Automotive Technician Salary: United States
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The median annual wage for Automotive Technician in the United States was $50,620 in May 2025 (BLS). The middle half of workers earned between $38,900 and $70,430.
Broader occupation Our title "Automotive Technician" is reported by BLS as SOC 49-3023 Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics. BLS groups Automotive Technician within Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics; it does not publish this niche title or credential level separately.
Annual wages
Automotive Technician, the United States, annual wages: 10% earned less than $34,660, half earned less than the median of $50,620, 90% earned less than $81,790 (BLS, May 2025).
| Measure | Annual wage | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $34,660 | 10% of workers in this occupation and area earned less than this. |
| 25th percentile | $38,900 | 25% earned less than this. |
| Median (50th) | $50,620 | Half earned less, half earned more. |
| 75th percentile | $70,430 | 75% earned less than this. |
| 90th percentile | $81,790 | 90% earned less than this. |
| Mean | $56,420 | Arithmetic average of reported wages. |
Hourly wages
Automotive Technician, the United States, hourly wages: 10% earned less than $16.66, half earned less than the median of $24.34, 90% earned less than $39.32 (BLS, May 2025).
| Measure | Hourly wage | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $16.66 per hour | 10% of workers in this occupation and area earned less than this. |
| 25th percentile | $18.70 per hour | 25% earned less than this. |
| Median (50th) | $24.34 per hour | Half earned less, half earned more. |
| 75th percentile | $33.86 per hour | 75% earned less than this. |
| 90th percentile | $39.32 per hour | 90% earned less than this. |
| Mean | $27.13 per hour | Arithmetic average of reported wages. |
Employment: BLS estimates 704,640 workers in this occupation nationally.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. SOC 49-3023 Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics, National.
What BLS wages include. Base pay plus any guaranteed or production-based incentive pay. They leave out overtime, discretionary bonus, benefits, per diem and relocation.
BLS definitions, verbatim
wages
Base rate; cost-of-living allowances; guaranteed pay; hazardous-duty pay; incentive pay, including commissions and production bonuses; and tips are included. Excluded are overtime pay, severance pay, shift differentials, nonproduction bonuses, employer cost for supplementary benefits, and tuition reimbursements.
hours
Annual wages have been calculated by multiplying the hourly wages by 2,080 hours; for occupations where hourly wages are not published, annual wages were taken directly from the reported survey data.
Target metros
| Metro | Median | 25th to 75th percentile | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $49,550 | $37,500 to $64,650 | 11,970 | 0.94 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $47,880 | $36,290 to $63,210 | 7,380 | 1.12 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $47,850 | $38,130 to $63,070 | 6,480 | 1.01 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $50,600 | $37,850 to $65,790 | 3,650 | 1.08 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $57,760 | $46,040 to $77,770 | 28,420 | 0.66 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $57,760 | $46,040 to $77,770 | 28,420 | 0.66 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $49,720 | $37,130 to $65,250 | 17,690 | 0.96 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $50,940 | $36,960 to $63,340 | 14,910 | 1 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $55,320 | $39,240 to $78,370 | 20,140 | 0.98 |
How does Automotive Technician pay differ by industry?
These are national industry estimates for SOC 49-3023, not local offers or separate estimates for the niche title. Industry names are exactly as BLS publishes them.
