Average Mechanic Salary

Q: How much does a good mechanic make a year?

A good mechanic can expect to make around $40,000 a year. The best-paid 25 percent earns $56,140 per year, while the lowest-paid 25 percent earns $31,250. This can go up depending on education levels and if a Mechanic is a certified master mechanic. This means that they have completed all the nine Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) certifications. Industry and job speciality also make a difference when it comes to salary for Mechanics. The top-paying speciality for mechanics is an Aircraft Mechanic. The median salary level for an Aircraft Mechanic is $53,000 per year. Aircraft mechanics are charged with keeping aircraft of all sizes in good working order. They are required to complete inspections as directed under Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) guidelines, as well as perform scheduled maintenance checks and repairs. However, regardless of specialty, good mechanics can easily make a lot of money if they are skilled enough to work fast and take a lot of complex jobs.

Updated August 18, 2021

$42,000 yearly

$20.39 hourly

Entry level Salary

$32,000 yearly

$32,000

10 %

$42,000

Median

$56,000

90 %

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Percentile	Annual Salary	Monthly Salary	Hourly Rate
90th Percentile	$56,000	$4,667	$27
75th Percentile	$49,000	$4,083	$24
Average	$42,401	$3,533	$20
25th Percentile	$36,000	$3,000	$17
10th Percentile	$32,000	$2,667	$15

Average Mechanic Salary By State

The darker areas on the map show where mechanics earn the highest salaries across all 50 states.

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Average Salary:

Mechanic average salary by State

State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate	Job Count
Alabama	$31,650	$15.22	581
Alaska	$54,639	$26.27	127
Arizona	$40,880	$19.65	686
Arkansas	$35,263	$16.95	323
California	$52,721	$25.35	2,343
Colorado	$41,858	$20.12	637
Connecticut	$48,449	$23.29	285
Delaware	$41,675	$20.04	162
District of Columbia	$40,524	$19.48	90
Florida	$34,044	$16.37	1,863
Georgia	$35,318	$16.98	1,330
Hawaii	$54,135	$26.03	91
Idaho	$37,510	$18.03	211
Illinois	$43,698	$21.01	1,266
Indiana	$38,337	$18.43	950
Iowa	$40,963	$19.69	739
Kansas	$34,941	$16.80	379
Kentucky	$37,949	$18.24	585
Louisiana	$36,043	$17.33	509
Maine	$44,824	$21.55	155
Maryland	$40,985	$19.70	790
Massachusetts	$47,589	$22.88	616
Michigan	$40,838	$19.63	850
Minnesota	$44,702	$21.49	799
Mississippi	$39,991	$19.23	377
Missouri	$38,858	$18.68	636
Montana	$43,988	$21.15	194
Nebraska	$43,574	$20.95	303
Nevada	$54,116	$26.02	298
New Hampshire	$46,787	$22.49	163
New Jersey	$51,273	$24.65	701
New Mexico	$49,261	$23.68	244
New York	$44,919	$21.60	1,305
North Carolina	$35,953	$17.29	1,176
North Dakota	$48,322	$23.23	146
Ohio	$42,563	$20.46	1,240
Oklahoma	$35,858	$17.24	387
Oregon	$48,442	$23.29	400
Pennsylvania	$43,787	$21.05	1,521
Rhode Island	$43,558	$20.94	95
South Carolina	$32,501	$15.63	644
South Dakota	$44,094	$21.20	120
Tennessee	$32,649	$15.70	828
Texas	$38,020	$18.28	2,402
Utah	$40,911	$19.67	417
Vermont	$50,675	$24.36	101
Virginia	$42,907	$20.63	1,006
Washington	$49,103	$23.61	744
West Virginia	$38,529	$18.52	166
Wisconsin	$44,033	$21.17	674
Wyoming	$42,153	$20.27	90

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Highest Paying Cities For Mechanic

City	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
Anchorage, AK	$54,410	$26.16
Sacramento, CA	$53,564	$25.75
Neptune, NJ	$51,163	$24.60
Everett, WA	$49,442	$23.77
Portland, OR	$48,186	$23.17
Portland, ME	$45,058	$21.66

The largest raises come from changing jobs.

See what's out there.

How much does a Mechanic make?

