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Updated · 2026 tax rules · Data: IRS, BLS, BEA, HUD · How we calculate

Automotive Service Technician and Mechanic Salary

Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics earn a median $50,620 a year nationally. Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations

U.S. median
$50,620
$24.34 per hour
Range
$34,660 – $81,790
10th to 90th percentile
Employed
704,640
across the U.S.
▲1.9%
Pay trend: The median for automotive service technicians and mechanics in the U.S. rose from $49,670 (May 2024) to $50,620 (May 2025). That roughly kept pace with inflation (2.4%).

What automotive service technicians and mechanics do

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)
Openings per year
66,200
Self-employed
15%

Employment of automotive service technicians and mechanics is projected to grow 5.0% from 2025 to 2035, faster than the 3.5% average for all occupations. About 66,200 openings are expected each year, on average, including jobs left by workers who retire or switch careers.

Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.

Automotive Service Technician and Mechanic take-home pay calculator

Starts at the national median. Pick your state to see your real paycheck.

Automotive Service Technician and Mechanic
Deductions, kids & local tax

2026 tax year. Federal brackets from IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32.

Your take-home pay
$42,853
per year · effective tax rate 15.3%
$3,571Monthly
$1,786Twice a month
$1,648Every 2 weeks
$20.60Hourly
  • Federal income tax$3,894
  • Social Security (6.2%)$3,138
  • Medicare (1.45%)$734
  • Texas income tax$0
  • Take-home pay$42,853

Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state

Pay by experience

PercentileSalaryHourlyTake-home (no state tax)
10th percentile (entry level)$34,660$16.66$30,029
25th percentile$38,900$18.70$33,436
Median (50th)$50,620$24.34$42,853
75th percentile$70,430$33.86$58,378
90th percentile (top earners)$81,790$39.32$66,369

Best cities for automotive service technicians and mechanics (after tax & cost of living)

#Metro areaMedianTake-homeReal value*Jobs
1San Jose, CA$77,840$59,563$53,9413,040
2Sacramento, CA$72,020$56,010$52,5084,870
3Milwaukee, WI$62,530$50,453$52,0473,170
4Nashville, TN$58,700$49,345$51,2215,150
5San Francisco, CA$76,030$58,458$50,5647,270
6Richmond, VA$61,510$48,881$49,9502,930
7St. Louis, MO$58,190$47,138$49,5737,590
8Columbus, OH$56,150$46,535$48,7433,920
9Riverside, CA$64,210$51,013$47,9267,680
10Virginia Beach, VA$58,290$46,478$47,4563,560
11Kansas City, MO$53,790$43,809$47,3405,380
12Denver, CO$61,960$49,947$47,2176,340
13Memphis, TN$50,490$42,749$46,3762,980
14Philadelphia, PA$58,460$47,358$46,17812,700
15Boston, MA$63,060$49,916$46,1059,360
16Minneapolis, MN$60,490$48,194$45,9777,180
17San Diego, CA$64,320$51,092$45,6634,910
18Washington, DC$61,860$49,310$45,28712,030
19Detroit, MI$56,000$45,047$44,9139,520
20Charlotte, NC$53,660$43,664$44,8537,990
21Seattle, WA$59,290$49,820$44,8296,860
22Cleveland, OH$50,260$41,964$44,6794,120
23Baltimore, MD$57,630$46,112$44,1326,340
24Los Angeles, CA$62,820$50,021$44,04522,330
25Portland, OR$60,450$46,292$43,9114,180

*Take-home pay in U.S.-average dollars (BEA Regional Price Parities).

