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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Real salary distribution from 288 tracked cities across 46 states. Compare entry-level, median, and senior compensation — then adjust for cost of living.
The national median tells one story. The city-level data tells a dozen. The national median salary for Automotive Technicians in 2026 is $54,536, with entry-level positions averaging $33,813 and senior roles reaching $79,078. But those numbers flatten a reality with enormous geographic variation — Sunnyvale pays a median of $99,640, while other markets fall well below the national average. We tracked 288 cities to build the complete picture.
A career as a Automotive Technician sits at the intersection of Installation & Maintenance and Skilled Trades. Most professionals enter with Postsecondary certificate, and the field is characterized by steady. The work itself is shop-based. Understanding that context matters: it explains why certain markets pay premiums and others lag.
$60,630 separates the highest and lowest-paying cities. A Automotive Technician in Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $99,640 — $60,630 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($39,010). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent. Cost-adjusted, this occupation outearns its reputation.
The salary distribution for Automotive Technicians reveals a $45,265 spread from entry to senior. At $54,536, the median sits $25,831 below the national median household income of $80,367. Context matters: this is an individual salary, compared against household income. The P10 floor of $33,813 represents early-career or part-time positions, while the $79,078 ceiling captures experienced professionals in premium markets.
The pay gap between the top and bottom markets is dramatic: $93,060 (average of the top 3 cities) versus $39,323 (average of the bottom 3). That $53,737 delta is real money — $4,478/month before taxes. But the highest-paying cities tend to be the most expensive. The cost-adjusted comparison below tells the more important story.
A Automotive Technician in Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $99,640 — $60,630 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($39,010). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent.
The national average entry-level (P10) salary for Automotive Technician is $33,813, while senior-level (P90) earners average $79,078. That $45,265 trajectory represents the earning growth a career in this field can deliver.
| Country | Coverage | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 288 | $33,813 | $54,536 | $79,078 |
| United Kingdom | 27 | £22,401 | £31,112 | £44,179 |
| Canada | 21 | CA$34,841 | CA$48,391 | CA$68,715 |
| Australia | 13 | A$42,868 | A$59,538 | A$84,544 |
| Sweden | 24 | 235,032 kr | 326,434 kr | 463,536 kr |
| State | Cities | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 61 | $40,935 | $66,023 | $95,734 |
| Massachusetts | 4 | $39,558 | $63,803 | $92,514 |
| Hawaii | 1 | $39,339 | $63,450 | $92,003 |
| District of Columbia | 1 | $36,425 | $58,750 | $85,188 |
| New Jersey | 4 | $35,988 | $58,045 | $84,166 |
| Washington | 8 | $35,296 | $56,929 | $82,547 |
| New York | 5 | $33,219 | $53,580 | $77,691 |
| Rhode Island | 1 | $33,220 | $53,580 | $77,691 |
| Florida | 22 | $32,968 | $53,174 | $77,103 |
| Colorado | 11 | $32,398 | $52,255 | $75,771 |
| New Hampshire | 1 | $32,345 | $52,170 | $75,647 |
| Nevada | 5 | $32,287 | $52,076 | $75,510 |
| Arizona | 12 | $32,127 | $51,818 | $75,136 |
| Oregon | 5 | $32,054 | $51,700 | $74,965 |
| Idaho | 3 | $31,957 | $51,543 | $74,738 |
| Connecticut | 5 | $31,704 | $51,136 | $74,148 |
| Utah | 4 | $31,617 | $50,995 | $73,943 |
| Virginia | 7 | $31,096 | $50,156 | $72,726 |
| South Carolina | 3 | $30,694 | $49,507 | $71,785 |
| Alaska | 1 | $30,597 | $49,350 | $71,558 |
| Illinois | 5 | $30,247 | $48,786 | $70,740 |
| North Carolina | 9 | $29,496 | $47,574 | $68,983 |
| New Mexico | 3 | $29,140 | $47,000 | $68,150 |
| Montana | 1 | $29,140 | $47,000 | $68,150 |
| Tennessee | 6 | $29,043 | $46,843 | $67,923 |
| Texas | 40 | $28,900 | $46,612 | $67,588 |
| Minnesota | 2 | $28,849 | $46,530 | $67,469 |
| Wisconsin | 2 | $28,703 | $46,295 | $67,128 |
| Georgia | 6 | $28,606 | $46,138 | $66,901 |
| Pennsylvania | 3 | $28,557 | $46,060 | $66,787 |
| Kansas | 4 | $28,412 | $45,825 | $66,447 |
| Michigan | 6 | $28,314 | $45,668 | $66,219 |
| Kentucky | 2 | $27,975 | $45,120 | $65,424 |
| Maryland | 1 | $27,974 | $45,120 | $65,424 |
| Nebraska | 2 | $27,683 | $44,650 | $64,743 |
| South Dakota | 1 | $27,683 | $44,650 | $64,743 |
| Oklahoma | 4 | $26,955 | $43,475 | $63,039 |
| North Dakota | 1 | $26,809 | $43,240 | $62,698 |
| Louisiana | 4 | $26,445 | $42,653 | $61,847 |
| Missouri | 4 | $26,445 | $42,653 | $61,846 |
| Alabama | 5 | $26,343 | $42,488 | $61,608 |
| Indiana | 3 | $25,935 | $41,830 | $60,654 |
| Arkansas | 1 | $25,935 | $41,830 | $60,654 |
| Iowa | 2 | $25,643 | $41,360 | $59,972 |
| Ohio | 6 | $25,595 | $41,282 | $59,859 |
| Mississippi | 1 | $24,478 | $39,480 | $57,246 |
At the state level, California leads with an average Automotive Technician median of $66,023 across 61 cities, followed by Massachusetts ($63,803) and Hawaii ($63,450). Entry-level numbers tell a different story: The lowest-paying states — Mississippi, Ohio, Iowa — offer medians between $39,480 and $41,360. But state averages mask city-level variation that's often just as large.
