Best cities for an auto technician
The best cities for auto technicians are Newark, NJ, Virginia Beach, VA, and Portland, OR, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for auto technicians vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for auto technicians in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as an auto technician or considering a move, this list of the best cities for auto technicians to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for auto technicians. We also consider how easy it is to find work as an auto technician. While the absolute best city for auto technicians is Newark, NJ, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for auto technicians in 2024.
If you're looking for an auto technician job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for auto technicians in 2026
1. Newark, NJ
Total auto technician jobs: 5 Average annual salary: $51,784 Lowest 10 percent warn: $33,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $79,000 Location quotient: 0.89 2. Virginia Beach, VA
Total auto technician jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $48,968 Lowest 10 percent warn: $33,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $72,000 Location quotient: 0.93 3. Portland, OR
Total auto technician jobs: 22 Average annual salary: $48,185 Lowest 10 percent warn: $34,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $68,000 Location quotient: 1.34 4. Columbus, OH
Total auto technician jobs: 20 Average annual salary: $37,459 Lowest 10 percent warn: $25,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $54,000 Location quotient: 0.93 5. Fresno, CA
Total auto technician jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $48,876 Lowest 10 percent warn: $33,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $72,000 Location quotient: 1.11 6. Cleveland, OH
Total auto technician jobs: 4 Average annual salary: $38,599 Lowest 10 percent warn: $26,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $57,000 Location quotient: 0.52 7. Mesa, AZ
Total auto technician jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $40,187 Lowest 10 percent warn: $27,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $59,000 Location quotient: 1.32 8. Milwaukee, WI
Total auto technician jobs: 6 Average annual salary: $38,175 Lowest 10 percent warn: $26,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $55,000 Location quotient: 0.63 9. Nashville, TN
Total auto technician jobs: 7 Average annual salary: $36,573 Lowest 10 percent warn: $25,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $52,000 Location quotient: 0.55 10. Detroit, MI
Total auto technician jobs: 4 Average annual salary: $44,037 Lowest 10 percent warn: $29,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $64,000 Location quotient: 0.39
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Best cities for auto technicians
- Newark, NJ
- Virginia Beach, VA
- Portland, OR
- Columbus, OH
- Fresno, CA
- Cleveland, OH
- Mesa, AZ
- Milwaukee, WI
- Nashville, TN
- Detroit, MI
- (5 auto technician jobs)
- (3 auto technician jobs)
- (22 auto technician jobs)
- (20 auto technician jobs)
- (3 auto technician jobs)
- (4 auto technician jobs)
- (3 auto technician jobs)
- (6 auto technician jobs)
- (7 auto technician jobs)
- (4 auto technician jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for an auto technician
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Newark, NJ | $51,784 | $33,000 | 281,764 | 5 |
| 2 | Virginia Beach, VA | $48,968 | $33,000 | 452,602 | 3 |
| 3 | Portland, OR | $48,185 | $34,000 | 639,863 | 22 |
