BLS May 2025
Mechanic Salary in Tennessee
Tennessee sits 27th of 50 states on mechanic pay, near the middle of the table. For automotive service technicians and mechanics (SOC 49-3023), the Bureau of Labor Statistics May 2025 median is $50,290 a year, level with the national median of $50,620, and 16,210 wage and salary jobs sit behind it. Aircraft mechanics pull 61 percent ahead of automotive technicians, at $81,040.
By Trevor Rupe, Contributor at Savo Media Group
At a Glance
- 27th of 50 states on median pay for automotive service technicians and mechanics (SOC 49-3023), $50,290 against $50,620 nationally.
- $81,040 for aircraft mechanics, 61 percent above automotive technicians.
- 27 ranked programs, led by Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Knoxville in Knoxville, TN.
Aircraft Mechanics Out-Earn Auto Mechanics by $30,750 in Tennessee
Aircraft mechanics sit at $81,040 on 4,670 jobs, 61 percent above automotive technicians at $50,290. That leaves automotive technicians 4th among 5 trades.
| Trade | Tennessee median | U.S. median | Rank of 50 | Jobs | Best metro |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aircraft Mechanic | $81,040 | $79,870 | 20th | 4,670 | Memphis, TN-MS-AR, $92,180 |
| Heavy Equipment Mechanic | $61,880 | $65,510 | 41st | 2,600 | Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN, $65,030 |
| Diesel Mechanic | $59,190 | $61,770 | 38th | 5,720 | Memphis, TN-MS-AR, $61,360 |
| Auto Mechanic | $50,290 | $50,620 | 27th | 16,210 | Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN, $58,700 |
| Collision Repair Technician | $47,460 | $54,890 | 47th | 3,970 | Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN, $49,880 |
Below their national medians: heavy equipment mechanics ($61,880, -$3,630), diesel mechanics ($59,190, -$2,580) and collision repair technicians ($47,460, -$7,430).
Level with the nation: aircraft mechanics ($81,040, +$1,170).
Nationally, collision repair technicians place 47th among 50 states at $47,460, the softest of the trades here.
Aircraft mechanics do best in Memphis, TN-MS-AR, where the median is $92,180.
Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN Pays 21 Percent More Than Knoxville, TN
Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN is the largest of 10 areas and pays $8,410 over the state's $50,290 median; the next two, Memphis, TN-MS-AR and Knoxville, TN, bring the top three to 10,410 jobs.
The largest area is also the richest: Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN at $58,700, 21 percent over Knoxville, TN (areas with 500 or more jobs).
Away from the metros, 4 nonmetropolitan areas hold 16 percent of the state's jobs and every one pays less than the $50,290 median, from $43,500 to $47,910.
4 of the 10 areas, led by Memphis, TN-MS-AR, extend into MS and AR and carry one figure for the whole area.
| Area | Median | Against Tennessee | 10th to 90th percentile | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $58,700 | +$8,410 | $36,540 to $81,680 | 5,150 |
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $50,490 | +$200 | $34,930 to $82,370 | 2,980 |
| Knoxville, TN | $48,540 | -$1,750 | $31,580 to $79,680 | 2,280 |
| Chattanooga, TN-GA | $51,020 | +$730 | $31,640 to $79,300 | 1,320 |
| Clarksville, TN-KY | $49,570 | -$720 | $32,730 to $77,490 | 730 |
| Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $48,670 | -$1,620 | $31,640 to $78,180 | 670 |
| Jackson, TN | $49,910 | -$380 | $31,640 to $77,800 | 520 |
| Johnson City, TN | $49,830 | -$460 | $31,070 to $78,430 | 450 |
| Cleveland, TN | $48,900 | -$1,390 | $30,560 to $79,210 | 260 |
| Morristown, TN | $47,600 | -$2,690 | $30,510 to $77,020 | 260 |
| North Central Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $46,890 | -$3,400 | $30,700 to $72,850 | 760 |
| East Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $47,910 | -$2,380 | $30,970 to $73,640 | 630 |
| West Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $45,680 | -$4,610 | $31,510 to $72,040 | 600 |
| South Central Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $43,500 | -$6,790 | $31,220 to $80,890 | 590 |
27 Ranked Mechanic Programs in Tennessee
20 schools supply 27 ranked programs (17 automotive, 3 diesel, 2 collision repair and 5 aviation maintenance); Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Knoxville in Knoxville, TN scores best, 72.8 in collision repair.
