Mechanic demographics and statistics in the US
Mechanic demographics research summary. Zippia estimates mechanic demographics and statistics in the United States by using a database of 30 million profiles. Our mechanic estimates are verified against BLS, Census, and current job openings data for accuracy. Zippia's data science team found the following key facts about mechanics after extensive research and analysis:
- There are over 415,823 mechanics currently employed in the United States.
- 4.3% of all mechanics are women, while 95.7% are men.
- The average mechanic age is 42 years old.
- The most common ethnicity of mechanics is White (65.9%), followed by Hispanic or Latino (17.1%), Black or African American (8.5%) and Unknown (5.0%).
- Mechanics are most in-demand in Phoenix, AZ.
- The manufacturing industry is the highest-paying for mechanics.
- San Jose, CA pays an annual average wage of $61,068, the highest in the US.
- In 2022, women mechanics earned 96% of what men earned.
- 2% of all mechanics are LGBT.
- Vermont is the best state for mechanics to live.
- Mechanics are 64% more likely to work at private companies in comparison to public companies.
On this page
Mechanic demographics by:
Mechanic gender statistics
4.3% of mechanics are women and 95.7% of mechanics are men.
- Male, 95.7%
- Female, 4.3%
Mechanic gender ratio
| Gender | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Male | 95.7% |
| Female | 4.3% |
Mechanic gender pay gap
Women earn 96¢ for every $1 earned by men
Male income
$48,158
Female income
$46,076
Mechanic gender ratio over time
This data breaks down the percentage of men and women in mechanic positions over time. Currently, 4.3% of mechanics are female.
Mechanic gender ratio by year
| Year | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 94.56% | 5.44% |
| 2011 | 96.86% | 3.14% |
| 2012 | 96.98% | 3.02% |
| 2013 | 97.57% | 2.43% |
| 2014 | 96.71% | 3.29% |
| 2015 | 97.31% | 2.69% |
| 2016 | 96.31% | 3.69% |
| 2017 | 94.33% | 5.67% |
| 2018 | 94.31% | 5.69% |
| 2019 | 95.51% | 4.49% |
| 2020 | 95.24% | 4.76% |
| 2021 | 95.68% | 4.32% |
Mechanic related jobs gender ratio
We compared mechanics with similar job titles to see how gender ratios vary. As you can see, car repairman and farm equipment mechanic have the biggest gender ratio gaps.
| Job title | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| Phlebotomy Services Technician | 12% | 88% |
| Human Service Technician | 28% | 72% |
| Mechanic | 96% | 4% |
| Crane Mechanic | 99% | 1% |
| Farm Equipment Mechanic | 99% | 1% |
| Car Repairman | 99% | 1% |
Male
Female
100%
75%
50%
25%
0%
0%
25%
50%
75%
100%
Mechanic demographics by race
The most common ethnicity among mechanics is White, which makes up 65.9% of all mechanics. Comparatively, 17.1% of mechanics are Hispanic or Latino and 8.5% of mechanics are Black or African American.
- White, 65.9%
- Hispanic or Latino, 17.1%
- Black or African American, 8.5%
- Unknown, 5.0%
- Asian, 2.4%
- American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1%
Mechanic race
| Mechanic race | Percentages |
|---|---|
| White | 65.9% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 17.1% |
| Black or African American | 8.5% |
| Unknown | 5.0% |
| Asian | 2.4% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 1.1% |
Mechanic race and ethnicity over time
See how mechanic racial and ethnic diversity trended since 2010 according to the United States Census Bureau data.
Mechanic race and ethnicity by year
| Year | White | Black or African American | Asian | Hispanic or Latino |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 72.58% | 9.39% | 1.77% | 13.73% |
| 2011 | 72.47% | 9.82% | 1.87% | 13.77% |
| 2012 | 70.83% | 9.50% | 1.94% | 15.45% |
| 2013 | 69.75% | 9.84% | 1.96% | 16.13% |
| 2014 | 71.11% | 9.43% | 2.23% | 15.26% |
| 2015 | 70.60% | 8.87% | 1.90% | 16.09% |
| 2016 | 69.87% | 9.75% | 2.08% | 15.98% |
| 2017 | 69.37% | 8.14% | 1.81% | 17.58% |
| 2018 | 69.97% | 8.35% | 2.37% | 16.96% |
| 2019 | 71.52% | 7.92% | 1.84% | 15.91% |
| 2020 | 67.90% | 8.00% | 2.44% | 16.24% |
| 2021 | 65.91% | 8.46% | 2.42% | 17.14% |
Mechanic wage gap by race
According to our data, asian mechanics have the highest average salary compared to other ethnicities. Unknown mechanics have the lowest average salary at $47,228.
| Ethnicity | Salary |
|---|---|
| Unknown | $47,228 |
| White | $48,459 |
| Black or African American | $47,487 |
| Asian | $50,307 |
| Hispanic or Latino | $47,378 |
Average mechanic age
See how the average age of mechanics varies based on ethnicity and gender.
