Auto mechanic pay by city
Across the 50 largest US metros, typical auto mechanic pay ranges from $46,820 in Oklahoma City, OK to $77,840 in San Jose, CA. After taxes and local prices, it goes furthest in San Jose, CA, Sacramento, CA, Milwaukee, WI.
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 (occupation: Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics, SOC 49-3023).
| Rank | Metro | Typical pay | Worth after taxes and prices |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $77,840 | $54,900 |
| 2 | Sacramento, CA | $72,020 | $53,400 |
| 3 | Milwaukee, WI | $62,530 | $52,100 |
| 4 | San Francisco, CA | $76,030 | $51,400 |
| 5 | Nashville, TN | $58,700 | $51,200 |
| 6 | Richmond, VA | $61,510 | $49,900 |
| 7 | St. Louis, MO | $58,190 | $49,000 |
| 8 | Riverside, CA | $64,210 | $48,700 |
| 9 | Virginia Beach, VA | $58,290 | $47,500 |
| 10 | Columbus, OH | $56,150 | $47,300 |
| 11 | Denver, CO | $61,960 | $47,100 |
| 12 | Kansas City, MO | $53,790 | $46,800 |
| 13 | Hartford, CT | $58,910 | $46,500 |
| 14 | San Diego, CA | $64,320 | $46,400 |
| 15 | Memphis, TN | $50,490 | $46,400 |
| 16 | Boston, MA | $63,060 | $46,100 |
| 17 | Minneapolis, MN | $60,490 | $46,000 |
| 18 | Washington, DC | $61,860 | $45,300 |
| 19 | Charlotte, NC | $53,660 | $44,900 |
| 20 | Los Angeles, CA | $62,820 | $44,800 |
| 21 | Seattle, WA | $59,290 | $44,800 |
| 22 | Philadelphia, PA | $58,460 | $44,000 |
| 23 | Portland, OR | $60,450 | $43,800 |
| 24 | Jacksonville, FL | $51,530 | $43,800 |
| 25 | Houston, TX | $50,940 | $43,700 |
| 26 | Austin, TX | $50,610 | $43,700 |
| 27 | Detroit, MI | $56,000 | $43,600 |
| 28 | Cleveland, OH | $50,260 | $43,400 |
| 29 | Chicago, IL | $55,320 | $42,500 |
| 30 | Baltimore, MD | $57,630 | $42,400 |
| 31 | Oklahoma City, OK | $46,820 | $42,300 |
| 32 | San Antonio, TX | $46,880 | $42,100 |
| 33 | Cincinnati, OH | $49,090 | $42,100 |
| 34 | Indianapolis, IN | $50,530 | $42,100 |
| 35 | Raleigh, NC | $50,600 | $42,100 |
| 36 | Providence, RI | $51,970 | $41,900 |
| 37 | Birmingham, AL | $47,830 | $41,500 |
| 38 | Atlanta, GA | $51,450 | $41,400 |
| 39 | Grand Rapids, MI | $49,310 | $41,100 |
| 40 | Dallas, TX | $49,720 | $40,900 |
| 41 | Buffalo, NY | $48,550 | $40,900 |
| 42 | Pittsburgh, PA | $48,900 | $40,600 |
| 43 | Louisville, KY | $47,440 | $40,500 |
| 44 | Las Vegas, NV | $47,650 | $40,400 |
| 45 | Tampa, FL | $47,880 | $40,300 |
| 46 | Phoenix, AZ | $50,090 | $40,100 |
| 47 | Orlando, FL | $47,850 | $40,100 |
| 48 | New York, NY | $57,760 | $39,300 |
| 49 | Salt Lake City, UT | $47,280 | $37,700 |
| 50 | Miami, FL | $49,550 | $36,800 |
“Worth” is take-home pay at the typical salary (single filer, 2026 income taxes), divided by local prices, so every city is in the same typical-US-city dollars.
Common questions
Which city pays auto mechanics the most?
Before taxes, San Jose, CA has the highest typical auto mechanic pay among the 50 largest US metros: $77,840 a year. The lowest is Oklahoma City, OK at $46,820. Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.
Where does auto mechanic pay go furthest after cost of living?
After federal, state, and local income taxes and local prices, typical auto mechanic pay goes furthest in San Jose, CA, Sacramento, CA, Milwaukee, WI. It goes the least far in Miami, FL, where it's worth about $36,800 in typical-US-city dollars.