Automotive Service Technician and Mechanic Salary in St. Louis, MO
Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area earn a median $58,190 a year — 15% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $47,138 take-home, or $3,928 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median automotive service technician and mechanic salary in St. Louis, MO. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$4,803
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,608
- Medicare (1.45%)$844
- Missouri income tax$1,798
- Take-home pay$47,138
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.70% state
Living in St. Louis? City residents also pay St. Louis’s Earnings Tax — about $582 a year on this salary — which lowers take-home pay to $46,556 ($3,880 a month). Choose “St. Louis” under City income tax in the calculator. Suburban residents usually don’t pay it.
The St. Louis, MO-IL metro spans Missouri, Illinois. 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 St. Louis, MO
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,280 | $17.44 | $30,563 | $2,547 |
| 25th percentile | $41,040 | $19.73 | $34,164 | $2,847 |
| Median (50th) | $58,190 | $27.98 | $47,138 | $3,928 |
| 75th percentile | $72,610 | $34.91 | $57,436 | $4,786 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $78,140 | $37.57 | $61,066 | $5,089 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Missouri resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $58,190 buys in St. Louis, MO
Prices in St. Louis, MO are 4.9% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 21% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median automotive service technician and mechanic's $47,138 take-home pay has the buying power of $49,573 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
St. Louis, MO has 1.3× the national concentration of automotive service technician and mechanic jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for automotive service technicians and mechanics, adjusted for cost of living
St. Louis, MO ranks #7 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 Missouri
- Kansas City, MO — $53,790
Frequently asked questions
How much does a automotive service technician and mechanic make in St. Louis, MO?
The median automotive service technician and mechanic salary in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area is $58,190 a year, or about $27.98 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $41,040 and $72,610.
What is a automotive service technician and mechanic’s take-home pay in St. Louis, MO?
On the median $58,190 salary, a single filer living in Missouri takes home about $47,138 a year ($3,928 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,798 in Missouri taxes in 2026.
Is St. Louis, MO a good place to work as a automotive service technician and mechanic?
Pay here is 15% above the national median of $50,620. Local prices are 4.9% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $49,573 would in a typical U.S. city. St. Louis, MO ranks #7 of 51 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a automotive service technician and mechanic afford rent in St. Louis, MO?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in St. Louis, MO is $989 a month ($1,211 for two bedrooms) — 25% 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 St. Louis, MO
- First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers — $80,410
- Industrial Machinery Mechanic — $76,780
- Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers — $63,000
- Bus and Truck Mechanic and Diesel Engine Specialist — $62,280
- Maintenance and Repair Workers, General — $53,930