Prices start at $5,154 for the 16-month program (Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Elizabethton, Elizabethton, TN; scored as $3,866 annually) and hit $37,021 for the 14-month program (Nashville Auto-Diesel College, Nashville, TN) across 23 priced programs.
Tennessee College of Applied Technology Nashville, Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Murfreesboro and Nashville Auto-Diesel College sit in Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN, the best-paying area for mechanics at $58,700.
- Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Knoxville Knoxville, TN, collision repair, score 72.8, #3 of 59
- Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Knoxville Knoxville, TN, diesel, score 68.2, #7 of 76
- Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Knoxville Knoxville, TN, automotive, score 64.2, #41 of 415
- TCAT Athens Athens, TN, automotive, score 63.0, #59 of 415
- Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Morristown Morristown, TN, collision repair, score 56.6, #28 of 59
- Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Memphis Memphis, TN, aviation maintenance, score 56.1, #56 of 148
- Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Hartsville Hartsville, TN, automotive, score 55.0, #145 of 415
- Tennessee College of Applied Technology Nashville Nashville, TN, aviation maintenance, score 54.9, #64 of 148
- Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Memphis Memphis, TN, automotive, score 54.2, #163 of 415
- Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Murfreesboro Murfreesboro, TN, automotive, score 53.9, #168 of 415
- Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Elizabethton Elizabethton, TN, automotive, score 52.0, #197 of 415
- Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Shelbyville Shelbyville, TN, automotive, score 51.7, #208 of 415
Best Mechanic Schools in Tennessee (27 programs scored)
Mechanic Salary in Tennessee Matches the National Median
The bottom tenth tops out at $34,820, in line with national pay, and likewise the 90th, $79,930, keeps pace with the national ceiling. $45,110 between the 10th and 90th percentiles is much like the country's range.
| Measure | Tennessee | United States | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $34,820 | $34,660 | +$160 |
| 25th percentile | $38,300 | $38,900 | -$600 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $50,290 | $50,620 | -$330 |
| 75th percentile | $63,790 | $70,430 | -$6,640 |
| 90th percentile | $79,930 | $81,790 | -$1,860 |
| Mean | $54,590 | $56,420 | -$1,830 |
| Wage and salary jobs | 16,210 | 704,640 |
Half of Tennessee mechanics fall between $38,300 and $63,790, and each edge trails its national counterpart (-$600, -$6,640).
At $54,590, the mean climbs $4,300 over the median on the strength of top earnings.
The 10th percentile figure of $34,820 marks a spot in the pay distribution, not entry pay.
Mechanic Employment Near the National Rate in Tennessee
Technicians hold 4.9 of every 1,000 Tennessee jobs, within 9 percent of the national rate, a location quotient of 1.09. The state is 24th of 50 on concentration.
By concentration aircraft mechanics lead with a quotient of 1.60; heavy equipment mechanics trail at 0.70. They are far more common here than nationally.
Tennessee Between Iowa and Pennsylvania on Mechanic Pay
Iowa sits closest, at $50,510, $220 above; after that comes Pennsylvania at $49,800, $490 below.
22 states land within $2,500 of $50,290, and 6 of them within $1,000. The order is tightly packed here.
Questions About Mechanic Salary in Tennessee
What is a typical mechanic salary in Tennessee?
A $50,290 median, $24.18 an hour, level with the nation. The 10th percentile is $34,820 and the 90th $79,930.
What is the pay gap between aircraft mechanics and auto mechanics in Tennessee?
A premium of $30,750: $81,040 versus $50,290 for auto mechanics, across 4,670 jobs.
Which mechanic school in Tennessee ranks highest?
The top score belongs to Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Knoxville in Knoxville, TN, with 72.8 points; 27 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 Tennessee for any one job depends on the employer, the metro area and the trade.
Sources for Mechanic Salary in Tennessee
- BLS OEWS, Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics May 2025, read October 23, 2026.
- BLS OEWS technical notes Wage and salary workers only.