The average mechanic salary is $42,401 per year, or $20.39 per hour, in the United States. People on the lower end of that spectrum, the bottom 10% to be exact, make roughly $32,000 a year, while the top 10% makes $56,000. As most things go, location can be critical. Alaska, Hawaii, Nevada, California, and New Jersey provide the highest mechanic salaries.

Average Mechanic Salary Over Time

Compare salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.

Year	Avg. salary	Hourly rate	% Change
2021	$42,400	$20.38	+2.1%
2020	$41,500	$19.96	+2.6%
2019	$40,400	$19.45	+1.4%
2018	$39,900	$19.17	+2.0%
2017	$39,100	$18.78	+2.1%

How Much Do Mechanics Make In Different Industries?

Mechanic salaries can vary on many factors, including what industry a job is in. In fact, jobs with manufacturing, energy, and technology companies tend to be the highest paying. Furthermore, a mechanic can make a yearly salary of $45,449 while working for manufacturing companies. All the while, other mechanics are making $44,828 at energy companies and $44,774 at technology companies. One industry mechanics may want to avoid is the government industry as it offers the lowest average salary at $40,104.

Rank	Industry	Average Mechanic Salary	Mechanic Salary Range
1	Manufacturing	$45,449	$35k $50k
2	Energy	$44,828	$35k $50k
3	Technology	$44,774	$35k $50k
4	Transportation	$43,831	$35k $50k
5	Construction	$43,140	$35k $50k
6	Retail	$42,733	$35k $50k
7	Automotive	$41,991	$35k $50k
8	Government	$40,104	$35k $50k

High Paying Mechanic Jobs

Average JOB Salary by Field

Industrial Maintenance Mechanic

Avg. salary: $44,196

An industrial maintenance mechanic is responsible for ensuring the efficiency and optimal performance of industrial equipment and machinery to support operations and prevent operational delays. Industrial maintenance mechanics perform regular maintenance for the equipment, inspecting the components for any malfunctions, and conduct immediate repairs as needed. They also write resolution reports for reference and recommend supplies and resources to avoid the reoccurrence of system problems and downtimes. An industrial maintenance mechanic must have excellent organizational and analytical skills to measure and calibrate instruments properly and identify inconsistencies.

113,635 Industrial Maintenance Mechanic Jobs

Building Maintenance Mechanic

Avg. salary: $36,767

A building maintenance mechanic is primarily in charge of maintaining mechanical systems and equipment in good condition. They conduct regular maintenance checks, performing repairs or replacements when necessary. They may also respond to issues and concerns, troubleshoot problems, install and upgrade systems, provide technical support and advice to staff, manage vehicles, monitor supply inventory, purchase supplies, and maintain records. Moreover, a building maintenance mechanic usually works in a team setting, which requires a clear communication line for a smooth and efficient workflow.

100,403 Building Maintenance Mechanic Jobs

General Maintenance Mechanic

Avg. salary: $33,175

A general maintenance mechanic is responsible for ensuring the cleanliness and orderliness of the facilities and inspecting the condition and performance of the equipment and machinery for business operations and processes. General maintenance mechanics handle equipment repairs and replacement of defective components, requiring them to have extensive knowledge of the mechanical industry. They also install and assemble equipment by analyzing mechanical schematics and blueprints accurately. A general maintenance mechanic creates a comprehensive schedule of inspection, repairs, and quality control checks to preserve the safe standards of the premises.

151,164 General Maintenance Mechanic Jobs

Mobile Equipment Mechanic

Avg. salary: $53,356

Mobile equipment mechanics are skilled employees who are responsible for conducting repairs and maintenance of construction and surface mining equipment such as bulldozers, cranes, and excavators. These mechanics must inspect machines and heavy equipment while evaluating operating manuals to perform diagnosis and resolve any defects. They are required to use hand and power tools to perform repairs on the defective equipment parts. Mobile equipment mechanics must also check any open circuits on the electrical systems of heavy equipment.

75,259 Mobile Equipment Mechanic Jobs

Heavy Equipment Mechanic

Avg. salary: $47,344

A heavy equipment mechanic is responsible for operating the heavy machinery used in the production of various industries, inspecting inconsistencies, running diagnostic tests, and replacing defective components to ensure its operational safety and efficiency. Heavy equipment mechanics also upgrade engine systems to boost optimal performance, analyze damage costs, and repair equipment parts with the assistance of other mechanical staff. They work closely with the management, create maintenance reports, and suggesting resolutions to avoid delays in production and customer service.

