Pay, demand and where to work, from BLS data with the year on every table.
low → high: location quotient
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By AtiveSite · Published 07/11/2026 · Updated 07/11/2026 · Every figure is linked to its source below.
Automotive service technicians and mechanics (SOC 49-3023) employed 704,640 people in May 2025. The median pay is $50,620 a year ($24.34 an hour); the lowest-paid 10% earn under $34,660 and the highest-paid 10% more than $81,790. BLS projects its employment to change by +5.0% between 2025 and 2035 (about 66,200 openings a year including replacements). The typical way in: Postsecondary nondegree award.
Highest median pay: District of Columbia ($68,660), California ($64,980), Colorado ($61,280). Most jobs: Texas (69,750), California (65,420), Florida (49,930).
| Measure ⇅ | Annual ⇅ | Hourly equivalent ⇅ |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $34,660 | $16.66 |
| 25th percentile | $38,900 | $18.70 |
| Median | $50,620 | $24.34 |
| Mean | $56,420 | $27.12 |
| 75th percentile | $70,430 | $33.86 |
| 90th percentile (experienced) | $81,790 | $39.32 |
Estimate for a wage earner: 2026 federal brackets and standard deduction (IRS), Social Security 6.2% up to $184,500, Medicare 1.45% (+0.9% above $200,000 single / $250,000 married), and a state rate you set. It ignores credits, pre-tax deductions, local taxes and benefits. Sources: IRS: tax year 2026 inflation adjustments · SSA wage base per Federal Register notice 2025-19763.
Hourly equivalents divide by 2,080 hours. Pay above $239,200 is shown as "≥ $239,200" (BLS top code).
| Measure ⇅ | Value ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Jobs 2025 | 825,800 |
| Jobs 2035 (projected) | 866,700 |
| Change in jobs | 40,900 |
| Percent change | +5.0% |
| Openings a year (growth + replacements) | 66,200 |
| Self-employed share | 14.6% |
| Typical entry education | Postsecondary nondegree award |
| Work experience in a related occupation | None |
| Typical on-the-job training | Short-term on-the-job training |
Licences and certifications are set by states and employers; the education shown is the usual entry requirement, not a legal one.
| State ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ | Median pay ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Median vs US ⇅ | Yearly rent as % of median pay ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 9,040 | 0.94 | $45,640 | $31,030 | $79,230 | -10% | 28% |
| Alaska | 1,420 | 0.96 | $60,840 | $44,060 | $94,600 | +20% | 28% |
| Arizona | 16,400 | 1.12 | $49,570 | $34,660 | $79,330 | -2% | 40% |
| Arkansas | 7,310 | 1.24 | $44,160 | $30,320 | $75,600 | -13% | 27% |
| California | 65,420 | 0.79 | $64,980 | $38,180 | $95,280 | +28% | 39% |
| Colorado | 12,300 | 0.94 | $61,280 | $39,550 | $93,830 | +21% | 36% |
| Connecticut | 6,960 | 0.91 | $60,220 | $38,430 | $79,930 | +19% | 31% |
| Delaware | 1,910 | 0.87 | $58,410 | $36,700 | $82,280 | +15% | 31% |
| District of Columbia | 310 | 0.10 | $68,660 | $46,230 | $89,960 | +36% | 34% |
| Florida | 49,930 | 1.11 | $48,260 | $31,970 | $79,180 | -5% | 45% |
