Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics Salary
The median pay for a automotive service technicians and mechanics in Jonesboro, AR is $44,830/year ($21.55/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $30K at the entry level to $75K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 85.88), which stretches that salary to about $52,201 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,040/month, about 34% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $45K get you in Jonesboro?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Jonesboro’s Regional Price Parity (85.88). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About automotive service technicians and mechanics
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What this looks like in Jonesboro
Pay for automotive service technicians and mechanics in Jonesboro runs about 11% below the U.S. median of $51K. Rent runs $1,040/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 34.2% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 85.88 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 14% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for automotive service technicians and mechanics in metros near Jonesboro, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway | $46K | $52K |
| Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers | $47K | $51K |
| Fort Smith | $42K | $49K |
| Hot Springs | $40K | $47K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Jonesboro, AR
Entry-level automotive service technicians and mechanics (10th percentile) start around $30K. Mid-career wages sit at $45K. Top earners bring in $75K or more, a $45K spread from bottom to top.
Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $69K | +36% | 310 |
| California | $65K | +28% | 65,420 |
| Colorado | $61K | +21% | 12,300 |
| Alaska | $61K | +20% | 1,420 |
| Massachusetts | $61K | +20% | 12,710 |
| Connecticut | $60K | +19% | 6,960 |
| Virginia | $59K | +17% | 17,880 |
| New Hampshire | $59K | +17% | 4,840 |
| Montana | $59K | +16% | 2,900 |
| Oregon | $59K | +16% | 6,990 |
| Delaware | $58K | +15% | 1,910 |
| Minnesota | $58K | +15% | 11,980 |
| Maryland | $58K | +14% | 14,230 |
| North Dakota | $57K | +13% | 2,140 |
| Washington | $57K | +13% | 12,930 |
| New Jersey | $57K | +12% | 17,640 |
| Wisconsin | $54K | +7% | 12,270 |
| Michigan | $54K | +7% | 22,280 |
| New York | $54K | +7% | 32,020 |
| Hawaii | $52K | +3% | 2,710 |
| Maine | $52K | +3% | 3,390 |
| Rhode Island | $52K | +2% | 2,530 |
| Vermont | $52K | +2% | 1,610 |
| Wyoming | $51K | +1% | 1,560 |
| South Dakota | $51K | +1% | 2,010 |
| Nebraska | $51K | -0% | 4,560 |
| Iowa | $51K | -0% | 7,610 |
| Tennessee | $50K | -1% | 16,210 |
| Pennsylvania | $50K | -2% | 29,400 |
| Arizona | $50K | -2% | 16,400 |
| Indiana | $49K | -2% | 16,480 |
| Illinois | $49K | -3% | 29,510 |
| Missouri | $49K | -3% | 17,210 |
| Georgia | $49K | -3% | 22,070 |
| Ohio | $49K | -4% | 22,640 |
| Idaho | $48K | -4% | 5,030 |
| Texas | $48K | -5% | 69,750 |
| Nevada | $48K | -5% | 7,420 |
| Florida | $48K | -5% | 49,930 |
| North Carolina | $48K | -5% | 26,510 |
| South Carolina | $48K | -5% | 13,420 |
| Kansas | $48K | -6% | 6,240 |
| New Mexico | $47K | -7% | 5,080 |
| Utah | $47K | -8% | 9,350 |
| Oklahoma | $47K | -8% | 8,870 |
| Louisiana | $46K | -8% | 8,620 |
| Alabama | $46K | -10% | 9,040 |
| Kentucky | $45K | -11% | 11,140 |
| Arkansas | $44K | -13% | 7,310 |
| Mississippi | $38K | -25% | 7,410 |
| West Virginia | $38K | -26% | 4,490 |
Showing 1–10 of 51 (all 50 states + DC)
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Frequently asked questions
Can a automotive service technicians and mechanic afford a 2BR apartment alone in Jonesboro?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $45K, rent takes 34.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,040/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $900/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for automotive service technicians and mechanics in Jonesboro?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new automotive service technicians and mechanics typically earn — is $30K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,802/month. At HUD’s $1,040/month FMR, rent would take 58% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is automotive service technicians and mechanic a high-paying job in Jonesboro?
Local pay runs 11% below the national median — $45K here vs. $51K nationally. Cost of living is 14% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Jonesboro compare to the national average for automotive service technicians and mechanics?
Jonesboro pays $45K median vs. the U.S. average of $51K — that’s -11%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 85.88), the purchasing-power equivalent is $52K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do automotive service technicians and mechanics make in Jonesboro, AR?
The median is $44,830 a year, that works out to about $22 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $30,030, and experienced automotive service technicians and mechanics can clear $75,320. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $45K enough to live in Jonesboro?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,040/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,040/month, which eats 34.2% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a automotive service technicians and mechanics salary go in Jonesboro?
Jonesboro has a Regional Price Parity of 85.88 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median automotive service technicians and mechanics salary is worth about $52,201 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do automotive service technicians and mechanics get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.