How much do auto mechanics make?
Answer
Auto mechanics in the US earned a median of $50,620 a year ($24.34 an hour) in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The middle half earned $38,900 to $70,430.
- Median annual pay
- $50,620
- Mean $56,420
- Median hourly pay
- $24.34
- Mean $27.13
- Typical range (10th–90th)
- $34.7K–$81.8K
- $34,660 to $81,790
- US jobs
- 704,640
- +5.0% projected, 2025–35
BLS OEWS, May 2025, released April 30, 2026. Wages include tips, commissions and production bonuses but not overtime premiums, shift differentials, other bonuses or benefits; self-employed workers are not included. Methodology
How to become an auto mechanic: steps, years and cost · Best-paying state after cost of living: North Dakota
Auto Mechanic pay range
Annual wages, May 2025
- 10th percentile$34,660
- 25th percentile$38,900
- Median$50,620
- 75th percentile$70,430
- 90th percentile$81,790
Half of all auto mechanics earned more than $50,620 and half earned less. The lowest-paid 10% made under $34,660; the top 10% made over $81,790. The middle 50%, from the 25th to the 75th percentile, ran from $38,900 to $70,430.
These percentiles describe everyone in the occupation at one time. They are not pay steps by years of experience: they mix new and senior workers, different states, employers and hours. Pay generally rises with experience, credentials and specialization, but BLS does not publish pay by experience.
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly | Monthly |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $34,660 | $16.66 | $2,888 |
| 25th | $38,900 | $18.70 | $3,242 |
| Median (50th) | $50,620 | $24.34 | $4,218 |
| 75th | $70,430 | $33.86 | $5,869 |
| 90th | $81,790 | $39.32 | $6,816 |
| Mean (average) | $56,420 | $27.13 | $4,702 |
Auto Mechanic salary by state
Median annual pay; cost of living from BEA regional price parities 2024
Highest-paying states
- 1. District of Columbia $68,660
- 2. California $64,980
- 3. Colorado $61,280
- 4. Alaska $60,840
- 5. Massachusetts $60,760
Lowest-paying states
- 51. West Virginia $37,660
- 50. Mississippi $37,820
- 49. Arkansas $44,160
- 48. Kentucky $44,890
- 47. Alabama $45,640
Best after cost of living: North Dakota. Its median of $57,360 is worth about $64,479 at national-average prices, more than in District of Columbia once prices are counted.
| Alabama | $45,640 | 47 | $51,383 | 32 | $21.94 | 9,040 | 4.28 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | $60,840 | 4 | $59,438 | 5 | $29.25 | 1,420 | 4.36 |
| Arizona | $49,570 | 30 | $49,237 | 44 | $23.83 | 16,400 | 5.06 |
| Arkansas | $44,160 | 49 | $50,795 | 38 | $21.23 | 7,310 | 5.60 |
| California | $64,980 | 2 | $58,689 | 7 | $31.24 | 65,420 | 3.59 |
| Colorado | $61,280 | 3 | $59,465 | 4 | $29.46 | 12,300 | 4.28 |
| Connecticut | $60,220 | 6 | $58,122 | 10 | $28.95 | 6,960 | 4.10 |
| Delaware | $58,410 | 11 | $58,522 | 9 | $28.08 | 1,910 | 3.94 |
| District of Columbia | $68,660 | 1 | $62,474 | 2 | $33.01 | 310 | 0.43 |
| Florida | $48,260 | 39 | $46,667 | 49 | $23.20 | 49,930 | 5.03 |
| Georgia | $49,060 | 34 | $50,949 | 37 | $23.59 | 22,070 | 4.51 |
