BLS May 2025
Mechanic Salary in North Carolina
North Carolina ranks 39th of 50 states on mechanic pay, in the lower tier. For automotive service technicians and mechanics (SOC 49-3023), the Bureau of Labor Statistics May 2025 median is $48,200 a year, $2,420 below the national median of $50,620, and 26,510 wage and salary jobs sit behind it. Winston-Salem, NC and Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC sit 26 percent apart, $46,080 next to $58,290.
By Trevor Rupe, Contributor at Savo Media Group
At a Glance
- 39th of 50 states on median pay for automotive service technicians and mechanics (SOC 49-3023), $48,200 against $50,620 nationally.
- $76,980 for aircraft mechanics, 60 percent above automotive technicians.
- $58,290 in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC, the best-paying area, versus $46,080 in Winston-Salem, NC.
Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC Pays 26 Percent More Than Winston-Salem, NC
With 16 metropolitan areas to compare, start with the big three: Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC ($53,660), Raleigh-Cary, NC ($50,600) and Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC ($58,290), 15,200 jobs between them.
Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC out-pays Winston-Salem, NC by $12,210, $58,290 to $46,080, counting areas with 500 or more jobs.
Rural pay sits below the state median of $48,200: 3 nonmetropolitan areas, 4,320 jobs, $39,550 to $45,150.
2 of the 16 areas, led by Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC, extend into SC and carry one figure for the whole area.
| Area | Median | Against North Carolina | 10th to 90th percentile | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $53,660 | +$5,460 | $34,470 to $88,130 | 7,990 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $50,600 | +$2,400 | $34,650 to $83,210 | 3,650 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $58,290 | +$10,090 | $36,460 to $80,110 | 3,560 |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | $48,770 | +$570 | $29,720 to $77,910 | 2,110 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | $46,080 | -$2,120 | $31,500 to $76,130 | 1,630 |
| Fayetteville, NC | $46,870 | -$1,330 | $31,540 to $75,020 | 1,220 |
| Wilmington, NC | $48,100 | -$100 | $33,190 to $77,850 | 1,130 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $51,580 | +$3,380 | $35,360 to $78,870 | 1,090 |
| Asheville, NC | $47,900 | -$300 | $34,120 to $78,090 | 950 |
| Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | $46,860 | -$1,340 | $31,200 to $77,400 | 950 |
| Jacksonville, NC | $46,180 | -$2,020 | $29,890 to $76,280 | 430 |
| Greenville, NC | $47,220 | -$980 | $29,310 to $76,070 | 390 |
| Burlington, NC | $45,750 | -$2,450 | $30,840 to $76,830 | 370 |
| Rocky Mount, NC | $38,880 | -$9,320 | $30,460 to $74,620 | 300 |
| Goldsboro, NC | $43,970 | -$4,230 | $29,730 to $74,230 | 260 |
| Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC | $48,640 | +$440 | $30,950 to $79,040 | 250 |
| Eastern North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $45,150 | -$3,050 | $30,660 to $79,040 | 1,560 |
| Western North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $44,090 | -$4,110 | $31,310 to $78,910 | 1,400 |
| Central North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $39,550 | -$8,650 | $26,470 to $73,150 | 1,360 |
Aircraft Mechanics Out-Earn Auto Mechanics by $28,780 in North Carolina
Aircraft mechanics earn $76,980 on 4,700 jobs, a $28,780 premium over automotive technicians ($48,200). Automotive technicians sit last of 5.
| Trade | North Carolina median | U.S. median | Rank of 50 | Jobs | Best metro |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aircraft Mechanic | $76,980 | $79,870 | 27th | 4,700 | Raleigh-Cary, NC, $91,600 |
| Heavy Equipment Mechanic | $64,080 | $65,510 | 29th | 5,100 | Wilmington, NC, $68,700 |
| Diesel Mechanic | $57,490 | $61,770 | 43rd | 11,070 | Durham-Chapel Hill, NC, $60,540 |
| Collision Repair Technician | $50,520 | $54,890 | 31st | 5,180 | Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC, $60,100 |
| Auto Mechanic | $48,200 | $50,620 | 39th | 26,510 | Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC, $58,290 |
Behind the national picture: aircraft mechanics ($76,980, -$2,890), diesel mechanics ($57,490, -$4,280) and collision repair technicians ($50,520, -$4,370).
Near their national medians: heavy equipment mechanics ($64,080, -$1,430).
Against other states, diesel mechanics are 43rd of 50 states at $57,490, the trade that trails other states most.