Male
Female
Mechanic age by race and gender
| Race | Male age | Female age |
|---|---|---|
| Black or African American | 47 | |
| Unknown | 38 | |
| Asian | 44.5 | |
| Hispanic or Latino | 44 | |
| White | 42 | 32 |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 41.5 |
Mechanic age breakdown
The average age of mechanics is 40+ years years old, representing 55% of the mechanic population.
Mechanic age breakdown
| Mechanic Years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| 40+ years | 55% |
| 30-40 years | 25% |
| 20-30 years | 20% |
Mechanic educational attainment
The most common degree for mechanics is high school diploma, with 42% of mechanics earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are associate degree degree at 24% and associate degree degree at 14%.
- High School Diploma, 42%
- Associate, 24%
- Diploma, 14%
- Bachelor's, 12%
- Other Degrees, 8%
Mechanics by degree level
| Mechanic degree | Percentages |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma | 42% |
| Associate | 24% |
| Diploma | 14% |
| Bachelor's | 12% |
| Other Degrees | 8% |
Mechanic jobs you might like
Mechanic wage gap by degree level
According to the data, mechanics with a Bachelor's degree earn more than those without, at $49,790 annually. With a Associate degree, mechanics earn a median annual income of $49,649 compared to $47,146 for mechanics with an High School Diploma degree.
| Education | Salary |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma or Less | $47,146 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $49,790 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $49,649 |
Mechanic employment statistics
Most mechanics work for a private in the transportation industry.
Company size where mechanics work
Below, you can see the size of companies where mechanics work.
Mechanic jobs by employer size
| Company size | Percentages |
|---|---|
| < 50 employees | 8% |
| 50 - 100 employees | 12% |
| 100 - 500 employees | 14% |
| 500 - 1,000 employees | 7% |
| 1,000 - 10,000 employees | 28% |
| > 10,000 employees | 31% |
Mechanic jobs by company type
Employees with the mechanic job title have their preferences when it comes to working for a company. For instance, most mechanics prefer to work at private companies over public companies.
Mechanic jobs by sector
| Company type | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Education | 1% |
| Public | 30% |
| Private | 64% |
| Government | 4% |
Mechanic jobs by industry
The most common industries for mechanics are transportation, manufacturing and automotive.
Mechanic industry statistics
| Industry | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Transportation | 15% |
| Fortune 500 | 14% |
| Manufacturing | 11% |
| Automotive | 10% |
| Retail | 9% |
| Professional | 8% |
| Technology | 7% |
| Energy | 6% |
| Government | 4% |
| Construction | 4% |
| Media | 2% |
| Hospitality | 2% |
| Finance | 2% |
| Utilities | 2% |
| Telecommunication | 1% |
| Education | 1% |
| Start-up | 1% |
Mechanic turnover and employment statistics
Mechanic unemployment rate over time
The unemployment rate for mechanics between 2008 and the most recent data has varied, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Mechanic unemployment rate by year
| Year | Mechanic unemployment rate |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 7.33% |
| 2011 | 6.26% |
| 2012 | 4.53% |
| 2013 | 3.96% |
| 2014 | 3.72% |
| 2015 | 3.10% |
| 2016 | 2.97% |
| 2017 | 2.67% |
| 2018 | 2.35% |
| 2019 | 1.82% |
| 2020 | 2.94% |
| 2021 | 2.58% |
Average mechanic tenure
The average mechanic stays at their job for 1-2 years, based on the 101,256 mechanics resumes in Zippia's database.
Mechanic tenure statistics
| Number of years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Less than 1 year | 26% |
| 1-2 years | 32% |
| 3-4 years | 15% |
| 5-7 years | 14% |
| 8-10 years | 5% |
| 11+ years | 8% |
Mechanic LGBT ratio compared to similar jobs
Review the percent of mechanics that are members of the LGBT community. You can see how this compares to similar jobs in the chart below.
| Job title | LGBT | Job openings |
|---|---|---|
| Air Brake Adjuster | 1.31% | 7,933 |
| Mechanic | 1.79% | - |
| Undercar Specialist | 2.20% | 18,352 |
| Helicopter Technician | 2.41% | 25,345 |
| Tire Servicer | 3.57% | 5,917 |
| Auto Body Customizer | 3.73% | 7,845 |
| Motorsports Technician | 5.18% | 23,640 |
Similar mechanic jobs LGBT demographics
| Profession | Percentages of LGBT | Job openings |
|---|---|---|
| Air Brake Adjuster | 1.31% | 7,933 |
| Undercar Specialist | 2.20% | 18,352 |
| Helicopter Technician | 2.41% | 25,345 |
| Tire Servicer | 3.57% | 5,917 |
| Auto Body Customizer | 3.73% | 7,845 |
| Motorsports Technician | 5.18% | 23,640 |
Foreign languages spoken by mechanics
The most common foreign language among mechanics is Spanish at 69.2%. The second-most popular foreign language spoken is French at 5.0% and Carrier is the third-most popular at 3.8%.
- Spanish, 69.2%
- French, 5.0%
- Carrier, 3.8%
- German, 3.0%
- Russian, 2.9%
- Other, 16.1%
Mechanic languages spoken
| Foreign language | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Spanish | 69.2% |
| French | 5.0% |
| Carrier | 3.8% |
| German | 3.0% |
| Russian | 2.9% |
| Other | 16.1% |
