Automotive Service Technician and Mechanic Salary in Riverside, CA
Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA metro area earn a median $64,210 a year — 27% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $51,013 take-home, or $4,251 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median automotive service technician and mechanic salary in Riverside, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$5,525
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,981
- Medicare (1.45%)$931
- California income tax$1,925
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$835
- Take-home pay$51,013
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 8.00% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Automotive Service Technician and Mechanic pay by experience in Riverside, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,380 | $17.49 | $30,494 | $2,541 |
| 25th percentile | $44,110 | $21.21 | $36,295 | $3,025 |
| Median (50th) | $64,210 | $30.87 | $51,013 | $4,251 |
| 75th percentile | $75,330 | $36.22 | $58,031 | $4,836 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $93,860 | $45.13 | $69,141 | $5,762 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $64,210 buys in Riverside, CA
Prices in Riverside, CA are 6.4% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.29× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median automotive service technician and mechanic's $51,013 take-home pay has the buying power of $47,926 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 Riverside, CA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.99).
Best-paying cities for automotive service technicians and mechanics, adjusted for cost of living
Riverside, CA ranks #9 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 |
| 9 | Riverside, CA | $64,210 | $51,013 | $47,926 |
*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 California
- San Jose, CA — $77,840
- Sacramento, CA — $72,020
- San Francisco, CA — $76,030
- San Diego, CA — $64,320
- Los Angeles, CA — $62,820
Frequently asked questions
How much does a automotive service technician and mechanic make in Riverside, CA?
The median automotive service technician and mechanic salary in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA metro area is $64,210 a year, or about $30.87 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $44,110 and $75,330.
What is a automotive service technician and mechanic’s take-home pay in Riverside, CA?
On the median $64,210 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $51,013 a year ($4,251 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,759 in California taxes in 2026.
Is Riverside, CA a good place to work as a automotive service technician and mechanic?
Pay here is 27% above the national median of $50,620. Local prices are 6.4% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $47,926 would in a typical U.S. city. Riverside, CA ranks #9 of 51 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a automotive service technician and mechanic afford rent in Riverside, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Riverside, CA is $1,777 a month ($2,201 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 Riverside, CA
- First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers — $88,690
- Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines — $76,040
- Industrial Machinery Mechanic — $73,200
- Bus and Truck Mechanic and Diesel Engine Specialist — $71,300
- Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers — $64,300
- Maintenance and Repair Workers, General — $53,560
- Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers, All Other — $48,670