Automotive service technicians and mechanics salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $34,660 | $16.66 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $50,620 | $24.34 |
| Mean (average) | $56,420 | $27.13 |
| 90th percentile | $81,790 | $39.32 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Automotive service technicians and mechanics pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 54 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $45,640 | $31,030 | $79,230 | 9,040 | 0.94 |
| Alaska | $60,840 | $44,060 | $94,600 | 1,420 | 0.96 |
| Arizona | $49,570 | $34,660 | $79,330 | 16,400 | 1.12 |
| Arkansas | $44,160 | $30,320 | $75,600 | 7,310 | 1.24 |
| California | $64,980 | $38,180 | $95,280 | 65,420 | 0.79 |
| Colorado | $61,280 | $39,550 | $93,830 | 12,300 | 0.94 |
| Connecticut | $60,220 | $38,430 | $79,930 | 6,960 | 0.91 |
| Delaware | $58,410 | $36,700 | $82,280 | 1,910 | 0.87 |
| District of Columbia | $68,660 | $46,230 | $89,960 | 310 | 0.1 |
| Florida | $48,260 | $31,970 | $79,180 | 49,930 | 1.11 |
| Georgia | $49,060 | $33,580 | $84,360 | 22,070 | 1 |
| Guam | $39,220 | $24,130 | $59,920 | 220 | 0.73 |
| Hawaii | $52,160 | $36,360 | $79,090 | 2,710 | 0.95 |
| Idaho | $48,420 | $34,570 | $77,710 | 5,030 | 1.3 |
| Illinois | $49,170 | $34,190 | $91,200 | 29,510 | 1.07 |
| Indiana | $49,360 | $35,800 | $78,580 | 16,480 | 1.14 |
| Iowa | $50,510 | $36,100 | $77,400 | 7,610 | 1.08 |
| Kansas | $47,790 | $31,970 | $77,340 | 6,240 | 0.96 |
| Kentucky | $44,890 | $30,210 | $73,910 | 11,140 | 1.23 |
| Louisiana | $46,400 | $30,230 | $77,790 | 8,620 | 0.98 |
| Maine | $52,040 | $38,420 | $74,650 | 3,390 | 1.17 |
| Maryland | $57,520 | $35,940 | $84,420 | 14,230 | 1.14 |
| Massachusetts | $60,760 | $38,370 | $95,090 | 12,710 | 0.77 |
| Michigan | $54,120 | $36,110 | $79,060 | 22,280 | 1.12 |
| Minnesota | $58,390 | $38,310 | $83,180 | 11,980 | 0.9 |
| Mississippi | $37,820 | $28,650 | $74,000 | 7,410 | 1.41 |
| Missouri | $49,160 | $34,950 | $76,870 | 17,210 | 1.29 |
| Montana | $58,740 | $38,170 | $78,460 | 2,900 | 1.25 |
| Nebraska | $50,560 | $36,770 | $79,990 | 4,560 | 0.98 |
| Nevada | $48,290 | $33,500 | $81,180 | 7,420 | 1.06 |
| New Hampshire | $59,020 | $38,310 | $82,250 | 4,840 | 1.56 |
| New Jersey | $56,610 | $33,500 | $91,210 | 17,640 | 0.91 |
| New Mexico | $47,300 | $30,390 | $77,850 | 5,080 | 1.29 |
| New York | $54,120 | $35,470 | $91,490 | 32,020 | 0.73 |
| North Carolina | $48,200 | $31,500 | $79,610 | 26,510 | 1.18 |
| North Dakota | $57,360 | $37,610 | $83,860 | 2,140 | 1.1 |
| Ohio | $48,710 | $34,110 | $79,690 | 22,640 | 0.9 |
| Oklahoma | $46,560 | $29,410 | $81,480 | 8,870 | 1.15 |
| Oregon | $58,520 | $39,590 | $92,090 | 6,990 | 0.78 |
| Pennsylvania | $49,800 | $35,600 | $77,630 | 29,400 | 1.07 |
| Puerto Rico | $22,680 | $21,840 | $39,420 | 3,800 | 0.89 |
| Rhode Island | $51,770 | $31,860 | $80,780 | 2,530 | 1.11 |
| South Carolina | $48,100 | $31,200 | $78,030 | 13,420 | 1.29 |
| South Dakota | $51,160 | $38,670 | $80,500 | 2,010 | 0.97 |
| Tennessee | $50,290 | $34,820 | $79,930 | 16,210 | 1.09 |
| Texas | $48,310 | $29,360 | $81,720 | 69,750 | 1.09 |
| Utah | $46,570 | $30,460 | $77,320 | 9,350 | 1.19 |
| Vermont | $51,630 | $40,500 | $78,690 | 1,610 | 1.17 |
| Virgin Islands | $39,170 | $23,940 | $66,130 | 120 | 0.82 |
| Virginia | $59,330 | $36,540 | $92,570 | 17,880 | 0.96 |
| Washington | $57,270 | $39,470 | $95,620 | 12,930 | 0.8 |
| West Virginia | $37,660 | $28,270 | $65,520 | 4,490 | 1.41 |
| Wisconsin | $54,350 | $36,590 | $78,140 | 12,270 | 0.92 |
| Wyoming | $51,330 | $34,200 | $79,470 | 1,560 | 1.22 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for automotive service technicians and mechanics
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 66,200. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Share of workers who are self-employed (2025): 14.6%.