Aircraft mechanics do best in Raleigh-Cary, NC, where the median is $91,600.
21 Ranked Mechanic Programs in North Carolina
18 schools supply 21 ranked programs (14 automotive, 1 diesel, 1 collision repair and 5 aviation maintenance); Guilford Technical Community College in Jamestown, NC scores best, 68.8 in collision repair.
Prices start at $1,986 a year, in-state (Durham Technical Community College, Durham, NC) and come to $43,100 for the 12-month program (Universal Technical Institute-Mooresville, Mooresville, NC) across 21 priced programs.
2 ranked programs are in Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC, where the median is $53,660.
- Guilford Technical Community College Jamestown, NC, collision repair, score 68.8, #6 of 59
- Guilford Technical Community College Jamestown, NC, diesel, score 68.6, #6 of 76
- Universal Technical Institute-Mooresville Mooresville, NC, automotive, score 65.3, #27 of 415
- Guilford Technical Community College Jamestown, NC, automotive, score 65.2, #28 of 415
- Central Piedmont Community College Charlotte, NC, automotive, score 64.0, #44 of 415
- Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Charlotte Charlotte, NC, aviation maintenance, score 63.4, #23 of 148
- Durham Technical Community College Durham, NC, automotive, score 62.0, #69 of 415
- Guilford Technical Community College Jamestown, NC, aviation maintenance, score 57.2, #49 of 148
- Sandhills Community College Pinehurst, NC, automotive, score 55.9, #133 of 415
- Pitt Community College Winterville, NC, automotive, score 55.9, #134 of 415
- Craven Community College New Bern, NC, aviation maintenance, score 55.3, #60 of 148
- Rowan-Cabarrus Community College Salisbury, NC, automotive, score 54.5, #154 of 415
Best Mechanic Schools in North Carolina (21 programs scored)
26,510 Mechanics Work in North Carolina, a Dense Market
Technicians hold 5.4 of every 1,000 North Carolina jobs, 18 percent ahead of the national rate; the location quotient is 1.18. The state is 13th of 50 on concentration.
The most concentrated trade is diesel mechanics (1.20, 11,070 jobs), while heavy equipment mechanics sit lowest at 0.91.
Mechanic Salary in North Carolina Runs $2,420 Below the National Median
The 10th percentile sits at $31,500, $3,160 below national pay, while the 90th, $79,610, keeps pace with the national ceiling. A $48,110 gap across the pay scale nearly matches the national spread.
| Measure | North Carolina | United States | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $31,500 | $34,660 | -$3,160 |
| 25th percentile | $36,600 | $38,900 | -$2,300 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $48,200 | $50,620 | -$2,420 |
| 75th percentile | $63,170 | $70,430 | -$7,260 |
| 90th percentile | $79,610 | $81,790 | -$2,180 |
| Mean | $53,510 | $56,420 | -$2,910 |
| Wage and salary jobs | 26,510 | 704,640 |
Half of North Carolina mechanics fall between $36,600 and $63,170, behind the national middle half at both edges (-$2,300 and -$7,260).
The average, $53,510, is pulled $5,310 over the median by a few high earners.
The 10th percentile figure of $31,500 marks a spot in the pay distribution, not entry pay.
Mechanic Licensing in North Carolina
State inspection or emissions work calls for safety inspection mechanic license, issued by the North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles; that is a separate matter from general repair.
Official North Carolina source (ncleg.gov), read October 23, 2026.
North Carolina Between Florida and South Carolina on Mechanic Pay
Florida is the closest, $48,260 ($60 more); after that comes South Carolina at $48,100, $100 less.
20 states land within $2,500 of $48,200; 11 are inside $1,000. Rank changes fast in this stretch.
Questions About Mechanic Salary in North Carolina
What is the average mechanic salary in North Carolina?
Half earn more than $48,200 per year, $23.17 an hour, $2,420 below the nation. At the bottom tenth it is $31,500, at the top tenth $79,610.
Which part of North Carolina pays mechanics the most?
Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC, at $58,290 a year across 3,560 jobs, against $48,200 for the whole state and $46,080 in Winston-Salem, NC.
Which mechanic school in North Carolina ranks highest?
Guilford Technical Community College (Jamestown, NC) leads: scoring 68.8; 21 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 North Carolina for any one job depends on the employer, the metro area and the trade.
Sources for Mechanic Salary in North Carolina
- BLS OEWS, Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics May 2025, read October 23, 2026.
- BLS OEWS technical notes Wage and salary workers only.
- Official North Carolina source (ncleg.gov) Read October 23, 2026.