Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics Salary
The median pay for a automotive service technicians and mechanics in Washington is $57,270/year ($27.54/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $39K at the entry level to $96K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 102.01), that's roughly $56,142 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,830/month, about 46% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Washington. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $57K get you in Washington?
About automotive service technicians and mechanics
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What this looks like in Washington
Washington sits well above the national pay line for automotive service technicians and mechanics, local pay runs about 13% higher than the U.S. median of $51K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,830/month, which is 45.7% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 102.01) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. The pay premium is real, but so are the offsets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Washington
Entry-level automotive service technicians and mechanics (10th percentile) start around $39K. Mid-career wages sit at $57K. Top earners bring in $96K or more, a $56K spread from bottom to top.
Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics salary by metro in Washington
11 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue | $59K | +4% | 6,860 |
| Bellingham | $57K | -1% | 360 |
| Mount Vernon-Anacortes | $55K | -3% | 280 |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley | $55K | -4% | 1,100 |
| Longview-Kelso | $54K | -6% | 230 |
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard | $54K | -6% | 470 |
| Kennewick-Richland | $53K | -7% | 590 |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater | $51K | -10% | 450 |
| Wenatchee-East Wenatchee | $51K | -11% | 230 |
| Yakima | $50K | -12% | 410 |
| Walla Walla | $50K | -13% | 90 |
Showing 1–10 of 11 metros
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Track automotive service technicians and mechanics salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Washington numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a automotive service technicians and mechanic afford a 2BR apartment alone in Washington?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $57K, rent takes 45.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,830/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,200/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 Washington?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new automotive service technicians and mechanics typically earn — is $39K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,368/month. At HUD’s $1,830/month FMR, rent would take 77% 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 Washington?
Local pay is 13% above the national median — $57K here vs. $51K nationally.
How does Washington compare to the national average for automotive service technicians and mechanics?
Washington pays $57K median vs. the U.S. average of $51K — that’s +13%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 102.01), the purchasing-power equivalent is $56K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do automotive service technicians and mechanics make in Washington?
The median is $57,270 a year, that works out to about $28 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $39,470, and experienced automotive service technicians and mechanics can clear $95,620. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $57K enough to live in Washington?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,005/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,830/month, which eats 45.7% 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 Washington?
Washington has a Regional Price Parity of 102.01 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median automotive service technicians and mechanics salary is worth about $56,142 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.