72,225 Heavy Equipment Mechanic Jobs

Light Wheel Mechanic

Avg. salary: $41,453

A light wheel mechanic is responsible for maintaining the optimal performance and efficiency of light-wheeled vehicles used for industrial operations, especially in a military setting. Light wheel mechanics inspect the condition of the vehicle's engine, perform preventive maintenance, replace defective components, assemble upgrade systems based on schematics and blueprints, and create resolution reports for reference. They must have excellent knowledge of the auto-mechanic industry to determine faults and identify repairs, avoiding delays, complications, and hazards during operations.

61,227 Light Wheel Mechanic Jobs

Job Title	Annual Salary	Monthly Salary	Hourly Rate	Job Openings
Industrial Maintenance Mechanic	$44,197	$3,683	$21.25	113,635
Building Maintenance Mechanic	$36,768	$3,064	$17.68	100,403
General Maintenance Mechanic	$33,175	$2,765	$15.95	151,164
Mobile Equipment Mechanic	$53,357	$4,446	$25.65	75,259
Heavy Equipment Mechanic	$47,344	$3,945	$22.76	72,225
Light Wheel Mechanic	$41,453	$3,454	$19.93	61,227

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Mechanic Salaries By Years Of Experience

The salary for a mechanic can vary depending on the years of experience that a person has, from entry level to senior level. Data on how experience level affects total compensation is provided by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) as part of their National Compensation Survey, which is based on factors such as knowledge, complexity, contacts, and environment.

Which Companies Pay Mechanics The Most?

If you want to get paid the most as a mechanic, being employed by a company such as Estes Express Lines or YRC Freight would be a smart choice, as they are the highest paying companies in this field. Additionally, companies like Reddaway and Uline also report highly competitive salaries for mechanics.

Rank	Company	Zippia Score	Average Mechanic Salary
1	1.Estes Express Lines	4.7	$60,860
2	2.YRC Freight	4.6	$60,342
3	3.Reddaway	4.4	$57,776
4	4.Uline	4.7	$56,403
5	5.National Grid USA Service Company	4.8	$54,913
6	6.Dohrn Transfer	3.9	$54,238

How much should you get paid?

Tell us about yourself to get a free, personalized Zippia Salary Report and suggestions on how to increase your pay.

Recently Added Mechanic Salaries

Company	Job	Location	Date Added	Salary
Alta Equipment Mechanic	Mechanic	Battle Creek, MI	08/31/2021	$37,566 08/31/2021
Conagra Brands Mechanic	Mechanic	Marshall, MO	08/31/2021	$41,051 08/31/2021
Via Mobility Services Mechanic II	Mechanic II	Denver, CO	08/31/2021	$50,088 08/31/2021
Prime, Inc. Mechanic (Entry-Expert Level)	Mechanic (Entry-Expert Level)	Pittston, PA	08/31/2021	$38,610 08/31/2021
Church & Dwight Core Mechanic-Weekend Nights	Core Mechanic-Weekend Nights	York, PA	08/31/2021	$59,960 08/31/2021
Chowchilla Elementary School District Mechanic II	Mechanic II	Chowchilla, CA	08/31/2021	$49,399 08/31/2021
Hampton Roads Transit Mechanic III Up To *	Mechanic III Up To *	Norfolk, VA	08/31/2021	$39,382 08/31/2021
Prime, Inc. Mechanic (Entry-Expert Level)	Mechanic (Entry-Expert Level)	Springfield, MO	08/31/2021	$38,610 08/31/2021
Holland Pump Company Mechanic	Mechanic	Orlando, FL	08/30/2021	$35,479 08/30/2021
Loomis Armored Us, LLC Mechanic	Mechanic	Sacramento, CA	08/29/2021	$45,914 08/29/2021

