Auto Mechanic Salaries

The salary of an auto mechanic is contingent upon a lot of different factors and changes by location. However, there is one commonality and that is the high earning potential for auto mechanics throughout the United States. The median pay for an auto mechanic, also classified as an automotive technician, is $38,470 per year. That figure was determined by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. However, the salary of an auto mechanic encompasses a broad range and that is due to many different factors that go into the determination of that salary.

Auto Mechanic in Routine

Auto mechanics earn higher pay rates in certain parts of the country as location plays a key part in the determination of salaries. Here is a look at the median and top salaries for auto mechanics in each state based on data compiled by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

• Median: $55,150 yearly ($26.52 hourly)
• Top 10 percent: $78,960 yearly ($37.96 hourly)

• Median: $38,280 yearly ($18.40 hourly)
• Top 10 percent: $60,580 yearly ($29.13 hourly)

• Median: $32,380 yearly ($15.57 hourly)
• Top 10 percent: $56,370 yearly ($27.10 hourly)

• Median: $43,650 yearly ($20.99 hourly)
• Top 10 percent: $73,410 yearly ($35.29 hourly)

• Median: $41,910 yearly ($20.15 hourly)
• Top 10 percent: $68,380 yearly ($32.88 hourly)

• Median: $44,080 yearly ($21.19 hourly)
• Top 10 percent: $66,080 yearly ($31.77 hourly)

• Median: $38,580 yearly ($18.55 hourly)
• Top 10 percent: $61,380 yearly ($29.51 hourly)

• Median: $59,250 yearly ($28.48 hourly)
• Top 10 percent: $123,730 yearly ($59.49 hourly)

• Median: $35,200 yearly ($16.92 hourly)
• Top 10 percent: $62,110 yearly ($29.86 hourly)

• Median: $35,690 yearly ($17.16 hourly)
• Top 10 percent: $60,710 yearly ($29.19 hourly)

• Median: $41,350 yearly ($19.88 hourly)
• Top 10 percent: $63,480 yearly ($30.52 hourly)

• Median: $37,690 yearly ($18.12 hourly)
• Top 10 percent: $61,150 yearly ($29.40 hourly)

• Median: $39,810 yearly ($19.14 hourly)
• Top 10 percent: $75,250 yearly ($36.18 hourly)

• Median: $36,660 yearly ($17.63 hourly)
• Top 10 percent: $60,950 yearly ($29.30 hourly)

• Median: $37,310 yearly ($17.94 hourly)
• Top 10 percent: $57,090 yearly ($27.45 hourly)

• Median: $33,850 yearly ($16.28 hourly)
• Top 10 percent: $58,850 yearly ($28.29 hourly)

• Median: $36,010 yearly ($17.31 hourly)
• Top 10 percent: $59,120 yearly ($28.42 hourly)

• Median: $35,000 yearly ($16.83 hourly)
• Top 10 percent: $59,240 yearly ($28.48 hourly)

• Median: $35,510 yearly ($17.17 hourly)
• Top 10 percent: $56,020 yearly ($26.93 hourly)

• Median: $46,190 yearly ($22.21 hourly)
• Top 10 percent: $71,370 yearly ($34.31 hourly)

• Median: $43,680 yearly ($21.00 hourly)
• Top 10 percent: $70,340 yearly ($33.82 hourly)

• Median: $37,050 yearly ($17.81 hourly)
• Top 10 percent: $63,520 yearly ($30.54 hourly)

• Median: $39,220 yearly ($18.86 hourly)
• Top 10 percent: $59,290 yearly ($28.50 hourly)

• Median: $31,360 yearly ($15.08 hourly)
• Top 10 percent: $59,300 yearly ($28.51 hourly)

• Median: $39,350 yearly ($18.92 hourly)
• Top 10 percent: $61,100 yearly ($29.37 hourly)

• Median: $35,400 yearly ($17.02 hourly)
• Top 10 percent: $60,590 yearly ($29.13 hourly)

• Median: $37,460 yearly ($18.01 hourly)
• Top 10 percent: $61,350 yearly ($29.50 hourly)

• Median: $40,520 yearly ($19.48 hourly)
• Top 10 percent: $62,590 yearly ($30.09 hourly)

• Median: $40,310 yearly ($19.38 hourly)
• Top 10 percent: $63,490 yearly ($30.52 hourly)

• Median: $44,980 yearly ($21.62 hourly)
• Top 10 percent: $73,710 yearly ($35.44 hourly)

• Median: $35,290 yearly ($16.97 hourly)
• Top 10 percent: $58,690 yearly ($28.22 hourly)

• Median: $37,420 yearly ($17.99 hourly)
• Top 10 percent: $68,050 yearly ($32.72 hourly)

