BLS May 2025
Mechanic Salary in Missouri
Mechanic pay in Missouri ranks 32nd nationally, a middle-of-the-table showing. For automotive service technicians and mechanics (SOC 49-3023), the Bureau of Labor Statistics May 2025 median is $49,160 a year, $1,460 below the national median of $50,620, and 17,210 wage and salary jobs sit behind it. Joplin, MO-KS and St. Louis, MO-IL sit 26 percent apart, $46,320 next to $58,190.
By Trevor Rupe, Contributor at Savo Media Group
At a Glance
- 32nd of 50 states on median pay for automotive service technicians and mechanics (SOC 49-3023), $49,160 against $50,620 nationally.
- $71,470 for aircraft mechanics, 45 percent above automotive technicians.
- $58,190 in St. Louis, MO-IL, the best-paying area, compared with $46,320 in Joplin, MO-KS.
17,210 Mechanics Work in Missouri, a Dense Market
The technician share is 5.9 per 1,000 jobs, 29 percent above the national rate, a location quotient of 1.29. On concentration it ranks 5th of 50 states.
The most concentrated trade is collision repair technicians (1.54, 4,350 jobs), and aircraft mechanics the least at 0.65. They are far more common here than nationally.
St. Louis, MO-IL Pays 26 Percent More Than Joplin, MO-KS
St. Louis, MO-IL is the largest of 8 areas and pays $9,030 more than the $49,160 figure for Missouri; the next two, Kansas City, MO-KS and Springfield, MO, bring the top three to 14,810 jobs.
The largest area is also the richest: St. Louis, MO-IL at $58,190, 26 percent ahead of Joplin, MO-KS among areas with at least 500 jobs.
Rural pay sits below the state median of $49,160: 4 nonmetropolitan areas, 3,420 jobs, $41,120 to $44,540.
5 of the 8 areas, led by St. Louis, MO-IL, extend into IL and carry one figure for the whole area.
| Area | Median | Against Missouri | 10th to 90th percentile | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $58,190 | +$9,030 | $36,280 to $78,140 | 7,590 |
| Kansas City, MO-KS | $53,790 | +$4,630 | $36,030 to $80,850 | 5,380 |
| Springfield, MO | $49,570 | +$410 | $31,330 to $77,460 | 1,840 |
| Columbia, MO | $48,370 | -$790 | $34,540 to $74,320 | 630 |
| Joplin, MO-KS | $46,320 | -$2,840 | $30,350 to $72,860 | 590 |
| Jefferson City, MO | $47,010 | -$2,150 | $30,930 to $71,370 | 420 |
| St. Joseph, MO-KS | $47,180 | -$1,980 | $31,640 to $75,920 | 330 |
| Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | $48,690 | -$470 | $32,600 to $75,860 | 310 |
| Southeast Missouri nonmetropolitan area | $44,540 | -$4,620 | $31,200 to $68,430 | 1,130 |
| Central Missouri nonmetropolitan area | $42,470 | -$6,690 | $30,880 to $67,660 | 1,110 |
| North Missouri nonmetropolitan area | $41,520 | -$7,640 | $30,630 to $62,960 | 720 |
| Southwest Missouri nonmetropolitan area | $41,120 | -$8,040 | $30,670 to $62,730 | 460 |
11 Ranked Mechanic Programs in Missouri
Missouri has 11 ranked programs at 7 schools: 5 automotive, 2 diesel, 2 collision repair and 2 aviation maintenance. The top scorer is Ranken Technical College in Saint Louis, MO at 61.4 out of 100 in diesel.
Saint Louis Community College in Bridgeton, MO is the least expensive of 11 priced programs at $3,660 a year, in-district; Ranken Technical College in Saint Louis, MO is the most, at $18,008 annually.
1 ranked program is in Kansas City, MO-KS, where the median is $53,790.
