BLS May 2025
Mechanic Salary in Texas
Mechanic pay in Texas lands 36th in the country, behind most states. For automotive service technicians and mechanics (SOC 49-3023), the Bureau of Labor Statistics May 2025 median is $48,310 a year, $2,310 below the national median of $50,620, and 69,750 wage and salary jobs sit behind it. Aircraft mechanics pull 75 percent ahead of automotive technicians, at $84,440.
By Trevor Rupe, Contributor at Savo Media Group
At a Glance
- 36th of 50 states on median pay for automotive service technicians and mechanics (SOC 49-3023), $48,310 against $50,620 nationally.
- $84,440 for aircraft mechanics, 75 percent ahead of automotive technicians.
- $50,940 in Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX, the best-paying area, next to $39,160 in Brownsville-Harlingen, TX.
Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX Pays 30 Percent More Than Brownsville-Harlingen, TX
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX is the largest of 26 areas and pays $1,410 more than the state's $48,310 median; the next two, Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX and San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX, bring the top three to 38,920 jobs.
A 30 percent gap divides the state: Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX at $50,940 versus Brownsville-Harlingen, TX at $39,160 (areas with 500 or more jobs).
North Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area is the biggest of 6 nonmetropolitan areas, 2,060 jobs; together they hold 10 percent of the state and span $46,370 to $49,980, around the $48,310 state median.
1 of the 26 areas, led by Texarkana, TX-AR, extend into AR and carry one figure for the whole area.
| Area | Median | Against Texas | 10th to 90th percentile | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $49,720 | +$1,410 | $30,280 to $93,260 | 17,690 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $50,940 | +$2,630 | $29,380 to $83,180 | 14,910 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | $46,880 | -$1,430 | $29,860 to $80,840 | 6,320 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | $50,610 | +$2,300 | $33,350 to $94,150 | 5,210 |
| El Paso, TX | $44,250 | -$4,060 | $27,240 to $72,990 | 2,080 |
| McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX | $39,920 | -$8,390 | $27,450 to $75,500 | 1,620 |
| Lubbock, TX | $44,950 | -$3,360 | $27,670 to $75,680 | 1,180 |
| Killeen-Temple, TX | $45,870 | -$2,440 | $29,090 to $81,120 | 1,110 |
| Corpus Christi, TX | $44,710 | -$3,600 | $28,860 to $78,030 | 1,090 |
| Amarillo, TX | $45,860 | -$2,450 | $26,630 to $73,430 | 930 |
| Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | $47,050 | -$1,260 | $29,840 to $80,270 | 890 |
| Tyler, TX | $44,590 | -$3,720 | $29,140 to $77,120 | 850 |
| Longview, TX | $46,400 | -$1,910 | $29,810 to $77,830 | 800 |
| Brownsville-Harlingen, TX | $39,160 | -$9,150 | $27,450 to $75,390 | 780 |
| Waco, TX | $46,790 | -$1,520 | $29,550 to $78,730 | 730 |
| College Station-Bryan, TX | $49,080 | +$770 | $29,640 to $77,820 | 700 |
| Abilene, TX | $46,190 | -$2,120 | $28,770 to $78,660 | 650 |
| Laredo, TX | $39,450 | -$8,860 | $25,580 to $73,760 | 640 |
| Odessa, TX | $47,510 | -$800 | $29,640 to $85,860 | 640 |
| Midland, TX | $49,990 | +$1,680 | $30,820 to $82,430 | 600 |
| Wichita Falls, TX | $44,780 | -$3,530 | $29,140 to $76,080 | 440 |
| San Angelo, TX | $46,130 | -$2,180 | $28,810 to $76,870 | 410 |
| Texarkana, TX-AR | $44,940 | -$3,370 | $29,460 to $75,870 | 410 |
| Sherman-Denison, TX | $49,030 | +$720 | $30,310 to $77,990 | 360 |
Aircraft Mechanics Out-Earn Auto Mechanics by $36,130 in Texas
Aircraft mechanics earn $84,440 on 16,850 jobs, a $36,130 premium over automotive technicians ($48,310). Auto mechanics rank last of the 5 trades.
| Trade | Texas median | U.S. median | Rank of 50 | Jobs | Best metro |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aircraft Mechanic | $84,440 | $79,870 | 11th | 16,850 | Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX, $94,920 |
| Heavy Equipment Mechanic | $61,940 | $65,510 | 40th | 20,080 | Odessa, TX, $65,740 |
| Diesel Mechanic | $58,810 | $61,770 | 40th | 29,870 | Midland, TX, $61,810 |
| Collision Repair Technician | $51,700 | $54,890 | 27th | 14,070 | Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX, $57,280 |
| Auto Mechanic | $48,310 | $50,620 | 36th | 69,750 | Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX, $50,940 |
Above their national medians: aircraft mechanics ($84,440, +$4,570).
Heavy equipment mechanics ($61,940, -$3,570), diesel mechanics ($58,810, -$2,960) and collision repair technicians ($51,700, -$3,190) make less than their counterparts nationwide.
In Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX, aircraft mechanics come to $94,920, the best metro figure for the trade in Texas.
45 Ranked Mechanic Programs in Texas
Texas has 45 ranked programs at 29 schools: 24 automotive, 7 diesel, 3 collision repair and 11 aviation maintenance. The top scorer is Tarrant County College District in Fort Worth, TX at 75.1 out of 100 in automotive.
Tarrant County College District in Fort Worth, TX is the least expensive of 45 priced programs at $1,863 a year, in-district; Universal Technical Institute of Texas in Houston, TX is the most, at $40,745 for the 45-week program.
Universal Technical Institute of Texas, Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Houston, San Jacinto Community College, Houston City College and Lone Star College System sit in Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX, the best-paying area for mechanics at $50,940.
- Tarrant County College District Fort Worth, TX, automotive, score 75.1, #4 of 415
- Tarrant County College District Fort Worth, TX, aviation maintenance, score 70.9, #4 of 148
- Texas State Technical College Waco, TX, collision repair, score 69.6, #5 of 59
- Universal Technical Institute-Dallas Fort Worth Irving, TX, diesel, score 69.0, #5 of 76
- Dallas College Dallas, TX, automotive, score 65.0, #31 of 415
- Universal Technical Institute of Texas Houston, TX, collision repair, score 64.4, #12 of 59
- Collin County Community College District McKinney, TX, collision repair, score 64.1, #14 of 59
- Universal Technical Institute-West Texas Austin, TX, diesel, score 64.1, #16 of 76
- Odessa College Odessa, TX, diesel, score 64.0, #17 of 76
- Universal Technical Institute-Dallas Fort Worth Irving, TX, automotive, score 63.6, #51 of 415
- Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Dallas Irving, TX, aviation maintenance, score 63.2, #25 of 148
- Universal Technical Institute-West Texas Austin, TX, automotive, score 63.2, #57 of 415
Best Mechanic Schools in Texas, with 45 programs ranked in the state
$52,360 Separates Low and High Mechanic Salary in Texas
$29,360 at the 10th percentile is $5,300 below the U.S. figure, while $81,720 at the 90th percentile is within $70 of the national figure. The range, $52,360, from the 10th percentile to the 90th exceeds the country's range by $5,230. Texas ranks 48th of 50 states at the 10th percentile.
| Measure | Texas | United States | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $29,360 | $34,660 | -$5,300 |
| 25th percentile | $36,650 | $38,900 | -$2,250 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $48,310 | $50,620 | -$2,310 |
| 75th percentile | $62,270 | $70,430 | -$8,160 |
| 90th percentile | $81,720 | $81,790 | -$70 |
| Mean | $52,980 | $56,420 | -$3,440 |
| Wage and salary jobs | 69,750 | 704,640 |
Half of Texas mechanics fall between $36,650 and $62,270, and each edge trails its national counterpart (-$2,250, -$8,160).
At $52,980, the mean is pulled $4,670 over the median by a few high earners.
The $29,360 at the 10th percentile marks a spot in the pay distribution, not entry pay.
Mechanic Employment Near the National Rate in Texas
The technician share is 5.0 per 1,000 jobs, tracking the nation; the location quotient is 1.09. On concentration it ranks 24th of 50 states.
Aircraft mechanics are the most concentrated trade with a quotient of 1.35, while collision repair technicians sit lowest at 1.04.
Mechanic Licensing in Texas
Vehicle inspector certification (emissions inspector; commercial vehicle inspector endorsement) comes from the Texas Department of Public Safety and covers state inspection or emissions work, which is separate from general repair.
Official Texas source (dps.texas.gov), read October 23, 2026.
Texas Between Idaho and Nevada on Mechanic Pay
Nevada sits closest, at $48,290, $20 less; Idaho sits farther up at $48,420, a gap of $110.
20 other states fall within $2,500 of $48,310; 10 are inside $1,000. A small shift in pay moves Texas several places.
Questions About Mechanic Salary in Texas
What is the mechanic salary in Texas?
A $48,310 median, or $23.23 an hour, which is $2,310 below the nation. Pay runs $29,360 to $81,720 from the 10th to the 90th percentile.
What is the pay gap between aircraft mechanics and auto mechanics in Texas?
The median gap is $36,130, $84,440 for aircraft mechanics compared with $48,310 for automotive technicians in the OEWS count.
Which mechanic school in Texas ranks highest?
Tarrant County College District in Fort Worth, TX, with 75.1 points, from 45 ranked programs.
The figures here are the Bureau of Labor Statistics median for wage and salary workers, so the mechanic salary in Texas for any one job depends on the employer, the metro area and the trade.
Sources for Mechanic Salary in Texas
- BLS OEWS, Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics May 2025, read October 23, 2026.
- BLS OEWS technical notes Wage and salary workers only.
- Official Texas source (dps.texas.gov) Read October 23, 2026.