When you adjust the top-paying cities for cost of living, the ranking reshuffles. Sunnyvale ($99,640 nominal, 212 cost index) delivers $47,000 in purchasing power — maintaining its lead even after cost adjustment. This is the metric that matters for anyone considering a geo-based career move.
Raw salary divided by the local cost index — this shows where your paycheck buys the most.
| # | City | Nominal Salary | Cost Index | Adjusted Salary | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sunnyvale California | $99,640 | 212 | $47,000 | $61,792 |
| 2 | Santa Clara California | $93,060 | 198 | $47,000 | $58,038 |
| 3 | Irvine California | $86,480 | 184 | $47,000 | $54,284 |
| 4 | San Francisco California | $85,070 | 181 | $47,000 | $53,479 |
| 5 | Carlsbad California | $83,660 | 178 | $47,000 | $52,675 |
| 6 | San Jose California | $83,190 | 177 | $47,000 | $52,407 |
| 7 | Fremont California | $83,190 | 177 | $47,000 | $52,407 |
| 8 | Berkeley California | $81,310 | 173 | $47,000 | $51,334 |
| 9 | Costa Mesa California | $81,310 | 173 | $47,000 | $51,334 |
| 10 | Huntington Beach California | $79,430 | 169 | $47,000 | $50,262 |
The $45,265 gap between P10 and P90 represents the earning trajectory of a Automotive Technician career. Senior-level earners make 2.3× what entry-level professionals do — a solid progression that justifies the upfront investment. In the Skilled Trades sector, steady, which shapes both starting salaries and long-term ceiling.
The weighted national median salary for Automotive Technicians is $54,536 in 2026, based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics across 288 U.S. metro areas. Entry-level (10th percentile) averages $33,813, while experienced professionals at the 90th percentile average $79,078.
The highest-paying city for Automotive Technicians is Sunnyvale, California with a median salary of $99,640. The top 3 cities are Sunnyvale ($99,640), Santa Clara ($93,060), Irvine ($86,480). Note: high-paying cities often have higher costs of living — check the cost-adjusted rankings above for purchasing power.
The lowest median Automotive Technician salary in our data is in Toledo, Ohio at $39,010. However, lower-paying cities often have significantly lower costs of living, which can offset the pay gap. Always compare salary data alongside local cost of living.
Entry-level Automotive Technicians (10th percentile) average $33,813 nationally. This varies by city — in the highest-paying markets, entry-level pay can be close to $61,777. Experience, certifications, and employer type all influence starting salary.
At the 90th percentile (senior level), Automotive Technicians average $79,078 nationally — $45,265 more than entry-level. In top-paying cities, senior Automotive Technicians can earn up to $144,478.
The top-paying states for Automotive Technicians are California ($66,023 median), Massachusetts ($63,803 median), Hawaii ($63,450 median). State averages are computed across all tracked cities in each state, weighted equally.
The typical education path for a Automotive Technician involves Postsecondary certificate. The field is in the Skilled Trades sector (Installation & Maintenance), and the career outlook is steady. Work style is typically shop-based.
With a national median of $54,536 and representation across 288 metro areas, Automotive Technician offers a foundation that can be strengthened by strategic location choices. The $45,265 gap between entry and senior pay shows room for salary growth. Industry outlook: steady.
All salary data on this page is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan areas. We present 10th percentile (entry), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks. Cost-of-living adjustments use our core database of 288 cities.
Salary data is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas. We present the 10th percentile (entry-level), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks.
Cost-of-living adjustments use Livably's core index derived from Zillow rent data, Census income surveys, and regional BLS price data. Take-home pay estimates apply simplified federal brackets, 7.65% FICA, and state income tax rates from the Tax Foundation.
State and national averages are computed as simple means across all tracked cities with data for this occupation. Rankings are updated monthly as new BLS releases become available.