- Ranken Technical College Saint Louis, MO, diesel, score 61.4, #22 of 76
- Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Kansas City Kansas City, MO, aviation maintenance, score 55.9, #58 of 148
- Saint Louis Community College Bridgeton, MO, automotive, score 55.4, #141 of 415
- Ranken Technical College Saint Louis, MO, collision repair, score 54.7, #34 of 59
- Ranken Technical College Saint Louis, MO, automotive, score 54.3, #160 of 415
- Ozarks Technical Community College Springfield, MO, collision repair, score 50.4, #38 of 59
- State Technical College of Missouri Linn, MO, aviation maintenance, score 48.4, #96 of 148
- Ozarks Technical Community College Springfield, MO, diesel, score 47.2, #59 of 76
- State Fair Community College Sedalia, MO, automotive, score 46.8, #281 of 415
- Ozarks Technical Community College Springfield, MO, automotive, score 44.2, #320 of 415
- Jefferson College Hillsboro, MO, automotive, score 42.3, #347 of 415
Best Mechanic Schools in Missouri, with 11 programs ranked in the state
Mechanic Salary in Missouri Stays in a Tight $41,920 Range
The bottom tenth tops out at $34,950, in line with the national figure, but the top tenth makes $76,870 or more, $4,920 behind the nation. The $41,920 spread across the pay scale falls $5,210 short of the country's range. Among states the 90th percentile places Missouri 45th.
| Measure | Missouri | United States | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $34,950 | $34,660 | +$290 |
| 25th percentile | $38,420 | $38,900 | -$480 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $49,160 | $50,620 | -$1,460 |
| 75th percentile | $63,240 | $70,430 | -$7,190 |
| 90th percentile | $76,870 | $81,790 | -$4,920 |
| Mean | $53,950 | $56,420 | -$2,470 |
| Wage and salary jobs | 17,210 | 704,640 |
Half of Missouri mechanics fall between $38,420 and $63,240, and each edge trails its national counterpart (-$480, -$7,190).
The $53,950 mean climbs $4,790 over the median on the strength of top earnings.
Note that $34,950 at the 10th percentile describes the distribution, not what a new hire earns.
Aircraft Mechanics Out-Earn Auto Mechanics by $22,310 in Missouri
Aircraft mechanics sit at $71,470 across 1,700 jobs, a $22,310 premium over automotive technicians ($49,160). Automotive technicians sit last of 5.
| Trade | Missouri median | U.S. median | Rank of 50 | Jobs | Best metro |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aircraft Mechanic | $71,470 | $79,870 | 38th | 1,700 | St. Louis, MO-IL, $77,600 |
| Heavy Equipment Mechanic | $63,390 | $65,510 | 37th | 3,370 | St. Louis, MO-IL, $65,640 |
| Collision Repair Technician | $60,540 | $54,890 | 6th | 4,350 | St. Louis, MO-IL, $63,920 |
| Diesel Mechanic | $59,360 | $61,770 | 35th | 6,780 | Kansas City, MO-KS, $62,570 |
| Auto Mechanic | $49,160 | $50,620 | 32nd | 17,210 | St. Louis, MO-IL, $58,190 |
Collision repair technicians ($60,540, +$5,650) makes more than its counterparts nationwide.
Aircraft mechanics ($71,470, -$8,400), heavy equipment mechanics ($63,390, -$2,120) and diesel mechanics ($59,360, -$2,410) earn less than their counterparts nationwide.
Against other states, collision repair technicians rank 6th of 50 at $60,540, the best national standing of any trade here.
In St. Louis, MO-IL, aircraft mechanics come to $77,600, the best metro figure for the trade in Missouri.
Mechanic Licensing in Missouri
Inspector/mechanic permit comes from the Missouri State Highway Patrol and covers state inspection or emissions work, which is separate from general repair.
Official Missouri source (sos.mo.gov), read October 23, 2026.
Missouri Between Illinois and Georgia on Mechanic Pay
Illinois sits closest, $49,170 ($10 more); Georgia lies farther down at $49,060, a gap of $100.
20 other states land within $2,500 of $49,160, and 11 of them within $1,000. Rank changes fast in this stretch.
Questions About Mechanic Salary in Missouri
What is a typical mechanic salary in Missouri?
The median is $49,160 a year, or $23.63 an hour, which is $1,460 below the nation. At the bottom tenth it is $34,950, at the top tenth $76,870.
Is the largest metro area also the best-paying in Missouri?
Yes. St. Louis, MO-IL has 7,590 jobs and a $58,190 median, $9,030 over the state and $11,870 over Joplin, MO-KS.
Which mechanic school in Missouri ranks highest?
The top score belongs to Ranken Technical College in Saint Louis, MO, scoring 61.4, from 11 ranked programs.
The figures here are the Bureau of Labor Statistics median for wage and salary workers, so the mechanic salary in Missouri for any one job depends on the employer, the metro area and the trade.
Sources for Mechanic Salary in Missouri
- BLS OEWS, Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics May 2025, read October 23, 2026.
- BLS OEWS technical notes Wage and salary workers only.
- Official Missouri source (sos.mo.gov) Read October 23, 2026.