| Georgia | 22,070 | 1.00 | $49,060 | $33,580 | $84,360 | -3% | 37% |
| Hawaii | 2,710 | 0.95 | $52,160 | $36,360 | $79,090 | +3% | 45% |
| Idaho | 5,030 | 1.30 | $48,420 | $34,570 | $77,710 | -4% | 34% |
| Illinois | 29,510 | 1.07 | $49,170 | $34,190 | $91,200 | -3% | 32% |
| Indiana | 16,480 | 1.14 | $49,360 | $35,800 | $78,580 | -2% | 27% |
| Iowa | 7,610 | 1.08 | $50,510 | $36,100 | $77,400 | -0% | 23% |
| Kansas | 6,240 | 0.96 | $47,790 | $31,970 | $77,340 | -6% | 27% |
| Kentucky | 11,140 | 1.23 | $44,890 | $30,210 | $73,910 | -11% | 27% |
| Louisiana | 8,620 | 0.98 | $46,400 | $30,230 | $77,790 | -8% | 28% |
| Maine | 3,390 | 1.17 | $52,040 | $38,420 | $74,650 | +3% | 28% |
| Maryland | 14,230 | 1.14 | $57,520 | $35,940 | $84,420 | +14% | 36% |
| Massachusetts | 12,710 | 0.77 | $60,760 | $38,370 | $95,090 | +20% | 36% |
| Michigan | 22,280 | 1.12 | $54,120 | $36,110 | $79,060 | +7% | 26% |
| Minnesota | 11,980 | 0.90 | $58,390 | $38,310 | $83,180 | +15% | 27% |
| Mississippi | 7,410 | 1.41 | $37,820 | $28,650 | $74,000 | -25% | 31% |
| Missouri | 17,210 | 1.29 | $49,160 | $34,950 | $76,870 | -3% | 26% |
| Montana | 2,900 | 1.25 | $58,740 | $38,170 | $78,460 | +16% | 24% |
| Nebraska | 4,560 | 0.98 | $50,560 | $36,770 | $79,990 | -0% | 26% |
| Nevada | 7,420 | 1.06 | $48,290 | $33,500 | $81,180 | -5% | 42% |
| New Hampshire | 4,840 | 1.56 | $59,020 | $38,310 | $82,250 | +17% | 32% |
| New Jersey | 17,640 | 0.91 | $56,610 | $33,500 | $91,210 | +12% | 38% |
| New Mexico | 5,080 | 1.29 | $47,300 | $30,390 | $77,850 | -7% | 28% |
| New York | 32,020 | 0.73 | $54,120 | $35,470 | $91,490 | +7% | 36% |
| North Carolina | 26,510 | 1.18 | $48,200 | $31,500 | $79,610 | -5% | 33% |
| North Dakota | 2,140 | 1.10 | $57,360 | $37,610 | $83,860 | +13% | 21% |
| Ohio | 22,640 | 0.90 | $48,710 | $34,110 | $79,690 | -4% | 27% |
| Oklahoma | 8,870 | 1.15 | $46,560 | $29,410 | $81,480 | -8% | 27% |
| Oregon | 6,990 | 0.78 | $58,520 | $39,590 | $92,090 | +16% | 33% |
| Pennsylvania | 29,400 | 1.07 | $49,800 | $35,600 | $77,630 | -2% | 30% |
| Rhode Island | 2,530 | 1.11 | $51,770 | $31,860 | $80,780 | +2% | 33% |
| South Carolina | 13,420 | 1.29 | $48,100 | $31,200 | $78,030 | -5% | 32% |
| South Dakota | 2,010 | 0.97 | $51,160 | $38,670 | $80,500 | +1% | 23% |
| Tennessee | 16,210 | 1.09 | $50,290 | $34,820 | $79,930 | -1% | 31% |
| Texas | 69,750 | 1.09 | $48,310 | $29,360 | $81,720 | -5% | 37% |
| Utah | 9,350 | 1.19 | $46,570 | $30,460 | $77,320 | -8% | 41% |
| Vermont | 1,610 | 1.17 | $51,630 | $40,500 | $78,690 | +2% | 31% |
| Virginia | 17,880 | 0.96 | $59,330 | $36,540 | $92,570 | +17% | 33% |
| Washington | 12,930 | 0.80 | $57,270 | $39,470 | $95,620 | +13% | 38% |
| West Virginia | 4,490 | 1.41 | $37,660 | $28,270 | $65,520 | -26% | 28% |
| Wisconsin | 12,270 | 0.92 | $54,350 | $36,590 | $78,140 | +7% | 25% |
| Wyoming | 1,560 | 1.22 | $51,330 | $34,200 | $79,470 | +1% | 23% |
Location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in the state than in the nation. "n/a" means BLS suppressed the figure. Rent uses the state median gross rent (ACS).
The 60 highest-paying metropolitan areas among those with at least 300 jobs in this occupation.
