Automotive Service Technician and Mechanic Salary in Denver, CO
Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics in the Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO metro area earn a median $61,960 a year — 22% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $49,947 take-home, or $4,162 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median automotive service technician and mechanic salary in Denver, CO. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$5,255
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,842
- Medicare (1.45%)$898
- Colorado income tax$2,018
- Take-home pay$49,947
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.40% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Automotive Service Technician and Mechanic pay by experience in Denver, CO
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $41,010 | $19.72 | $34,035 | $2,836 |
| 25th percentile | $46,700 | $22.45 | $38,357 | $3,196 |
| Median (50th) | $61,960 | $29.79 | $49,947 | $4,162 |
| 75th percentile | $78,590 | $37.78 | $61,369 | $5,114 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $94,990 | $45.67 | $72,184 | $6,015 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Colorado resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $61,960 buys in Denver, CO
Prices in Denver, CO are 5.8% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.47× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median automotive service technician and mechanic's $49,947 take-home pay has the buying power of $47,217 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 Denver, CO as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.87).
Best-paying cities for automotive service technicians and mechanics, adjusted for cost of living
Denver, CO ranks #12 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 |
| 12 | Denver, CO | $61,960 | $49,947 | $47,217 |
*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 Denver, CO?
The median automotive service technician and mechanic salary in the Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO metro area is $61,960 a year, or about $29.79 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $46,700 and $78,590.
What is a automotive service technician and mechanic’s take-home pay in Denver, CO?
On the median $61,960 salary, a single filer living in Colorado takes home about $49,947 a year ($4,162 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,018 in Colorado taxes in 2026.
Is Denver, CO 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 5.8% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $47,217 would in a typical U.S. city. Denver, CO ranks #12 of 51 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a automotive service technician and mechanic afford rent in Denver, CO?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Denver, CO is $1,754 a month ($2,089 for two bedrooms) — 42% 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 Denver, CO
- First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers — $86,800
- Industrial Machinery Mechanic — $76,990
- Bus and Truck Mechanic and Diesel Engine Specialist — $72,800
- Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers — $71,580
- Maintenance and Repair Workers, General — $52,450