Auto Mechanics
Salary, job outlook, AI risk & career information
Auto Mechanics in the United States earn a median salary of $50,620 per year — about $24 per hour, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Roughly 806K people work in this occupation nationwide, with projected employment growth of +4%.
AI & Automation Risk
The core of this occupation involves physical labor, manual dexterity, and real-time mechanical repair in a physical environment, which provides a strong barrier against AI automation. While AI will significantly enhance diagnostic capabilities and predictive maintenance software, the actual physical replacement of parts and hands-on troubleshooting remains a human-centric task.
Salary by City — What You Actually Take Home
Real purchasing power = salary adjusted for cost of living. Higher = more money in your pocket.
| City | Local Salary | Cost of Living | Real Purchasing Power |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CABEST VALUE | $77,840 | Above avg (113.1) | $68,849 |
| Dubuque, IA | $61,030 | Below avg (89.1) | $68,528 |
| Napa, CA | $76,450 | Above avg (111.8) | $68,365 |
| Grand Forks, ND-MN | $58,680 | Below avg (85.9) | $68,305 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $75,080 | Above avg (110.3) | $68,098 |
| Minot, ND | $60,020 | Below avg (88.7) | $67,678 |
| Fargo, ND-MN | $59,510 | Below avg (89.1) | $66,764 |
| Billings, MT | $60,150 | Below avg (90.3) | $66,574 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $72,020 | Above avg (109.1) | $66,018 |
| Sioux Falls, SD-MN | $59,190 | Below avg (90.1) | $65,700 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $62,530 | Below avg (95.7) | $65,359 |
| Rapid City, SD | $58,980 | Below avg (90.3) | $65,318 |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $60,470 | Below avg (92.8) | $65,195 |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | $64,090 | Average (98.6) | $65,016 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $76,030 | Above avg (117.6) | $64,678 |