BLS May 2025
Mechanic Salary in Idaho
Idaho sits 35th of 50 states on mechanic pay, near the middle of the table. For automotive service technicians and mechanics (SOC 49-3023), the Bureau of Labor Statistics May 2025 median is $48,420 a year, $2,200 below the national median of $50,620, and 5,030 wage and salary jobs sit behind it. Pay runs from $34,570 at the 10th percentile to $77,710 at the 90th, across 0.7 percent of U.S. technician jobs.
By Trevor Rupe, Contributor at Savo Media Group
At a Glance
- 35th of 50 states on median pay for automotive service technicians and mechanics (SOC 49-3023), $48,420 against $50,620 nationally.
- $64,830 for heavy equipment mechanics, 34 percent over automotive technicians.
- 5.9 per 1,000 jobs are technician jobs, 5,030 in all (location quotient 1.30).
5,030 Mechanics Work in Idaho, a Dense Market
5.9 of every 1,000 jobs are technician jobs, 30 percent ahead of the national rate; the location quotient is 1.30. On concentration it ranks 4th of 50 states.
Among the trades, automotive technicians are the most concentrated, ahead of heavy equipment mechanics at 1.25.
A $2,200 Shortfall Against National Mechanic Salary in Idaho
The pay floor of $34,570 sits close to the national figure, while the ceiling of $77,710 runs $4,080 under the national figure. $43,140 across the pay scale lands within $3,990 of the national one.
| Measure | Idaho | United States | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $34,570 | $34,660 | -$90 |
| 25th percentile | $39,590 | $38,900 | +$690 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $48,420 | $50,620 | -$2,200 |
| 75th percentile | $62,660 | $70,430 | -$7,770 |
| 90th percentile | $77,710 | $81,790 | -$4,080 |
| Mean | $53,990 | $56,420 | -$2,430 |
| Wage and salary jobs | 5,030 | 704,640 |
Half of Idaho mechanics fall between $39,590 and $62,660, +$690 at the bottom edge and -$7,770 at the top on the national middle half.
The average, $53,990, sits $5,570 above the median, lifted by top earners.
$34,570, the 10th percentile, says where the bottom tenth ends, not what a beginner is paid.
8 Ranked Mechanic Programs in Idaho
Idaho has 8 ranked programs at 5 schools: 5 automotive, 1 diesel, 1 collision repair and 1 aviation maintenance. The top scorer is College of Southern Idaho in Twin Falls, ID at 59.2 out of 100 in automotive.
College of Southern Idaho in Twin Falls, ID is the least expensive of 8 priced programs at $3,360 per year, in-district; Idaho State University in Pocatello, ID is the most, at $8,610 a year, in-state.
1 ranked program is in Coeur d'Alene, ID, where the median is $50,910.
- College of Southern Idaho Twin Falls, ID, automotive, score 59.2, #93 of 415
- College of Western Idaho Nampa, ID, diesel, score 53.2, #44 of 76
- College of Western Idaho Nampa, ID, automotive, score 52.0, #196 of 415
- Brigham Young University-Idaho Rexburg, ID, automotive, score 52.0, #198 of 415
- Idaho State University Pocatello, ID, collision repair, score 47.1, #45 of 59
- Idaho State University Pocatello, ID, automotive, score 38.8, #380 of 415
- Idaho State University Pocatello, ID, aviation maintenance, score 35.3, #140 of 148
- North Idaho College Coeur d'Alene, ID, automotive, score 35.1, #403 of 415
Best Mechanic Schools in Idaho scores all eight programs by one method
Pay Holds Close Across Metro Areas in Idaho
7 metropolitan areas reach into Idaho, and Boise City, ID is the largest with 2,030 jobs, 40 percent of the state's 5,030 jobs. Its $48,630 median is in line with the state median.
Pay is nearly uniform from place to place: $310 separates Boise City, ID ($48,630) from Idaho Falls, ID ($48,320) (areas with 500 or more jobs).
