Best states for a vehicle mechanic

Q: What is the best state for vehicle mechanics?

The best state to be a vehicle mechanic is Alaska based on vehicle mechanic salaries and job opportunities.

Q: What is the highest paying state for vehicle mechanics?

The highest paying state for vehicle mechanics is Mississippi based on Zippia’s salary database.

Q: What is the worst state for vehicle mechanics?

The worst state for vehicle mechanics is North Carolina, due to a combination of low salaries and few job opportunities.

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Do you wonder which states in the U.S. are the best for vehicle mechanics? If so, we have the full list of best to worst states for vehicle 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.We wanted to look at the best states for vehicle mechanics -- where there are plenty of vehicle mechanic jobs to go around and vehicle mechanics get paid what they deserve during every phase of their career.

In order to get you the best states for vehicle mechanics, we looked at our data on jobs and wages -- specifically the average annual wage and the number of available jobs per capita.If you are currently seeking employment as a vehicle mechanic, you can find open job positions using Zippia's search tools.

10 best states for vehicle mechanics in 2025

1. Alaska
Total vehicle mechanic jobs: 124
Average annual salary: $56,055
Lowest 10 percent earn: $33,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $93,000
Location Quotient:
1.38
Vehicle mechanic jobs in Alaska
2. Nevada
Total vehicle mechanic jobs: 255
Average annual salary: $44,010
Lowest 10 percent earn: $29,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $66,000
Location Quotient:
1.13
Vehicle mechanic jobs in Nevada
3. Washington
Total vehicle mechanic jobs: 880
Average annual salary: $44,448
Lowest 10 percent earn: $28,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $69,000
Location Quotient:
1.12
Vehicle mechanic jobs in Washington
4. Connecticut
Total vehicle mechanic jobs: 384
Average annual salary: $44,589
Lowest 10 percent earn: $25,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $77,000
Location Quotient:
1.07
Vehicle mechanic jobs in Connecticut
5. Montana
Total vehicle mechanic jobs: 194
Average annual salary: $39,476
Lowest 10 percent earn: $25,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $60,000
Location Quotient:
1.56
Vehicle mechanic jobs in Montana
6. Iowa
Total vehicle mechanic jobs: 690
Average annual salary: $38,103
Lowest 10 percent earn: $25,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $55,000
Location Quotient:
1.76
Vehicle mechanic jobs in Iowa
7. North Dakota
Total vehicle mechanic jobs: 126
Average annual salary: $38,488
Lowest 10 percent earn: $25,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $57,000
Location Quotient:
1.26
Vehicle mechanic jobs in North Dakota
8. Colorado
Total vehicle mechanic jobs: 671
Average annual salary: $43,099
Lowest 10 percent earn: $30,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $61,000
Location Quotient:
1.05
Vehicle mechanic jobs in Colorado
9. California
Total vehicle mechanic jobs: 2,284
Average annual salary: $49,256
Lowest 10 percent earn: $32,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $75,000
Location Quotient:
0.72
Vehicle mechanic jobs in California
10. New Hampshire
Total vehicle mechanic jobs: 183
Average annual salary: $43,250
Lowest 10 percent earn: $24,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $77,000
Location Quotient:
0.97
Vehicle mechanic jobs in New Hampshire

Vehicle mechanic jobsNear Columbus, OH

How Zippia determines the best states to be a vehicle mechanic

You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.

