Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics
Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics (SOC 49-3023) earn a median $50,620 a year ($24.34 an hour) in the United States, with 704,640 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is District of Columbia.
What automotive service technicians and mechanics do
Automotive service technicians and mechanics diagnose, adjust, repair or overhaul automotive vehicles. They inspect vehicles for damage and record their findings so the necessary repairs can be made, and confer with customers to get descriptions of vehicle problems, discuss the work to be done and talk through future repair needs. Vehicles are test driven, and components and systems are tested with devices that include infrared engine analyzers, compression gauges and computerized diagnostics. Repaired systems are tested and adjusted to meet the manufacturer's performance specifications. Typical work includes repairing, relining, replacing and adjusting brakes and aligning front ends. Technicians review work orders and discuss the work with supervisors, and estimate the cost of vehicle repair. Listed titles include air conditioning technician, ambulance mechanic and alternative fuel vehicle repair technician. Body repair (49-3021), bus, truck and diesel work (49-3031) and electronic equipment installation in motor vehicles (49-2096) are excluded and classified separately.
Typical entry: According to O*NET, the most common level is a postsecondary certificate earned through a training program after high school.
Also called: A/C Tech (Air Conditioning Technician), AC Mechanic (Air Conditioning Mechanic), Alternative Fuel Vehicle Maintenance Technician (AFV Maintenance Tech), Alternative Fuel Vehicle Repair Technician (AFV Repair Tech), Ambulance Mechanic.
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $16.66 | $18.70 | $24.34 | $33.86 | $39.32 | $27.13 | 704,640 |
| Annual | $34,660 | $38,900 | $50,620 | $70,430 | $81,790 | $56,420 | ||
Employment per 1,000 jobs and the location quotient are area measures; they appear in the state and metro tables below. To see what a wage in this range leaves after tax, use FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Where automotive service technicians and mechanics earn and work most
Five highest-paying states
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| District of Columbia | Hourly | $22.23 | $27.18 | $33.01 | $37.87 | $43.25 | $32.65 | 310 | 0.44 | 0.10 |
| Annual | $46,230 | $56,530 | $68,660 | $78,770 | $89,960 | $67,910 | ||||
| California | Hourly | $18.36 | $22.39 | $31.24 | $37.05 | $45.81 | $31.47 | 65,420 | 3.59 | 0.79 |
| Annual | $38,180 | $46,580 | $64,980 | $77,060 | $95,280 | $65,470 | ||||
| Colorado | Hourly | $19.01 | $22.20 | $29.46 | $37.64 | $45.11 | $30.76 | 12,300 | 4.28 | 0.94 |
| Annual | $39,550 | $46,170 | $61,280 | $78,300 | $93,830 | $63,980 | ||||
| Alaska | Hourly | $21.19 | $23.72 | $29.25 | $38.25 | $45.48 | $31.55 | 1,420 | 4.36 | 0.96 |
| Annual | $44,060 | $49,340 | $60,840 | $79,560 | $94,600 | $65,620 | ||||
| Massachusetts | Hourly | $18.45 | $21.91 | $29.21 | $37.77 | $45.72 | $30.27 | 12,710 | 3.49 | 0.77 |
| Annual | $38,370 | $45,560 | $60,760 | $78,560 | $95,090 | $62,960 | ||||
Five states with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Texas | Hourly | $14.12 | $17.62 | $23.23 | $29.94 | $39.29 | $25.47 | 69,750 | 4.96 | 1.09 |
| Annual | $29,360 | $36,650 | $48,310 | $62,270 | $81,720 | $52,980 | ||||
| California | Hourly | $18.36 | $22.39 | $31.24 | $37.05 | $45.81 | $31.47 | 65,420 | 3.59 | 0.79 |
| Annual | $38,180 | $46,580 | $64,980 | $77,060 | $95,280 | $65,470 | ||||
| Florida | Hourly | $15.37 | $17.81 | $23.20 | $30.29 | $38.07 | $25.84 | 49,930 | 5.03 | 1.11 |
| Annual | $31,970 | $37,040 | $48,260 | $62,990 | $79,180 | $53,740 | ||||
| New York | Hourly | $17.05 | $21.90 | $26.02 | $35.25 | $43.99 | $28.42 | 32,020 | 3.31 | 0.73 |
| Annual | $35,470 | $45,550 | $54,120 | $73,320 | $91,490 | $59,110 | ||||
