,508 would in a typical U.S. city. Chicago, IL ranks #32 of 51 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a automotive service technician and mechanic afford rent in Chicago, IL?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Chicago, IL is $1,534 a month ($1,743 for two bedrooms) — 42% of a median automotive service technician and mechanic’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Chicago, IL
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- Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers — $77,960
- Industrial Machinery Mechanic — $75,800
- Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines — $74,090
- Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers — $69,820
- Bus and Truck Mechanic and Diesel Engine Specialist — $65,680
- Maintenance and Repair Workers, General — $58,020
- Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers, All Other — $56,900
- Automotive Body and Related Repairer — $52,040
- Computer, Automated Teller, and Office Machine Repairers — $45,710
- Tire Repairer and Changer — $38,720