BLS May 2025
Mechanic Salary in Minnesota
Minnesota ranks 11th of 50 states on mechanic pay, in the upper tier. For automotive service technicians and mechanics (SOC 49-3023), the Bureau of Labor Statistics May 2025 median is $58,390 a year, $7,770 above the national median of $50,620, and 11,980 wage and salary jobs sit behind it. Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI pays the most at $60,490, 25 percent over St. Cloud, MN.
By Trevor Rupe, Contributor at Savo Media Group
At a Glance
- 11th of 50 states on median pay for automotive service technicians and mechanics (SOC 49-3023), $58,390 against $50,620 nationally.
- $81,980 for aircraft mechanics, 40 percent above automotive technicians.
- 25 ranked programs, led by Dakota County Technical College in Rosemount, MN.
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI Pays 25 Percent More Than St. Cloud, MN
9 metropolitan areas are priced. Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI, Sioux Falls, SD-MN and Duluth, MN-WI hold 8,550 jobs, and the largest of them pays $2,100 more than the state's $58,390 median.
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI leads on both jobs and pay, $60,490 next to $48,490 in St. Cloud, MN among areas with at least 500 jobs.
Away from the metros, 4 nonmetropolitan areas hold 23 percent of the state's jobs and every one pays less than the $58,390 median, from $46,890 to $49,130.
6 of the 9 areas, led by Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI, extend into WI and carry one figure for the whole area.
| Area | Median | Against Minnesota | 10th to 90th percentile | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $60,490 | +$2,100 | $39,310 to $92,480 | 7,180 |
| Sioux Falls, SD-MN | $59,190 | +$800 | $40,250 to $80,500 | 720 |
| Duluth, MN-WI | $52,640 | -$5,750 | $37,800 to $83,680 | 650 |
| St. Cloud, MN | $48,490 | -$9,900 | $37,270 to $76,570 | 640 |
| Fargo, ND-MN | $59,510 | +$1,120 | $37,570 to $81,170 | 600 |
| Rochester, MN | $49,920 | -$8,470 | $38,210 to $81,350 | 480 |
| La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN | $50,180 | -$8,210 | $36,290 to $77,850 | 370 |
| Mankato, MN | $48,450 | -$9,940 | $34,970 to $76,370 | 290 |
| Grand Forks, ND-MN | $58,680 | +$290 | $39,120 to $90,670 | 220 |
| Northwest Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | $46,890 | -$11,500 | $34,630 to $72,870 | 1,000 |
| Southeast Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | $47,920 | -$10,470 | $38,390 to $76,270 | 910 |
| Southwest Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | $47,890 | -$10,500 | $36,150 to $74,610 | 630 |
| Northeast Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | $49,130 | -$9,260 | $36,950 to $75,510 | 230 |
Mechanic Employment Near the National Rate in Minnesota
The technician share is 4.1 per 1,000 jobs, close to the national share; the location quotient is 0.90. That puts Minnesota 43rd among 50 states on concentration.
The most concentrated trade is diesel mechanics at 1.33 on 7,300 jobs, and heavy equipment mechanics the least at 0.86.
25 Ranked Mechanic Programs in Minnesota
Minnesota has 25 ranked programs at 18 schools: 16 automotive, 3 diesel, 3 collision repair and 3 aviation maintenance. The top scorer is Dakota County Technical College in Rosemount, MN at 69.1 out of 100 in diesel.
Among 25 priced programs the range is $4,738 a year at Pine Technical & Community College (Pine City, MN) to $27,836 per year at Dunwoody College of Technology (Minneapolis, MN).
Dunwoody College of Technology and Minneapolis Community and Technical College sit in Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI, the best-paying area for mechanics at $60,490.