Detailed list of the best states for a vehicle mechanic

Rank	State	Average salary	Lowest 10% earn	Population	Job count
1	Alaska	$56,055	$33,000	739,795	124
2	Nevada	$44,010	$29,000	2,998,039	255
3	Washington	$44,448	$28,000	7,405,743	880
4	Connecticut	$44,589	$25,000	3,588,184	384
5	Montana	$39,476	$25,000	1,050,493	194
6	Iowa	$38,103	$25,000	3,145,711	690
7	North Dakota	$38,488	$25,000	755,393	126
8	Colorado	$43,099	$30,000	5,607,154	671
9	California	$49,256	$32,000	39,536,653	2,284
10	New Hampshire	$43,250	$24,000	1,342,795	183
11	Utah	$38,245	$26,000	3,101,833	387
12	Louisiana	$37,469	$25,000	4,684,333	477
13	Oregon	$41,795	$26,000	4,142,776	398
14	Arizona	$38,852	$26,000	7,016,270	653
15	New York	$43,446	$25,000	19,849,399	1,345
16	New Jersey	$43,100	$25,000	9,005,644	780
17	Texas	$38,075	$26,000	28,304,596	2,204
18	Ohio	$38,249	$24,000	11,658,609	1,107
19	Pennsylvania	$38,591	$23,000	12,805,537	1,321
20	Oklahoma	$37,185	$26,000	3,930,864	343
21	Massachusetts	$44,403	$24,000	6,859,819	616
22	Florida	$37,125	$25,000	20,984,400	2,250
23	New Mexico	$38,018	$26,000	2,088,070	197
24	Maryland	$42,128	$26,000	6,052,177	637
25	Michigan	$38,597	$24,000	9,962,311	662
26	Vermont	$38,853	$21,000	623,657	93
27	Wyoming	$35,363	$24,000	579,315	85
28	Indiana	$35,565	$23,000	6,666,818	860
29	District of Columbia	$45,302	$28,000	693,972	63
30	Wisconsin	$36,217	$23,000	5,795,483	654
31	Hawaii	$40,460	$29,000	1,427,538	96
32	Illinois	$38,099	$25,000	12,802,023	1,185
33	Delaware	$38,113	$23,000	961,939	143
34	Minnesota	$38,647	$25,000	5,576,606	544
35	Virginia	$39,717	$25,000	8,470,020	841
36	Alabama	$34,067	$23,000	4,874,747	648
37	Tennessee	$34,464	$24,000	6,715,984	673
38	Kentucky	$34,741	$23,000	4,454,189	467
39	South Dakota	$35,425	$24,000	869,666	101
40	Maine	$35,296	$19,000	1,335,907	152
41	Arkansas	$33,347	$23,000	3,004,279	332
42	Idaho	$34,668	$22,000	1,716,943	225
43	Rhode Island	$36,536	$20,000	1,059,639	115
44	Missouri	$35,875	$25,000	6,113,532	497
45	South Carolina	$33,768	$23,000	5,024,369	566
46	Mississippi	$30,335	$21,000	2,984,100	297
47	Georgia	$31,930	$22,000	10,429,379	1,374
48	Kansas	$34,008	$24,000	2,913,123	271
49	Nebraska	$32,848	$22,000	1,920,076	262
50	West Virginia	$32,068	$20,000	1,815,857	142
51	North Carolina	$31,964	$21,000	10,273,419	971

Highest paying states for vehicle mechanics

Rank	State	Avg. Vehicle Mechanic Salary
1	Alaska	$56,055
2	Nevada	$44,010
3	Washington	$44,448
4	Connecticut	$44,589
5	Montana	$39,476
6	Iowa	$38,103
7	North Dakota	$38,488
8	Colorado	$43,099
9	California	$49,256
10	New Hampshire	$43,250
11	Utah	$38,245
12	Louisiana	$37,469
13	Oregon	$41,795
14	Arizona	$38,852
15	New York	$43,446
16	New Jersey	$43,100
17	Texas	$38,075
18	Ohio	$38,249
19	Pennsylvania	$38,591
20	Oklahoma	$37,185
21	Massachusetts	$44,403
22	Florida	$37,125
23	New Mexico	$38,018
24	Maryland	$42,128
25	Michigan	$38,597
26	Vermont	$38,853
27	Wyoming	$35,363
28	Indiana	$35,565
29	District of Columbia	$45,302
30	Wisconsin	$36,217
31	Hawaii	$40,460
32	Illinois	$38,099
33	Delaware	$38,113
34	Minnesota	$38,647
35	Virginia	$39,717
36	Alabama	$34,067
37	Tennessee	$34,464
38	Kentucky	$34,741
39	South Dakota	$35,425
40	Maine	$35,296
41	Arkansas	$33,347
42	Idaho	$34,668
43	Rhode Island	$36,536
44	Missouri	$35,875
45	South Carolina	$33,768
46	Mississippi	$30,335
47	Georgia	$31,930
48	Kansas	$34,008
49	Nebraska	$32,848
50	West Virginia	$32,068
51	North Carolina	$31,964

Vehicle mechanic best states FAQs

What is the best state for vehicle mechanics?

What is the highest paying state for vehicle mechanics?

What is the worst state for vehicle mechanics?

Have more questions? See all answers to common installation, maintenance and repair questions.

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Best states for Vehicle Mechanics

Updated January 8, 2025

Browse installation, maintenance and repair jobs

Total vehicle mechanic jobs:	124
Average annual salary:	$56,055
Lowest 10 percent earn:	$33,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$93,000
Location Quotient:	1.38

Best states for a vehicle mechanic

10 best states for vehicle mechanics in 2025

1. Alaska

2. Nevada

3. Washington

4. Connecticut

5. Montana

6. Iowa

7. North Dakota

8. Colorado

9. California

10. New Hampshire