State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
Automotive Service Technician and Mechanic Salary (2026): Data, Outlook & How to Become One
The median pay for Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics is $50,620 a year ($24.34/hr), according to BLS OEWS, May 2025. Employment is projected to grow 4.2% through 2034, with about 70,000 openings a year (BLS EP, 2024–2034). Typical entry-level education: Postsecondary nondegree award.
SOC 49-3023Installation, Maintenance, and RepairLast updated August 15, 2026
- Median pay
- $50,620
- Projected growth
- +4.2%
- Openings a year
- 70,000
- Typical education
- Certificate
BLS OEWS, May 2025
BLS EP, 2024–2034
BLS EP, 2024–2034
BLS EP, 2024–2034
Also advertised as: Automotive Drivability Technician (Auto Drivability Tech), Automotive Mechanic (Auto Mechanic), Automotive Service Technician (Auto Service Tech), Automotive Technician (Auto Tech), Diagnostic Technician (Diagnostic Tech), Heavy Line Technician (Heavy Line Tech).
How much do Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics make?
10th percentile$34,660
Entry / lowest-paid tenth
25th percentile$38,900
Lower quartile
Median (50th)$50,620
Half earn more, half earn less
75th percentile$70,430
Upper quartile
90th percentile$81,790
Top-paid tenth
| Median annual wage | $50,620 |
|---|---|
| Median hourly wage | $24.34/hr |
| Mean annual wage | $56,420 |
| People employed | 704,640 |
Versus all US occupations
At $50,620, the median for Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics sits in line with the $50,980 median across all US occupations.
Versus installation, maintenance, and repair occupations
Inside the Installation, Maintenance, and Repair group, where the middle occupation pays $60,460, this is 16% below the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $81,790 or more while the bottom 10% earn $34,660, a gap of 2.4×. That is a typical spread for a US occupation.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 31% of the 923 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Cost of living
District of Columbia posts the highest raw median ($68,660), but once local prices are taken into account North Dakota leads at $64,479 in national-average dollars.
Which states pay Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics the most?
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $68,660 | $62,474 | 310 |
| California | $64,980 | $58,689 | 65,420 |
| Colorado | $61,280 | $59,465 | 12,300 |
| Alaska | $60,840 | $59,438 | 1,420 |
| Massachusetts | $60,760 | $57,452 | 12,710 |
| Connecticut | $60,220 | $58,122 | 6,960 |
| Virginia | $59,330 | $58,682 | 17,880 |
| New Hampshire | $59,020 | $56,660 | 4,840 |
| Montana | $58,740 | $62,064 | 2,900 |
| Oregon | $58,520 | $56,617 | 6,990 |
Is Automotive Service Technician and Mechanic a growing career?
Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics4.2%
All US occupations3.1%
+4.2% projected growth vs 3.1% for all occupations.
Faster than average
BLS projects employment of Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics to change 4.2% over 2024–2034, against 3.1% projected for all occupations. That is 33,600 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 70,000 openings are projected each year, 8.7% of the 805,600 jobs that existed in 2024. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
The number of vehicles in use is expected to continue rising over the projections decade, and service technicians will be needed to maintain and repair them. Many owners are keeping their vehicles longer, which should support demand for these workers to provide the servicing that older vehicles often require.
The increased demand for calibrations and repairs for advanced safety systems will also support demand for these workers. However, the increasing prevalence of electric vehicles, which require less maintenance and repair, may limit some of the future demand for these workers.
How to become an Automotive Service Technician and Mechanic
Automotive service technicians and mechanics typically complete a program in automotive service technology or a related field. However, some workers enter the occupation with a high school diploma and learn on the job. Certification may be required.
| Typical entry-level education | Postsecondary nondegree award |
|---|---|
| Preparation needed (O*NET job zone) | Some preparation |
| Work experience in a related occupation | None |
| Typical on-the-job training | Short-term on-the-job training |
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as automotive service technicians and mechanics.
- Post-Secondary Certificate50.3%
- High School Diploma42.6%
- Some College Courses5.8%
- Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree)1.4%
What does an Automotive Service Technician and Mechanic do?
