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How Much Does an Auto Mechanic Make?

An auto mechanic in the US earns a median salary of $50,620 a year, or $24.34 an hour (BLS, May 2025). The average is $56,420, and the middle half earn between $38,900 and $70,430.

Median a year $50,620
Median an hour $24.34
Median a month $4,218
Average a year $56,420

Auto mechanic pay range

What auto mechanics earn at each point of the pay scale. The 10th percentile is a rough guide to starting pay.

Percentile A year An hour
10th (lowest 10%) $34,660 $16.66
25th $38,900 $18.70
Median (50th) $50,620 $24.34
75th $70,430 $33.86
90th (top 10%) $81,790 $39.32

The median is 1% less than the $50,980 median for all US jobs. About 704,640 people work as auto mechanics in the US.

After tax and by period

A week
$973
Every two weeks
$1,947
Twice a month
$2,109
A month
$4,218

At the median salary, before tax.

Auto mechanic salary by state

Sorted by average pay. District of Columbia pays auto mechanics the most, at $67,910 a year on average.

State Average Median Jobs After tax
District of Columbia $67,910 $68,660 310 After tax
Alaska $65,620 $60,840 1,420 After tax
California $65,470 $64,980 65,420 After tax
Colorado $63,980 $61,280 12,300 After tax
Oregon $63,210 $58,520 6,990 After tax
Massachusetts $62,960 $60,760 12,710 After tax
Washington $62,460 $57,270 12,930 After tax
Virginia $61,600 $59,330 17,880 After tax
New Hampshire $60,690 $59,020 4,840 After tax
Connecticut $60,160 $60,220 6,960 After tax
Maryland $59,380 $57,520 14,230 After tax
Montana $59,310 $58,740 2,900 After tax
Minnesota $59,300 $58,390 11,980 After tax
New York $59,110 $54,120 32,020 After tax
New Jersey $58,830 $56,610 17,640 After tax
Delaware $58,500 $58,410 1,910 After tax
Vermont $58,030 $51,630 1,610 After tax
North Dakota $58,000 $57,360 2,140 After tax
Wisconsin $56,900 $54,350 12,270 After tax
Illinois $56,680 $49,170 29,510 After tax
Georgia $56,600 $49,060 22,070 After tax
Michigan $56,490 $54,120 22,280 After tax
Hawaii $56,180 $52,160 2,710 After tax
Nevada $56,090 $48,290 7,420 After tax
Arizona $55,680 $49,570 16,400 After tax
South Dakota $55,660 $51,160 2,010 After tax
Nebraska $55,430 $50,560 4,560 After tax
Iowa $55,310 $50,510 7,610 After tax
Wyoming $55,300 $51,330 1,560 After tax
Maine $55,200 $52,040 3,390 After tax
Ohio $54,590 $48,710 22,640 After tax
Tennessee $54,590 $50,290 16,210 After tax
Pennsylvania $54,340 $49,800 29,400 After tax
Rhode Island $54,310 $51,770 2,530 After tax
Idaho $53,990 $48,420 5,030 After tax
Missouri $53,950 $49,160 17,210 After tax
Florida $53,740 $48,260 49,930 After tax
Indiana $53,710 $49,360 16,480 After tax
North Carolina $53,510 $48,200 26,510 After tax
Texas $52,980 $48,310 69,750 After tax
Kansas $52,760 $47,790 6,240 After tax
South Carolina $52,420 $48,100 13,420 After tax
Oklahoma $52,080 $46,560 8,870 After tax
New Mexico $51,790 $47,300 5,080 After tax
Utah $51,690 $46,570 9,350 After tax
Alabama $51,020 $45,640 9,040 After tax
Louisiana $50,650 $46,400 8,620 After tax
Arkansas $48,420 $44,160 7,310 After tax
Kentucky $47,990 $44,890 11,140 After tax
Mississippi $45,650 $37,820 7,410 After tax
Virgin Islands $44,410 $39,170 120
West Virginia $44,080 $37,660 4,490 After tax
Guam $41,020 $39,220 220
Puerto Rico $27,650 $22,680 3,800

A dash means BLS did not publish that figure for the state.

Other installation, maintenance and repair jobs

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 (published 2026), for “Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics” (SOC 49-3023). Wages are before tax and leave out self-employed workers. All job salaries

About the Job Salaries

Job Salaries shows what more than 500 US jobs pay, from nurses and electricians to software developers and truck drivers. Each job has its median and average salary, hourly and monthly pay, the pay range from the lowest-paid 10% to the top 10%, and a table of pay in every state. The figures come from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, the largest survey of US pay, in its latest release.

How to use it

  1. 1 Search for a job or pick one from the list.
  2. 2 Read the median salary, hourly pay and the pay range.
  3. 3 Check the salary by state to see where the job pays most.
  4. 4 Open the take-home pay calculator to see the salary after tax.

Frequently asked questions

How much does an auto mechanic make an hour?

The median hourly wage for an auto mechanic is $24.34, and the average is $27.13. The lowest-paid 10% earn under $16.66 an hour and the top 10% over $39.32.

How much does an auto mechanic make a month?

At the median salary of $50,620, an auto mechanic earns about $4,218 a month before tax, or $1,947 every two weeks.

Which state pays auto mechanics the most?

District of Columbia has the highest average pay for an auto mechanic, at $67,910 a year. Next are Alaska and California. Pay is usually higher where living costs are higher, so compare take-home pay too.

What is the starting salary for an auto mechanic?

The lowest-paid 10% of auto mechanics earn less than $34,660 a year, and the lowest 25% less than $38,900. That is a fair guide to starting pay, which depends on the state, the employer and your experience.

How much do the highest-paid auto mechanics make?

The top 10% earn more than $81,790 a year, and the top 25% more than $70,430.