Auto Mechanic Salary (2025)
Automotive · SOC Code 49-3023 · 2-year apprenticeship
National Salary Range
Auto Mechanic salaries range from $39,884 to $64,892 median across cities, depending on location, union membership, and experience level.
Auto Mechanic Salary by City
| City | Median | Range (10th-90th) | COL-Adjusted | Grade | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco, CA | $64,892 | $38,259 – $93,137 | $34,154 | F | 6,264 |
| New York, NY | $63,879 | $40,587 – $97,553 | $34,160 | F | 6,473 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $59,462 | $37,707 – $88,171 | $35,820 | F | 4,516 |
| Boston, MA | $57,104 | $35,279 – $87,577 | $37,568 | D | 4,978 |
| Portland, OR | $56,562 | $35,522 – $80,951 | $43,509 | D | 3,887 |
| Chicago, IL | $55,878 | $35,219 – $78,642 | $52,222 | D | 3,670 |
| Minneapolis, MN | $55,550 | $33,166 – $79,477 | $52,406 | D | 3,790 |
| Seattle, WA | $54,000 | $34,300 – $79,638 | $36,242 | F | 3,701 |
| Denver, CO | $53,044 | $31,893 – $79,626 | $41,441 | D | 3,896 |
| Philadelphia, PA | $52,041 | $31,628 – $79,387 | $45,253 | D | 3,448 |
| Houston, TX | $51,975 | $33,251 – $78,807 | $54,141 | D | 2,658 |
| Las Vegas, NV | $51,678 | $33,103 – $79,220 | $49,690 | D | 3,897 |
| Dallas, TX | $51,153 | $32,282 – $77,683 | $50,150 | D | 3,474 |
| Detroit, MI | $50,828 | $32,655 – $78,218 | $57,110 | D | 1,921 |
| St. Louis, MO | $49,864 | $29,887 – $76,247 | $55,404 | D | 1,723 |
| Nashville, TN | $49,108 | $29,513 – $72,801 | $47,678 | D | 2,324 |
| Kansas City, MO | $48,821 | $30,612 – $70,298 | $51,937 | D | 3,094 |
| Phoenix, AZ | $48,284 | $29,993 – $72,739 | $46,878 | D | 2,620 |
| Salt Lake City, UT | $48,208 | $29,939 – $74,789 | $46,354 | D | 3,513 |
| Atlanta, GA | $47,547 | $30,249 – $67,764 | $44,856 | D | 2,821 |
| Charlotte, NC | $47,394 | $28,002 – $72,690 | $48,361 | D | 1,958 |
| Miami, FL | $47,374 | $29,791 – $68,729 | $38,831 | D | 3,964 |
| Indianapolis, IN | $47,085 | $30,253 – $70,476 | $51,742 | D | 2,424 |
| Milwaukee, WI | $46,362 | $29,870 – $65,486 | $48,294 | D | 2,010 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $46,307 | $29,853 – $69,420 | $50,334 | D | 2,878 |
| Raleigh, NC | $45,595 | $26,979 – $68,581 | $45,595 | D | 2,497 |
| Columbus, OH | $43,074 | $27,661 – $66,246 | $46,316 | D | 2,563 |
| New Orleans, LA | $41,285 | $24,903 – $61,512 | $43,458 | D | 1,959 |
| Tampa, FL | $41,276 | $26,377 – $58,215 | $40,867 | D | 2,567 |
| San Antonio, TX | $39,884 | $23,913 – $57,218 | $44,316 | D | 2,964 |
About Auto Mechanic Pay
Auto Mechanics earn a national median salary of $50,517 based on 2025 BLS occupational wage data. The highest-paying city for this trade is San Francisco at $64,892 median, while San Antonio offers the lowest at $39,884.
Becoming a auto mechanic typically requires a 2-year apprenticeship program. Entry-level workers (10th percentile) can expect around $38,259, while master-level tradespeople (90th percentile) earn $93,137 or more. With 4% wage growth over the past 5 years, this trade is growing at a steady pace.
See how this compares to other trades on our highest paying trades ranking, or browse the best cities for trade workers.
Related Automotive Trades
Frequently Asked Questions
The national median salary for auto mechanics is $50,517 based on 2025 BLS data. Pay ranges from $39,884 to $64,892 depending on city, experience, and union status.
San Francisco offers the highest median pay for auto mechanics at $64,892. However, cost of living matters — the COL-adjusted pay may tell a different story. Check our city-by-city breakdown above.
With a Trade Pay Score of D and 4% wage growth over 5 years, auto mechanic offers steady career prospects. There are approximately 98,452 jobs nationwide across 30 metro areas.
Becoming a auto mechanic typically requires a 2-year apprenticeship program combining on-the-job training with classroom instruction. Entry-level pay starts around $38,259 (10th percentile).
Wage data from BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) 2025. Trade Pay Scores are a composite of median wage vs. metro income, wage growth, job demand, and COL-adjusted pay.