| Hawaii | $52,160 | 20 | $47,439 | 47 | $25.08 | 2,710 | 4.31 |
| Idaho | $48,420 | 36 | $50,705 | 39 | $23.28 | 5,030 | 5.87 |
| Illinois | $49,170 | 32 | $49,191 | 45 | $23.64 | 29,510 | 4.84 |
| Indiana | $49,360 | 31 | $52,888 | 27 | $23.73 | 16,480 | 5.15 |
| Iowa | $50,510 | 27 | $57,553 | 13 | $24.28 | 7,610 | 4.88 |
| Kansas | $47,790 | 42 | $53,060 | 25 | $22.98 | 6,240 | 4.34 |
| Kentucky | $44,890 | 48 | $49,790 | 42 | $21.58 | 11,140 | 5.57 |
| Louisiana | $46,400 | 46 | $52,604 | 29 | $22.31 | 8,620 | 4.45 |
| Maine | $52,040 | 21 | $53,622 | 23 | $25.02 | 3,390 | 5.29 |
| Maryland | $57,520 | 13 | $54,802 | 20 | $27.66 | 14,230 | 5.15 |
| Massachusetts | $60,760 | 5 | $57,452 | 14 | $29.21 | 12,710 | 3.49 |
| Michigan | $54,120 | 18 | $56,248 | 17 | $26.02 | 22,280 | 5.06 |
| Minnesota | $58,390 | 12 | $59,206 | 6 | $28.07 | 11,980 | 4.06 |
| Mississippi | $37,820 | 50 | $43,495 | 50 | $18.18 | 7,410 | 6.37 |
| Missouri | $49,160 | 33 | $54,131 | 22 | $23.63 | 17,210 | 5.86 |
| Montana | $58,740 | 9 | $62,064 | 3 | $28.24 | 2,900 | 5.67 |
| Nebraska | $50,560 | 26 | $56,114 | 18 | $24.31 | 4,560 | 4.45 |
| Nevada | $48,290 | 38 | $48,300 | 46 | $23.22 | 7,420 | 4.78 |
| New Hampshire | $59,020 | 8 | $56,660 | 15 | $28.38 | 4,840 | 7.09 |
| New Jersey | $56,610 | 16 | $52,029 | 31 | $27.22 | 17,640 | 4.12 |
| New Mexico | $47,300 | 43 | $51,295 | 34 | $22.74 | 5,080 | 5.83 |
| New York | $54,120 | 19 | $50,148 | 41 | $26.02 | 32,020 | 3.31 |
| North Carolina | $48,200 | 40 | $51,099 | 35 | $23.17 | 26,510 | 5.36 |
| North Dakota | $57,360 | 14 | $64,479 | 1 | $27.58 | 2,140 | 4.99 |
| Ohio | $48,710 | 35 | $52,504 | 30 | $23.42 | 22,640 | 4.08 |
| Oklahoma | $46,560 | 45 | $53,004 | 26 | $22.38 | 8,870 | 5.20 |
| Oregon | $58,520 | 10 | $56,617 | 16 | $28.14 | 6,990 | 3.56 |
| Pennsylvania | $49,800 | 29 | $51,039 | 36 | $23.94 | 29,400 | 4.85 |
| Rhode Island | $51,770 | 22 | $50,616 | 40 | $24.89 | 2,530 | 5.04 |
| South Carolina | $48,100 | 41 | $51,307 | 33 | $23.12 | 13,420 | 5.82 |
| South Dakota | $51,160 | 25 | $57,752 | 12 | $24.60 | 2,010 | 4.39 |
| Tennessee | $50,290 | 28 | $54,740 | 21 | $24.18 | 16,210 | 4.94 |
| Texas | $48,310 | 37 | $49,775 | 43 | $23.23 | 69,750 | 4.96 |
| Utah | $46,570 | 44 | $47,105 | 48 | $22.39 | 9,350 | 5.39 |
| Vermont | $51,630 | 23 | $52,706 | 28 | $24.82 | 1,610 | 5.31 |
| Virginia | $59,330 | 7 | $58,682 | 8 | $28.53 | 17,880 | 4.35 |
| Washington | $57,270 | 15 | $53,517 | 24 | $27.54 | 12,930 | 3.64 |
| West Virginia | $37,660 | 51 | $42,080 | 51 | $18.11 | 4,490 | 6.40 |
| Wisconsin | $54,350 | 17 | $57,761 | 11 | $26.13 | 12,270 | 4.17 |
| Wyoming | $51,330 | 24 | $55,378 | 19 | $24.68 | 1,560 | 5.55 |
BLS OEWS, May 2025, state estimates. Adjusted pay = median ÷ (state price level ÷ 100), using BEA regional price parities for 2024; it ignores taxes. Figures for states with few workers in the occupation have larger survey errors and can change sharply from one year to the next. “—” means BLS did not publish the figure. State names link to each state’s highest-paying jobs.
