BLS May 2025
Mechanic Salary in Rhode Island
21st of 50 is where Rhode Island lands on mechanic pay. For automotive service technicians and mechanics (SOC 49-3023), the Bureau of Labor Statistics May 2025 median is $51,770 a year, $1,150 above the national median of $50,620, and 2,530 wage and salary jobs sit behind it. Collision repair technicians pull 40 percent ahead of automotive technicians, at $72,490.
By Trevor Rupe, Contributor at Savo Media Group
At a Glance
- 21st of 50 states on median pay for automotive service technicians and mechanics (SOC 49-3023), $51,770 against $50,620 nationally.
- $72,490 for collision repair technicians, 40 percent ahead of automotive technicians.
- 2,530 jobs, a location quotient of 1.11 (5.0 per 1,000 jobs).
Mechanic Employment Near the National Rate in Rhode Island
The technician share is 5.0 per 1,000 jobs, near the national rate; the location quotient is 1.11. On concentration it ranks 21st of 50 states.
Collision repair technicians rank first on concentration with a quotient of 1.67; diesel mechanics trail at 0.38. They are far more common here than nationally.
Collision Repair Technicians Lead Trade Pay by $20,720 in Rhode Island
Trade choice changes pay by 40 percent here: collision repair technicians at $72,490 compared with $51,770 for automotive technicians, with heavy equipment mechanics next at $68,130.
| Trade | Rhode Island median | U.S. median | Rank of 50 | Jobs | Best metro |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Collision Repair Technician | $72,490 | $54,890 | 1st | 800 | Providence-Warwick, RI-MA, $59,260 |
| Heavy Equipment Mechanic | $68,130 | $65,510 | 18th | 260 | Providence-Warwick, RI-MA, $68,130 |
| Diesel Mechanic | $67,270 | $61,770 | 13th | 350 | Providence-Warwick, RI-MA, $65,620 |
| Auto Mechanic | $51,770 | $50,620 | 21st | 2,530 | Providence-Warwick, RI-MA, $51,970 |
Above their national medians: collision repair technicians ($72,490, +$17,600), heavy equipment mechanics ($68,130, +$2,620) and diesel mechanics ($67,270, +$5,500).
Nationally, collision repair technicians place 1st among 50 states at $72,490, the strongest of the trades here.
Collision repair technicians do best in Providence-Warwick, RI-MA, where the median is $59,260.
Mechanic Salary in Rhode Island Beats the National Median by $1,150
The bottom tenth makes $31,860 or less, $2,800 below the national figure, while $80,780 at the 90th percentile is within $1,010 of the U.S. figure. The $48,920 spread across the pay scale nearly matches the national spread.
| Measure | Rhode Island | United States | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $31,860 | $34,660 | -$2,800 |
| 25th percentile | $37,930 | $38,900 | -$970 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $51,770 | $50,620 | +$1,150 |
| 75th percentile | $62,400 | $70,430 | -$8,030 |
| 90th percentile | $80,780 | $81,790 | -$1,010 |
| Mean | $54,310 | $56,420 | -$2,110 |
| Wage and salary jobs | 2,530 | 704,640 |
Pay for the middle half runs $37,930 to $62,400, and each edge trails its national counterpart (-$970, -$8,030).
The average, $54,310, edges $2,540 past the median.
The 10th percentile figure of $31,860 describes the distribution, not what a new hire earns.
Mechanic Pay in Providence-Warwick, RI-MA Against the Rest of Rhode Island
BLS prices a single metropolitan area here, Providence-Warwick, RI-MA, where 3,700 jobs pay a median $51,970, in line with the state median.
Every area here hits across a state line, so each figure covers the whole area and not only Rhode Island.
| Area | Median | Against Rhode Island | 10th to 90th percentile | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | $51,970 | +$200 | $31,860 to $79,710 | 3,700 |
The Ranked Mechanic School in Rhode Island
New England Institute of Technology in East Greenwich, RI is the one ranked program in Rhode Island: an automotive program scoring 51.6 out of 100, #209 of 415 nationally.
Mechanic Licensing in Rhode Island
State inspection or emissions work calls for certified Motor Vehicle Inspector (safety; emissions after added training), issued by the Rhode Island Division of Motor Vehicles; that is a separate matter from general repair.
Official Rhode Island source (rules.sos.ri.gov), read October 23, 2026.
Rhode Island Between Maine and Vermont on Mechanic Pay
Vermont sits closest, at $51,630, $140 below; Maine sits farther up at $52,040, a gap of $270.
13 states fall within $2,500 of $51,770, and 5 of them within $1,000. The order is tightly packed here.
Questions About Mechanic Salary in Rhode Island
What is a typical mechanic salary in Rhode Island?
$51,770 at the median, or $24.89 an hour, which is $1,150 above the nation. At the bottom tenth it is $31,860, at the top tenth $80,780.
Do collision repair technicians out-earn auto mechanics in Rhode Island?
Yes, by $20,720: $72,490 next to $51,770, on 800 jobs.
Which mechanic school in Rhode Island ranks highest?
The top score belongs to New England Institute of Technology in East Greenwich, RI, at 51.6 out of 100; 1 program is ranked in all.
The figures here are the Bureau of Labor Statistics median for wage and salary workers, so the mechanic salary in Rhode Island for any one job depends on the employer, the metro area and the trade.
Sources for Mechanic Salary in Rhode Island
- BLS OEWS, Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics May 2025, read October 23, 2026.
- BLS OEWS technical notes Wage and salary workers only.
- Official Rhode Island source (rules.sos.ri.gov) Read October 23, 2026.