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Vehicle mechanic salary
Average vehicle mechanic salary
$42,628
Average Vehicle Mechanic Salary
As of October 2025, the average salary for a vehicle mechanic is approximately $42,628 annually, translating to about $20 per hour. This figure varies significantly depending on experience, location, and the specific sector within the automotive industry.
Factors Influencing Salary
Entry-level mechanics typically earn less, while those with several years of experience can command higher wages. For instance, mechanics with specialized skills, such as diesel or hybrid expertise, may see salaries exceed the average. Additionally, mechanics working in metropolitan areas often report higher pay due to increased demand.
Salary by State
Salary levels also vary by state. Mechanics in states like California and Texas tend to earn more due to the cost of living and the volume of automotive work available. Understanding these regional variations is essential for career planning.
Highest Paying Cities
Some of the highest-paying cities for vehicle mechanics include Los Angeles, New York, and Chicago, where the demand for skilled professionals remains high. Exploring job opportunities in these areas can significantly enhance earning potential.
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Where can a Vehicle Mechanic earn more?
Vehicle mechanic salaries by experience level
Average vehicle mechanic salary by state
The average vehicle mechanic salary in Alaska, California, and Connecticut are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average vehicle mechanic salary states are Arkansas, Nebraska, and West Virginia.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for vehicle mechanics
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | $56,055 | $26.95 |
| 2 | Nevada | $44,010 | $21.16 |
| 3 | Washington | $44,448 | $21.37 |
| 4 | Connecticut | $44,589 | $21.44 |
| 5 | Montana | $39,476 | $18.98 |
| 6 | Iowa | $38,103 | $18.32 |
| 7 | North Dakota | $38,488 | $18.50 |
| 8 | Colorado | $43,099 | $20.72 |
| 9 | California | $49,256 | $23.68 |
| 10 | New Hampshire | $43,250 | $20.79 |
| 11 | Utah | $38,245 | $18.39 |
| 12 | Louisiana | $37,469 | $18.01 |
| 13 | Oregon | $41,795 | $20.09 |
| 14 | Arizona | $38,852 | $18.68 |
| 15 | New York | $43,446 | $20.89 |
| 16 | New Jersey | $43,100 | $20.72 |
| 17 | Texas | $38,075 | $18.31 |
| 18 | Ohio | $38,249 | $18.39 |
| 19 | Pennsylvania | $38,591 | $18.55 |
| 20 | Oklahoma | $37,185 | $17.88 |
| 21 | Massachusetts | $44,403 | $21.35 |
| 22 | Florida | $37,125 | $17.85 |
| 23 | New Mexico | $38,018 | $18.28 |
| 24 | Maryland | $42,128 | $20.25 |
| 25 | Michigan | $38,597 | $18.56 |
| 26 | Vermont | $38,853 | $18.68 |
| 27 | Wyoming | $35,363 | $17.00 |
| 28 | Indiana | $35,565 | $17.10 |
| 29 | District of Columbia | $45,302 | $21.78 |
| 30 | Wisconsin | $36,217 | $17.41 |
| 31 | Hawaii | $40,460 | $19.45 |
| 32 | Illinois | $38,099 | $18.32 |
| 33 | Delaware | $38,113 | $18.32 |
| 34 | Minnesota | $38,647 | $18.58 |
| 35 | Virginia | $39,717 | $19.09 |
| 36 | Alabama | $34,067 | $16.38 |
| 37 | Tennessee | $34,464 | $16.57 |
| 38 | Kentucky | $34,741 | $16.70 |
| 39 | South Dakota | $35,425 | $17.03 |
| 40 | Maine | $35,296 | $16.97 |
| 41 | Arkansas | $33,347 | $16.03 |
| 42 | Idaho | $34,668 | $16.67 |
| 43 | Rhode Island | $36,536 | $17.57 |
| 44 | Missouri | $35,875 | $17.25 |
| 45 | South Carolina | $33,768 | $16.23 |
| 46 | Mississippi | $30,335 | $14.58 |
| 47 | Georgia | $31,930 | $15.35 |
| 48 | Kansas | $34,008 | $16.35 |
| 49 | Nebraska | $32,848 | $15.79 |
| 50 | West Virginia | $32,068 | $15.42 |
| 51 | North Carolina | $31,964 | $15.37 |
Highest paying cities for vehicle mechanics
The highest-paying cities for vehicle mechanics are Adelanto, CA, Seattle, WA, and Newburgh, NY.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Adelanto, CA | $48,592 | $23.36 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $44,832 | $21.55 |
| 3 | Newburgh, NY | $43,465 | $20.90 |
| 4 | Englewood, CO | $43,127 | $20.73 |
| 5 | Frederick, MD | $42,079 | $20.23 |
| 6 | Portland, OR | $41,727 | $20.06 |
| 7 | El Paso, TX | $40,099 | $19.28 |
| 8 | Phoenix, AZ | $38,999 | $18.75 |
| 9 | Philadelphia, PA | $38,769 | $18.64 |
| 10 | Clearfield, UT | $38,195 | $18.36 |
| 11 | Baton Rouge, LA | $37,614 | $18.08 |
| 12 | Orlando, FL | $37,275 | $17.92 |
| 13 | Tulsa, OK | $37,042 | $17.81 |
| 14 | Huntsville, AL | $34,116 | $16.40 |
| 15 | Wichita, KS | $33,783 | $16.24 |
| 16 | Goose Creek, SC | $33,601 | $16.15 |
| 17 | Jacksonville, NC | $32,103 | $15.43 |
| 18 | Atlanta, GA | $31,970 | $15.37 |
Vehicle mechanic salary details
A vehicle mechanic's salary ranges from $29,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $62,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a vehicle mechanic's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $62,000 | $5,167 | $30 |
| 75th Percentile | $52,000 | $4,333 | $25 |
| Average | $42,628 | $3,552 | $20 |
| 25th Percentile | $34,000 | $2,833 | $16 |
| 10th Percentile | $29,000 | $2,417 | $14 |
Highest paying vehicle mechanic jobs
The highest paying types of vehicle mechanics are mobile equipment mechanic, journeyman/mechanic, and senior mechanic.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Truck Technician | $44,554 | $3,713 | $21.42 | 204,626 |
| Journeyman/Mechanic | $52,442 | $4,370 | $25.21 | 80,169 |
| Mechanic Helper | $31,892 | $2,658 | $15.33 | 48,546 |
| Shop Technician | $36,798 | $3,066 | $17.69 | 150,349 |
| Diesel Technician | $46,868 | $3,906 | $22.53 | 128,944 |
| Heavy Duty Mechanic | $49,563 | $4,130 | $23.83 | 51,609 |
Top companies hiring vehicle mechanics now:
Which companies pay vehicle mechanics the most?
