Auto Mechanic Salary: Pay and Take-Home by State
The typical (median) auto mechanic in the US earns $24.34 an hour, or $50,620 a year, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates for 704,640 jobs (May 2025, occupation: automotive service technicians and mechanics). The middle half earn between $38,900 and $70,430 a year, and the top 10% earn more than $81,790.
After federal income tax, Social Security and Medicare, the median salary leaves a single filer about $42,853 a year ($3,571 a month) in a state with no income tax. Using each state's own median pay for this job, take-home is highest in California ($51,377 a year) and lowest in West Virginia ($31,478).
Auto Mechanic pay range
| Pay level | Hourly | Yearly | Take-home a year* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bottom 10% earn less than | $16.66 | $34,660 | $30,029 |
| 25th percentile | $18.70 | $38,900 | $33,436 |
| Median (half earn more) | $24.34 | $50,620 | $42,853 |
| 75th percentile | $33.86 | $70,430 | $58,378 |
| Top 10% earn more than | $39.32 | $81,790 | $66,369 |
The average (mean) is $56,420 a year ($27.13 an hour), above the median because a minority of high earners pull it up. *Take-home after federal income tax, Social Security and Medicare for a single filer in a state with no income tax (2026). Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, occupation 49-3023. Source
Auto Mechanic salary by state
The highest median pay for auto mechanics is in District of Columbia ($68,660), California ($64,980), Colorado ($61,280), Alaska ($60,840), Massachusetts ($60,760). The lowest is in West Virginia ($37,670), Mississippi ($37,810), Arkansas ($44,160).
The most auto mechanics work in Texas (69,750), California (65,420), Florida (49,930).
After each state's taxes, the most take-home at the local median is in California ($51,377), Alaska ($50,761), New Hampshire ($49,611), Colorado ($48,694), North Dakota ($48,277). A state with no income tax can come out ahead of a state that pays more before tax.
Median pay in each state for this job (BLS, May 2025), and take-home at that pay. Take-home is after federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare and the state's income tax and payroll programs, for a single filer with a 2026 W-4 and no deductions. Local taxes are not included. *District of Columbia: federal taxes only (DC income tax is not modeled yet).
| State | Median hourly | Median yearly | Take-home a year | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $21.94 | $45,640 | $36,975 | 9,040 |
| Alaska | $29.25 | $60,840 | $50,761 | 1,420 |
| Arizona | $23.83 | $49,570 | $41,018 | 16,400 |
| Arkansas | $21.23 | $44,160 | $36,518 | 7,310 |
| California | $31.24 | $64,980 | $51,377 | 65,420 |
| Colorado | $29.46 | $61,280 | $48,694 | 12,300 |
| Connecticut | $28.95 | $60,220 | $47,912 | 6,960 |
| Delaware | $28.08 | $58,410 | $46,314 | 1,910 |
| District of Columbia | $33.01 | $68,660 | $57,132* | 310 |
| Florida | $23.20 | $48,260 | $40,957 | 49,930 |
| Georgia | $23.59 | $49,070 | $39,908 | 22,070 |
| Hawaii | $25.08 | $52,170 | $41,394 | 2,710 |
| Idaho | $23.28 | $48,420 | $39,370 | 5,030 |
| Illinois | $23.64 | $49,170 | $39,399 | 29,510 |
| Indiana | $23.73 | $49,360 | $39,437 | 16,480 |
| Iowa | $24.28 | $50,500 | $41,372 | 7,610 |
| Kansas | $22.98 | $47,800 | $38,719 | 6,240 |
| Kentucky | $21.58 | $44,890 | $36,795 | 11,140 |
| Louisiana | $22.31 | $46,400 | $38,426 | 8,620 |
| Maine | $25.02 | $52,040 | $41,706 | 3,390 |
| Maryland | $27.66 | $57,530 | $44,356 | 14,230 |
| Massachusetts | $29.21 | $60,760 | $48,135 | 12,710 |
| Michigan | $26.02 | $54,120 | $43,616 | 22,280 |
| Minnesota | $28.07 | $58,390 | $45,672 | 11,980 |
| Mississippi | $18.18 | $37,810 | $31,780 | 7,410 |
| Missouri | $23.63 | $49,150 | $40,294 | 17,210 |
| Montana | $28.24 | $58,740 | $47,376 | 2,900 |
| Nebraska | $24.31 | $50,560 | $41,103 | 4,560 |
| Nevada | $23.22 | $48,300 | $40,989 | 7,420 |
| New Hampshire | $28.38 | $59,030 | $49,611 | 4,840 |
| New Jersey | $27.22 | $56,620 | $45,375 | 17,640 |
| New Mexico | $22.74 | $47,300 | $38,750 | 5,080 |
| New York | $26.02 | $54,120 | $43,043 | 32,020 |
| North Carolina | $23.17 | $48,190 | $39,445 | 26,510 |
| North Dakota | $27.58 | $57,370 | $48,277 | 2,140 |
| Ohio | $23.42 | $48,710 | $40,244 | 22,640 |
| Oklahoma | $22.38 | $46,550 | $38,023 | 8,870 |
| Oregon | $28.14 | $58,530 | $44,939 | 6,990 |
| Pennsylvania | $23.94 | $49,800 | $40,631 | 29,400 |