| Industry | NAICS | Median | Basis | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Utilities | 22 | $94,910 | Annual | 1,140 |
| Utilities | 221000 | $94,910 | Annual | 1,140 |
| Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution | 221100 | $95,500 | Annual | 990 |
| Natural Gas Distribution | 221200 | $105,550 | Annual | 80 |
| Water, Sewage and Other Systems | 221300 | $48,360 | Annual | 80 |
| Construction | 23 | $59,630 | Annual | 4,170 |
| Construction of Buildings | 236000 | $52,010 | Annual | 370 |
| Residential Building Construction | 236100 | $58,280 | Annual | 130 |
| Nonresidential Building Construction | 236200 | $49,450 | Annual | 240 |
| Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction | 237000 | $63,280 | Annual | 1,020 |
| Utility System Construction | 237100 | $63,280 | Annual | 570 |
| Highway, Street, and Bridge Construction | 237300 | $64,320 | Annual | 360 |
| Other Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction | 237900 | $62,400 | Annual | 70 |
| Specialty Trade Contractors | 238000 | $59,150 | Annual | 2,790 |
| Foundation, Structure, and Building Exterior Contractors | 238100 | $56,000 | Annual | 220 |
| Building Equipment Contractors | 238200 | $60,690 | Annual | 1,910 |
| Building Finishing Contractors | 238300 | $54,930 | Annual | 220 |
| Other Specialty Trade Contractors | 238900 | $57,550 | Annual | 430 |
| Food Manufacturing | 311000 | $48,820 | Annual | 90 |
| Animal Slaughtering and Processing | 311600 | $48,820 | Annual | 30 |
| Seafood Product Preparation and Packaging | 311700 | $40,820 | Annual | 30 |
| Manufacturing | 31-33 | $56,330 | Annual | 4,320 |
| Plastics and Rubber Products Manufacturing | 326000 | $44,460 | Annual | 80 |
| Rubber Product Manufacturing | 326200 | $41,840 | Annual | 70 |
| Primary Metal Manufacturing | 331000 | $76,930 | Annual | 50 |
| Alumina and Aluminum Production and Processing | 331300 | $76,980 | Annual | 30 |
| Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing | 332000 | $49,710 | Annual | 220 |
| Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (3321, 3322, 3325, 3326, and 3329 only) | 3320A1 | $56,570 | Annual | 70 |
| Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (3323 and 3324 only) | 3320A2 | $51,270 | Annual | 90 |
| Machine Shops; Turned Product; and Screw, Nut, and Bolt Manufacturing | 332700 | $48,210 | Annual | 60 |
| Machinery Manufacturing | 333000 | $58,530 | Annual | Not published by BLS |
| Machinery Manufacturing (3331, 3332, 3334, and 3339 only) | 3330A1 | $58,530 | Annual | Not published by BLS |
| Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing | 334000 | $56,680 | Annual | Not published by BLS |
| Transportation Equipment Manufacturing | 336000 | $55,820 | Annual | 3,280 |
| Motor Vehicle Manufacturing | 336100 | $69,370 | Annual | 950 |
| Motor Vehicle Body and Trailer Manufacturing | 336200 | $47,090 | Annual | 810 |
| Motor Vehicle Parts Manufacturing | 336300 | $47,910 | Annual | 1,350 |
| Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing | 336400 | $75,660 | Annual | 90 |
| Ship and Boat Building | 336600 | $56,610 | Annual | Not published by BLS |
| Other Transportation Equipment Manufacturing | 336900 | $91,090 | Annual | Not published by BLS |
| Truck Transportation | 484000 | $57,520 | Annual | 810 |
| Transit and Ground Passenger Transportation | 485000 | $54,120 | Annual | 2,180 |
| Urban Transit Systems | 485100 | $60,940 | Annual | 120 |
| Interurban and Rural Bus Transportation | 485200 | $57,370 | Annual | 40 |
| Taxi and Limousine Service | 485300 | $47,140 | Annual | 1,200 |
| School and Employee Bus Transportation | 485400 | $77,820 | Annual | 170 |
| Other Transit and Ground Passenger Transportation | 485900 | $62,820 | Annual | 640 |
| Support Activities for Transportation | 488000 | $47,640 | Annual | 5,340 |
| Support Activities for Air Transportation | 488100 | $59,310 | Annual | 400 |
| Support Activities for Rail Transportation | 488200 | $41,810 | Annual | 200 |
| Support Activities for Water Transportation | 488300 | $40,550 | Annual | Not published by BLS |
| Support Activities for Road Transportation | 488400 | $48,050 | Annual | 4,480 |
| Couriers and Messengers | 492000 | $85,370 | Annual | 2,380 |
| Couriers and Express Delivery Services | 492100 | $87,610 | Annual | 2,030 |
| Local Messengers and Local Delivery | 492200 | $42,380 | Annual | 350 |