- Read the official BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for automotive service technicians and mechanics
- Typical entry education
- Postsecondary nondegree award
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- Automotive Engineering Technology/Technician CIP 15.0803
- Motorsports Engineering Technology/Technician CIP 15.0807
- Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technology/Technician, General CIP 47.0600
- Automobile/Automotive Mechanics Technology/Technician CIP 47.0604
- Vehicle Emissions Inspection and Maintenance Technology/Technician CIP 47.0612
- Medium/Heavy Vehicle and Truck Technology/Technician CIP 47.0613
- Alternative Fuel Vehicle Technology/Technician CIP 47.0614
- High Performance and Custom Engine Technician/Mechanic CIP 47.0617
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- Follow checklists to ensure all important parts are examined, including belts, hoses, steering systems, spark plugs, brake and fuel systems, wheel bearings, and other potentially troublesome areas.
- Test and adjust repaired systems to meet manufacturers' performance specifications.
- Perform routine and scheduled maintenance services, such as oil changes, lubrications, and tune-ups.
- Inspect vehicles for damage and record findings so that necessary repairs can be made.
- Align wheels, axles, frames, torsion bars, and steering mechanisms of automobiles, using special alignment equipment and wheel-balancing machines.
- Repair, reline, replace, and adjust brakes.
- Repair, replace, or adjust defective fuel injectors, carburetor parts, and gasoline filters.
- Align vehicles' front ends.
Technology skills
- Apple Safari (hot technology)
- Microsoft Edge (hot technology)
- Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Microsoft Windows (hot technology)
- Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Mozilla Firefox (hot technology)
- SAP software (hot technology)
- Alliance Automotive Shop Controller
- Amcom AUTOS2000
- AutoZone ALLDATA
- Blue Streak Electronics Buell Diagnostic
- CODA Engine Analysis System
- Database software
- Estimating software
Transferable skills for career changers: Troubleshooting, Repairing, Equipment Maintenance, Operations Monitoring, Complex Problem Solving, Installation.
Common job titles: Auto Drivability Tech (Automotive Drivability Technician), Auto Mechanic (Automobile Mechanic), Auto Mechanic (Automotive Mechanic), Auto Service Tech (Automotive Service Technician), Auto Tech (Automobile Technician), Auto Tech (Automotive Technician), Automatic Transmission Technician (Auto Transmission Tech), Heavy Line Technician (Heavy Line Tech), Lube Technician (Lube Tech), Service Technician (Service Tech).
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do automotive service technicians and mechanics make?
The national median annual wage for automotive service technicians and mechanics was $50,620 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $34,660 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $81,790. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do automotive service technicians and mechanics need?
BLS lists postsecondary nondegree award as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and short-term on-the-job training on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is automotive service technicians and mechanics a growing career?
BLS projects employment of automotive service technicians and mechanics to change +5.0% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 66,200 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay automotive service technicians and mechanics the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were District of Columbia ($68,660), California ($64,980), Colorado ($61,280). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.