Best-paying metro areas for auto mechanics
387 metro areas with published pay
| Metro area | Median | Adjusted | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $77,840 | $70,493 | 3,040 |
| Napa, CA | $76,450 | $67,923 | 160 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $76,030 | $65,763 | 7,270 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $75,080 | $69,658 | 1,000 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $72,020 | $67,517 | 4,870 |
| Vallejo, CA | $69,710 | $64,261 | 760 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $65,160 | $58,950 | 1,450 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $64,320 | $57,487 | 4,910 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $64,210 | $60,324 | 7,680 |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | $64,090 | $63,073 | 170 |
| Metro area | Jobs | Median | Adjusted |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 28,420 | $57,760 | $51,313 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 22,330 | $62,820 | $55,316 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 20,140 | $55,320 | $53,400 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 17,690 | $49,720 | $48,230 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 14,910 | $50,940 | $51,648 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 12,700 | $58,460 | $57,004 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 12,310 | $51,450 | $51,420 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 12,030 | $61,860 | $56,813 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 11,970 | $49,550 | $43,406 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | 11,340 | $50,090 | $48,482 |
BLS OEWS, May 2025, metropolitan statistical areas; adjusted with BEA metro price parities (2024).
What moves auto mechanic pay: employers and settings
Where you work is the biggest pay factor inside this trade. Car dealerships pay a median of $59,920 in our data, well above independent repair shops at $48,370 and tire and parts retailers at $45,700. Dealers handle warranty work and newer, more complex vehicles, and they often pay for factory training. Government fleets pay well too: local government mechanics have a median of $62,070 and the small federal group reaches $75,750.
How you are paid also matters. Some shops pay technicians flat rate, a set number of hours per job regardless of how long it takes, so fast, accurate diagnosticians can earn far more than slower techs at the same shop, and pay can drop when work is slow. ASE certifications and manufacturer training generally open the higher-paying diagnostic jobs.
Location shifts pay as well. The District of Columbia has the highest median at $68,660, followed by California at $64,980, Colorado at $61,280, then Alaska and Massachusetts. At the bottom are Arkansas at $44,160, Mississippi at $37,820, and West Virginia at $37,660. Across the occupation, pay ranges from $34,660, the 10th percentile, to $81,790, the 90th; that spread reflects employer, pay plan, specialty and location, not only years in the trade.
| Industry | Share of jobs | Median pay |
|---|---|---|
| Automobile Dealers | 37.5% | $59,920 |
| Automotive Repair and Maintenance | 35.7% | $48,370 |
| Automotive Parts, Accessories, and Tire Retailers | 6.9% | $45,700 |
| Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals | 2.3% | $62,070 |
| Motor Vehicle and Motor Vehicle Parts and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers | 1.8% | $57,250 |
| State Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals | 1% | $56,420 |
| Employer type | Jobs | Median pay |
|---|---|---|
| Private employers | 674,870 | $49,750 |
| Federal government (incl. Postal Service) | 4,470 | $75,750 |
| State government (incl. schools and hospitals) | 8,390 | $56,810 |
| Local government (incl. schools and hospitals) | 16,910 | $61,930 |
BLS OEWS, May 2025, national industry-specific and ownership estimates (4-digit NAICS).
