BLS May 2025
Mechanic Salary in Michigan
17th of 50 is where Michigan lands on mechanic pay. For automotive service technicians and mechanics (SOC 49-3023), the Bureau of Labor Statistics May 2025 median is $54,120 a year, $3,500 above the national median of $50,620, and 22,280 wage and salary jobs sit behind it. Ann Arbor, MI pays best at $58,420, 23 percent above Saginaw, MI.
By Trevor Rupe, Contributor at Savo Media Group
At a Glance
- 17th of 50 states on median pay for automotive service technicians and mechanics (SOC 49-3023), $54,120 against $50,620 nationally.
- $74,900 for aircraft mechanics, 38 percent over automotive technicians.
- 19 ranked programs, led by Universal Technical Institute-Canton in Canton, MI.
Ann Arbor, MI Pays 23 Percent More Than Saginaw, MI
16 metropolitan areas are priced. Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI, Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI and Flint, MI hold 13,780 jobs, and the largest of them pays $1,880 above the $54,120 state median.
A 23 percent gap divides the state: Ann Arbor, MI at $58,420 next to Saginaw, MI at $47,320 (areas with 500 or more jobs).
Rural pay sits below the state median of $54,120: 4 nonmetropolitan areas, 3,230 jobs, $48,030 to $50,180.
1 of the 16 areas, led by South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI, extend into IN and carry one figure for the whole area.
| Area | Median | Against Michigan | 10th to 90th percentile | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $56,000 | +$1,880 | $37,080 to $81,240 | 9,520 |
| Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI | $49,310 | -$4,810 | $37,460 to $81,370 | 3,340 |
| Flint, MI | $48,680 | -$5,440 | $34,490 to $77,160 | 920 |
| Lansing-East Lansing, MI | $56,130 | +$2,010 | $36,210 to $79,040 | 890 |
| South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | $49,080 | -$5,040 | $36,420 to $77,260 | 670 |
| Saginaw, MI | $47,320 | -$6,800 | $33,060 to $79,560 | 580 |
| Kalamazoo-Portage, MI | $48,210 | -$5,910 | $35,380 to $79,040 | 560 |
| Ann Arbor, MI | $58,420 | +$4,300 | $36,960 to $82,830 | 540 |
| Battle Creek, MI | $47,720 | -$6,400 | $33,090 to $77,490 | 340 |
| Muskegon-Norton Shores, MI | $47,350 | -$6,770 | $35,820 to $74,540 | 340 |
| Traverse City, MI | $52,220 | -$1,900 | $37,040 to $76,270 | 320 |
| Monroe, MI | $57,400 | +$3,280 | $35,780 to $77,670 | 270 |
| Niles, MI | $49,450 | -$4,670 | $35,190 to $79,410 | 270 |
| Jackson, MI | $51,870 | -$2,250 | $31,640 to $78,130 | 240 |
| Bay City, MI | $47,830 | -$6,290 | $34,520 to $75,770 | 200 |
| Midland, MI | $48,490 | -$5,630 | $31,150 to $77,360 | 190 |
| Mid Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $48,030 | -$6,090 | $35,030 to $73,690 | 990 |
| Southern Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $48,760 | -$5,360 | $35,680 to $76,070 | 860 |
| Northern Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $49,860 | -$4,260 | $35,190 to $75,200 | 760 |
| Upper Peninsula of Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $50,180 | -$3,940 | $35,800 to $78,240 | 620 |
Mechanic Salary in Michigan Runs $3,500 Above the National Median
The bottom tenth earns $36,110 or less, $1,450 ahead of the U.S. figure, but the top tenth earns $79,060 or more, $2,730 behind the U.S. figure. The $42,950 spread from bottom tenth to top tenth comes close to the national gap.
| Measure | Michigan | United States | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $36,110 | $34,660 | +$1,450 |
| 25th percentile | $43,680 | $38,900 | +$4,780 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $54,120 | $50,620 | +$3,500 |
| 75th percentile | $67,100 | $70,430 | -$3,330 |
| 90th percentile | $79,060 | $81,790 | -$2,730 |
| Mean | $56,490 | $56,420 | +$70 |
| Wage and salary jobs | 22,280 | 704,640 |
The 25th and 75th percentiles are $43,680 and $67,100, +$4,780 at the bottom edge and -$3,330 at the top on the national middle half.
The average, $56,490, edges $2,370 past the median.
The 10th percentile figure of $36,110 marks a spot in the pay distribution, not entry pay.
19 Ranked Mechanic Programs in Michigan
Universal Technical Institute-Canton in Canton, MI tops a field of 19 ranked programs (14 automotive, 1 diesel, 1 collision repair and 3 aviation maintenance) with 62.6 out of 100 in aviation maintenance, spread over 16 schools.
