SOC 49-3023 · May 2025
Mechanic Salary
Mechanics in the US earn a median of $50,620 a year ($27.13 an hour on average), according to the BLS May 2025 wage survey. Average Mechanic pay climbed from $44,890 in 2019 to $56,420 in 2025, a +25.7% change in 6 years.
Median annual
$50,620
Half of all Mechanics in the United States earn more than this figure, half earn less. From the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025 release.
Wage trend
+25.7% since 2019 · +2.1% YoY
Hourly
$27.13
Job growth 2025-35
+5%
US workers
704,640
BLS series
Annual median wage for Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics in All Industries in the United States
Salary range
From entry to top decile
The 10th-to-90th percentile spread for Mechanics is $34,660 – $81,790.
Percentile distribution
USD · annual
10th
$34,660
25th
$38,900
Median
$50,620
75th
$70,430
90th
$81,790
Percentile bands
Where your pay would sit
Percentile bands
Annual wages at each point of the BLS distribution for Mechanics. Where you sit depends on experience, employer, location and credentials.
| Percentile | What it means | Annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | 10% earn less. Common for new entrants | $34,660 |
| 25th percentile | A quarter earn less | $38,900 |
| Median | Half earn more, half earn less | $50,620 |
| 75th percentile | A quarter earn more | $70,430 |
| 90th percentile | 10% earn more. Often senior or specialist staff | $81,790 |
Geography
Mechanic pay by state
Mechanics earn the most in D.C. ($68,660, +36% against the national median) and the least in West Virginia ($37,660). BLS publishes a May 2025 estimate for this occupation in 51 of 51 states and D.C.
National median
$50,620
Highest-paying states for mechanics
| State | Annual median | vs national | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| D.C. | $68,660 | +36% | 310 |
| California | $64,980 | +28% | 65,420 |
| Colorado | $61,280 | +21% | 12,300 |
| Alaska | $60,840 | +20% | 1,420 |
| Massachusetts | $60,760 | +20% | 12,710 |
| Connecticut | $60,220 | +19% | 6,960 |
| Virginia | $59,330 | +17% | 17,880 |
| New Hampshire | $59,020 | +17% | 4,840 |
| Montana | $58,740 | +16% | 2,900 |
| Oregon | $58,520 | +16% | 6,990 |
All 51 states, highest to lowest
| State | Annual median | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| D.C. | $68,660 | 310 |
| California | $64,980 | 65,420 |
| Colorado | $61,280 | 12,300 |
| Alaska | $60,840 | 1,420 |
| Massachusetts | $60,760 | 12,710 |
| Connecticut | $60,220 | 6,960 |
| Virginia | $59,330 | 17,880 |
| New Hampshire | $59,020 | 4,840 |
| Montana | $58,740 | 2,900 |
| Oregon | $58,520 | 6,990 |
| Delaware | $58,410 | 1,910 |
| Minnesota | $58,390 | 11,980 |
| Maryland | $57,520 | 14,230 |
| North Dakota | $57,360 | 2,140 |
| Washington | $57,270 | 12,930 |
| New Jersey | $56,610 | 17,640 |
| Wisconsin | $54,350 | 12,270 |
| Michigan | $54,120 | 22,280 |
| New York | $54,120 | 32,020 |
| Hawaii | $52,160 | 2,710 |
| Maine | $52,040 | 3,390 |
| Rhode Island | $51,770 | 2,530 |
| Vermont | $51,630 | 1,610 |
| Wyoming | $51,330 | 1,560 |
| South Dakota | $51,160 | 2,010 |
| Nebraska | $50,560 | 4,560 |
| Iowa | $50,510 | 7,610 |
| Tennessee | $50,290 | 16,210 |
| Pennsylvania | $49,800 | 29,400 |
| Arizona | $49,570 | 16,400 |
| Indiana | $49,360 | 16,480 |
| Illinois | $49,170 | 29,510 |
| Missouri | $49,160 | 17,210 |
| Georgia | $49,060 | 22,070 |
| Ohio | $48,710 | 22,640 |
| Idaho | $48,420 | 5,030 |
| Texas | $48,310 | 69,750 |
| Nevada | $48,290 | 7,420 |
| Florida | $48,260 | 49,930 |
| North Carolina | $48,200 | 26,510 |
| South Carolina | $48,100 | 13,420 |
| Kansas | $47,790 | 6,240 |
| New Mexico | $47,300 | 5,080 |
| Utah | $46,570 | 9,350 |
| Oklahoma | $46,560 | 8,870 |
| Louisiana | $46,400 | 8,620 |
| Alabama | $45,640 | 9,040 |
| Kentucky | $44,890 | 11,140 |
| Arkansas | $44,160 | 7,310 |
| Mississippi | $37,820 | 7,410 |
| West Virginia | $37,660 | 4,490 |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, state estimates, May 2025, all industries.
What affects this salary
Pay drivers for Mechanics
Automotive service technicians and mechanics inspect, maintain, and repair cars and light trucks. The role requires post-secondary training (vocational certificate or associate degree) and ASE certification for advanced work. Pay varies by employer type, dealerships, independent shops, fleet operations, and by specialization (transmissions, electrical, hybrid/EV). Master-certified technicians at dealership service centers consistently reach the top OEWS percentiles.
The 10th-to-90th percentile spread is $34,660 – $81,790. That gap reflects experience, certification, employer type, geographic cost of living, and shift differentials where applicable.
Geography matters. The best-paying states for this role are D.C., California and Colorado. Pay in D.C. runs 1.8 times the level in West Virginia, before any adjustment for cost of living.
Getting in. BLS lists the typical entry-level education as postsecondary nondegree award, and projects about 66,200 openings a year over 2025-35. Employment is projected to grow 5% over the same period, against 3.5% for all occupations.
Frequently asked
Questions readers ask
Frequently asked
What is the average Mechanic salary in the US?
How much does a Mechanic make an hour?
How much do Mechanics make at the low and high end?
Which state pays Mechanics the most?
Is the average Mechanic salary higher than the median?
Is Mechanic a growing career?
Open positions
Open Mechanic roles hiring now
Browse current Mechanic listings on Indeed and ZipRecruiter, filtered to your role.
Source & methodology
Wage and employment figures are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, May 2025 release. Standard Occupational Classification: 49-3023. Figures represent the national median, mean, and percentile distribution across all employers and industries. Hourly equivalents assume a 2,080-hour work year. Job growth, annual openings and typical education are from the BLS Employment Projections program, 2025-35; see the Occupational Outlook Handbook entry. Read our methodology for details on how the data is sourced, transformed, and refreshed.