BLS May 2025
Mechanic Salary in Pennsylvania
Mechanic pay in Pennsylvania ranks 28th 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 $49,800 a year, $820 below the national median of $50,620, and 29,400 wage and salary jobs sit behind it. Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD has the top pay at $58,460, 25 percent ahead of Erie, PA.
By Trevor Rupe, Contributor at Savo Media Group
At a Glance
- 28th of 50 states on median pay for automotive service technicians and mechanics (SOC 49-3023), $49,800 against $50,620 nationally.
- $78,000 for aircraft mechanics, 57 percent ahead of automotive technicians.
- 25 ranked programs, led by Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics in West Mifflin, PA.
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD Pays 25 Percent More Than Erie, PA
BLS prices 16 metropolitan areas in Pennsylvania. The three largest are Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD at $58,460, Pittsburgh, PA at $48,900 and Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ at $57,810, together 20,960 jobs; the biggest of them is $8,660 ahead of the state's $49,800 median.
Size and pay line up: Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD is the largest area and the best-paying at $58,460, 25 percent above Erie, PA at $46,840, counting areas with 500 or more jobs.
4 nonmetropolitan areas add 3,650 jobs (12 percent of 29,400), all under the $49,800 state median at $43,900 to $47,840, while the best metro clears the best of them by $10,620.
2 of the 16 areas, led by Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD, extend into NJ, DE and MD and carry one figure for the whole area.
| Area | Median | Against Pennsylvania | 10th to 90th percentile | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $58,460 | +$8,660 | $36,130 to $81,670 | 12,700 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $48,900 | -$900 | $36,140 to $78,220 | 6,430 |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | $57,810 | +$8,010 | $36,600 to $81,970 | 1,830 |
| Lancaster, PA | $50,530 | +$730 | $36,120 to $76,440 | 1,540 |
| Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | $49,540 | -$260 | $35,210 to $75,180 | 1,410 |
| Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA | $47,600 | -$2,200 | $34,780 to $76,330 | 1,300 |
| York-Hanover, PA | $55,110 | +$5,310 | $37,390 to $74,190 | 1,000 |
| Reading, PA | $51,310 | +$1,510 | $36,650 to $73,920 | 890 |
| Erie, PA | $46,840 | -$2,960 | $30,910 to $71,720 | 670 |
| Altoona, PA | $46,160 | -$3,640 | $33,470 to $69,620 | 400 |
| Chambersburg, PA | $48,270 | -$1,530 | $34,850 to $75,420 | 400 |
| Williamsport, PA | $48,450 | -$1,350 | $35,080 to $74,470 | 340 |
| Johnstown, PA | $46,350 | -$3,450 | $34,030 to $65,190 | 330 |
| Lebanon, PA | $49,180 | -$620 | $35,610 to $73,280 | 300 |
| State College, PA | $47,240 | -$2,560 | $35,490 to $78,280 | 300 |
| Gettysburg, PA | $48,770 | -$1,030 | $36,280 to $74,640 | 220 |
| Central Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $43,900 | -$5,900 | $30,380 to $62,000 | 1,180 |
| Southwestern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $46,290 | -$3,510 | $33,650 to $77,800 | 870 |
| Northeastern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $47,840 | -$1,960 | $32,590 to $65,520 | 820 |
| Northwestern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $47,150 | -$2,650 | $31,640 to $62,300 | 780 |
Only $42,030 Separates Low and High Mechanic Salary in Pennsylvania
$35,600 at the 10th percentile is within $940 of the nation, while $77,630 at the 90th percentile is $4,160 below the U.S. figure. $42,030 from the 10th percentile to the 90th trails the national spread by $5,100. Among states the 90th percentile places Pennsylvania 41st.
| Measure | Pennsylvania | United States | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $35,600 | $34,660 | +$940 |
| 25th percentile | $40,010 | $38,900 | +$1,110 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $49,800 | $50,620 | -$820 |
| 75th percentile | $62,780 | $70,430 | -$7,650 |
| 90th percentile | $77,630 | $81,790 | -$4,160 |
| Mean | $54,340 | $56,420 | -$2,080 |
| Wage and salary jobs | 29,400 | 704,640 |
Half of Pennsylvania mechanics fall between $40,010 and $62,780, +$1,110 at the bottom edge and -$7,650 at the top on the national middle half.
The $54,340 mean is pulled $4,540 over the median by a few high earners.
Note that $35,600 at the 10th percentile marks a spot in the pay distribution, not entry pay.
25 Ranked Mechanic Programs in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania has 25 ranked programs at 17 schools: 15 automotive, 3 diesel, 3 collision repair and 4 aviation maintenance. The top scorer is Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics in West Mifflin, PA at 73.0 out of 100 in aviation maintenance.
