Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics Salary in Kentucky
Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics in Kentucky have a median of $44,890 a year, below the national $50,620 (−11%); the state ranks 48th of 51 states by median. That is 4% less than the median across all occupations in Kentucky ($46,920). Among neighbouring states, Virginia, Tennessee, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri and Ohio pay more (up to $59,330 in Virginia) and West Virginia pays less (down to $37,660 in West Virginia). Kentucky employs 11,140 automotive service technicians and mechanics, 5.57 per 1,000 jobs, the 24th largest count of any state. A location quotient of 1.23 means the occupation is more concentrated in Kentucky than nationally.
Kentucky vs the United States, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Kentucky | Hourly | $14.53 | $17.30 | $21.58 | $28.84 | $35.54 | $23.07 | 11,140 | 5.57 | 1.23 |
| Annual | $30,210 | $35,980 | $44,890 | $59,990 | $73,910 | $47,990 | ||||
| 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 | ||||
- Rank by median
- 48th of 51 states
- Rank by employment
- 24th of 51 states
- Location quotient
- 1.23
- Jobs per 1,000
- 5.57
Ranks count the 50 states and DC with a published value. The location quotient is the occupation's share of Kentucky's employment divided by its national share; 1.00 means the same share as the nation. Take-home pay at these wages: FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Metropolitan areas in Kentucky
9 metropolitan areas and 4 nonmetropolitan areas touching Kentucky publish a row for automotive service technicians and mechanics, sorted by median. Areas crossing a state line are listed under every state they touch; a linked metro has its own profile.
| Area | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clarksville, TN-KY | $23.83 | $49,570 | $32,730 | $77,490 | 730 | 7.07 | 1.56 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $23.60 | $49,090 | $35,090 | $80,820 | 4,520 | 4.11 | 0.91 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $22.81 | $47,440 | $34,180 | $77,170 | 3,640 | 5.32 | 1.17 |
| Lexington-Fayette, KY | $22.16 | $46,080 | $31,550 | $74,620 | 1,530 | 5.34 | 1.18 |
| Owensboro, KY | $21.11 | $43,900 | $30,710 | $71,800 | 290 | 5.93 | 1.31 |
| Paducah, KY-IL | $20.80 | $43,260 | $30,680 | $69,010 | 290 | 5.69 | 1.26 |
| Bowling Green, KY | $20.61 | $42,860 | $30,600 | $63,900 | 470 | 5.71 | 1.26 |
| Elizabethtown, KY | $20.02 | $41,630 | $30,790 | $73,010 | 350 | 6.72 | 1.48 |
| Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $17.90 | $37,240 | $27,840 | $64,650 | 920 | 6.51 | 1.44 |
| West Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $19.01 | $39,550 | $29,320 | $72,080 | 820 | 6.36 | 1.40 |
| Central Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $18.76 | $39,020 | $29,380 | $63,800 | 990 | 5.76 | 1.27 |
| South Central Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $18.23 | $37,930 | $28,460 | $65,740 | 1,030 | 6.00 | 1.32 |
| East Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $17.80 | $37,030 | $23,780 | $66,270 | 510 | 5.57 | 1.23 |
Neighbouring states
| State | Median hourly | Median annual | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kentucky | $21.58 | $44,890 | 11,140 | 1.23 |
| Illinois | $23.64 | $49,170 | 29,510 | 1.07 |
| Indiana | $23.73 | $49,360 | 16,480 | 1.14 |
| Missouri | $23.63 | $49,160 | 17,210 | 1.29 |
| Ohio | $23.42 | $48,710 | 22,640 | 0.90 |
| Tennessee | $24.18 | $50,290 | 16,210 | 1.09 |
| Virginia | $28.53 | $59,330 | 17,880 | 0.96 |
| West Virginia | $18.11 | $37,660 | 4,490 | 1.41 |
See the national page for Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics (every state ranked) and the Kentucky wage profile (every occupation in the state).
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS Kentucky estimates.
- 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.