Automotive Technician Salary by StateBLS figures for automotive service technicians and mechanics
BLS OEWS May 2025 · BLS occupation: SOC 49-3023 Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics
Automotive service technicians and mechanics (SOC 49-3023), the BLS occupation for automotive technicians, earned a median $50,620 a year ($24.34 an hour) in May 2025.
The middle half earned between $38,900 and $70,430.
This is the BLS occupation for automotive service technicians and mechanics (49-3023), all industries combined.
OEWS counts payroll workers only, so flat-rate techs paid as contractors are not in it.
Annual figures are BLS hourly wages × 2,080 hours. OEWS covers wage-and-salary workers only, so it leaves out shop owners, the self-employed (including technicians paid as 1099 contractors), overtime pay and most bonuses.
How pay spreads across Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $34,660 | $16.66 |
| 25th | $38,900 | $18.70 |
| 50th (median) | $50,620 | $24.34 |
| 75th | $70,430 | $33.86 |
| 90th | $81,790 | $39.32 |
| Mean (average) | $56,420 | $27.13 |
SOC 49-3023 Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics, the BLS occupation for automotive technicians: 704,640 wage-and-salary jobs, BLS OEWS May 2025.
Pay for Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics by State
Median annual wage for SOC 49-3023 Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics in each state, BLS OEWS May 2025, alphabetical. "vs. U.S." compares the state median with the national median of $50,620; it is not adjusted for living costs.
| State | Median | Hourly | 10th–90th | Jobs | vs. U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $45,640 | $21.94 | $31,030–$79,230 | 9,040 | −10% |
| Alaska | $60,840 | $29.25 | $44,060–$94,600 | 1,420 | +20% |
| Arizona | $49,570 | $23.83 | $34,660–$79,330 | 16,400 | −2% |
| Arkansas | $44,160 | $21.23 | $30,320–$75,600 | 7,310 | −13% |
| California | $64,980 | $31.24 | $38,180–$95,280 | 65,420 | +28% |
| Colorado | $61,280 | $29.46 | $39,550–$93,830 | 12,300 | +21% |
| Connecticut | $60,220 | $28.95 | $38,430–$79,930 | 6,960 | +19% |
| Delaware | $58,410 | $28.08 | $36,700–$82,280 | 1,910 | +15% |
| District of Columbia | $68,660 | $33.01 | $46,230–$89,960 | 310 | +36% |
| Florida | $48,260 | $23.20 | $31,970–$79,180 | 49,930 | −5% |
| Georgia | $49,060 | $23.59 | $33,580–$84,360 | 22,070 | −3% |
| Hawaii | $52,160 | $25.08 | $36,360–$79,090 | 2,710 | +3% |
| Idaho | $48,420 | $23.28 | $34,570–$77,710 | 5,030 | −4% |
| Illinois | $49,170 | $23.64 | $34,190–$91,200 | 29,510 | −3% |
| Indiana | $49,360 | $23.73 | $35,800–$78,580 | 16,480 | −2% |
| Iowa | $50,510 | $24.28 | $36,100–$77,400 | 7,610 | 0% |
| Kansas | $47,790 | $22.98 | $31,970–$77,340 | 6,240 | −6% |
| Kentucky | $44,890 | $21.58 | $30,210–$73,910 | 11,140 | −11% |
| Louisiana | $46,400 | $22.31 | $30,230–$77,790 | 8,620 | −8% |
| Maine | $52,040 | $25.02 | $38,420–$74,650 | 3,390 | +3% |
| Maryland | $57,520 | $27.66 | $35,940–$84,420 | 14,230 | +14% |
| Massachusetts | $60,760 | $29.21 | $38,370–$95,090 | 12,710 | +20% |
| Michigan | $54,120 | $26.02 | $36,110–$79,060 | 22,280 | +7% |
