BLS May 2025
Mechanic Salary in Florida
On mechanic pay, Florida is 38th of 50, well down the table. For automotive service technicians and mechanics (SOC 49-3023), the Bureau of Labor Statistics May 2025 median is $48,260 a year, $2,360 below the national median of $50,620, and 49,930 wage and salary jobs sit behind it. Aircraft mechanics pull 59 percent ahead of automotive technicians, at $76,940.
By Trevor Rupe, Contributor at Savo Media Group
At a Glance
- 38th of 50 states on median pay for automotive service technicians and mechanics (SOC 49-3023), $48,260 against $50,620 nationally.
- $76,940 for aircraft mechanics, 59 percent over automotive technicians.
- 61 ranked programs, led by Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Orlando in Casselberry, FL.
Aircraft Mechanics Out-Earn Auto Mechanics by $28,680 in Florida
The top trade, aircraft mechanics, pays $76,940 across 14,850 jobs, $28,680 more than the $48,260 automotive median. Automotive technicians sit last of 5.
| Trade | Florida median | U.S. median | Rank of 50 | Jobs | Best metro |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aircraft Mechanic | $76,940 | $79,870 | 28th | 14,850 | Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL, $92,430 |
| Heavy Equipment Mechanic | $63,550 | $65,510 | 36th | 9,240 | Port St. Lucie, FL, $74,060 |
| Diesel Mechanic | $60,490 | $61,770 | 29th | 14,900 | North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL, $62,260 |
| Collision Repair Technician | $48,600 | $54,890 | 44th | 9,220 | Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL, $51,680 |
| Auto Mechanic | $48,260 | $50,620 | 38th | 49,930 | North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL, $51,970 |
Below their national medians: aircraft mechanics ($76,940, -$2,930) and collision repair technicians ($48,600, -$6,290).
Near their national medians: heavy equipment mechanics ($63,550, -$1,960) and diesel mechanics ($60,490, -$1,280).
Nationally, collision repair technicians place 44th among 50 states at $48,600, the trade that trails other states most.
Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL is the best metro for aircraft mechanics here, at $92,430.
North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL Leads Mechanic Pay in Florida
With 22 metropolitan areas to compare, start with the big three: Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL ($49,550), Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL ($47,880) and Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL ($47,850), 25,830 jobs between them.
Top pay is in North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL at $51,970; Panama City-Panama City Beach, FL is lowest at $43,730, $8,240 less (areas with 500 or more jobs).
Rural pay sits below the state median of $48,260: 2 nonmetropolitan areas, 1,150 jobs, $46,270 to $47,550.
| Area | Median | Against Florida | 10th to 90th percentile | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $49,550 | +$1,290 | $34,360 to $81,490 | 11,970 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $47,880 | -$380 | $31,050 to $79,620 | 7,380 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $47,850 | -$410 | $33,350 to $77,950 | 6,480 |
| Jacksonville, FL | $51,530 | +$3,270 | $34,430 to $78,540 | 4,160 |
| North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL | $51,970 | +$3,710 | $35,600 to $80,390 | 2,110 |
| Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL | $46,840 | -$1,420 | $32,490 to $78,310 | 1,900 |
| Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL | $45,900 | -$2,360 | $29,890 to $77,020 | 1,820 |
| Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL | $46,810 | -$1,450 | $31,800 to $76,420 | 1,700 |
| Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL | $47,670 | -$590 | $33,540 to $79,060 | 1,460 |
| Port St. Lucie, FL | $49,380 | +$1,120 | $32,760 to $77,820 | 1,200 |
| Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL | $46,290 | -$1,970 | $29,260 to $76,620 | 1,190 |
| Ocala, FL | $45,900 | -$2,360 | $31,080 to $77,640 | 1,030 |
| Naples-Marco Island, FL | $51,320 | +$3,060 | $34,870 to $86,120 | 940 |
| Tallahassee, FL | $45,640 | -$2,620 | $29,510 to $74,840 | 870 |
| Gainesville, FL | $47,460 | -$800 | $32,930 to $76,980 | 800 |
| Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL | $47,760 | -$500 | $29,130 to $79,850 | 740 |
| Panama City-Panama City Beach, FL | $43,730 | -$4,530 | $29,140 to $75,250 | 620 |
| Punta Gorda, FL | $46,190 | -$2,070 | $34,080 to $77,880 | 520 |
| Sebastian-Vero Beach-West Vero Corridor, FL | $47,950 | -$310 | $33,790 to $75,880 | 370 |
| Homosassa Springs, FL | $46,150 | -$2,110 | $30,200 to $75,460 | 300 |
| Sebring, FL | $44,650 | -$3,610 | $30,150 to $76,510 | 210 |
| Wildwood-The Villages, FL | $47,480 | -$780 | $33,440 to $74,070 | 180 |
| North Florida nonmetropolitan area | $47,550 | -$710 | $33,790 to $76,960 | 800 |
| South Florida nonmetropolitan area | $46,270 | -$1,990 | $34,480 to $73,890 | 350 |
61 Ranked Mechanic Programs in Florida
Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Orlando in Casselberry, FL tops a field of 61 ranked programs (38 automotive, 4 diesel, 8 collision repair and 11 aviation maintenance) with 69.8 out of 100 in aviation maintenance, spread over 43 schools.
