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Auto garage mechanic salary

Average auto garage mechanic salary

$42,369

$20.37 hourly rate

Entry-level auto garage mechanic salary
$24,000 yearly salary
Updated December 15, 2025

Average Auto Garage Mechanic Salary

The average salary for an Auto Garage Mechanic in the United States is approximately $42,369 per year. This figure reflects the earnings based on various factors, including experience, geographic location, and the specific automotive field. Entry-level mechanics may start at a lower salary, while those with more experience can earn significantly higher.

Salary by Experience Level

Typically, mechanics with less than one year of experience earn around $30,000, while those with five to ten years can see their salary rise to about $45,000. Experienced professionals, especially those in supervisory roles or specialized areas, may earn upwards of $60,000.

Regional Salary Differences

Location plays a crucial role in salary differences. Mechanics in states like California and New York often report higher earnings due to the cost of living and demand for skilled labor. In contrast, regions with lower living costs may offer salaries below the national average.

Job Opportunities

As the automotive industry evolves, opportunities for auto garage mechanics continue to grow. Technological advancements in vehicles create a demand for skilled technicians who can manage complex systems. For those looking to enter the field, pursuing relevant certifications can enhance job prospects and potential salaries.

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Where can an Auto Garage Mechanic earn more?

Compare salary by location
Vs
52k
32k
12k
-8k
Columbus, OH$38,910
Saint Paul, MN$22,008
Compare salary by company
Vs
94k
74k
54k
34k
14k
-6k
WEC Energy Group$80,826
Bimbo Bakeries$24,348

Auto garage mechanic salaries by experience level

Experience levelAvg. salaryHourly rate
Entry-level auto garage mechanic$24,800$11.94
Mid-level auto garage mechanic$40,000$19.25
Senior-level auto garage mechanic$55,400$26.63

Average auto garage mechanic salary by state

The highest-paying states for auto garage mechanics are California, Texas, and Arizona. The lowest average auto garage mechanic salary states are North Carolina, Missouri, and Minnesota.

  • State view
  • County view
Average salary:

Highest paying states for auto garage mechanics

RankStateAvg. salaryHourly rate
1Nevada$32,779$15.76
2Iowa$28,748$13.82
3Arizona$33,436$16.07
4Texas$36,159$17.38
5Indiana$27,658$13.30
6California$39,788$19.13
7Georgia$30,550$14.69
8Florida$29,825$14.34
9Oklahoma$27,414$13.18
10North Dakota$25,712$12.36
11Alaska$28,472$13.69
12Wyoming$25,549$12.28
13Tennessee$25,167$12.10
14Alabama$25,715$12.36
15Ohio$25,265$12.15
16Mississippi$24,108$11.59
17Idaho$24,989$12.01
18Nebraska$24,849$11.95
19District of Columbia$31,328$15.06
20New Hampshire$28,119$13.52
21Colorado$26,872$12.92
22Delaware$25,618$12.32
23Maine$26,494$12.74
24Kansas$24,554$11.80
25New Mexico$23,109$11.11
26Maryland$26,696$12.83
27Louisiana$22,772$10.95
28Pennsylvania$23,366$11.23
29Arkansas$24,078$11.58
30Montana$23,095$11.10
31Oregon$25,480$12.25
32Virginia$26,122$12.56
33South Dakota$23,175$11.14
34Connecticut$26,975$12.97
35New Jersey$27,477$13.21
36Rhode Island$25,596$12.31
37Wisconsin$24,081$11.58
38Vermont$24,094$11.58
39Michigan$23,808$11.45
40Utah$22,965$11.04
41South Carolina$22,032$10.59
42Washington$25,108$12.07
43North Carolina$22,408$10.77
44Illinois$24,363$11.71
45Hawaii$26,830$12.90
46Kentucky$19,778$9.51
47Minnesota$22,058$10.60
48Missouri$22,237$10.69
49Massachusetts$23,916$11.50
50New York$22,947$11.03
51West Virginia$20,943$10.07

Highest paying cities for auto garage mechanics

The highest-paying cities for auto garage mechanics are San Antonio, TX, San Leandro, CA, and Waterloo, IA.