| Minnesota | $58,390 | $28.07 | $38,310–$83,180 | 11,980 | +15% |
| Mississippi | $37,820 | $18.18 | $28,650–$74,000 | 7,410 | −25% |
| Missouri | $49,160 | $23.63 | $34,950–$76,870 | 17,210 | −3% |
| Montana | $58,740 | $28.24 | $38,170–$78,460 | 2,900 | +16% |
| Nebraska | $50,560 | $24.31 | $36,770–$79,990 | 4,560 | 0% |
| Nevada | $48,290 | $23.22 | $33,500–$81,180 | 7,420 | −5% |
| New Hampshire | $59,020 | $28.38 | $38,310–$82,250 | 4,840 | +17% |
| New Jersey | $56,610 | $27.22 | $33,500–$91,210 | 17,640 | +12% |
| New Mexico | $47,300 | $22.74 | $30,390–$77,850 | 5,080 | −7% |
| New York | $54,120 | $26.02 | $35,470–$91,490 | 32,020 | +7% |
| North Carolina | $48,200 | $23.17 | $31,500–$79,610 | 26,510 | −5% |
| North Dakota | $57,360 | $27.58 | $37,610–$83,860 | 2,140 | +13% |
| Ohio | $48,710 | $23.42 | $34,110–$79,690 | 22,640 | −4% |
| Oklahoma | $46,560 | $22.38 | $29,410–$81,480 | 8,870 | −8% |
| Oregon | $58,520 | $28.14 | $39,590–$92,090 | 6,990 | +16% |
| Pennsylvania | $49,800 | $23.94 | $35,600–$77,630 | 29,400 | −2% |
| Rhode Island | $51,770 | $24.89 | $31,860–$80,780 | 2,530 | +2% |
| South Carolina | $48,100 | $23.12 | $31,200–$78,030 | 13,420 | −5% |
| South Dakota | $51,160 | $24.60 | $38,670–$80,500 | 2,010 | +1% |
| Tennessee | $50,290 | $24.18 | $34,820–$79,930 | 16,210 | −1% |
| Texas | $48,310 | $23.23 | $29,360–$81,720 | 69,750 | −5% |
| Utah | $46,570 | $22.39 | $30,460–$77,320 | 9,350 | −8% |
| Vermont | $51,630 | $24.82 | $40,500–$78,690 | 1,610 | +2% |
| Virginia | $59,330 | $28.53 | $36,540–$92,570 | 17,880 | +17% |
| Washington | $57,270 | $27.54 | $39,470–$95,620 | 12,930 | +13% |
| West Virginia | $37,660 | $18.11 | $28,270–$65,520 | 4,490 | −26% |
| Wisconsin | $54,350 | $26.13 | $36,590–$78,140 | 12,270 | +7% |
| Wyoming | $51,330 | $24.68 | $34,200–$79,470 | 1,560 | +1% |
Pay by employer industry
National median for automotive service technicians and mechanics (SOC 49-3023) by the industry of the employer, BLS OEWS May 2025 industry estimates.
BLS publishes no split by vehicle brand or by employer, so these industry rows are the narrowest national cut.
Automobile dealers (NAICS 4411) covers new and used car dealers.
Automotive repair and maintenance (NAICS 8111) covers mechanical and electrical repair shops, body, paint, interior and glass shops, and other automotive repair and maintenance, car washes included.
| Employer industry | Median | Hourly | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries (the national figure above) | $50,620 | $24.34 | 704,640 |
| Automobile Dealers | $59,920 | $28.81 | 264,130 |
| Automotive Repair and Maintenance | $48,370 | $23.26 | 251,720 |
| Automotive Parts, Accessories, and Tire Retailers | $45,700 | $21.97 | 48,500 |
| Motor Vehicle and Motor Vehicle Parts and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers | $57,250 | $27.52 | 12,510 |
| Other Motor Vehicle Dealers | $51,970 | $24.99 | 4,280 |
| Automotive Equipment Rental and Leasing | $51,390 | $24.71 | 5,660 |
| Gasoline Stations | $45,430 | $21.84 | 7,000 |
Selected industries only; the first row covers every industry.
