Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics Salary
The median pay for a automotive service technicians and mechanics in Tennessee is $50,290/year ($24.18/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $35K at the entry level to $80K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.78), which stretches that salary to about $56,015 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,215/month, about 34.8% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Tennessee. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $50K get you in Tennessee?
About automotive service technicians and mechanics
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What this looks like in Tennessee
Automotive service technicians and mechanics pay in Tennessee tracks closely to the national median, $50K locally vs. $51K nationwide, a 1% difference. Rent runs $1,215/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 34.4% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 89.78 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 10% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Tennessee
Entry-level automotive service technicians and mechanics (10th percentile) start around $35K. Mid-career wages sit at $50K. Top earners bring in $80K or more, a $45K spread from bottom to top.
Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics salary by metro in Tennessee
10 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin | $59K | +17% | 5,150 |
| Chattanooga | $51K | +1% | 1,320 |
| Memphis | $50K | +0% | 2,980 |
| Jackson | $50K | -1% | 520 |
| Johnson City | $50K | -1% | 450 |
| Clarksville | $50K | -1% | 730 |
| Cleveland | $49K | -3% | 260 |
| Kingsport-Bristol | $49K | -3% | 670 |
| Knoxville | $49K | -3% | 2,280 |
| Morristown | $48K | -5% | 260 |
Compare to other states
Track automotive service technicians and mechanics salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Tennessee numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a automotive service technicians and mechanic afford a 2BR apartment alone in Tennessee?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $50K, rent takes 34.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,215/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,100/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 Tennessee?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new automotive service technicians and mechanics typically earn — is $35K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,089/month. At HUD’s $1,215/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 Tennessee?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $50K locally vs. $51K nationally, a 1% difference.
How does Tennessee compare to the national average for automotive service technicians and mechanics?
Tennessee pays $50K median vs. the U.S. average of $51K — that’s -1%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.78), the purchasing-power equivalent is $56K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do automotive service technicians and mechanics make in Tennessee?
The median is $50,290 a year, that works out to about $24 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $34,820, and experienced automotive service technicians and mechanics can clear $79,930. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $50K enough to live in Tennessee?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,537/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,215/month, which eats 34.4% 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 Tennessee?
Tennessee has a Regional Price Parity of 89.78 (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 $56,015 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.