Automotive Service Technician and Mechanic Salary in Milwaukee, WI
Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics in the Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI metro area earn a median $62,530 a year — 24% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $50,453 take-home, or $4,204 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median automotive service technician and mechanic salary in Milwaukee, WI. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$5,324
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,877
- Medicare (1.45%)$907
- Wisconsin income tax$1,970
- Take-home pay$50,453
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.40% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Automotive Service Technician and Mechanic pay by experience in Milwaukee, WI
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,940 | $17.76 | $31,017 | $2,585 |
| 25th percentile | $47,150 | $22.67 | $38,771 | $3,231 |
| Median (50th) | $62,530 | $30.06 | $50,453 | $4,204 |
| 75th percentile | $75,790 | $36.44 | $59,512 | $4,959 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $89,240 | $42.90 | $68,261 | $5,688 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Wisconsin resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $62,530 buys in Milwaukee, WI
Prices in Milwaukee, WI are 3.1% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 3% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median automotive service technician and mechanic's $50,453 take-home pay has the buying power of $52,047 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 Milwaukee, WI as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.85).
Best-paying cities for automotive service technicians and mechanics, adjusted for cost of living
Milwaukee, WI ranks #3 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 |
*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 Milwaukee, WI?
The median automotive service technician and mechanic salary in the Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI metro area is $62,530 a year, or about $30.06 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $47,150 and $75,790.
What is a automotive service technician and mechanic’s take-home pay in Milwaukee, WI?
On the median $62,530 salary, a single filer living in Wisconsin takes home about $50,453 a year ($4,204 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,970 in Wisconsin taxes in 2026.
Is Milwaukee, WI a good place to work as a automotive service technician and mechanic?
Pay here is 24% above the national median of $50,620. Local prices are 3.1% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $52,047 would in a typical U.S. city. Milwaukee, WI ranks #3 of 51 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a automotive service technician and mechanic afford rent in Milwaukee, WI?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Milwaukee, WI is $1,119 a month ($1,338 for two bedrooms) — 27% of a median automotive service technician and mechanic’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.