Auto mechanic salary in Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN
Updated September 27, 2026 with BLS data from May 2025
Auto mechanics in the Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN area earn a median of $49,090 a year, or $23.60 an hour, according to May 2025 BLS data. One in ten earns more than $80,820. That's 1% more than the Ohio median of $48,710.
- Entry-level starting pay (estimate)
- $16.87/hr
- Jobs in this area
- 4,520
- After cost of living
- $51,470
- Median hourly pay
- $23.60/hr
- vs U.S. median
- −3%
- vs Ohio median
- +1%
Entry-level to master auto mechanic pay
| Stage | Yearly pay | Hourly pay |
|---|---|---|
| Entry level | $35,090–$38,270$16.87–$18.40/hr | |
| Experienced technician | $49,090$23.60/hr | |
| Master / top earners | $66,710–$80,820$32.07–$38.85/hr |
Estimated from BLS percentiles (10th–25th, median, 75th–90th); BLS does not report pay by license level.
How Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN compares
- Cincinnati ranks 4th of 15 Ohio metro areas for auto mechanic pay.
- Auto mechanics hold about the same share of jobs in the Cincinnati area as nationally: 4.1 of every 1,000 jobs.
- The 90th-percentile wage, $80,820, is 2.3 times the 10th-percentile wage, $35,090: a measure of how much pay rises with experience and specialty.
Other Ohio metro areas
Other trades in Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN
Questions
- How much do auto mechanics make in Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN?
- Auto mechanics in the Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN area earn a median of $49,090 a year, or $23.60 an hour, according to May 2025 BLS data. One in ten earns more than $80,820.
- How much do auto mechanics make an hour in Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN?
- The median hourly wage is $23.60. The middle half earn between $18.40 and $32.07 an hour. (BLS, May 2025.)
- What do entry-level auto mechanics make in Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN?
- BLS doesn't report pay by license level. The 10th-percentile wage, $16.87 an hour ($35,090 a year), is a reasonable estimate of starting pay; the 25th percentile is $18.40.
- Do auto mechanics make more in Cincinnati or Columbus?
- Columbus pays more: the median is $49,090 in Cincinnati and $56,150 in Columbus, a 13% difference.
- How does Cincinnati pay compare with the rest of Ohio?
- The Cincinnati median of $49,090 is 1% more than the Ohio median of $48,710.
About this data
Wages are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey for May 2025, occupation 49-3023 (Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics), area code 17140 (Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN). BLS counts wage and salary workers only, so self-employed auto mechanics and business owners aren't included. The cost-of-living figure divides the median by the Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parity for 2024 (95.4, where the U.S. average is 100). Page updated September 27, 2026. How we calculate these figures