| Illinois | Hourly | $16.44 | $18.42 | $23.64 | $35.40 | $43.85 | $27.25 | 29,510 | 4.84 | 1.07 |
| Annual | $34,190 | $38,310 | $49,170 | $73,640 | $91,200 | $56,680 | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | Hourly | $22.64 | $26.71 | $37.42 | $44.05 | $48.92 | $36.26 | 3,040 | 2.68 | 0.59 |
| Annual | $47,090 | $55,550 | $77,840 | $91,630 | $101,760 | $75,410 | ||||
| Napa, CA | Hourly | $20.92 | $26.87 | $36.75 | $39.53 | $44.64 | $34.18 | 160 | 2.11 | 0.47 |
| Annual | $43,520 | $55,900 | $76,450 | $82,230 | $92,850 | $71,100 | ||||
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | Hourly | $21.74 | $26.42 | $36.55 | $43.91 | $51.96 | $36.41 | 7,270 | 3.06 | 0.68 |
| Annual | $45,210 | $54,950 | $76,030 | $91,340 | $108,070 | $75,730 | ||||
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | Hourly | $21.89 | $25.32 | $36.10 | $37.86 | $47.57 | $34.08 | 1,000 | 4.87 | 1.07 |
| Annual | $45,540 | $52,670 | $75,080 | $78,740 | $98,940 | $70,890 | ||||
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | Hourly | $19.73 | $23.72 | $34.63 | $37.05 | $46.17 | $32.87 | 4,870 | 4.50 | 0.99 |
| Annual | $41,040 | $49,330 | $72,020 | $77,060 | $96,030 | $68,380 | ||||
Five metropolitan areas with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | Hourly | $16.70 | $22.14 | $27.77 | $37.39 | $45.35 | $29.72 | 28,420 | 2.99 | 0.66 |
| Annual | $34,740 | $46,040 | $57,760 | $77,770 | $94,320 | $61,820 | ||||
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | Hourly | $17.56 | $22.19 | $30.20 | $36.66 | $43.70 | $30.61 | 22,330 | 3.56 | 0.79 |
| Annual | $36,520 | $46,160 | $62,820 | $76,240 | $90,890 | $63,670 | ||||
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | Hourly | $16.59 | $18.87 | $26.60 | $37.68 | $44.45 | $28.52 | 20,140 | 4.46 | 0.98 |
| Annual | $34,520 | $39,240 | $55,320 | $78,370 | $92,460 | $59,320 | ||||
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | Hourly | $14.56 | $17.85 | $23.90 | $31.37 | $44.84 | $26.81 | 17,690 | 4.37 | 0.96 |
| Annual | $30,280 | $37,130 | $49,720 | $65,250 | $93,260 | $55,760 | ||||
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | Hourly | $14.13 | $17.77 | $24.49 | $30.45 | $39.99 | $26.39 | 14,910 | 4.53 | 1.00 |
| Annual | $29,380 | $36,960 | $50,940 | $63,340 | $83,180 | $54,900 | ||||
Top industries employing automotive service technicians and mechanics
Automobile Dealers employ 37.5% of automotive service technicians and mechanics nationally (264,130 jobs) at a median $59,920 a year ($28.81 an hour), followed by Automotive Repair and Maintenance (35.7%) and Automotive Parts, Accessories, and Tire Retailers (6.9%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Automobile Dealers NAICS 441100 | 264,130 | 37.5% | $59,920 | $28.81 |
| Automotive Repair and Maintenance NAICS 811100 | 251,720 | 35.7% | $48,370 | $23.26 |
| Automotive Parts, Accessories, and Tire Retailers NAICS 441300 | 48,500 | 6.9% | $45,700 | $21.97 |
| Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) NAICS 999300 | 16,010 | 2.3% | $62,070 | $29.84 |
| Motor Vehicle and Motor Vehicle Parts and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers NAICS 423100 | 12,510 | 1.8% | $57,250 | $27.52 |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (704,640). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $46,880 for automotive service technicians and mechanics in May 2021 and $50,620 in May 2025, with employment of 629,780 and 704,640.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $46,880 | $22.54 | 629,780 |
| May 2022 | $46,970 | $22.58 | 664,070 |
| May 2023 | $47,770 | $22.96 | 676,570 |
| May 2024 | $49,670 | $23.88 | 688,840 |
| May 2025 | $50,620 | $24.34 | 704,640 |
BLS does not design OEWS as a time series: each release pools three years of samples, and occupational classifications, area definitions and estimation methods change between releases, so a difference between two releases is not a measure of change over time. The figures are shown as published, side by side, and nothing is computed from them. See how often OEWS is updated.