| Metropolitan area ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Median pay ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | 3,040 | $77,840 | $47,090 | $101,760 | 0.59 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 7,270 | $76,030 | $45,210 | $108,070 | 0.68 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | 1,000 | $75,080 | $45,540 | $98,940 | 1.07 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | 4,870 | $72,020 | $41,040 | $96,030 | 0.99 |
| Vallejo, CA | 760 | $69,710 | $44,490 | $98,530 | 1.16 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | 1,450 | $65,160 | $38,020 | $97,200 | 0.99 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | 4,910 | $64,320 | $38,830 | $86,660 | 0.70 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | 7,680 | $64,210 | $36,380 | $93,860 | 0.99 |
| Boulder, CO | 670 | $63,950 | $44,150 | $98,510 | 0.77 |
| Chico, CA | 320 | $63,070 | $37,550 | $93,070 | 0.90 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 9,360 | $63,060 | $39,490 | $99,190 | 0.76 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | 1,310 | $62,840 | $35,930 | $81,510 | 1.00 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 22,330 | $62,820 | $36,520 | $90,890 | 0.79 |
| Modesto, CA | 1,030 | $62,770 | $38,370 | $95,680 | 1.16 |
| Salinas, CA | 620 | $62,770 | $39,740 | $96,740 | 0.73 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | 3,170 | $62,530 | $36,940 | $89,240 | 0.85 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | 1,250 | $62,450 | $38,760 | $92,810 | 0.81 |
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | 1,460 | $62,440 | $42,640 | $85,260 | 0.80 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | 6,340 | $61,960 | $41,010 | $94,990 | 0.87 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 12,030 | $61,860 | $38,110 | $97,460 | 0.85 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | 520 | $61,620 | $37,600 | $78,010 | 0.95 |
| Fort Collins-Loveland, CO | 790 | $61,610 | $39,440 | $95,920 | 1.04 |
| Richmond, VA | 2,930 | $61,510 | $36,550 | $81,850 | 0.98 |
| Bozeman, MT | 330 | $61,320 | $45,430 | $81,920 | 1.01 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | 700 | $61,110 | $36,760 | $90,190 | 0.77 |
| Greeley, CO | 600 | $60,920 | $39,010 | $93,970 | 1.10 |
| Colorado Springs, CO | 1,600 | $60,710 | $38,060 | $89,840 | 1.12 |
| Barnstable Town, MA | 430 | $60,650 | $39,520 | $86,710 | 1.01 |
| Madison, WI | 1,270 | $60,650 | $37,440 | $81,490 | 0.69 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 7,180 | $60,490 | $39,310 | $92,480 | 0.81 |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | 1,870 | $60,470 | $36,900 | $78,570 | 1.02 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | 4,180 | $60,450 | $40,040 | $93,310 | 0.76 |
| Billings, MT | 650 | $60,150 | $40,670 | $77,960 | 1.53 |
| Anchorage, AK | 850 | $59,880 | $39,580 | $89,790 | 1.06 |
| New Haven, CT | 1,320 | $59,760 | $38,020 | $80,010 | 1.03 |
| Manchester-Nashua, NH | 1,540 | $59,720 | $37,980 | $82,300 | 1.70 |
| Missoula, MT | 350 | $59,650 | $40,880 | $77,560 | 1.16 |
| Fargo, ND-MN | 600 | $59,510 | $37,570 | $81,170 | 0.90 |
| Merced, CA | 330 | $59,390 | $36,670 | $77,530 | 0.92 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 6,860 | $59,290 | $43,750 | $99,190 | 0.73 |
| Sioux Falls, SD-MN | 720 | $59,190 | $40,250 | $80,500 | 0.89 |
| Charlottesville, VA | 430 | $59,130 | $36,980 | $83,610 | 0.83 |
| Portland-South Portland, ME | 1,360 | $59,090 | $42,190 | $78,090 | 1.04 |
| Waterbury-Shelton, CT | 950 | $59,040 | $38,050 | $77,930 | 1.31 |
| Rapid City, SD | 360 | $58,980 | $38,740 | $78,670 | 1.08 |
| Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT | 630 | $58,950 | $37,960 | $77,480 | 1.10 |
| Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | 2,160 | $58,910 | $38,510 | $78,020 | 0.80 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | 450 | $58,860 | $36,580 | $84,760 | 1.01 |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | 5,150 | $58,700 | $36,540 | $81,680 | 1.03 |
| Rochester, NY | 2,310 | $58,530 | $36,840 | $78,400 | 1.03 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 12,700 | $58,460 | $36,130 | $81,670 | 0.97 |
| Ann Arbor, MI | 540 | $58,420 | $36,960 | $82,830 | 0.54 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | 3,560 | $58,290 | $36,460 | $80,110 | 1.03 |
| Grand Junction, CO | 400 | $58,200 | $36,430 | $78,980 | 1.33 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | 7,590 | $58,190 | $36,280 | $78,140 | 1.25 |
| Appleton, WI | 640 | $58,060 | $37,030 | $76,070 | 1.14 |
| Salem, OR | 590 | $57,960 | $38,660 | $89,210 | 0.69 |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | 1,830 | $57,810 | $36,600 | $81,970 | 1.07 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 28,420 | $57,760 | $34,740 | $94,320 | 0.66 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | 6,340 | $57,630 | $35,290 | $80,800 | 1.03 |
The median is $50,620 a year ($24.34 an hour); the lowest-paid tenth earn under $34,660 and the highest-paid tenth over $81,790 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
704,640 in May 2025, and BLS projects +5.0% growth to 2035.
The typical entry education is: Postsecondary nondegree award (BLS).
District of Columbia, with a median of $68,660 (among states with published figures).