Related Job Salaries

Job Title	Average Salary	Job Openings
Diesel Mechanic	$43,943	40,612
Shop Mechanic	$37,167	77,573
Mechanic Helper	$27,194	44,372
Automotive Mechanic	$40,113	56,081
Equipment Mechanic	$44,709	71,122
Auto Mechanic	$36,234	65,668
Light Wheel Mechanic	$41,453	61,227
Trailer Mechanic	$41,354	62,759
Industrial Mechanic	$45,272	127,785
Truck Mechanic	$46,144	39,249

Average Mechanic Salary by Demographic

Mechanic Gender Pay Gap

Male Income

$41,381

Female Income

$41,262

Gender	Income
Male	$41,381
Female	$41,262

Median Mechanic Income by Race

Asian mechanics have the highest average salary compared to other ethnicities. Asian mechanics have the lowest average salary at $40,497.

$45,000

$36,000

$27,000

$18,000

$9,000

White

Black or African American

Asian

Hispanic or Latino

Ethnicity	Salary
White	$41,295
Black or African American	$41,642
Asian	$42,007
Hispanic or Latino	$41,167

Average Mechanic Salary by Education Level

Mechanics with a Bachelors degree earn more than those without, at $42,760 annually. With a Associate degree, mechanics earn a median annual income of $42,506 compared to $41,381 for mechanics with an High School Diploma degree.

$45,000

$36,000

$27,000

$18,000

$9,000

High School Diploma or Less

Bachelor's Degree

Some College/ Associate Degree

Education	Salary
High School Diploma or Less	$41,381
Bachelor's Degree	$42,760
Some College/ Associate Degree	$42,506

Mechanic FAQs

How much does a good mechanic make a year?

A good mechanic can expect to make around $40,000 a year. The best-paid 25 percent earns $56,140 per year, while the lowest-paid 25 percent earns $31,250.

This can go up depending on education levels and if a Mechanic is a certified master mechanic. This means that they have completed all the nine Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) certifications.

Industry and job speciality also make a difference when it comes to salary for Mechanics. The top-paying speciality for mechanics is an Aircraft Mechanic. The median salary level for an Aircraft Mechanic is $53,000 per year.

Aircraft mechanics are charged with keeping aircraft of all sizes in good working order. They are required to complete inspections as directed under Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) guidelines, as well as perform scheduled maintenance checks and repairs.

However, regardless of specialty, good mechanics can easily make a lot of money if they are skilled enough to work fast and take a lot of complex jobs.

Learn more about this question

How much does a mechanic get paid?

The hourly range for mechanics varies from $16 to $25 an hour. This is dependent on a variety of factors, including education and certification levels, specialties, and years of experience.

It is extremely worthwhile for a mechanic to seek out additional educational and certification opportunities. There is a lot of competition in the market, and in order to stand out, a Mechanic needs to show they are the best in the area.

Additionally, as vehicles become increasingly complex, it will be critical for a Mechanic to be extremely knowledgeable in the various systems (such as those for electric cars or for those with complicated electronic systems). Otherwise, a Mechanic risks becoming outdated and uncompetitive.

The National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) is an organization that offers certification in nine specialty areas for auto mechanics. By gaining these certifications, a Mechanic will be able to stand out as knowledgeable in the industry and gain respect and increase their earning potential.

If a person is certified in all nine automotive specialties offered by the ASE, then they can hold the title of a master technician. The nine certifications are:

Automatic transmission/transaxle
Brakes
Engine repair
Heating and air conditioning
Suspension and steering
Light vehicle diesel engines
Engine performance
Electrical/electronic systems
Manual drive train and axles

Learn more about this question

Updated August 18, 2021

Average Mechanic Salary

Average Mechanic Salary By State

Mechanic average salary by State

How much should you get paid?

Highest Paying Cities For Mechanic

The largest raises come from changing jobs.

How much does a Mechanic make?

Average Mechanic Salary Over Time

How Much Do Mechanics Make In Different Industries?

High Paying Mechanic Jobs

Average JOB Salary by Field

Mechanic Salaries By Years Of Experience

Which Companies Pay Mechanics The Most?

How much should you get paid?

Recently Added Mechanic Salaries

Average Mechanic Salary by Demographic

Mechanic Gender Pay Gap

Mechanic FAQs

How much does a good mechanic make a year?

How much does a mechanic get paid?

Mechanic Related Salaries

Mechanic Related Careers

Mechanic Related Jobs

Mechanic Jobs By Location