Auto Mechanic pay over time
Median annual pay, 2015–2025
- 2015
- 2016
- 2017
- 2018
- 2019
- 2020
- 2021
- 2022
- 2023
- 2024
- 2025
The median rose from $37,850 in 2015 to $50,620 in 2025, up 34% in nominal dollars. After inflation, the 2015 median is worth $51,166 in May 2025 dollars, so real pay fell 1% over the period.
BLS OEWS, May 2025 and earlier May releases; inflation from the CPI-U, US city average, May of each year.
What auto mechanics do
An auto mechanic, also called an automotive technician or car mechanic, keeps cars, SUVs and light trucks running, from routine service to major repairs. The routine work is oil changes, brakes, tires, alignments and scheduled maintenance. The skilled and better-paid work is diagnosis: plugging a scan tool into the car's computer, reading live data, testing circuits with a meter and tracing a check-engine light, a no-start or an intermittent noise back to the part that actually failed.
Almost three-quarters of the jobs in our data are at car dealerships (37.5%) and independent repair and maintenance shops (35.7%). Tire and parts retailers employ another 6.9%, and city, county and state fleets employ smaller numbers. Mechanics work in a service bay, on their feet, under vehicles on lifts, around noise, fumes and hot parts. They take work orders from a service advisor, explain findings and estimates, and often buy their own hand tools. Electric and hybrid vehicles, driver-assist sensors and software updates are a growing share of the work.
A typical day
- Road-test vehicles and listen to the customer's description of the problem
- Connect scan tools, read trouble codes and live data, and test wiring with a multimeter
- Replace brake pads, rotors, belts, filters, suspension parts and other wear items
- Diagnose and repair engine, transmission, cooling and air conditioning systems
- Calibrate cameras and sensors and install software updates after repairs
- Write up findings and repair estimates for the service advisor to present
- Do scheduled maintenance and multipoint inspections, then note other work the car needs
Also called: mechanic, automotive technician, car mechanic, automotive mechanic, auto drivability tech (automotive drivability technician), auto mechanic (automobile mechanic), auto mechanic (automotive mechanic), auto service tech (automotive service technician).
How to become an auto mechanic
Full guideTo become an auto mechanic, most people complete a 6-month to 2-year automotive technology program at a community college or technical school and then learn on the job; some start as lube techs with only a high school diploma. Most states do not license mechanics, but you need EPA Section 609 certification to work on car air conditioning, and ASE certification, earned after 2 years of experience for the car tests, is the main industry credential.
- Typical time
- 2-3 years to ASE certification
- Fastest: About 6 months to 1 year
- Minimum education
- High school diploma or equivalent; most employers prefer a postsecondary certificate or associate degree in automotive technology
- License
- Not licensed in most states (ASE certification optional); a few states, such as Hawaii, license mechanics or register repair shops; EPA Section 609 certification is required to service vehicle air conditioning
- Typical training cost
- $4.6K–$9.6K
- See the guide for what it includes
Read the step-by-step guide to becoming an auto mechanic: each step with its time and cost, education options, exams, licensing and advancement.
Is it worth it? Training cost against pay
Compare careers- Training time
- 2-3 years to ASE certification
- Typical path in our guide
- Training cost
- $4.6K–$9.6K
- Tuition and exam fees, before aid
- Median pay
- $50,620
- $360 below the all-jobs median ($50,980)
- Cost vs. one year's pay
- 9–19%
- Training cost as a share of a year at the median
The median for auto mechanics is below the median for all US jobs, so the case for training rests on the work itself, entry speed and local pay rather than a pay premium. This is a rough guide: it ignores taxes, financial aid, interest, earnings given up while training and how pay changes over a career. How we calculate ROI.
Job outlook for auto mechanics
BLS Employment Projections 2025–35
- Projected growth
- +5.0%
- All occupations +3.5%
- Jobs in 2025
- 825,800
- 866,700 projected for 2035
- Openings each year
- 66,200
- New jobs plus replacements
- Self-employed
- 14.6%
- Not in the pay figures above
BLS projects automotive technician jobs to grow 5% from 2025 to 2035, from 825,800 to 866,700, a bit above the 3.5% for all occupations. The bigger number is turnover: about 66,200 openings a year, mostly to replace mechanics who retire or leave the trade.