| Warehousing and Storage | 493000 | $43,160 | Annual | 180 |
| Warehousing and Storage | 493100 | $43,160 | Annual | 180 |
| Real Estate and Rental and Leasing | 53 | $54,120 | Annual | 6,810 |
| Rental and Leasing Services | 532000 | $54,120 | Annual | 6,560 |
| Rental and Leasing Services (5322, 5323, and 5324 only) | 5320A1 | $61,350 | Annual | 910 |
| Automotive Equipment Rental and Leasing | 532100 | $51,390 | Annual | 5,660 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 54 | $57,470 | Annual | 1,830 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 541000 | $57,470 | Annual | 1,830 |
| Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services | 541300 | $68,620 | Annual | 760 |
| Computer Systems Design and Related Services | 541500 | $44,540 | Annual | 80 |
| Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services | 541600 | $49,040 | Annual | 650 |
| Scientific Research and Development Services | 541700 | $90,190 | Annual | 120 |
| Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 541900 | $57,200 | Annual | Not published by BLS |
| Services to Buildings and Dwellings | 561700 | $49,260 | Annual | 1,480 |
| Waste Management and Remediation Services | 562000 | $53,390 | Annual | 560 |
| Waste Collection | 562100 | $49,530 | Annual | 330 |
| Waste Treatment and Disposal | 562200 | $70,630 | Annual | 30 |
| Remediation and Other Waste Management Services | 562900 | $54,630 | Annual | 190 |
| RV (Recreational Vehicle) Parks and Recreational Camps | 721200 | $41,630 | Annual | 50 |
| Repair and Maintenance | 811000 | $48,390 | Annual | 254,270 |
| Automotive Repair and Maintenance | 811100 | $48,370 | Annual | 251,720 |
| Electronic and Precision Equipment Repair and Maintenance | 811200 | $52,520 | Annual | Not published by BLS |
| Commercial and Industrial Machinery and Equipment (except Automotive and Electronic) Repair and Maintenance | 811300 | $51,240 | Annual | 2,210 |
| Personal and Household Goods Repair and Maintenance | 811400 | $50,990 | Annual | 270 |
Industry estimates are national. Do not combine an industry median with a local percentile to invent an industry-specific local rate.
Which related roles have a different BLS occupation?
A supervisory occupation is not an experience percentile for the craft. Compare the actual responsibilities and the published SOC.
Automotive Shop Foreman (49-1011)Which metros publish the highest and lowest medians?
This ranking uses the May 2025 annual median for Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics. It is not adjusted for living costs. A metro is a BLS statistical area, not just the city limits. Top-coded or suppressed medians are not ranked.
| Metro | Median | Employment | Location quotient | Trade median / all-occupations median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $77,840 | 3,040 | 0.59 | 0.93 |
| Napa, CA | $76,450 | 160 | 0.47 | 1.38 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $76,030 | 7,270 | 0.68 | 1.02 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $75,080 | 1,000 | 1.07 | 1.32 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $72,020 | 4,870 | 0.99 | 1.21 |
| Vallejo, CA | $69,710 | 760 | 1.16 | 1.19 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $65,160 | 1,450 | 0.99 | 1.24 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $64,320 | 4,910 | 0.7 | 1.10 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $64,210 | 7,680 | 0.99 | 1.33 |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | $64,090 | 170 | 0.78 | 1.32 |
| Hattiesburg, MS | $37,700 | 430 | 1.52 | 1.00 |
| Beckley, WV | $37,340 | 380 | 1.96 | 0.89 |
| Parkersburg-Vienna, WV | $37,250 | 330 | 1.99 | 0.89 |
| Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $37,240 | 920 | 1.44 | 0.83 |
| Morgantown, WV | $37,060 | 360 | 1.17 | 0.78 |
| San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR | $22,760 | 2,750 | 0.88 | 0.77 |
| Mayaguez, PR | $22,400 | 220 | 0.93 | 0.89 |
| Arecibo, PR | $22,340 | 200 | 1.29 | 0.86 |
| Aguadilla, PR | $22,030 | 240 | 1.07 | 0.83 |
| Ponce, PR | $21,920 | 250 | 0.86 | 0.81 |
The wage ratio is simple arithmetic: this occupation's median divided by the all-occupations median in the same area and unit. It is not a cost-of-living measure. Location quotient describes the concentration of employment, not relative pay. Neither predicts what a particular candidate will accept.