| Rhode Island | $24.89 | $51,770 | $41,304 | 2,530 |
| South Carolina | $23.12 | $48,090 | $39,179 | 13,420 |
| South Dakota | $24.60 | $51,170 | $43,295 | 2,010 |
| Tennessee | $24.18 | $50,290 | $42,588 | 16,210 |
| Texas | $23.23 | $48,320 | $41,005 | 69,750 |
| Utah | $22.39 | $46,570 | $37,519 | 9,350 |
| Vermont | $24.82 | $51,630 | $42,191 | 1,610 |
| Virginia | $28.53 | $59,340 | $47,262 | 17,880 |
| Washington | $27.54 | $57,280 | $47,410 | 12,930 |
| West Virginia | $18.11 | $37,670 | $31,478 | 4,490 |
| Wisconsin | $26.13 | $54,350 | $43,421 | 12,270 |
| Wyoming | $24.68 | $51,330 | $43,424 | 1,560 |
Overtime and pay rules for auto mechanics
Mechanics who work for a car or truck dealership can be exempt from federal overtime: the dealership exemption covers certain mechanics and sales and parts staff. Source Mechanics at independent repair shops are generally owed overtime after 40 hours a week. The new no-tax-on-overtime deduction covers the extra half of time-and-a-half pay, up to $12,500 a year for a single filer. Only overtime that the federal Fair Labor Standards Act requires counts; overtime paid only under a contract, a state law or an employer policy does not. Source Estimate your deduction.
How the exemptions work across jobs: who gets overtime pay.
Taxes on an auto mechanic's pay
On the median $50,620, federal income tax, Social Security and Medicare take about 15.3% of pay for a single filer: $3,894 of income tax and $3,872 of Social Security and Medicare a year.
Tax bracket. After the $16,100 standard deduction, taxable income is $34,520, so the top federal rate is 12%. Each extra dollar from a raise or extra shifts is taxed at about 19.65% before state tax: 12% income tax plus 7.65% Social Security and Medicare. Source
401(k). Putting 5% ($2,531 a year) into a traditional 401(k) lowers federal income tax by about $304, so it costs about $2,227 of take-home pay.
Self-employed or contract work
BLS pay figures cover employees only; self-employed auto mechanics are not counted. If you work as a contractor (1099), you pay both halves of Social Security and Medicare (15.3% self-employment tax) and usually make quarterly estimated payments. Use the 1099 Tax Calculator to see what to set aside, and see 1099 vs W-2 take-home pay for how much more a contractor needs to earn.
Jobs with similar pay
| Job | Median yearly | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Welder | $53,750 | $25.84 |
| Medical Billing and Coding Specialist | $51,140 | $24.59 |
| Dental Assistant | $48,070 | $23.11 |
| Sterile Processing Tech | $47,700 | $22.93 |
| Vet Tech | $47,380 | $22.78 |
For a full breakdown of a similar wage, see $24 an hour is how much a year.
Auto Mechanic salary questions
How much does an auto mechanic make?
The median pay is $24.34 an hour, or $50,620 a year (May 2025, Bureau of Labor Statistics). The bottom 10% earn less than $34,660 and the top 10% more than $81,790.
How much does an auto mechanic make after taxes?
About $42,853 a year, or $1,648 every two weeks, on the median salary for a single filer in a state with no income tax. In West Virginia, at that state's own median pay, it is about $31,478.
How much does an auto mechanic make a month?
About $4,218 a month before taxes at the median salary, and roughly $3,571 after federal taxes in a state with no income tax.
Which state pays auto mechanics the most?
District of Columbia, with a median of $68,660 a year ($33.01 an hour). Next are California ($64,980) and Colorado ($61,280). After state taxes, take-home at the local median is highest in California.
How much does an auto mechanic make an hour?
The median is $24.34 an hour. The middle half earn $18.70 to $33.86, and the top 10% more than $39.32.
Do auto mechanics get paid overtime?
Mechanics who work for a car or truck dealership can be exempt from federal overtime: the dealership exemption covers certain mechanics and sales and parts staff. Mechanics at independent repair shops are generally owed overtime after 40 hours a week. The new no-tax-on-overtime deduction covers the extra half of time-and-a-half pay, up to $12,500 a year for a single filer. Only overtime that the federal Fair Labor Standards Act requires counts; overtime paid only under a contract, a state law or an employer policy does not.
More trades and construction salaries
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All jobs · Hourly to salary chart. BLS data published 2026, reference period May 2025; tax figures checked Oct 26, 2026.