BLS May 2025
Mechanic Salary in New Jersey
New Jersey ranks 15th 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 $56,610 a year, $5,990 above the national median of $50,620, and 17,640 wage and salary jobs sit behind it. That is 2.5 percent of the 704,640 jobs nationwide, with the 10th percentile at $33,500 and the 90th at $91,210.
By Trevor Rupe, Contributor at Savo Media Group
At a Glance
- 15th of 50 states on median pay for automotive service technicians and mechanics (SOC 49-3023), $56,610 against $50,620 nationally.
- $105,370 for aircraft mechanics, 86 percent above automotive technicians.
- A $57,710 spread between the 10th and 90th percentiles, 1st widest of 50.
Mechanic Salary in New Jersey Spans a $57,710 Range
The 10th percentile sits at $33,500, $1,160 under national pay, but the 90th reaches $91,210, $9,420 over national pay. The $57,710 spread between the 10th and 90th percentiles beats the national spread by $10,580. Among states the 90th percentile places New Jersey 9th.
| Measure | New Jersey | United States | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $33,500 | $34,660 | -$1,160 |
| 25th percentile | $40,030 | $38,900 | +$1,130 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $56,610 | $50,620 | +$5,990 |
| 75th percentile | $75,410 | $70,430 | +$4,980 |
| 90th percentile | $91,210 | $81,790 | +$9,420 |
| Mean | $58,830 | $56,420 | +$2,410 |
| Wage and salary jobs | 17,640 | 704,640 |
Pay for the middle half runs $40,030 to $75,410; both edges clear the national ones (+$1,130, +$4,980).
At $58,830, the mean sits just $2,220 over the median.
Note that $33,500 at the 10th percentile is a point in the distribution, not a starting wage.
Aircraft Mechanics Out-Earn Auto Mechanics by $48,760 in New Jersey
Aircraft mechanics sit at $105,370 across 1,900 jobs, $48,760 more than the $56,610 automotive median. That leaves automotive technicians last among 5 trades.
| Trade | New Jersey median | U.S. median | Rank of 50 | Jobs | Best metro |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aircraft Mechanic | $105,370 | $79,870 | 1st | 1,900 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ, $127,140 |
| Heavy Equipment Mechanic | $78,180 | $65,510 | 8th | 3,520 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ, $78,060 |
| Diesel Mechanic | $72,340 | $61,770 | 7th | 8,160 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ, $75,780 |
| Collision Repair Technician | $62,400 | $54,890 | 3rd | 3,720 | Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD, $59,000 |
| Auto Mechanic | $56,610 | $50,620 | 15th | 17,640 | Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD, $58,460 |
Aircraft mechanics ($105,370, +$25,500), heavy equipment mechanics ($78,180, +$12,670), diesel mechanics ($72,340, +$10,570) and collision repair technicians ($62,400, +$7,510) beat their national medians.
Aircraft mechanics are 1st of 50 states on $105,370, the strongest of the trades here.
Aircraft mechanics do best in New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ, where the median is $127,140.
8 Ranked Mechanic Programs in New Jersey
7 schools supply 8 ranked programs (5 automotive, 2 diesel and 1 aviation maintenance); Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Teterboro in Hasbrouck Heights, NJ scores best, 69.7 in aviation maintenance.
Prices start at $5,160 a year, in-district (Rowan College of South Jersey-Gloucester Campus, Sewell, NJ) and hit $40,250 for the 11-month program (Universal Technical Institute-Bloomfield, Bloomfield, NJ) across 8 priced programs.
- Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Teterboro Hasbrouck Heights, NJ, aviation maintenance, score 69.7, #7 of 148
- Universal Technical Institute-Bloomfield Bloomfield, NJ, automotive, score 64.1, #43 of 415
- Lincoln Technical Institute-South Plainfield South Plainfield, NJ, diesel, score 61.4, #23 of 76
- Lincoln Technical Institute-Union Union, NJ, automotive, score 59.6, #88 of 415
- Lincoln Technical Institute-Mahwah Mahwah, NJ, automotive, score 58.0, #109 of 415
- Universal Technical Institute-Bloomfield Bloomfield, NJ, diesel, score 57.4, #36 of 76
- Rowan College of South Jersey-Gloucester Campus Sewell, NJ, automotive, score 46.7, #286 of 415
- Ocean County Vocational-Technical School Toms River, NJ, automotive, score 46.4, #290 of 415
Best Mechanic Schools in New Jersey, with 8 programs ranked in the state
Mechanic Employment Near the National Rate in New Jersey
The technician share is 4.1 per 1,000 jobs, tracking the nation, a location quotient of 0.91. The state is 41st of 50 on concentration.
Diesel mechanics are the most concentrated trade at 1.02 on 8,160 jobs, while aircraft mechanics sit lowest at 0.50.
Pay Holds Close Across Metro Areas in New Jersey
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ anchors the state's metropolitan pay data with 28,420 jobs at $57,760, $1,150 ahead of the statewide $56,610; 5 other areas follow it.
Moving between Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ ($54,840) and Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD ($58,460) changes median pay by just $3,620 (areas with 500 or more jobs).
3 of the 6 areas, led by New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ, extend into NY and carry one figure for the whole area.
| Area | Median | Against New Jersey | 10th to 90th percentile | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $57,760 | +$1,150 | $34,740 to $94,320 | 28,420 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $58,460 | +$1,850 | $36,130 to $81,670 | 12,700 |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | $57,810 | +$1,200 | $36,600 to $81,970 | 1,830 |
| Trenton-Princeton, NJ | $56,550 | -$60 | $37,130 to $82,030 | 800 |
| Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ | $54,840 | -$1,770 | $35,160 to $79,490 | 630 |
| Vineland, NJ | $48,670 | -$7,940 | $35,380 to $75,500 | 330 |
Mechanic Licensing in New Jersey
State inspection or emissions work calls for inspector License (INL), issued by the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission; that is a separate matter from general repair.
Official New Jersey source (nj.gov), read October 23, 2026.
New Jersey Between Washington and Wisconsin on Mechanic Pay
The nearest state is Washington, at $57,270, $660 above; after that comes Wisconsin at $54,350, $2,260 less.
11 other states fall within $2,500 of $56,610, and 3 of them within $1,000. A small shift in pay moves New Jersey several places.
Questions About Mechanic Salary in New Jersey
What is the average mechanic salary in New Jersey?
A $56,610 median, $27.22 an hour, which is $5,990 above the nation. The 10th percentile is $33,500 and the 90th $91,210.
How much more do aircraft mechanics earn than auto mechanics in New Jersey?
A premium of $48,760: $105,370 for aircraft mechanics against $56,610 for automotive technicians in the OEWS count.
Which mechanic school in New Jersey ranks highest?
Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Teterboro (Hasbrouck Heights, NJ) leads: with 69.7 points; 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 New Jersey for any one job depends on the employer, the metro area and the trade.
Sources for Mechanic Salary in New Jersey
- BLS OEWS, Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics May 2025, read October 23, 2026.
- BLS OEWS technical notes Wage and salary workers only.
- Official New Jersey source (nj.gov) Read October 23, 2026.