What do these published wages mean for an offer?
Skilled Trades Headhunters reads the May 2025 figures for Automotive Technician in National as an offer reference, not a quote for a particular candidate. For Automotive Technician in National, the published median for SOC 49-3023, Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics, is $50,620 per year. The middle half of the Automotive Technician in National wage distribution runs from $38,900 to $70,430, a width of $31,530 per year; that spread shows how much published pay varies within the occupation and area, without assigning experience levels.
For the national Automotive Technician comparison, New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ reports $57,760 per year while Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA reports $62,820 per year; these are the largest-employment metros with published medians for the occupation, rather than neighboring places to a national estimate. The United States Automotive Technician figure pools markets with different work scopes and schedules, so use the area table before setting a local offer.
The highest published medians among the selected national industry rows for Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics, read alongside Automotive Technician in National, are Natural Gas Distribution at $105,550 per year (NAICS 221200); Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution at $95,500 per year (NAICS 221100); Utilities at $94,910 per year (NAICS 22). Those Automotive Technician in National industry comparisons are national cross-sections, not local industry estimates; BLS does not give us a metro-by-industry wage cut here, and overlapping industry groups should not be added together.
The Automotive Technician in National median was $49,670 per year in May 2024, compared with $50,620 in May 2025, a published difference of $950. That Automotive Technician in National comparison is between separate BLS releases, not the raise paid to the same workers or a projection of next year's offer. Read the $49,670 and $50,620 Automotive Technician in National estimates with both dates visible, because the employers and workers represented by the survey can change.
Before offering $50,620 per year for Automotive Technician in National, separate flat-rate hours, diagnostic work and paid comeback work before deciding what the paycheck would look like; tool allowances and benefits need separate terms. The Automotive Technician in National BLS comparison includes ordinary wages and qualifying incentive pay, but leaves overtime, discretionary bonuses, benefits and relocation outside this wage figure. A candidate's take-home pay and the employer's total cost for Automotive Technician in National can therefore differ from the median without either number being an error.
The mapping for Automotive Technician in National is broader: BLS groups Automotive Technician within Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics; it does not publish this niche title or credential level separately. When calibrating a Automotive Technician in National opening, the work checks include ASE A1 to A8 (Master) and L1 Advanced Engine Performance; OEM factory certification level; ask for evidence of that scope instead of using a percentile as a substitute for qualification. A broader occupation can combine jobs that a Automotive Technician in National buyer would screen separately, which is why the badge and SOC remain beside the figures.
Questions about this occupation and area
What does the middle-half band tell a Automotive Technician in National buyer?
Automotive Technician in National has a published middle-half band of $38,900 to $70,430, a width of $31,530 per year, with median $50,620. An offer inside that Automotive Technician in National band is not automatically competitive for every scope; match the required work and the separate pay terms first.
Which areas should I compare before hiring Automotive Technician in National?
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ and Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA are the largest-employment comparison markets used for Automotive Technician in National. Comparing those Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics tables with the $50,620 Automotive Technician in National median does not measure commuting costs or predict what a particular applicant will accept.
Are the industry figures local to Automotive Technician in National?
Automotive Technician in National uses national industry rows for SOC 49-3023, not local sector-specific wages. Natural Gas Distribution leads the selected sortable rows at $105,550 per year, but that national industry figure is not a quoted offer for Automotive Technician in National.
What changed between the releases for Automotive Technician in National?
Automotive Technician in National moved from $49,670 in May 2024 to $50,620 in May 2025. These Automotive Technician in National published medians do not describe an individual raise or establish a future wage trend.
What changed since May 2024
SOC 49-3023. Published annual median: $49,670 (May 2024) and $50,620 (May 2025). These are two BLS releases, not a projection.