Highest-paying cities

Automotive Service Technician and Mechanic salary by state

StateMedian1-yr changeTake-homeRangeJobs
District of Columbia $68,660−3.3%$54,116 $46,230 – $89,960310
California $64,980+2.5%$51,560 $38,180 – $95,28065,420
Colorado $61,280+3.3%$49,431 $39,550 – $93,83012,300
Alaska $60,840−1.8%$51,065 $44,060 – $94,6001,420
Massachusetts $60,760+5.7%$48,183 $38,370 – $95,09012,710
Connecticut $60,220+7.1%$48,782 $38,430 – $79,9306,960
Virginia $59,330+5.3%$47,254 $36,540 – $92,57017,880
New Hampshire $59,020+1.0%$49,603 $38,310 – $82,2504,840
Montana $58,740+2.9%$47,374 $38,170 – $78,4602,900
Oregon $58,520+3.2%$44,910 $39,590 – $92,0906,990
Delaware $58,410+16.0%$46,548 $36,700 – $82,2801,910
Minnesota $58,390+1.6%$46,649 $38,310 – $83,18011,980
Maryland $57,520−0.1%$46,029 $35,940 – $84,42014,230
North Dakota $57,360+11.6%$48,269 $37,610 – $83,8602,140
Washington $57,270−0.9%$48,196 $39,470 – $95,62012,930
New Jersey $56,610−1.2%$46,086 $33,500 – $91,21017,640
Wisconsin $54,350+6.6%$44,240 $36,590 – $78,14012,270
Michigan $54,120+10.8%$43,616 $36,110 – $79,06022,280
New York $54,120+4.8%$43,340 $35,470 – $91,49032,020
Hawaii $52,160+3.2%$41,651 $36,360 – $79,0902,710
Maine $52,040+5.4%$41,663 $38,420 – $74,6503,390
Rhode Island $51,770+2.1%$42,453 $31,860 – $80,7802,530
Vermont $51,630+3.2%$42,369 $40,500 – $78,6901,610
Wyoming $51,330+11.9%$43,424 $34,200 – $79,4701,560
South Dakota $51,160+5.7%$43,287 $38,670 – $80,5002,010
Nebraska $50,560+3.6%$41,384 $36,770 – $79,9904,560
Iowa $50,510+4.4%$41,497 $36,100 – $77,4007,610
Tennessee $50,290+6.0%$42,588 $34,820 – $79,93016,210
Pennsylvania $49,800+0.0%$40,665 $35,600 – $77,63029,400
Arizona $49,570+0.3%$40,979 $34,660 – $79,33016,400
Indiana $49,360+3.8%$40,414 $35,800 – $78,58016,480
Illinois $49,170−2.5%$39,399 $34,190 – $91,20029,510
Missouri $49,160+5.2%$40,307 $34,950 – $76,87017,210
Georgia $49,060+0.5%$39,676 $33,580 – $84,36022,070
Ohio $48,710+3.6%$40,761 $34,110 – $79,69022,640
Idaho $48,420+2.1%$39,627 $34,570 – $77,7105,030
Texas $48,310−0.7%$40,997 $29,360 – $81,72069,750
Nevada $48,290+1.5%$40,981 $33,500 – $81,1807,420
Florida $48,260−0.5%$40,957 $31,970 – $79,18049,930
North Carolina $48,200−0.7%$39,494 $31,500 – $79,61026,510
South Carolina $48,100+4.7%$39,099 $31,200 – $78,03013,420
Kansas $47,790+1.7%$38,712 $31,970 – $77,3406,240
New Mexico $47,300+0.6%$39,119 $30,390 – $77,8505,080
Utah $46,570−0.9%$38,469 $30,460 – $77,3209,350
Oklahoma $46,560+11.6%$38,041 $29,410 – $81,4808,870
Louisiana $46,400+0.8%$38,457 $30,230 – $77,7908,620
Alabama $45,640−0.2%$36,835 $31,030 – $79,2309,040
Kentucky $44,890+12.4%$36,796 $30,210 – $73,91011,140
Arkansas $44,160+0.8%$36,153 $30,320 – $75,6007,310
Mississippi $37,820−0.7%$31,788 $28,650 – $74,0007,410
West Virginia $37,660+3.7%$31,419 $28,270 – $65,5204,490

Related jobs

JobMedian salaryEducationGrowth 2025–35
Automotive Glass Installer and Repairer$47,630High school diploma or equivalent+5.7%
Automotive Body and Related Repairer$54,890High school diploma or equivalent+3.7%
Recreational Vehicle Service Technician$52,000High school diploma or equivalent+9.7%
Motorcycle Mechanic$48,580Postsecondary nondegree award+2.1%
Outdoor Power Equipment and Other Small Engine Mechanic$47,880High school diploma or equivalent+2.3%
Farm Equipment Mechanic and Service Technician$56,550High school diploma or equivalent+10.7%
Motorboat Mechanic and Service Technician$57,550High school diploma or equivalent+4.9%
Bicycle Repairer$42,780High school diploma or equivalent-5.7%
Bus and Truck Mechanic and Diesel Engine Specialist$61,770High school diploma or equivalent+3.6%
Tire Repairer and Changer$37,710High school diploma or equivalent+3.4%

Frequently asked questions

How much does a automotive service technician and mechanic make?

The national median salary for automotive service technicians and mechanics is $50,620 a year ($24.34 an hour). The lowest-paid 10% earn under $34,660 and the top 10% earn over $81,790. Source: BLS, May 2025.

Which state pays automotive service technicians and mechanics the most?

District of Columbia has the highest median pay at $68,660. After taxes and local prices, San Jose, CA offers the best real take-home pay of any metro area.

How many automotive service technicians and mechanics are there in the U.S.?

About 704,640 people work as automotive service technicians and mechanics nationwide.

All 51 cities