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Best states for an auto mechanic
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
Do you wonder which states in the U.S. are the best for auto mechanics? If so, we have the full list of best to worst states for auto mechanic jobs for you to check out and see if you think it's time to move and start anew. Not all states fare the same when it come to job opportunity and pay.Our research found that Idaho is the best state for auto mechanics, while Washington and Massachusetts are ranked highest in terms of median salary. Idaho has a median salary of $46,057 and Washington has the highest median salary among all 50 states for auto mechanics.
To do that, we looked at the most recent data we have available for the following criteria -- average annual wages, and availability of jobs for auto mechanics.We found that the South is best for auto mechanics, and the West is the worst. Boston, MA is the best city in the country for auto mechanic jobs, where as Idaho is the best state in the country.
10 best states for auto mechanics in 2025
1. Idaho
Total auto mechanic jobs: 266 Average annual salary: $46,057 Lowest 10 percent earn: $32,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $66,000 Location Quotient: 1.422. Wyoming
Total auto mechanic jobs: 87 Average annual salary: $46,004 Lowest 10 percent earn: $33,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $63,000 Location Quotient: 1.283. Iowa
Total auto mechanic jobs: 662 Average annual salary: $43,925 Lowest 10 percent earn: $31,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $61,000 Location Quotient: 1.64. Washington
Total auto mechanic jobs: 916 Average annual salary: $49,613 Lowest 10 percent earn: $34,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $72,000 Location Quotient: 1.15. Kentucky
Total auto mechanic jobs: 509 Average annual salary: $44,320 Lowest 10 percent earn: $31,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $62,000 Location Quotient: 1.216. Alaska
Total auto mechanic jobs: 116 Average annual salary: $45,409 Lowest 10 percent earn: $34,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $60,000 Location Quotient: 1.227. North Dakota
Total auto mechanic jobs: 125 Average annual salary: $42,085 Lowest 10 percent earn: $30,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $58,000 Location Quotient: 1.188. Missouri
Total auto mechanic jobs: 553 Average annual salary: $46,520 Lowest 10 percent earn: $33,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $64,000 Location Quotient: 0.839. Wisconsin
Total auto mechanic jobs: 678 Average annual salary: $43,067 Lowest 10 percent earn: $30,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $61,000 Location Quotient: 1.0810. Arizona
Total auto mechanic jobs: 714 Average annual salary: $44,059 Lowest 10 percent earn: $31,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $62,000 Location Quotient: 1.07
Auto mechanic jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be an auto mechanic
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for an auto mechanic
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Idaho | $46,057 | $32,000 | 1,716,943 | 266 |
| 2 | Wyoming | $46,004 | $33,000 | 579,315 | 87 |
| 3 | Iowa | $43,925 | $31,000 | 3,145,711 | 662 |
| 4 | Washington | $49,613 | $34,000 | 7,405,743 | 916 |
| 5 | Kentucky | $44,320 | $31,000 | 4,454,189 | 509 |
| 6 | Alaska | $45,409 | $34,000 | 739,795 | 116 |
| 7 | North Dakota | $42,085 | $30,000 | 755,393 | 125 |
| 8 | Missouri | $46,520 | $33,000 | 6,113,532 | 553 |
| 9 | Wisconsin | $43,067 | $30,000 | 5,795,483 | 678 |
| 10 | Arizona | $44,059 | $31,000 | 7,016,270 | 714 |
| 11 | West Virginia | $47,030 | $31,000 | 1,815,857 | 126 |
| 12 | Colorado | $45,869 | $33,000 | 5,607,154 | 701 |
| 13 | Minnesota | $45,386 | $32,000 | 5,576,606 | 636 |