Prices start at $2,736 a year, in-district (Washtenaw Community College, Ann Arbor, MI) and come to $29,000 for the 13-month program (School of Missionary Aviation Technology, Ionia, MI) across 19 priced programs.
Washtenaw Community College sits in Ann Arbor, MI, the best-paying area for mechanics at $58,420.
- Universal Technical Institute-Canton Canton, MI, aviation maintenance, score 62.6, #30 of 148
- Macomb Community College Warren, MI, automotive, score 54.3, #158 of 415
- Washtenaw Community College Ann Arbor, MI, collision repair, score 54.2, #35 of 59
- Lansing Community College Lansing, MI, aviation maintenance, score 51.2, #82 of 148
- Grand Rapids Community College Grand Rapids, MI, automotive, score 51.0, #214 of 415
- Wayne County Community College District Detroit, MI, automotive, score 50.4, #223 of 415
- Baker College Owosso, MI, diesel, score 50.0, #54 of 76
- Henry Ford College Dearborn, MI, automotive, score 49.5, #231 of 415
- Baker College Owosso, MI, automotive, score 49.5, #233 of 415
- Oakland Community College Auburn Hills, MI, automotive, score 49.4, #234 of 415
- Ferris State University Big Rapids, MI, automotive, score 47.1, #280 of 415
- Washtenaw Community College Ann Arbor, MI, automotive, score 46.3, #291 of 415
Best Mechanic Schools in Michigan, with 19 programs ranked in the state
Where 22,280 Mechanics Work in Michigan
The technician share is 5.1 per 1,000 jobs, close to the national share, a location quotient of 1.12. The state is 19th of 50 on concentration.
By concentration collision repair technicians lead at 1.18 on 5,010 jobs, while heavy equipment mechanics sit lowest at 0.77.
Aircraft Mechanics Lead Trade Pay by $20,780 in Michigan
The trade a mechanic chooses moves pay by 38 percent: aircraft mechanics at $74,900 compared with $54,120 for automotive technicians, with heavy equipment mechanics next at $66,680.
| Trade | Michigan median | U.S. median | Rank of 50 | Jobs | Best metro |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aircraft Mechanic | $74,900 | $79,870 | 34th | 3,380 | Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI, $75,940 |
| Heavy Equipment Mechanic | $66,680 | $65,510 | 21st | 3,860 | Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI, $72,220 |
| Diesel Mechanic | $61,420 | $61,770 | 24th | 9,020 | Ann Arbor, MI, $65,770 |
| Collision Repair Technician | $56,880 | $54,890 | 16th | 5,010 | Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI, $62,550 |
| Auto Mechanic | $54,120 | $50,620 | 17th | 22,280 | Ann Arbor, MI, $58,420 |
Collision repair technicians ($56,880, +$1,990) beats its national median.
Aircraft mechanics ($74,900, -$4,970) falls short of its national median.
Near their national medians: heavy equipment mechanics ($66,680, +$1,170) and diesel mechanics ($61,420, -$350).
Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI is the best metro for aircraft mechanics here, at $75,940.
Mechanic Licensing in Michigan
Michigan requires a mechanic credential for repair work done for pay, issued by the Michigan Department of State: state mechanic certification (specialty or master mechanic certificate); mechanic trainee permit for uncertified workers.
Repair businesses are licensed or registered through the Michigan Department of State: motor vehicle repair facility registration.
Official Michigan source (michigan.gov), read October 23, 2026.
Michigan Between Wisconsin and New York on Mechanic Pay
New York is the closest, $54,120 ($0 below); Wisconsin follows above at $54,350, $230 more.
7 other states are within $2,500 of $54,120, and 2 of them within $1,000. The order is tightly packed here.
Questions About Mechanic Salary in Michigan
What is the mechanic salary in Michigan?
A $54,120 median ($26.02 an hour), $3,500 above the nation. At the bottom tenth it is $36,110, at the top tenth $79,060.
Which part of Michigan pays mechanics the most?
Ann Arbor, MI, at $58,420 a year across 540 jobs, against $54,120 for the whole state and $47,320 in Saginaw, MI.
Which mechanic school in Michigan ranks highest?
Universal Technical Institute-Canton in Canton, MI, scoring 62.6, from 19 ranked programs.
The figures here are the Bureau of Labor Statistics median for wage and salary workers, so the mechanic salary in Michigan for any one job depends on the employer, the metro area and the trade.
Sources for Mechanic Salary in Michigan
- BLS OEWS, Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics May 2025, read October 23, 2026.
- BLS OEWS technical notes Wage and salary workers only.
- Official Michigan source (michigan.gov) Read October 23, 2026.