- Dakota County Technical College Rosemount, MN, diesel, score 69.1, #4 of 76
- Dakota County Technical College Rosemount, MN, automotive, score 66.3, #21 of 415
- Anoka Technical College Anoka, MN, automotive, score 65.7, #25 of 415
- Dunwoody College of Technology Minneapolis, MN, automotive, score 61.1, #78 of 415
- St Cloud Technical and Community College Saint Cloud, MN, collision repair, score 60.1, #20 of 59
- Hennepin Technical College Brooklyn Park, MN, automotive, score 58.7, #101 of 415
- St Cloud Technical and Community College Saint Cloud, MN, diesel, score 57.4, #35 of 76
- Dunwoody College of Technology Minneapolis, MN, collision repair, score 56.5, #31 of 59
- Century College White Bear Lake, MN, collision repair, score 56.0, #33 of 59
- Minneapolis Community and Technical College Minneapolis, MN, aviation maintenance, score 55.0, #63 of 148
- Minnesota State Community and Technical College Fergus Falls, MN, automotive, score 54.8, #149 of 415
- St Cloud Technical and Community College Saint Cloud, MN, automotive, score 54.6, #152 of 415
Best Mechanic Schools in Minnesota, with 25 programs ranked in the state
A $7,770 Premium Over National Mechanic Salary in Minnesota
The 10th percentile starts at $38,310, $3,650 more than the national figure, but the top tenth starts at $83,180, close to the national figure. A $44,870 gap from the 10th percentile to the 90th comes close to the national gap. Minnesota ranks 10th of 50 states at the 10th percentile.
| Measure | Minnesota | United States | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $38,310 | $34,660 | +$3,650 |
| 25th percentile | $46,620 | $38,900 | +$7,720 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $58,390 | $50,620 | +$7,770 |
| 75th percentile | $73,250 | $70,430 | +$2,820 |
| 90th percentile | $83,180 | $81,790 | +$1,390 |
| Mean | $59,300 | $56,420 | +$2,880 |
| Wage and salary jobs | 11,980 | 704,640 |
The middle half of Minnesota mechanics earn $46,620 to $73,250, ahead of the national middle half at both edges (+$7,720 and +$2,820).
At $59,300, the mean exceeds the median by only $910.
The 10th percentile figure of $38,310 describes the distribution, not what a new hire makes.
Aircraft Mechanics Lead Trade Pay by $23,590 in Minnesota
The trade a mechanic chooses moves pay by 40 percent: aircraft mechanics at $81,980 compared with $58,390 for automotive technicians, with heavy equipment mechanics next at $79,370.
| Trade | Minnesota median | U.S. median | Rank of 50 | Jobs | Best metro |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aircraft Mechanic | $81,980 | $79,870 | 18th | 2,390 | Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI, $90,050 |
| Heavy Equipment Mechanic | $79,370 | $65,510 | 3rd | 2,890 | Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI, $81,290 |
| Diesel Mechanic | $66,840 | $61,770 | 14th | 7,300 | Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI, $73,730 |
| Collision Repair Technician | $60,970 | $54,890 | 5th | 2,910 | Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI, $62,200 |
| Auto Mechanic | $58,390 | $50,620 | 11th | 11,980 | Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI, $60,490 |
Above their national medians: heavy equipment mechanics ($79,370, +$13,860), diesel mechanics ($66,840, +$5,070) and collision repair technicians ($60,970, +$6,080).
Near their national medians: aircraft mechanics ($81,980, +$2,110).
Heavy equipment mechanics rank 3rd of 50 at $79,370, the strongest of the trades here.
In Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI, aircraft mechanics come to $90,050, the best metro figure for the trade in Minnesota.
Minnesota Between Delaware and Maryland on Mechanic Pay
Delaware is the closest, at $58,410, $20 more; Maryland is farther down at $57,520, $870 away.
12 other states are within $2,500 of $58,390; 6 are inside $1,000. Rank changes fast in this stretch.
Questions About Mechanic Salary in Minnesota
What is the average mechanic salary in Minnesota?
A $58,390 median, or $28.07 an hour, $7,770 above the nation. Pay runs $38,310 to $83,180 from the 10th to the 90th percentile.
Is the largest metro area also the best-paying in Minnesota?
Yes. Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI has 7,180 jobs and a $60,490 median, $2,100 over the state and $12,000 over St. Cloud, MN.
Which mechanic school in Minnesota ranks highest?
Dakota County Technical College in Rosemount, MN, at 69.1 out of 100 among 25 ranked programs.
The figures here are the Bureau of Labor Statistics median for wage and salary workers, so the mechanic salary in Minnesota for any one job depends on the employer, the metro area and the trade.
Sources for Mechanic Salary in Minnesota
- BLS OEWS, Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics May 2025, read October 23, 2026.
- BLS OEWS technical notes Wage and salary workers only.