How much does a mechanic make? Mechanic salary and hourly pay
A mechanic in the US earns a median of $50,620 a year, about $24.34 an hour. The lowest-paid 10% earn under $34,660 and the top 10% earn over $81,790. Pay depends heavily on the state: the top-paying state, District of Columbia, has a median of $68,660.
Mechanic pay calculator
Gross pay before taxes. If you enter your own hourly rate, it replaces the BLS figure. Otherwise hourly rate = BLS annual figure Ă· 2,080 hours (40 hours Ă 52 weeks), the same convention BLS uses.
How much does a mechanic make an hour?
The median mechanic earns $24.34 an hour. Hourly pay ranges from about $16.66 for the lowest-paid 10% to $39.32 for the highest-paid 10%.
| Pay level | Per year | Per hour |
|---|---|---|
| Entry level (bottom 10%) | $34,660 | $16.66 |
| Lower 25% | $38,900 | $18.70 |
| Median (typical) | $50,620 | $24.34 |
| Upper 25% | $70,430 | $33.86 |
| Top 10% | $81,790 | $39.32 |
Mechanic salary by state
Median annual pay for mechanics in every state, from BLS May 2025 data.
| State | Median per year | â Per hour |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $45,640 | $21.94 |
| Alaska | $60,840 | $29.25 |
| Arizona | $49,570 | $23.83 |
| Arkansas | $44,160 | $21.23 |
| California | $64,980 | $31.24 |
| Colorado | $61,280 | $29.46 |
| Connecticut | $60,220 | $28.95 |
| Delaware | $58,410 | $28.08 |
| District of Columbia | $68,660 | $33.01 |
| Florida | $48,260 | $23.20 |
| Georgia | $49,060 | $23.59 |
| Hawaii | $52,160 | $25.08 |
| Idaho | $48,420 | $23.28 |
| Illinois | $49,170 | $23.64 |
| Indiana | $49,360 | $23.73 |
| Iowa | $50,510 | $24.28 |
| Kansas | $47,790 | $22.98 |
| Kentucky | $44,890 | $21.58 |
| Louisiana | $46,400 | $22.31 |
| Maine | $52,040 | $25.02 |
| Maryland | $57,520 | $27.65 |
| Massachusetts | $60,760 | $29.21 |
| Michigan | $54,120 | $26.02 |
| Minnesota | $58,390 | $28.07 |
| Mississippi | $37,820 | $18.18 |
| Missouri | $49,160 | $23.63 |
| Montana | $58,740 | $28.24 |
| Nebraska | $50,560 | $24.31 |
| Nevada | $48,290 | $23.22 |
| New Hampshire | $59,020 | $28.38 |
| New Jersey | $56,610 | $27.22 |
| New Mexico | $47,300 | $22.74 |
| New York | $54,120 | $26.02 |
| North Carolina | $48,200 | $23.17 |
| North Dakota | $57,360 | $27.58 |
| Ohio | $48,710 | $23.42 |
| Oklahoma | $46,560 | $22.38 |
| Oregon | $58,520 | $28.13 |
| Pennsylvania | $49,800 | $23.94 |
| Rhode Island | $51,770 | $24.89 |
| South Carolina | $48,100 | $23.12 |
| South Dakota | $51,160 | $24.60 |
| Tennessee | $50,290 | $24.18 |
| Texas | $48,310 | $23.23 |
| Utah | $46,570 | $22.39 |
| Vermont | $51,630 | $24.82 |
| Virginia | $59,330 | $28.52 |
| Washington | $57,270 | $27.53 |
| West Virginia | $37,660 | $18.11 |
| Wisconsin | $54,350 | $26.13 |
| Wyoming | $51,330 | $24.68 |
Highest-paying states for mechanics
- District of Columbia: $68,660 median
- California: $64,980 median
- Colorado: $61,280 median
- Alaska: $60,840 median
- Massachusetts: $60,760 median
The lowest medians are in West Virginia ($37,660), Mississippi ($37,820), Arkansas ($44,160), Kentucky ($44,890), Alabama ($45,640). The most mechanic jobs are in Texas (69,750 jobs), California (65,420 jobs), Florida (49,930 jobs), New York (32,020 jobs), Illinois (29,510 jobs).
How much does a mechanic make a month?
At the median salary of $50,620, a mechanic earns about $4,218 a month, $1,947 every two weeks or $973 a week, before taxes.
Entry-level vs. experienced mechanic pay
New mechanics typically start near the bottom of the range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $34,660 a year and the lowest 25% under $38,900. The top 25% earn over $70,430 and the top 10% over $81,790. BLS does not break pay down by years of experience; these percentiles are the closest official measure.
Mechanic salary vs. similar jobs
| Job | Median per year |
|---|---|
| Mechanic | $50,620 |
| Electrician | $63,190 |
| Plumber | $63,800 |
| Welder | $53,750 |
| HVAC technician | $61,010 |
| Lineman | $95,320 |
| Truck driver | $58,640 |
Common questions
How much does a mechanic make?
The US median is $50,620 a year ($24.34 an hour), based on BLS May 2025 data.
How much does a mechanic make an hour?
The median is about $24.34 an hour. The bottom 10% earn about $16.66 and the top 10% about $39.32 an hour.
Which state pays mechanics the most?
District of Columbia has the highest median at $68,660, followed by California ($64,980) and Colorado ($61,280).
How much does a mechanic make a month?
At the US median of $50,620 a year, about $4,218 a month or $1,947 every two weeks, before taxes.
How much does an entry-level mechanic make?
The lowest-paid 10% earn under $34,660 a year and the lowest 25% under $38,900, the closest official measure of starting pay.
How much do the top 10% of mechanics make?
The top 10% earn over $81,790 a year; the top 25% earn over $70,430.
How much does a mechanic make in California, Texas, Florida and New York?
Median annual pay is $64,980 in California, $48,310 in Texas, $48,260 in Florida, $54,120 in New York, per BLS May 2025 data.
Last reviewed October 31, 2026. All figures are from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 survey (occupation code 49-3023, âAutomotive Service Technicians and Mechanicsâ), the most recent official release; âmedianâ means half earn more and half earn less. Figures are gross pay before taxes and benefits. See the BLS OEWS tables and the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. This page is general information, not career or financial advice.