Vehicle mechanic salaries at Google and REV Group are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average vehicle mechanic salary at companies like Aspen Snowmass and Hemet Unified School District are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $95,006 | $45.68 | |
| 2 | REV Group | $91,443 | $43.96 |
| 3 | Aspen Snowmass | $60,359 | $29.02 |
| 4 | Hemet Unified School District | $51,385 | $24.70 |
| 5 | Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority | $51,314 | $24.67 |
| 6 | Air Products | $50,812 | $24.43 |
| 7 | LYNX Services | $49,867 | $23.97 |
| 8 | Lockheed Martin | $49,467 | $23.78 |
| 9 | Alaska Airlines | $48,764 | $23.44 |
| 10 | Vail Resorts | $48,267 | $23.21 |
| 11 | Clean Harbors | $47,865 | $23.01 |
| 12 | Raytheon Technologies | $47,328 | $22.75 |
| 13 | GradyHealth | $47,001 | $22.60 |
| 14 | Fullerton Joint Union High School District | $45,867 | $22.05 |
| 15 | The Coca-Cola Company | $45,228 | $21.74 |
| 16 | ASRC Federal | $44,825 | $21.55 |
| 17 | ZF Group | $44,652 | $21.47 |
| 18 | Recruiting Solutions | $43,957 | $21.13 |
| 19 | Wintergreen | $43,818 | $21.07 |
| 20 | Ethan Allen Workforce Solutions | $43,651 | $20.99 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Vehicle Mechanic salary by industry
The average vehicle mechanic salary varies across industries:
- The average vehicle mechanic salary in the manufacturing industry is $59,137, the highest of any industry.
- The average vehicle mechanic salary in the finance industry is $53,258.
- Vehicle mechanics in the government industry earn an average salary of $42,888, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for vehicle mechanics
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Manufacturing | $59,137 | $28.43 |
| 2 | Professional | $53,258 | $25.60 |
| 3 | Transportation | $45,195 | $21.73 |
| 4 | Technology | $45,030 | $21.65 |
| 5 | Government | $42,888 | $20.62 |
High paying vehicle mechanic jobs
Vehicle mechanic salary trends
The average vehicle mechanic salary has risen by $7,269 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average vehicle mechanic earned $35,359 annually, but today, they earn $42,628 a year. That works out to a 11% change in pay for vehicle mechanics over the last decade.
Compare vehicle mechanic salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average vehicle mechanic salary over time
Compare vehicle mechanic salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Vehicle mechanic salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $42,600 | $20.49 | +3.4% |
| 2024 | $41,200 | $19.80 | +2.4% |
| 2023 | $40,200 | $19.33 | +2.1% |
| 2022 | $39,400 | $18.93 | +2.6% |
| 2021 | $38,400 | $18.44 | +1.4% |
Recently added vehicle mechanic salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Linde | Vehicle Mechanic | Stockertown, PA | 06/29/2025 | $82,000 |
| Opportunities In Fleet Maintenance and Management | Autonomous Vehicle Technician/Mechanic | Austin, TX | 06/29/2025 | $58,436 |
| Opportunities In Fleet Maintenance and Management | Autonomous Vehicle Technician/Mechanic | Atlanta, GA | 06/29/2025 | $62,610 |
| KBR | LCV Northcom NTC: Tactical Vehicle Mechanic | Fort Irwin, CA | 06/28/2025 | $91,056 |
| City of Farmington, Nm | Light Vehicle Mechanic | Farmington, NM | 06/28/2025 | $38,150 |
| Clean Harbors | Mobile Vehicle Mechanic | Murfreesboro, TN | 06/27/2025 | $62,610 |
| General Dynamics | Stryker Combat Vehicle Mechanic | Lakewood, WA | 06/27/2025 | $75,633 |
| General Dynamics Land Systems Inc. | Stryker Combat Vehicle Mechanic | Lakewood, WA | 06/26/2025 | $75,633 |
| Clean Harbors | Mobile Vehicle Mechanic | Sanford, NC | 06/24/2025 | $62,610 |
| Littleton Public Schools | Vehicle Mechanic I | Boone, CO | 06/24/2025 | $55,326 |
Vehicle mechanic salary FAQs
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