| 14 | New Jersey | $46,807 | $29,000 | 9,005,644 | 894 |
| 15 | Massachusetts | $48,203 | $30,000 | 6,859,819 | 678 |
| 16 | Maryland | $47,808 | $30,000 | 6,052,177 | 675 |
| 17 | Vermont | $42,356 | $27,000 | 623,657 | 92 |
| 18 | Maine | $42,631 | $27,000 | 1,335,907 | 147 |
| 19 | Tennessee | $39,849 | $28,000 | 6,715,984 | 751 |
| 20 | Texas | $41,805 | $29,000 | 28,304,596 | 2,325 |
| 21 | Michigan | $42,187 | $28,000 | 9,962,311 | 711 |
| 22 | Oregon | $40,127 | $27,000 | 4,142,776 | 560 |
| 23 | Virginia | $44,990 | $29,000 | 8,470,020 | 851 |
| 24 | California | $46,216 | $31,000 | 39,536,653 | 2,311 |
| 25 | Utah | $39,942 | $28,000 | 3,101,833 | 391 |
| 26 | Montana | $37,368 | $26,000 | 1,050,493 | 198 |
| 27 | Arkansas | $37,633 | $27,000 | 3,004,279 | 338 |
| 28 | Pennsylvania | $38,376 | $24,000 | 12,805,537 | 1,479 |
| 29 | Indiana | $36,964 | $25,000 | 6,666,818 | 863 |
| 30 | Kansas | $40,487 | $29,000 | 2,913,123 | 263 |
| 31 | New Mexico | $39,725 | $28,000 | 2,088,070 | 195 |
| 32 | Mississippi | $34,931 | $25,000 | 2,984,100 | 300 |
| 33 | New York | $40,284 | $25,000 | 19,849,399 | 1,403 |
| 34 | Nevada | $36,078 | $25,000 | 2,998,039 | 266 |
| 35 | Ohio | $34,815 | $23,000 | 11,658,609 | 1,303 |
| 36 | Nebraska | $36,440 | $26,000 | 1,920,076 | 258 |
| 37 | Georgia | $34,718 | $25,000 | 10,429,379 | 1,374 |
| 38 | Rhode Island | $37,117 | $23,000 | 1,059,639 | 127 |
| 39 | Alabama | $32,733 | $23,000 | 4,874,747 | 656 |
| 40 | Oklahoma | $34,914 | $25,000 | 3,930,864 | 367 |
| 41 | Delaware | $36,608 | $23,000 | 961,939 | 147 |
| 42 | South Dakota | $35,810 | $25,000 | 869,666 | 104 |
| 43 | Florida | $32,494 | $22,000 | 20,984,400 | 2,386 |
| 44 | Connecticut | $36,212 | $22,000 | 3,588,184 | 394 |
| 45 | Louisiana | $31,095 | $22,000 | 4,684,333 | 480 |
| 46 | North Carolina | $34,714 | $24,000 | 10,273,419 | 1,116 |
| 47 | Illinois | $36,761 | $25,000 | 12,802,023 | 1,108 |
| 48 | South Carolina | $30,461 | $21,000 | 5,024,369 | 604 |
| 49 | New Hampshire | $34,636 | $21,000 | 1,342,795 | 182 |
| 50 | District of Columbia | $35,430 | $23,000 | 693,972 | 60 |
| 51 | Hawaii | $32,902 | $23,000 | 1,427,538 | 87 |
Highest paying states for auto mechanics
| Rank | State | Avg. Auto Mechanic Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Idaho | $46,057 |
| 2 | Wyoming | $46,004 |
| 3 | Iowa | $43,925 |
| 4 | Washington | $49,613 |
| 5 | Kentucky | $44,320 |
| 6 | Alaska | $45,409 |
| 7 | North Dakota | $42,085 |
| 8 | Missouri | $46,520 |
| 9 | Wisconsin | $43,067 |
| 10 | Arizona | $44,059 |
| 11 | West Virginia | $47,030 |
| 12 | Colorado | $45,869 |
| 13 | Minnesota | $45,386 |
| 14 | New Jersey | $46,807 |
| 15 | Massachusetts | $48,203 |
| 16 | Maryland | $47,808 |
| 17 | Vermont | $42,356 |
| 18 | Maine | $42,631 |
| 19 | Tennessee | $39,849 |
| 20 | Texas | $41,805 |
| 21 | Michigan | $42,187 |
| 22 | Oregon | $40,127 |
| 23 | Virginia | $44,990 |
| 24 | California | $46,216 |
| 25 | Utah | $39,942 |
| 26 | Montana | $37,368 |
| 27 | Arkansas | $37,633 |
| 28 | Pennsylvania | $38,376 |
| 29 | Indiana | $36,964 |
| 30 | Kansas | $40,487 |
| 31 | New Mexico | $39,725 |
| 32 | Mississippi | $34,931 |
| 33 | New York | $40,284 |
| 34 | Nevada | $36,078 |
| 35 | Ohio | $34,815 |
| 36 | Nebraska | $36,440 |
| 37 | Georgia | $34,718 |
| 38 | Rhode Island | $37,117 |
| 39 | Alabama | $32,733 |
| 40 | Oklahoma | $34,914 |
| 41 | Delaware | $36,608 |
| 42 | South Dakota | $35,810 |
| 43 | Florida | $32,494 |
| 44 | Connecticut | $36,212 |
| 45 | Louisiana | $31,095 |
| 46 | North Carolina | $34,714 |
| 47 | Illinois | $36,761 |
| 48 | South Carolina | $30,461 |
| 49 | New Hampshire | $34,636 |
| 50 | District of Columbia | $35,430 |
| 51 | Hawaii | $32,902 |
Auto mechanic best states FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025