What is the best state for auto mechanics?

After cost of living, North Dakota: the median of $57,360 a year buys about what $64,480 would at average U.S. prices.

Which state pays auto mechanics the most?

Before adjusting for prices, the District of Columbia has the highest median, $68,660. After cost of living it ranks 2nd of 51.

What is the worst state for auto mechanics after cost of living?

West Virginia, where the median of $37,660 buys about what $42,080 would nationally.

How is cost of living adjusted?

We divide each state's median by its Regional Price Parity from the Bureau of Economic Analysis (2024), where the U.S. average is 100. A state with prices 10% above average (110) has its median divided by 1.10.

Best states for auto mechanics

Updated September 27, 2026

After adjusting for cost of living, North Dakota is the best-paying state for auto mechanics: its median of $57,360 a year buys what $64,480 would nationally, according to May 2025 BLS wages and BEA 2024 price levels. By raw pay, the District of Columbia leads at $68,660, but its higher prices drop it to 2nd of 51. Counting prices moves 16 states ten or more places.

Auto mechanic pay by state, after cost of living

#	State	After cost of living	Median pay	Price level
1	North Dakota$57,360 median · prices 89.0	$64,480	$57,360	89.0
2	District of Columbia$68,660 median · prices 109.9	$62,470	$68,660	109.9
3	Montana$58,740 median · prices 94.6	$62,060	$58,740	94.6
4	Colorado$61,280 median · prices 103.1	$59,470	$61,280	103.1
5	Alaska$60,840 median · prices 102.4	$59,440	$60,840	102.4
6	Minnesota$58,390 median · prices 98.6	$59,210	$58,390	98.6
7	California$64,980 median · prices 110.7	$58,690	$64,980	110.7
8	Virginia$59,330 median · prices 101.1	$58,680	$59,330	101.1
9	Delaware$58,410 median · prices 99.8	$58,520	$58,410	99.8
10	Connecticut$60,220 median · prices 103.6	$58,120	$60,220	103.6
11	Wisconsin$54,350 median · prices 94.1	$57,760	$54,350	94.1
12	South Dakota$51,160 median · prices 88.6	$57,750	$51,160	88.6
13	Iowa$50,510 median · prices 87.8	$57,550	$50,510	87.8
14	Massachusetts$60,760 median · prices 105.8	$57,450	$60,760	105.8
15	New Hampshire$59,020 median · prices 104.2	$56,660	$59,020	104.2
16	Oregon$58,520 median · prices 103.4	$56,620	$58,520	103.4
17	Michigan$54,120 median · prices 96.2	$56,250	$54,120	96.2
18	Nebraska$50,560 median · prices 90.1	$56,110	$50,560	90.1
19	Wyoming$51,330 median · prices 92.7	$55,380	$51,330	92.7
20	Maryland$57,520 median · prices 105.0	$54,800	$57,520	105.0
21	Tennessee$50,290 median · prices 91.9	$54,740	$50,290	91.9
22	Missouri$49,160 median · prices 90.8	$54,130	$49,160	90.8
23	Maine$52,040 median · prices 97.0	$53,620	$52,040	97.0
24	Washington$57,270 median · prices 107.0	$53,520	$57,270	107.0
25	Kansas$47,790 median · prices 90.1	$53,060	$47,790	90.1
26	Oklahoma$46,560 median · prices 87.8	$53,000	$46,560	87.8
27	Indiana$49,360 median · prices 93.3	$52,890	$49,360	93.3
28	Vermont$51,630 median · prices 98.0	$52,710	$51,630	98.0
29	Louisiana$46,400 median · prices 88.2	$52,600	$46,400	88.2
30	Ohio$48,710 median · prices 92.8	$52,500	$48,710	92.8
31	New Jersey$56,610 median · prices 108.8	$52,030	$56,610	108.8
32	Alabama$45,640 median · prices 88.8	$51,380	$45,640	88.8
33	South Carolina$48,100 median · prices 93.7	$51,310	$48,100	93.7
34	New Mexico$47,300 median · prices 92.2	$51,290	$47,300	92.2
35	North Carolina$48,200 median · prices 94.3	$51,100	$48,200	94.3
36	Pennsylvania$49,800 median · prices 97.6	$51,040	$49,800	97.6
37	Georgia$49,060 median · prices 96.3	$50,950	$49,060	96.3
38	Arkansas$44,160 median · prices 86.9	$50,800	$44,160	86.9
39	Idaho$48,420 median · prices 95.5	$50,700	$48,420	95.5
40	Rhode Island$51,770 median · prices 102.3	$50,620	$51,770	102.3
41	New York$54,120 median · prices 107.9	$50,150	$54,120	107.9
42	Kentucky$44,890 median · prices 90.2	$49,790	$44,890	90.2
43	Texas$48,310 median · prices 97.1	$49,770	$48,310	97.1
44	Arizona$49,570 median · prices 100.7	$49,240	$49,570	100.7
45	Illinois$49,170 median · prices 100.0	$49,190	$49,170	100.0
46	Nevada$48,290 median · prices 100.0	$48,300	$48,290	100.0
47	Hawaii$52,160 median · prices 110.0	$47,440	$52,160	110.0
48	Utah$46,570 median · prices 98.9	$47,110	$46,570	98.9
49	Florida$48,260 median · prices 103.4	$46,670	$48,260	103.4
50	Mississippi$37,820 median · prices 87.0	$43,490	$37,820	87.0
51	West Virginia$37,660 median · prices 89.5	$42,080	$37,660	89.5

Price level: BEA Regional Price Parity, U.S. average = 100. Every state links to its full auto mechanic pay page, with pay in each metro. See also: best-paying cities for auto mechanics.

How we ranked them

Each state's median annual wage for automotive service technicians and mechanics (BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, SOC 49-3023) divided by its Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parity for 2024 (all items, U.S. = 100), then ranked. Wages exclude self-employed auto mechanics. Price levels are statewide averages; costs vary within a state. Methodology

Questions

What is the best state for auto mechanics?: After cost of living, North Dakota: the median of $57,360 a year buys about what $64,480 would at average U.S. prices.
Which state pays auto mechanics the most?: Before adjusting for prices, the District of Columbia has the highest median, $68,660. After cost of living it ranks 2nd of 51.
What is the worst state for auto mechanics after cost of living?: West Virginia, where the median of $37,660 buys about what $42,080 would nationally.
How is cost of living adjusted?: We divide each state's median by its Regional Price Parity from the Bureau of Economic Analysis (2024), where the U.S. average is 100. A state with prices 10% above average (110) has its median divided by 1.10.