RankCityAvg. salaryHourly rate
1San Antonio, TX$38,910$18.71
2San Leandro, CA$37,705$18.13
3Waterloo, IA$28,695$13.80
4Manchester, NH$27,530$13.24
5Oklahoma City, OK$27,465$13.20
6Gary, IN$27,460$13.20
7Youngstown, OH$25,530$12.27
8Bellevue, NE$24,885$11.96
9Green Bay, WI$24,036$11.56
10Boston, MA$23,520$11.31
11Raleigh, NC$22,530$10.83
12Saint Paul, MN$22,008$10.58

Auto garage mechanic salary details

An auto garage mechanic's salary ranges from $24,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $72,000 at the 90th percentile.

Average auto garage mechanic salary graph
Average auto garage mechanic salary graph, trends, and summary

What is an auto garage mechanic's salary?

PercentileAnnual salaryMonthly salaryHourly rate
90th Percentile$72,000$6,000$35
75th Percentile$56,000$4,667$27
Average$42,369$3,531$20
25th Percentile$31,000$2,583$15
10th Percentile$24,000$2,000$12

Highest paying auto garage mechanic jobs

The highest paying types of auto garage mechanics are master technician, certified technician, and mechanic.

Job titleAnnual salaryMonthly salaryHourly rateJob openings
Instrument Technician Apprentice$39,849$3,321$19.16130,235
Technician$38,045$3,170$18.29596,842
Certified Technician$52,208$4,351$25.10140,083
Master Technician$97,027$8,086$46.65137,644
Alignment Technician$38,020$3,168$18.28143,585
Mechanic Helper$31,892$2,658$15.3348,546

Which companies pay auto garage mechanics the most?

Auto garage mechanic salaries at WEC Energy Group and Xcel Energy are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average auto garage mechanic salary at companies like MidAmerican Energy and American Water are highly competitive.

RankCompanyAverage salaryHourly rate
1WEC Energy Group$80,826$38.86
2Xcel Energy$67,359$32.38
3MidAmerican Energy$63,606$30.58
4American Water$59,205$28.46
5FirstEnergy$49,743$23.91
6Boston College$48,611$23.37
7Cleveland Metropolitan School District$46,510$22.36
8ECMD$42,356$20.36
9Kroger$41,963$20.17
10ABM Industries$40,020$19.24
11LAZ Parking$39,831$19.15
12Pike$39,746$19.11
13NC.gov$37,191$17.88
14Mountaire Farms$35,821$17.22
15Ben E. Keith$33,773$16.24
16Pilgrim's$26,142$12.57
17Schwebel's Bread$25,118$12.08
18Bimbo Bakeries$24,348$11.71

Wage gap by gender, race and education

$42,000$41,400$40,800$40,200$39,600$39,000
MaleFemale

Auto garage mechanic salary trends

The average auto garage mechanic salary has risen by $7,570 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average auto garage mechanic earned $34,799 annually, but today, they earn $42,369 a year. That works out to a 15% change in pay for auto garage mechanics over the last decade.

Compare auto garage mechanic salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.

Average auto garage mechanic salary over time

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

Auto garage mechanic salary by year

YearAvg. salaryHourly rate% Change
2026$42,400$20.37+4.4%
2025$40,500$19.46+3.3%
2024$39,200$18.83+2.8%
2023$38,000$18.29+2.7%
2022$37,000$17.79+1.6%

Recently added auto garage mechanic salaries

CompanyJobLocationDate addedSalary
Ohio Department of EducationGarage Mechanic-(2 Positions)Cleveland, OH05/23/2025$51,925
Eversource EnergyGarage MechanicNorwalk, CT05/15/2025$103,745
Eversource EnergyGarage MechanicBerlin, CT04/28/2025$103,745
Ohio Department of EducationGarage Mechanic-(2 Positions)Cleveland, OH04/28/2025$51,925
DasstateohOdot Mechanic Trainee; Delaware County District Garage, PN 20058628Delaware, OH04/28/2025$41,636
Bimbo CanadaGarage MechanicSan Leandro, CA04/04/2025$82,332
Bimbo CanadaGarage MechanicFresno, CA03/15/2025$65,741
Eversource EnergyGarage MechanicBerlin, CT03/13/2025$102,263
Ohio Department of EducationGarage MechanicCleveland, OH03/13/2025$51,925
State of OhioOdot Mechanic-PN 20054851 (External Interim)-Belmont County GarageBelmont, OH02/28/2025$49,650

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