Automotive Service Technician and Mechanic Salary in Richmond, VA
Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics in the Richmond, VA metro area earn a median $61,510 a year — 22% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $48,881 take-home, or $4,073 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median automotive service technician and mechanic salary in Richmond, VA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$5,201
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,814
- Medicare (1.45%)$892
- Virginia income tax$2,723
- Take-home pay$48,881
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 5.75% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Automotive Service Technician and Mechanic pay by experience in Richmond, VA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,550 | $17.57 | $30,260 | $2,522 |
| 25th percentile | $45,910 | $22.07 | $37,243 | $3,104 |
| Median (50th) | $61,510 | $29.57 | $48,881 | $4,073 |
| 75th percentile | $76,000 | $36.54 | $58,740 | $4,895 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $81,850 | $39.35 | $62,519 | $5,210 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Virginia resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $61,510 buys in Richmond, VA
Prices in Richmond, VA are 2.1% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median automotive service technician and mechanic's $48,881 take-home pay has the buying power of $49,950 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 Richmond, VA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.98).
Best-paying cities for automotive service technicians and mechanics, adjusted for cost of living
Richmond, VA ranks #6 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.
Automotive Service Technician and Mechanic salaries elsewhere in Virginia
- Virginia Beach, VA — $58,290
Frequently asked questions
How much does a automotive service technician and mechanic make in Richmond, VA?
The median automotive service technician and mechanic salary in the Richmond, VA metro area is $61,510 a year, or about $29.57 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $45,910 and $76,000.
What is a automotive service technician and mechanic’s take-home pay in Richmond, VA?
On the median $61,510 salary, a single filer living in Virginia takes home about $48,881 a year ($4,073 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,723 in Virginia taxes in 2026.
Is Richmond, VA a good place to work as a automotive service technician and mechanic?
Pay here is 22% above the national median of $50,620. Local prices are 2.1% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $49,950 would in a typical U.S. city. Richmond, VA ranks #6 of 51 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a automotive service technician and mechanic afford rent in Richmond, VA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Richmond, VA is $1,505 a month ($1,653 for two bedrooms) — 37% of a median automotive service technician and mechanic’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.