Rural pay sits below the state median of $48,420: 2 nonmetropolitan areas, 1,110 jobs, $47,770 to $48,140.
2 of the 7 areas, led by Logan, UT-ID, extend into UT and carry one figure for the whole area.
| Area | Median | Against Idaho | 10th to 90th percentile | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boise City, ID | $48,630 | +$210 | $35,550 to $78,190 | 2,030 |
| Idaho Falls, ID | $48,320 | -$100 | $30,430 to $85,340 | 580 |
| Coeur d'Alene, ID | $50,910 | +$2,490 | $38,380 to $82,430 | 490 |
| Logan, UT-ID | $46,490 | -$1,930 | $30,960 to $75,110 | 380 |
| Twin Falls, ID | $46,990 | -$1,430 | $31,510 to $74,610 | 360 |
| Pocatello, ID | $46,450 | -$1,970 | $31,080 to $72,810 | 200 |
| Lewiston, ID-WA | $48,870 | +$450 | $37,290 to $77,580 | 190 |
| Southeast-Central Idaho nonmetropolitan area | $47,770 | -$650 | $31,640 to $75,130 | 640 |
| Northwestern Idaho nonmetropolitan area | $48,140 | -$280 | $31,560 to $74,190 | 470 |
Heavy Equipment Mechanics Lead Trade Pay by $16,410 in Idaho
The trade a mechanic chooses moves pay by 34 percent: heavy equipment mechanics make $64,830 compared with $48,420 for automotive technicians, with aircraft mechanics next at $61,250.
| Trade | Idaho median | U.S. median | Rank of 50 | Jobs | Best metro |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy Equipment Mechanic | $64,830 | $65,510 | 26th | 1,220 | Boise City, ID, $64,290 |
| Aircraft Mechanic | $61,250 | $79,870 | 48th | 600 | Boise City, ID, $62,190 |
| Diesel Mechanic | $59,230 | $61,770 | 37th | 1,930 | Boise City, ID, $60,340 |
| Collision Repair Technician | $49,200 | $54,890 | 38th | 850 | Boise City, ID, $49,500 |
| Auto Mechanic | $48,420 | $50,620 | 35th | 5,030 | Coeur d'Alene, ID, $50,910 |
Below their national medians: aircraft mechanics ($61,250, -$18,620), diesel mechanics ($59,230, -$2,540) and collision repair technicians ($49,200, -$5,690).
Near their national medians: heavy equipment mechanics ($64,830, -$680).
Aircraft mechanics place 48th among 50 states at $61,250, the trade that trails other states most.
In Boise City, ID, heavy equipment mechanics hit $64,290, the best metro figure for the trade in Idaho.
Idaho Between Ohio and Texas on Mechanic Pay
Texas sits closest, $48,310 ($110 below); Ohio lies farther up at $48,710, a gap of $290.
20 other states sit inside $2,500 of $48,420, 11 within $1,000. The order is tightly packed here.
Questions About Mechanic Salary in Idaho
What is a typical mechanic salary in Idaho?
A $48,420 median, or $23.28 an hour, which is $2,200 below the nation. Pay runs $34,570 to $77,710 from the 10th to the 90th percentile.
Do heavy equipment mechanics out-earn auto mechanics in Idaho?
A $16,410 edge, $64,830 compared with $48,420, across 1,220 jobs.
Which mechanic school in Idaho ranks highest?
College of Southern Idaho (Twin Falls, ID) leads: scoring 59.2; 8 programs are ranked in all.
The figures here are the Bureau of Labor Statistics median for wage and salary workers, so the mechanic salary in Idaho for any one job depends on the employer, the metro area and the trade.
Sources for Mechanic Salary in Idaho
- BLS OEWS, Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics May 2025, read October 23, 2026.
- BLS OEWS technical notes Wage and salary workers only.