Community College of Philadelphia in Philadelphia, PA is the least expensive of 25 priced programs at $4,632 per year, in-district; Universal Technical Institute of Pennsylvania in Exton, PA is the most, at $47,450 for the 14-month program.
Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Philadelphia and Community College of Philadelphia sit in Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD, the best-paying area for mechanics at $58,460.
- Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics West Mifflin, PA, aviation maintenance, score 73.0, #1 of 148
- Pennsylvania College of Technology Williamsport, PA, collision repair, score 64.7, #11 of 59
- Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Philadelphia Philadelphia, PA, aviation maintenance, score 64.6, #19 of 148
- Universal Technical Institute of Pennsylvania Exton, PA, automotive, score 63.3, #56 of 415
- Pennsylvania College of Technology Williamsport, PA, automotive, score 62.9, #60 of 415
- Pennsylvania College of Technology Williamsport, PA, diesel, score 62.8, #20 of 76
- Universal Technical Institute of Pennsylvania Exton, PA, diesel, score 61.0, #24 of 76
- Lincoln Technical Institute-Levittown Levittown, PA, automotive, score 55.1, #144 of 415
- Community College of Allegheny County Pittsburgh, PA, automotive, score 53.3, #180 of 415
- Pennsylvania College of Technology Williamsport, PA, aviation maintenance, score 51.4, #80 of 148
- Rosedale Technical College Pittsburgh, PA, diesel, score 50.5, #52 of 76
- Northampton County Area Community College Bethlehem, PA, automotive, score 49.0, #242 of 415
Best Mechanic Schools in Pennsylvania (25 programs scored)
Aircraft Mechanics Out-Earn Auto Mechanics by $28,200 in Pennsylvania
Aircraft mechanics earn $78,000 with 2,080 jobs behind it, a $28,200 premium over automotive technicians ($49,800). Auto mechanics rank last of the 5 trades.
| Trade | Pennsylvania median | U.S. median | Rank of 50 | Jobs | Best metro |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aircraft Mechanic | $78,000 | $79,870 | 25th | 2,080 | Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD, $84,100 |
| Heavy Equipment Mechanic | $63,870 | $65,510 | 32nd | 6,870 | Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD, $69,080 |
| Diesel Mechanic | $61,740 | $61,770 | 21st | 12,630 | Reading, PA, $68,640 |
| Collision Repair Technician | $53,660 | $54,890 | 22nd | 6,650 | Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD, $59,000 |
| Auto Mechanic | $49,800 | $50,620 | 28th | 29,400 | Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD, $58,460 |
Level with the nation: aircraft mechanics ($78,000, -$1,870), heavy equipment mechanics ($63,870, -$1,640), diesel mechanics ($61,740, -$30) and collision repair technicians ($53,660, -$1,230).
In Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD, aircraft mechanics reach $84,100, the best metro figure for the trade in Pennsylvania.
Mechanic Employment Near the National Rate in Pennsylvania
Technicians hold 4.8 of every 1,000 Pennsylvania jobs, within 7 percent of the national rate (location quotient 1.07). On concentration it ranks 27th of 50 states.
Collision repair technicians are the most concentrated trade with a quotient of 1.14, while aircraft mechanics sit lowest at 0.39.
Mechanic Licensing in Pennsylvania
The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) issues certified safety inspector for state inspection or emissions work, which is separate from general repair.
Official Pennsylvania source (pa.gov), read October 23, 2026.
Pennsylvania Between Tennessee and Arizona on Mechanic Pay
Arizona sits closest, at $49,570, $230 lower; Tennessee sits farther up at $50,290, a gap of $490.
23 states land within $2,500 of $49,800, 8 within $1,000. Rank changes fast in this stretch.
Questions About Mechanic Salary in Pennsylvania
What is a typical mechanic salary in Pennsylvania?
Half earn more than $49,800 annually, or $23.94 an hour, $820 below the nation. At the bottom tenth it is $35,600, at the top tenth $77,630.
Is the largest metro area also the best-paying in Pennsylvania?
Yes. Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD has 12,700 jobs and a $58,460 median, $8,660 over the state and $11,620 over Erie, PA.
Which mechanic school in Pennsylvania ranks highest?
The top score belongs to Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics in West Mifflin, PA, with 73.0 points, from 25 ranked programs.
The figures here are the Bureau of Labor Statistics median for wage and salary workers, so the mechanic salary in Pennsylvania for any one job depends on the employer, the metro area and the trade.
Sources for Mechanic Salary in Pennsylvania
- BLS OEWS, Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics May 2025, read October 23, 2026.
- BLS OEWS technical notes Wage and salary workers only.
- Official Pennsylvania source (pa.gov) Read October 23, 2026.