Diagnose, adjust, repair, or overhaul automotive vehicles.
Automotive service technicians and mechanics, often called service technicians or service techs, inspect, maintain, and repair cars and light trucks.
Day-to-day tasks
- Inspect vehicles for damage and record findings so that necessary repairs can be made.
- Maintain cleanliness of work area.
- Repair and service air conditioning, heating, engine cooling, and electrical systems.
- Test and adjust repaired systems to meet manufacturers' performance specifications.
- Perform routine and scheduled maintenance services, such as oil changes, lubrications, and tune-ups.
- Repair, reline, replace, and adjust brakes.
- Test drive vehicles and test components and systems, using equipment such as infrared engine analyzers, compression gauges, and computerized diagnostic devices.
- Align wheels, axles, frames, torsion bars, and steering mechanisms of automobiles, using special alignment equipment and wheel-balancing machines.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Where automotive service technicians and mechanics work
| Automobile dealers | 32% |
|---|---|
| Automotive mechanical and electrical repair and maintenance | 26% |
| Self-employed workers | 14% |
| Automotive parts, accessories, and tire retailers | 6% |
| Other automotive repair and maintenance | 3% |
BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2024–2034 edition.
Core skills
- Critical Thinking3.5/5
- Active Listening3.3/5
- Monitoring3.3/5
- Speaking3.1/5
- Reading Comprehension2.9/5
- Writing2.8/5
- Active Learning2.8/5
- Learning Strategies2.6/5
Transferable skills
- Repairing3.8/5
- Troubleshooting3.6/5
- Operations Monitoring3.5/5
- Equipment Maintenance3.4/5
- Operation and Control3.3/5
- Judgment and Decision Making3.3/5
- Complex Problem Solving3.1/5
- Quality Control Analysis3.1/5
Tools and software
- Electronic mail software · in demand
- Enterprise resource planning ERP software · in demand
- Internet browser software · in demand
- Office suite software · in demand
- Operating system software · in demand
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Word processing software · in demand
- Analytical or scientific software
- Billing and invoicing software
- Calendar and scheduling software
- Data base reporting software
- Data base user interface and query software
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
What personality type suits an Automotive Service Technician and Mechanic?
Interest profile: O*NET Occupational Interests, scored 1–7
Realisticprimary7.0
Investigativeprimary3.6
Artistic1.0
Social1.4
Enterprising1.6
Conventionalprimary4.3
Day to day this is work built around hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors, combined with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data.
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Automotive Service Technician and Mechanic: frequently asked questions
How much do Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics make?
Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics earn a median of $50,620 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025), close to the $50,980 median for all US occupations. That works out at $24.34/hr. The middle half earn between $38,900 and $70,430. The top 10% earn $81,790 or more.
Do you need a degree to become an Automotive Service Technician and Mechanic?
Not a degree, but you do need credentialled training: BLS lists a postsecondary non-degree award (a certificate or licence programme) as the typical entry route for Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics. BLS also lists short-term on-the-job training as typical on-the-job training. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 50.3% hold post-secondary certificate.
Is Automotive Service Technician and Mechanic a growing career?
Yes. Employment is projected to grow 4.2% over 2024–2034, faster than the 3.1% average for all occupations (BLS EP, 2024–2034). BLS still projects about 70,000 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does an Automotive Service Technician and Mechanic do?
Automotive service technicians and mechanics, often called service technicians or service techs, inspect, maintain, and repair cars and light trucks. A core O*NET task: inspect vehicles for damage and record findings so that necessary repairs can be made. Employers most often ask for Electronic mail software, Enterprise resource planning ERP software, Internet browser software.
Which states pay Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics the most?
The highest state medians for Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics are District of Columbia ($68,660), California ($64,980), Colorado ($61,280) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Adjusted for local prices using BEA Regional Price Parities, North Dakota moves to the top at $64,479.
What personality type suits an Automotive Service Technician and Mechanic?
O*NET scores Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics highest on the Realistic, Conventional and Investigative interest areas, so the work mixes hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping that lines up most closely with ISTJ personalities. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 923 occupations in the bank.