Wages for an Auto Mechanic
Auto mechanics keep cars and light trucks running in tip-top shape by maintaining and repairing their bodies, engines, electronics and interiors. Those who complete a vocational training program have the best job opportunities, though many employers also offer additional manufacturer-specific training to new hires. The best-paid mechanics can earn almost triple the salaries of the lowest-paid ones.
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Salaries
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Auto mechanics make an hourly wage of $17.03, or $35,420 annually, as of May 2009, states the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The highest-paid 10 percent earns $28.81 or $59,920, while the lowest-paid 10 percent gets $9.54 or $19,840.
Industries
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Salaries vary by industry. The highest-paying ones for auto mechanics are aerospace products, with rates at $31.87 or $66,290; couriers and express delivery at $29.73 or $61,840; natural gas distribution at $28.34 or $58,940; scientific research and development at $27.63 or $57,480; and wired telecommunications carriers at $26.79 or $55,720.
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States
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Pay also differs by state. The best-paid auto mechanics are located in Alaska, with wages at $23.74 or $49,370; District of Columbia at $21.56 or $44,850; Connecticut at $20.53 or $42,700; Maryland at $20.52 or $42,680; and Massachusetts at $20.48 or $42,600.
Metro Areas
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Metro areas such as counties and cities can influence compensation. The highest-paying employers are located in Texarkana, Texas, with offerings at $26.34 or $54,790; Ann Arbor, Michigan, at $25.65 or $53,340; Danbury, Connecticut, at $24.89 or $51,770; Anchorage, Alaska, at $24.58 or $51,130; and San Jose, California at $24.31 or $50,570.
Job Numbers
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Areas with the best job opportunities may or may not have the highest-paying jobs. For example, industries with the most jobs are automotive repair and maintenance, with compensation at $16.74 or $34,820; and automobile dealers at $20.75 or $43,160. The states with the highest concentration of auto mechanics are Vermont, where employers compensate at $16.64 or $34,620; and Maine at $16.55 or $34,420. Neither of them have the highest-paid workers. The urban area with the most auto mechanics per capita is Hinesville, Georgia, where positions pay $23.58 or $49,060. None of these industries or locations offers salaries that rank them in the top five. However, the metro area with the next most number of mechanics per capita is Texarkana, Texas, which is also the second-ranked metro area for earnings.
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References
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