Every state, by median wage
51 states and DC publish a row for this occupation. A linked state has its own page with the within-state metro table and comparison; the others appear here only.
| Rank | State | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia profile | $33.01 | $68,660 | $46,230 | $89,960 | 310 | 0.44 | 0.10 |
| 2 | California profile | $31.24 | $64,980 | $38,180 | $95,280 | 65,420 | 3.59 | 0.79 |
| 3 | Colorado profile | $29.46 | $61,280 | $39,550 | $93,830 | 12,300 | 4.28 | 0.94 |
| 4 | Alaska profile | $29.25 | $60,840 | $44,060 | $94,600 | 1,420 | 4.36 | 0.96 |
| 5 | Massachusetts profile | $29.21 | $60,760 | $38,370 | $95,090 | 12,710 | 3.49 | 0.77 |
| 6 | Connecticut profile | $28.95 | $60,220 | $38,430 | $79,930 | 6,960 | 4.10 | 0.91 |
| 7 | Virginia profile | $28.53 | $59,330 | $36,540 | $92,570 | 17,880 | 4.35 | 0.96 |
| 8 | New Hampshire profile | $28.38 | $59,020 | $38,310 | $82,250 | 4,840 | 7.09 | 1.56 |
| 9 | Montana profile | $28.24 | $58,740 | $38,170 | $78,460 | 2,900 | 5.67 | 1.25 |
| 10 | Oregon profile | $28.14 | $58,520 | $39,590 | $92,090 | 6,990 | 3.56 | 0.78 |
| 11 | Delaware profile | $28.08 | $58,410 | $36,700 | $82,280 | 1,910 | 3.94 | 0.87 |
| 12 | Minnesota profile | $28.07 | $58,390 | $38,310 | $83,180 | 11,980 | 4.06 | 0.90 |
| 13 | Maryland profile | $27.66 | $57,520 | $35,940 | $84,420 | 14,230 | 5.15 | 1.14 |
| 14 | North Dakota profile | $27.58 | $57,360 | $37,610 | $83,860 | 2,140 | 4.99 | 1.10 |
| 15 | Washington profile | $27.54 | $57,270 | $39,470 | $95,620 | 12,930 | 3.64 | 0.80 |
| 16 | New Jersey profile | $27.22 | $56,610 | $33,500 | $91,210 | 17,640 | 4.12 | 0.91 |
| 17 | Wisconsin profile | $26.13 | $54,350 | $36,590 | $78,140 | 12,270 | 4.17 | 0.92 |
| 18 | Michigan profile | $26.02 | $54,120 | $36,110 | $79,060 | 22,280 | 5.06 | 1.12 |
| 19 | New York profile | $26.02 | $54,120 | $35,470 | $91,490 | 32,020 | 3.31 | 0.73 |
| 20 | Hawaii profile | $25.08 | $52,160 | $36,360 | $79,090 | 2,710 | 4.31 | 0.95 |
| 21 | Maine profile | $25.02 | $52,040 | $38,420 | $74,650 | 3,390 | 5.29 | 1.17 |
| 22 | Rhode Island profile | $24.89 | $51,770 | $31,860 | $80,780 | 2,530 | 5.04 | 1.11 |
| 23 | Vermont profile | $24.82 | $51,630 | $40,500 | $78,690 | 1,610 | 5.31 | 1.17 |
| 24 | Wyoming profile | $24.68 | $51,330 | $34,200 | $79,470 | 1,560 | 5.55 | 1.22 |
| 25 | South Dakota profile | $24.60 | $51,160 | $38,670 | $80,500 | 2,010 | 4.39 | 0.97 |
| 26 | Nebraska profile | $24.31 | $50,560 | $36,770 | $79,990 | 4,560 | 4.45 | 0.98 |
| 27 | Iowa profile | $24.28 | $50,510 | $36,100 | $77,400 | 7,610 | 4.88 | 1.08 |
| 28 | Tennessee profile | $24.18 | $50,290 | $34,820 | $79,930 | 16,210 | 4.94 | 1.09 |
| 29 | Pennsylvania profile | $23.94 | $49,800 | $35,600 | $77,630 | 29,400 | 4.85 | 1.07 |
| 30 | Arizona profile | $23.83 | $49,570 | $34,660 | $79,330 | 16,400 | 5.06 | 1.12 |
| 31 | Indiana profile | $23.73 | $49,360 | $35,800 | $78,580 | 16,480 | 5.15 | 1.14 |
| 32 | Illinois profile | $23.64 | $49,170 | $34,190 | $91,200 | 29,510 | 4.84 | 1.07 |
| 33 | Missouri profile | $23.63 | $49,160 | $34,950 | $76,870 | 17,210 | 5.86 | 1.29 |
| 34 | Georgia profile | $23.59 | $49,060 | $33,580 | $84,360 | 22,070 | 4.51 | 1.00 |