Lindsey Hopkins Technical College in Miami, FL is the least expensive of 43 priced programs at $4,920 for the 26-month program (scored as $2,271 annually); Universal Technical Institute-Orlando in Orlando, FL is the most, at $42,345 for the 45-week program.
Manatee Technical College and Suncoast Technical College sit in North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL, the best-paying area for mechanics at $51,970.
- Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Orlando Casselberry, FL, aviation maintenance, score 69.8, #6 of 148
- Universal Technical Institute-South Florida Miramar Miramar, FL, automotive, score 65.7, #26 of 415
- Universal Technical Institute-Orlando Orlando, FL, automotive, score 63.6, #50 of 415
- Sheridan Technical College Hollywood, FL, automotive, score 62.7, #63 of 415
- Eastern Florida State College Melbourne, FL, aviation maintenance, score 61.6, #31 of 148
- George T Baker Aviation Technical College Miami, FL, aviation maintenance, score 61.3, #35 of 148
- Universal Technical Institute-Orlando Orlando, FL, diesel, score 60.6, #25 of 76
- Santa Fe College Gainesville, FL, automotive, score 59.3, #91 of 415
- Pinellas Technical College-Clearwater Clearwater, FL, automotive, score 58.9, #97 of 415
- Universal Technical Institute-South Florida Miramar Miramar, FL, diesel, score 58.4, #30 of 76
- Charlotte Technical College Port Charlotte, FL, aviation maintenance, score 58.0, #45 of 148
- First Coast Technical College Saint Augustine, FL, diesel, score 57.8, #33 of 76
Best Mechanic Schools in Florida scores all 61 programs by one method
Where 49,930 Mechanics Work in Florida
Technician employment here is 5.0 per 1,000 jobs, tracking the nation, a location quotient of 1.11. On concentration it ranks 21st of 50 states.
Aircraft mechanics rank first on concentration with a quotient of 1.68; diesel mechanics trail at 0.80. They are far more common here than nationally.
Mechanic Salary in Florida Runs $2,360 Below the National Median
The pay floor of $31,970 runs $2,690 below the nation, and the ceiling of $79,180 runs $2,610 below the nation. $47,210 from the 10th percentile to the 90th nearly matches the national spread.
| Measure | Florida | United States | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $31,970 | $34,660 | -$2,690 |
| 25th percentile | $37,040 | $38,900 | -$1,860 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $48,260 | $50,620 | -$2,360 |
| 75th percentile | $62,990 | $70,430 | -$7,440 |
| 90th percentile | $79,180 | $81,790 | -$2,610 |
| Mean | $53,740 | $56,420 | -$2,680 |
| Wage and salary jobs | 49,930 | 704,640 |
The 25th and 75th percentiles are $37,040 and $62,990, behind the national middle half at both edges (-$1,860 and -$7,440).
At $53,740, the mean sits $5,480 above the median, lifted by top earners.
The $31,970 at the 10th percentile is a point in the distribution, not a starting wage.
Mechanic Licensing in Florida
Repair businesses are licensed or registered through the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services: motor vehicle repair shop registration.
Official Florida source (leg.state.fl.us), read October 23, 2026.
Florida Between Nevada and North Carolina on Mechanic Pay
Nevada is the closest, $48,290 ($30 more); North Carolina follows below at $48,200, a gap of $60.
20 other states fall within $2,500 of $48,260, and 11 of them within $1,000. Rank changes fast in this stretch.
Questions About Mechanic Salary in Florida
What is a typical mechanic salary in Florida?
A $48,260 median ($23.20 an hour), $2,360 below the nation. Pay runs $31,970 to $79,180 from the 10th to the 90th percentile.
How much more do aircraft mechanics earn than auto mechanics in Florida?
A premium of $28,680: $76,940 for aircraft mechanics next to $48,260 for automotive technicians, across 14,850 jobs.
Which mechanic school in Florida ranks highest?
The top score belongs to Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Orlando in Casselberry, FL, scoring 69.8 among 61 ranked programs.
The figures here are the Bureau of Labor Statistics median for wage and salary workers, so the mechanic salary in Florida for any one job depends on the employer, the metro area and the trade.
Sources for Mechanic Salary in Florida
- BLS OEWS, Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics May 2025, read October 23, 2026.
- BLS OEWS technical notes Wage and salary workers only.
- Official Florida source (leg.state.fl.us) Read October 23, 2026.