• Median: $37,720 yearly ($18.13 hourly)
• Top 10 percent: $63,620 yearly ($30.59 hourly)

• Median: $40,350 yearly ($17.44 hourly)
• Top 10 percent: $63,730 yearly ($30.64 hourly)

• Median: $36,270 yearly ($17.44 hourly)
• Top 10 percent: $59,560 yearly ($28.63 hourly)

• Median: $35,960 yearly ($17.29 hourly)
• Top 10 percent: $62,050 yearly ($29.83 hourly)

• Median: $42,670 yearly ($20.51 hourly)
• Top 10 percent: $63,850 yearly ($30.70 hourly)

• Median: $35,870 yearly ($17.25 hourly)
• Top 10 percent: $59,750 yearly ($28.72 hourly)

• Median: $39,400 yearly ($18.94 hourly)
• Top 10 percent: $60,340 yearly ($29.01 hourly)

• Median: $35,920 yearly ($17.27 hourly)
• Top 10 percent: $58,200 yearly ($27.98 hourly)

• Median: $35,470 yearly ($17.05 hourly)
• Top 10 percent: $54,090 yearly ($26.00 hourly)

• Median: $38,190 yearly ($18.36 hourly)
• Top 10 percent: $62,120 yearly ($29.86 hourly)

• Median: $38,450 yearly ($18.49 hourly)
• Top 10 percent: $65,140 yearly ($31.32 hourly)

• Median: $38,540 yearly ($18.53 hourly)
• Top 10 percent: $67,110 yearly ($32.26 hourly)

• Median: $36,190 yearly ($17.40 hourly)
• Top 10 percent: $53,620 yearly ($25.78 hourly)

• Median: $42,110 yearly ($20.25 hourly)
• Top 10 percent: $68,130 yearly ($32.75 hourly)

• Median: $43,960 yearly ($21.13 hourly)
• Top 10 percent: $72,270 yearly ($34.75 hourly)

• Median: $27,470 yearly ($13.21 hourly)
• Top 10 percent: $50,280 yearly ($24.17 hourly)

• Median: $37,490 yearly ($18.02 hourly)
• Top 10 percent: $59,440 yearly ($28.58 hourly)

• Median: $41,900 yearly ($20.14 hourly)
• Top 10 percent: $68,890 yearly ($33.12 hourly)

Auto mechanics find work in numerous settings as there are numerous opportunities in this field. Here is a look at the average salaries for auto mechanics in each of the most popular work settings. The average amounts have been calculated by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

• Average: $44,770 yearly ($21.52 hourly)

• Average: $38,710 yearly ($18.61 hourly)

• Average: $35,920 yearly ($17.27 hourly)

• Average: $50,640 yearly ($24.35 hourly)

• Average: $37,350 yearly ($17.96 hourly)

The highest population of auto mechanics are employed in automotive dealerships as that accounts for more than a quarter of all employment. The next highest concentration can be found in automotive repair and maintenance shops. Those two sectors are very close in terms of how many auto mechanics they employ. Next up is Auto Parts, Accessories and Tires Stores followed by Gas Stations and Local Government. Those averages also do not consider specialty certifications and master technician status.

Those salaries are national averages and they do not signify the highest earning potential for auto mechanics in each of those sectors. As auto mechanics gain more experience and accumulate more certifications, they can demand higher salaries. In the auto repair industry, labor costs are a key factor in the overall cost of repair. Many auto repair businesses place a premium on those labor costs and that bodes well for auto mechanic salaries.

Some auto mechanics earn their pay on a per-hour basis while others are on salary. Location and the type of auto repair setting both determine the exact payouts as they fluctuate according to each individual business.

There are average auto mechanic salaries reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics which apply to automotive technicians who are not limited to working on cars and small trucks. It takes additional training to understand the specifics of repairing larger vehicles and different kinds of engines. Here is a look at the average salary amounts for specialty mechanics.

This average salary for these specialties is $45,170 yearly ($21.72 hourly). However, that does not show what a diesel/bus and truck mechanic can earn over the course of a year. The lower starting salary for these mechanics exist in general freight trucking. But there are other work settings that provide higher annual salaries. Those who work in an urban transit system earn average salaries of $50,680 annually. Diesel engine specialists can earn in excess of $60,000 per year while some states may pay even higher rates than that amount.

Without taking into consideration specific certifications, the average salary for auto mechanics increase in metropolitan areas. Fairbanks, Alaska checks in with the highest annual salary for auto mechanics at $57,420. San Francisco is a close second, followed by San Jose as the state of California has some cities with high earning potential for auto mechanics. Ann Arbor, Michigan checks in next and is the top paying city in terms of average salaries for auto mechanics. Pittsfield, Massachusetts is also seeing its auto technician salaries rising as that is also in the upper echelon of high-paying cities.