Automotive Service Technician and Mechanic Salary in Seattle, WA
Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area earn a median $59,290 a year — 17% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $49,820 take-home, or $4,152 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median automotive service technician and mechanic salary in Seattle, WA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$4,935
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,676
- Medicare (1.45%)$860
- Washington income tax$0
- Take-home pay$49,820
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Automotive Service Technician and Mechanic pay by experience in Seattle, WA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $43,750 | $21.03 | $37,333 | $3,111 |
| 25th percentile | $46,360 | $22.29 | $39,430 | $3,286 |
| Median (50th) | $59,290 | $28.50 | $49,820 | $4,152 |
| 75th percentile | $78,870 | $37.92 | $64,315 | $5,360 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $99,190 | $47.69 | $78,610 | $6,551 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Washington resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $59,290 buys in Seattle, WA
Prices in Seattle, WA are 11.1% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.51× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median automotive service technician and mechanic's $49,820 take-home pay has the buying power of $44,829 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 less concentrated in Seattle, WA than nationally (location quotient 0.73), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for automotive service technicians and mechanics, adjusted for cost of living
Seattle, WA ranks #21 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 |
| 21 | Seattle, WA | $59,290 | $49,820 | $44,829 |
*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 Seattle, WA?
The median automotive service technician and mechanic salary in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area is $59,290 a year, or about $28.50 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $46,360 and $78,870.
What is a automotive service technician and mechanic’s take-home pay in Seattle, WA?
On the median $59,290 salary, a single filer living in Washington takes home about $49,820 a year ($4,152 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Seattle, WA a good place to work as a automotive service technician and mechanic?
Pay here is 17% above the national median of $50,620. Local prices are 11.1% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $44,829 would in a typical U.S. city. Seattle, WA ranks #21 of 51 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a automotive service technician and mechanic afford rent in Seattle, WA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Seattle, WA is $2,022 a month ($2,379 for two bedrooms) — 49% 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 Seattle, WA
- Aircraft Mechanic and Service Technician — $103,900
- Avionics Technician — $100,200
- First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers — $93,230
- Bus and Truck Mechanic and Diesel Engine Specialist — $82,330
- Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers — $80,100
- Industrial Machinery Mechanic — $79,920
- Maintenance and Repair Workers, General — $60,760