| 35 | Ohio profile | $23.42 | $48,710 | $34,110 | $79,690 | 22,640 | 4.08 | 0.90 |
| 36 | Idaho profile | $23.28 | $48,420 | $34,570 | $77,710 | 5,030 | 5.87 | 1.30 |
| 37 | Texas profile | $23.23 | $48,310 | $29,360 | $81,720 | 69,750 | 4.96 | 1.09 |
| 38 | Nevada profile | $23.22 | $48,290 | $33,500 | $81,180 | 7,420 | 4.78 | 1.06 |
| 39 | Florida profile | $23.20 | $48,260 | $31,970 | $79,180 | 49,930 | 5.03 | 1.11 |
| 40 | North Carolina profile | $23.17 | $48,200 | $31,500 | $79,610 | 26,510 | 5.36 | 1.18 |
| 41 | South Carolina profile | $23.12 | $48,100 | $31,200 | $78,030 | 13,420 | 5.82 | 1.29 |
| 42 | Kansas profile | $22.98 | $47,790 | $31,970 | $77,340 | 6,240 | 4.34 | 0.96 |
| 43 | New Mexico profile | $22.74 | $47,300 | $30,390 | $77,850 | 5,080 | 5.83 | 1.29 |
| 44 | Utah profile | $22.39 | $46,570 | $30,460 | $77,320 | 9,350 | 5.39 | 1.19 |
| 45 | Oklahoma profile | $22.38 | $46,560 | $29,410 | $81,480 | 8,870 | 5.20 | 1.15 |
| 46 | Louisiana profile | $22.31 | $46,400 | $30,230 | $77,790 | 8,620 | 4.45 | 0.98 |
| 47 | Alabama profile | $21.94 | $45,640 | $31,030 | $79,230 | 9,040 | 4.28 | 0.94 |
| 48 | Kentucky profile | $21.58 | $44,890 | $30,210 | $73,910 | 11,140 | 5.57 | 1.23 |
| 49 | Arkansas profile | $21.23 | $44,160 | $30,320 | $75,600 | 7,310 | 5.60 | 1.24 |
| 50 | Mississippi profile | $18.18 | $37,820 | $28,650 | $74,000 | 7,410 | 6.37 | 1.41 |
| 51 | West Virginia profile | $18.11 | $37,660 | $28,270 | $65,520 | 4,490 | 6.40 | 1.41 |
Related occupations
Occupations in the same SOC broad group (49-3020), with their national median annual wage.
Part of Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations. Compare any area in the wage explorer.
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS 49-3023 Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.
- Top industries: nat4d_M2025_dl.xlsx in oesm25in4.zip (BLS OEWS May 2025, national, 4-digit NAICS, cross-ownership). Employment is the industry's rounded total for this occupation; industries whose employment BLS withheld (**) are not ranked.
- Published medians: national_M2021_dl.xlsx to national_M2024_dl.xlsx in oesm21nat.zip to oesm24nat.zip (BLS OEWS May 2021 to May 2024, national, cross-industry, all ownerships) and the May 2025 spine. Each release is shown as published; nothing is computed between them.
Sources
- BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018, definition of 49-3023, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 49-3023.00, National Center for O*NET Development, USDOL/ETA (CC BY 4.0).
- OEWS May 2025 national industry-specific estimates, 4-digit NAICS (oesm25in4.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2021 national estimates (oesm21nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2022 national estimates (oesm22nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2023 national estimates (oesm23nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2024 national estimates (oesm24nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2025 national estimates (oesm25nat.zip), the site's data spine, US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
Includes information from O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Description written 2026-10-17 in our own words from the sources above.