| 4 | Columbus, OH | $37,459 | $25,000 | 860,090 | 20 |
| 5 | Fresno, CA | $48,876 | $33,000 | 522,053 | 3 |
| 6 | Cleveland, OH | $38,599 | $26,000 | 385,809 | 4 |
| 7 | Mesa, AZ | $40,187 | $27,000 | 484,587 | 3 |
| 8 | Milwaukee, WI | $38,175 | $26,000 | 595,047 | 6 |
| 9 | Nashville, TN | $36,573 | $25,000 | 660,388 | 7 |
| 10 | Detroit, MI | $44,037 | $29,000 | 672,795 | 4 |
| 11 | Memphis, TN | $36,242 | $25,000 | 652,717 | 6 |
| 12 | Pittsburgh, PA | $39,580 | $26,000 | 303,625 | 5 |
| 13 | Aurora, CO | $42,439 | $29,000 | 361,710 | 17 |
| 14 | Norfolk, VA | $48,889 | $33,000 | 245,115 | 1 |
| 15 | Sacramento, CA | $49,617 | $33,000 | 495,234 | 4 |
| 16 | Arlington, TX | $38,026 | $26,000 | 392,772 | 3 |
| 17 | Austin, TX | $38,198 | $25,000 | 947,890 | 24 |
| 18 | Cincinnati, OH | $36,515 | $25,000 | 298,800 | 5 |
| 19 | Seattle, WA | $53,491 | $38,000 | 704,352 | 10 |
| 20 | Corpus Christi, TX | $38,141 | $25,000 | 325,733 | 1 |
| 21 | Saint Paul, MN | $39,408 | $27,000 | 302,398 | 26 |
| 22 | Lincoln, NE | $38,505 | $27,000 | 280,364 | 2 |
| 23 | Jersey City, NJ | $51,815 | $33,000 | 264,152 | - |
| 24 | Phoenix, AZ | $40,262 | $27,000 | 1,615,017 | 10 |
| 25 | Reno, NV | $37,446 | $25,000 | 245,255 | 6 |
| 26 | Philadelphia, PA | $40,919 | $26,000 | 1,567,872 | - |
| 27 | North Las Vegas, NV | $36,107 | $24,000 | 238,702 | 3 |
| 28 | Minneapolis, MN | $39,399 | $27,000 | 413,651 | 23 |
| 29 | Toledo, OH | $38,268 | $26,000 | 278,508 | - |
| 30 | San Jose, CA | $49,820 | $33,000 | 1,025,350 | 4 |
| 31 | Los Angeles, CA | $47,268 | $31,000 | 3,976,322 | 20 |
| 32 | Colorado Springs, CO | $42,411 | $29,000 | 465,101 | 6 |
| 33 | Tucson, AZ | $39,870 | $26,000 | 530,706 | 2 |
| 34 | Indianapolis, IN | $36,048 | $24,000 | 855,164 | 15 |
| 35 | San Francisco, CA | $50,064 | $33,000 | 870,887 | 3 |
| 36 | Fort Worth, TX | $38,042 | $26,000 | 854,113 | 4 |
| 37 | San Antonio, TX | $38,185 | $25,000 | 1,492,510 | 6 |
| 38 | Oakland, CA | $49,988 | $33,000 | 420,005 | - |
| 39 | Fremont, CA | $49,885 | $33,000 | 233,136 | - |
| 40 | Omaha, NE | $38,773 | $27,000 | 446,970 | 1 |
| 41 | Chesapeake, VA | $48,670 | $32,000 | 237,940 | - |
| 42 | Stockton, CA | $49,643 | $33,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 43 | San Diego, CA | $46,220 | $31,000 | 1,406,630 | 36 |
| 44 | Oklahoma City, OK | $37,679 | $26,000 | 638,367 | 2 |
| 45 | Dallas, TX | $37,999 | $26,000 | 1,317,929 | 14 |
| 46 | Madison, WI | $38,017 | $26,000 | 252,551 | 1 |
| 47 | Glendale, AZ | $40,268 | $27,000 | 245,895 | - |
| 48 | Kansas City, MO | $36,508 | $25,000 | 481,420 | 8 |
| 49 | Scottsdale, AZ | $40,250 | $27,000 | 246,645 | - |
| 50 | Boston, MA | $43,686 | $28,000 | 673,184 | 8 |
Highest paying cities for auto technicians
| Rank | City | Avg. auto technician salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sterling, VA | $50,528 |
| 2 | Washington, DC | $48,603 |
| 3 | Portland, OR | $48,185 |
| 4 | Los Angeles, CA | $47,268 |
| 5 | Baltimore, MD | $44,998 |
| 6 | Worcester, MA | $43,890 |
| 7 | Grand Rapids, MI | $43,710 |
| 8 | Aurora, CO | $42,439 |
| 9 | Lancaster, PA | $40,484 |
| 10 | Chicago, IL | $40,382 |
| 11 | Mesa, AZ | $40,187 |
| 12 | Minneapolis, MN | $39,399 |
| 13 | Cleveland, OH | $38,599 |
| 14 | Austin, TX | $38,198 |
| 15 | New York, NY | $36,977 |
| 16 | Saint Peters, MO | $36,630 |
| 17 | Noblesville, IN | $36,252 |
| 18 | Coral Gables, FL | $36,216 |
| 19 | Alpharetta, GA | $34,915 |
| 20 | Charlotte, NC | $32,572 |
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Updated January 8, 2025