Automotive Service Technician and Mechanic Salary in Raleigh, NC
Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics in the Raleigh-Cary, NC metro area earn a median $50,600 a year — 0% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $41,327 take-home, or $3,444 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median automotive service technician and mechanic salary in Raleigh, NC. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,892
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,137
- Medicare (1.45%)$734
- North Carolina income tax$1,510
- Take-home pay$41,327
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 3.99% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Automotive Service Technician and Mechanic pay by experience in Raleigh, NC
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $34,650 | $16.66 | $29,147 | $2,429 |
| 25th percentile | $37,850 | $18.20 | $31,591 | $2,633 |
| Median (50th) | $50,600 | $24.33 | $41,327 | $3,444 |
| 75th percentile | $65,790 | $31.63 | $52,926 | $4,410 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $83,210 | $40.00 | $64,557 | $5,380 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, North Carolina resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $50,600 buys in Raleigh, NC
Prices in Raleigh, NC are 1.8% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.03× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median automotive service technician and mechanic's $41,327 take-home pay has the buying power of $42,103 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 Raleigh, NC as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.08).
Best-paying cities for automotive service technicians and mechanics, adjusted for cost of living
Raleigh, NC ranks #35 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 |
| 35 | Raleigh, NC | $50,600 | $41,327 | $42,103 |
*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.
Automotive Service Technician and Mechanic salaries elsewhere in North Carolina
- Charlotte, NC — $53,660
Frequently asked questions
How much does a automotive service technician and mechanic make in Raleigh, NC?
The median automotive service technician and mechanic salary in the Raleigh-Cary, NC metro area is $50,600 a year, or about $24.33 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $37,850 and $65,790.
What is a automotive service technician and mechanic’s take-home pay in Raleigh, NC?
On the median $50,600 salary, a single filer living in North Carolina takes home about $41,327 a year ($3,444 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,510 in North Carolina taxes in 2026.
Is Raleigh, NC a good place to work as a automotive service technician and mechanic?
Pay here is 0% below the national median of $50,620. Local prices are 1.8% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $42,103 would in a typical U.S. city. Raleigh, NC ranks #35 of 51 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a automotive service technician and mechanic afford rent in Raleigh, NC?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Raleigh, NC is $1,596 a month ($1,750 for two bedrooms) — 46% of a median automotive service technician and mechanic’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.