Job outlook for Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics
BLS projects employment of automotive service technicians and mechanics to grow 5%, from about 825,800 in 2025 to 866,700 in 2035 (BLS Employment Projections 2025–35).
The projection counts include the self-employed (about 15% of the occupation in 2025) and come from a different BLS program, so they are not directly comparable with the OEWS payroll job count above.
Pay by shop role
BLS publishes wages by occupation, not job title.
Automotive technicians, body technicians, glass technicians, tire technicians and parts counter staff each have a BLS occupation of their own.
Shop foremen and car detailers are counted in broader groups.
Auto painters, lube technicians and collision estimators borrow the closest available occupation, labelled in the last column.
Compare figures with the same basis only.
| Role | Median shown | What the number is |
|---|---|---|
| Automotive Technician | $50,620 | BLS occupation (SOC 49-3023) |
| Auto Body Technician | $54,890 | BLS occupation (SOC 49-3021) |
| Lube Technician | $35,670 | Closest available occupation (SOC 53-6031) |
| Tire Technician | $37,710 | BLS occupation (SOC 49-3093) |
| Auto Glass Technician | $47,630 | BLS occupation (SOC 49-3022) |
| Car Detailer | $35,830 | Broader BLS occupation (SOC 53-7061) |
| Auto Painter | $48,250 | Closest available occupation, a stand-in (SOC 51-9124) |
| Collision Estimator | $78,240 | Closest available occupation (SOC 13-1032) |
| Shop Foreman | $79,860 | Broader BLS occupation (SOC 49-1011) |
| Parts Counter Person | $38,630 | BLS occupation (SOC 41-2022) |
Automotive Technician salary questions
01How much do automotive technicians make a year?
The median annual wage for automotive service technicians and mechanics (SOC 49-3023), the BLS occupation for automotive technicians, was $50,620 in May 2025 (BLS OEWS).
The 10th percentile was $34,660 and the 90th percentile $81,790.
02How much do automotive technicians make an hour?
The median hourly wage for automotive service technicians and mechanics was $24.34 in May 2025.
BLS converts between hourly and annual figures at 2,080 hours a year, so this is the same median per hour, before overtime or bonuses.
03Which state pays automotive technicians the most?
For automotive service technicians and mechanics, the District of Columbia had the highest median in May 2025 at $68,660.
West Virginia had the lowest at $37,660.
These are not adjusted for living costs; the state table above lists every state BLS published.
04What is the average automotive technician salary?
The mean (average) annual wage for automotive service technicians and mechanics was $56,420 in May 2025, against a $50,620 median.
The median is the better guide to a typical salary, because a smaller number of high earners pull the average up.
05Is demand for automotive technicians growing?
BLS projects employment of automotive service technicians and mechanics to grow 5% from 2025 to 2035, from about 825,800 to 866,700 jobs, with about 66,200 openings a year (BLS Employment Projections 2025–35).
Those projection counts include the self-employed and come from a different BLS program, so they are not directly comparable with the OEWS payroll job count on this page.
06Do dealership mechanics earn more than repair-shop mechanics?
Yes, on the BLS medians.
Automotive service technicians and mechanics at automobile dealers had a median of $59,920 in May 2025 on 264,130 jobs, against $48,370 on 251,720 jobs in automotive repair and maintenance, so the dealer median was $11,550 (about 24%) higher (BLS OEWS industry estimates).
BLS publishes no split by vehicle brand or by employer.
07Can a mechanic make $100,000 a year?
Fewer than 1 in 10 payroll technicians do.
The 90th percentile for automotive service technicians and mechanics was $81,790 in May 2025, so at least 90% earned less than that.
The highest state 90th percentile was Washington at $95,620.
BLS does not publish the share above $100,000, and OEWS leaves out the self-employed.