Auto mechanic pay in Detroit, MI
Auto mechanics in the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI metro area earn a typical $56,000 a year. The middle half earn $46,600 to $72,040, and the top 10% earn more than $81,240. About 9,520 people do this job there.
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 (occupation: Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics, SOC 49-3023).
Pay range
| Bottom 10% earn less than | $37,080 |
| 25th percentile | $46,600 |
| Median (typical) | $56,000 |
| 75th percentile | $72,040 |
| Top 10% earn more than | $81,240 |
Typical pay here ranks No. 23 of 50 large metros for auto mechanics before taxes and prices.
After taxes and cost of living
At the typical $56,000, a single filer keeps about $43,700 a year after federal, Social Security, Medicare, and Michigan state and local (about $1,344) income tax. Prices in Detroit are about the US average, so that take-home buys what $43,600 would in a typical US city. That ranks Detroit No. 27 of 50 large metros for auto mechanics after cost of living.
Where auto mechanics’ pay goes furthest
- San Jose, CA$77,840 typical · worth $54.9k
- Sacramento, CA$72,020 typical · worth $53.4k
- Milwaukee, WI$62,530 typical · worth $52.1k
- San Francisco, CA$76,030 typical · worth $51.4k
All 50 metros for auto mechanics →
Where does your salary land?
Add your salary and experience to see your percentile among auto mechanics in Detroit. Free and private. (Different city? Use the main checker.)
Common questions
How much does a auto mechanic make in Detroit, MI?
The typical (median) auto mechanic in the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI metro area earns $56,000 a year. The middle half earn between $46,600 and $72,040, and the top 10% earn more than $81,240. Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.
What is a good salary for a auto mechanic in Detroit?
Anything above $56,000 pays more than half of auto mechanics in Detroit. $72,040 or more puts you in the top quarter, and $81,240 in the top 10%. Experience and employer move where you should be in that range.
How much does a auto mechanic in Detroit take home after taxes?
At the typical $56,000, a single filer keeps about $43,700 a year ($3,640 a month) after federal, Social Security, Medicare, Michigan state, and local income tax. With local prices about the US average, that buys what $43,600 would in a typical US city.
Where do auto mechanics get paid the most after cost of living?
Among the 50 largest US metros, typical auto mechanic pay goes furthest after taxes and prices in San Jose, CA, Sacramento, CA, Milwaukee, WI. Detroit, MI ranks No. 27.
More: Auto mechanic pay in every large metro · Pay for other jobs in Detroit, MI
Local prices: BEA regional price parities, 2024. Updated November 2026.