BLS expects more vehicles on the road over the decade, and many owners are keeping cars longer, so older vehicles will need more service. Calibrating and repairing driver-assist safety systems after a repair adds work too. About 14.6% of mechanics are self-employed, a large share that reflects owner-operated repair shops.
Related careers and their pay
- Diesel Mechanic$61,770
- Mechanical Engineer$104,110
- Aircraft Mechanic$79,870
- Rail Car Repairers$67,530
- Electric Motor, Power Tool, and Related Repairers$56,210
Related occupations from O*NET 31.0; median annual pay from BLS OEWS, May 2025.
Auto Mechanic salary FAQ
How much do auto mechanics make an hour?
The median hourly wage for auto mechanics was $24.34 in May 2025. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $16.66 an hour and the highest-paid 10% more than $39.32. Hourly figures are BLS estimates for all workers in the occupation, full-time and part-time.
Which state pays auto mechanics the most?
District of Columbia has the highest median pay for auto mechanics, $68,660 a year, followed by California ($64,980) and Colorado ($61,280). After adjusting for each state's price level, North Dakota comes out ahead at about $64,479 in national-average dollars.
Do auto mechanics make six figures?
Few do: based on the BLS percentiles, fewer than 10% of auto mechanics earn more than $100,000 a year. The median is $50,620, and the top 10% earn more than $81,790. Pay generally rises with experience, specialization and location.
Do dealership mechanics make more than independent shop mechanics?
In our data, yes. Mechanics at automobile dealers have a median of $59,920 compared with $48,370 at automotive repair and maintenance shops. Dealers work on newer vehicles under warranty and send technicians to factory training, which builds diagnostic skill. Independent shops see a wider range of makes and ages, and the experience can lead to running a shop of your own.
Which states have the most auto mechanic jobs?
Texas has the most, with 69,750 automotive technicians, followed by California with 65,420, Florida with 49,930, New York with 32,020 and Illinois with 29,510. Job counts and pay rank differently: Texas has the most jobs but is not among the five highest-paying states. After adjusting for living costs, North Dakota pays best, at $64,479.
Has auto mechanic pay kept up with inflation?
Not quite. The median rose from $37,850 in 2015 to $50,620 in 2025. The 2015 median was worth $51,166 in 2025 dollars, so after inflation the typical mechanic earns slightly less than a decade ago. Moving to a higher-paying setting, such as a dealership or a government fleet, matters more than the overall trend.
Sources
Data updated October 28, 2026 · Text checked against its sources October 28, 2026
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates, released April 30, 2026, SOC 49-3023
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025–2035, released September 2026
- O*NET 31.0 Database (49-3023.00), U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under CC BY 4.0; tasks rewritten by Careers and Salaries
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by state and metro area, 2024
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U), US city average, May values
- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard field-of-study and institution data, most recent cohorts, released 2026-10-15
- Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · checked October 28, 2026
- Frequently Asked Questions, National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) · checked October 28, 2026
- Registration Dates and Fees, National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) · checked October 28, 2026
- Work Experience Requirements (form instructions), National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) · checked October 28, 2026
- ASE Certification Benefits, ASE Education Foundation · checked October 28, 2026
- Section 609 Technician Training and Certification Programs, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency · checked October 28, 2026
- License Finder, CareerOneStop, U.S. Department of Labor · checked October 28, 2026
- Test Series, National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) · checked October 28, 2026
- Motor Vehicle Repair Mechanics and Dealers: Frequently Asked Questions (June 2026), Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Professional and Vocational Licensing · checked October 28, 2026
Careers and Salaries is not affiliated with the Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Found an error? Tell us; corrections are listed on the editorial policy page.