How Much Does a Auto Mechanic Make? (2024)
Automotive · SOC Code 49-3023 · 2-year apprenticeship
The average auto mechanic earns $53,986 per year ($26/hour) as of 2024, according to BLS data. Yearly income ranges from $46,570 to $74,590 depending on city, with entry-level workers earning about $44,900 and top earners making $105,320+.
Yes — top-decile auto mechanics clear $100K in 1 of 30 metros
The 90th-percentile auto mechanic in San Francisco, CA earns $105,320 per year ($51/hour). Reaching that tier typically takes journeyman-to-master progression plus union membership, specialization, or running a small contracting business. Median auto mechanic pay nationally is $53,986 — the $100K mark is the high-earner ceiling, not the middle.
National Salary Range
Auto Mechanic salaries range from $46,570 to $74,590 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 | $74,590 | $44,900 – $105,320 | $39,258 | D | 7,620 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $62,820 | $37,060 – $88,580 | $37,843 | D | 19,620 |
| Minneapolis, MN | $61,780 | $38,510 – $84,390 | $58,283 | D | 8,070 |
| Milwaukee, WI | $60,730 | $36,990 – $80,210 | $63,260 | C | 3,000 |
| Seattle, WA | $60,450 | $39,700 – $93,470 | $40,570 | D | 7,230 |
| Denver, CO | $60,240 | $42,060 – $94,640 | $47,063 | D | 6,060 |
| Boston, MA | $59,390 | $38,410 – $84,190 | $39,072 | D | 9,220 |
| Portland, OR | $59,390 | $38,610 – $81,140 | $45,685 | D | 4,060 |
| New York, NY | $59,110 | $35,340 – $94,630 | $31,610 | F | 27,540 |
| Chicago, IL | $58,340 | $34,960 – $91,670 | $54,523 | D | 18,180 |
| Philadelphia, PA | $57,830 | $36,500 – $78,410 | $50,287 | D | 12,450 |
| Dallas, TX | $53,290 | $34,580 – $83,470 | $52,245 | D | 17,020 |
| Raleigh, NC | $52,430 | $34,350 – $79,870 | $52,430 | D | 3,570 |
| Atlanta, GA | $51,980 | $31,500 – $88,360 | $49,038 | D | 13,820 |
| Charlotte, NC | $51,070 | $32,860 – $81,480 | $52,112 | D | 7,490 |
| Houston, TX | $50,740 | $33,700 – $92,610 | $52,854 | D | 14,520 |
| Columbus, OH | $50,710 | $33,010 – $86,010 | $54,527 | D | 4,020 |
| Detroit, MI | $50,700 | $31,770 – $84,080 | $56,966 | D | 8,710 |
| Phoenix, AZ | $50,460 | $36,540 – $96,400 | $48,990 | D | 12,300 |
| Kansas City, MO | $50,320 | $36,070 – $79,620 | $53,532 | D | 5,440 |
| Miami, FL | $49,360 | $31,650 – $83,080 | $40,459 | D | 12,130 |
| New Orleans, LA | $49,140 | $29,550 – $80,820 | $51,726 | D | 1,470 |
| Indianapolis, IN | $48,840 | $35,200 – $75,920 | $53,670 | D | 5,290 |
| Tampa, FL | $48,580 | $33,380 – $78,350 | $48,099 | D | 6,810 |
| Salt Lake City, UT | $48,420 | $34,910 – $77,240 | $46,558 | D | 3,610 |
| San Antonio, TX | $48,320 | $30,850 – $81,010 | $53,689 | D | 5,910 |
| Nashville, TN | $48,310 | $35,670 – $81,610 | $46,903 | D | 5,250 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $48,120 | $34,590 – $75,040 | $52,304 | D | 6,410 |
| St. Louis, MO | $47,560 | $36,000 – $77,000 | $52,844 | D | 7,640 |
| Las Vegas, NV | $46,570 | $31,560 – $81,000 | $44,779 | D | 5,090 |
About Auto Mechanic Pay
Auto Mechanics earn a national median salary of $53,986 based on 2024 BLS occupational wage data. The highest-paying city for this trade is San Francisco at $74,590 median, while Las Vegas offers the lowest at $46,570.
Becoming a auto mechanic typically requires a 2-year apprenticeship program. Entry-level workers (10th percentile) can expect around $44,900, while master-level tradespeople (90th percentile) earn $105,320 or more. With 2% 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.
Thinking about becoming a auto mechanic?
Step-by-step path: 2-year apprenticeship, certifications, state licensing, and apprentice-to-master pay timeline.
Related Automotive Trades
Frequently Asked Questions
The highest-paying auto mechanic jobs are in San Francisco, CA, where the 90th percentile reaches $105,320 and the median is $74,590. The pay-driving specialties tend to be obd-ii diagnostics and similar high-skill roles — workers who layer certifications and union membership on top of journeyman experience typically reach the 90th percentile within 10-15 years of entering the trade.
Yes — top-decile auto mechanics clear $100K in 1 of the 30 metros tracked. The 90th-percentile auto mechanic in San Francisco earns $105,320, well above six figures. Reaching that tier typically takes journeyman-to-master progression, plus union membership, specialization (industrial, commercial, or licensed-master tier), or running a small contracting business.
Auto Mechanics earn a national median of $53,986 per 2024 BLS OEWS data, with the 90th percentile reaching $105,320 in San Francisco. Specific pay depends on city, certifications, union status, and specialization — see the per-city table above for any metro you're targeting.
Auto Mechanics earn a national median of $53,986 per 2024 BLS OEWS data, with the 90th percentile reaching $105,320 in San Francisco. Specific pay depends on city, certifications, union status, and specialization — see the per-city table above for any metro you're targeting.
The average auto mechanic salary is $53,986 per year ($26/hour) based on 2024 BLS OEWS data. Average yearly income ranges from $46,570 to $74,590 depending on city, experience, and union status.
Auto Mechanics earn an average hourly wage of $26/hour based on a 2,080-hour work year. Entry-level (10th percentile) hourly pay is about $22/hour, while top earners (90th percentile) make $51/hour or more.
San Francisco offers the highest median pay for auto mechanics at $74,590. 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 2% wage growth over 5 years, auto mechanic offers steady career prospects. There are approximately 269,550 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 $44,900 (10th percentile).
Wage data from BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) 2024. Trade Pay Scores are a composite of median wage vs. metro income, wage growth, job demand, and COL-adjusted pay.
For this entity, the underlying data on this page comes from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey. The breakdown above is the federal record; the paragraphs below add the per-entity context that makes the headline numbers usable for a real decision rather than just a data lookup.
Every number on this page links back to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey; the methodology page describes the inputs, refresh cadence, and known limitations of the underlying data product.
Practical use of this page is in combination with the comparison and ranking pages elsewhere on the site, which surface the same data for this entity’s peers within U.S. trades, cities, and states. A single-entity reading without peer context can be misleading when an entity is an outlier on one axis but typical on another.