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Maintenance Workers, Machinery vs. Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics: Who Earns More?

Maintenance Workers, Machinery out-earn Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics by $10K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Maintenance Workers, Machinery land at $60,850 and Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics at $50,620. The education gap is real: maintenance workers, machinery programs typically require high school diploma or equivalent, while automotive service technicians and mechanic programs require postsecondary nondegree award. Top-paying state for Maintenance Workers, Machinery is Wyoming ($84,620); for Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics it's District of Columbia ($68,660).

Maintenance Workers, Machinery
Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics
Median salary
$60,850
$50,620
Hourly rate
$29.25/hr
$24.34/hr
Entry level (10th %)
$42,000
$34,660
Senior level (90th %)
$88,550
$81,790
Education required
High school diploma or equivalent
Postsecondary nondegree award
U.S. employment
60,020
704,640
Job growth (10-year)
-2.8%
4.2%
Category
Repair & Maintenance
Repair & Maintenance
Top-paying state
Wyoming
District of Columbia

Pay by state

States where both occupations have BLS data, sorted by Maintenance Workers, Machinery median pay.

State
Maintenance Workers, Machinery
Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics
New Hampshire
$77,070
$59,020
California
$67,840
$64,980
Virginia
$65,500
$59,330
Wisconsin
$64,310
$54,350
Colorado
$64,010
$61,280
Connecticut
$63,250
$60,220
Minnesota
$63,020
$58,390
Washington
$62,970
$57,270
District of Columbia
$62,520
$68,660
Alaska
$61,290
$60,840
Michigan
$59,590
$54,120
Maryland
$59,570
$57,520
New Jersey
$57,920
$56,610
Oregon
$57,440
$58,520
Massachusetts
$55,000
$60,760

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025. Highlighted value is higher in each row.

Common questions

Who earns more, Maintenance Workers, Machinery or Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics?

Maintenance Workers, Machinery earn more nationally. The median is $60,850 for Maintenance Workers, Machinery versus $50,620 for Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics, a difference of $10K. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.

Which has better job growth, Maintenance Workers, Machinery or Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics?

Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics has the better 10-year outlook at 4.2% projected growth, compared to -2.8% for the other field. Both are from BLS Employment Projections.

Which requires more education, Maintenance Workers, Machinery or Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics?

Maintenance Workers, Machinery typically requires high school diploma or equivalent. Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics requires postsecondary nondegree award. Education requirements vary by employer and state licensing board.

Where do Maintenance Workers, Machinery get paid the most?

Wyoming is the top-paying state for Maintenance Workers, Machinery at $84,620/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.

How does Maintenance Workers, Machinery vs. Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics pay differ by state?

The gap varies significantly by state. In New Hampshire, Maintenance Workers, Machinery earn $77,070 vs. $59,020 for Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.

Full Maintenance Workers, Machinery salary breakdownView →Full Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics salary breakdownView →Best cities for Maintenance Workers, Machinery by take-home payExplore →Best cities for Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics by take-home payExplore →How to become a maintenance workers, machineryGuide →How to become a automotive service technicians and mechanicsGuide →