BLS May 2025
Mechanic Salary in Virginia
On mechanic pay, Virginia is 6th of 50, well up the table. For automotive service technicians and mechanics (SOC 49-3023), the Bureau of Labor Statistics May 2025 median is $59,330 a year, $8,710 above the national median of $50,620, and 17,880 wage and salary jobs sit behind it. Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV pays the most at $61,860, 32 percent above Lynchburg, VA.
By Trevor Rupe, Contributor at Savo Media Group
At a Glance
- 6th of 50 states on median pay for automotive service technicians and mechanics (SOC 49-3023), $59,330 against $50,620 nationally.
- $82,200 for aircraft mechanics, 39 percent over automotive technicians.
- A $56,030 spread between the 10th and 90th percentiles, 6th widest of 50.
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV Pays 32 Percent More Than Lynchburg, VA
With 11 metropolitan areas to compare, start with the big three: Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($61,860), Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC ($58,290) and Richmond, VA ($61,510), 18,520 jobs between them.
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV leads on both jobs and pay, $61,860 compared with $46,970 in Lynchburg, VA, counting areas with 500 or more jobs.
Away from the metros, 4 nonmetropolitan areas hold 10 percent of the state's jobs and every one pays less than the $59,330 median, from $46,510 to $53,030.
4 of the 11 areas, led by Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV, extend into DC, MD and WV and carry one figure for the whole area.
| Area | Median | Against Virginia | 10th to 90th percentile | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $61,860 | +$2,530 | $38,110 to $97,460 | 12,030 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $58,290 | -$1,040 | $36,460 to $80,110 | 3,560 |
| Richmond, VA | $61,510 | +$2,180 | $36,550 to $81,850 | 2,930 |
| Roanoke, VA | $51,230 | -$8,100 | $33,980 to $78,550 | 740 |
| Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $48,670 | -$10,660 | $31,640 to $78,180 | 670 |
| Lynchburg, VA | $46,970 | -$12,360 | $30,880 to $77,840 | 590 |
| Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA | $48,500 | -$10,830 | $35,500 to $76,710 | 440 |
| Charlottesville, VA | $59,130 | -$200 | $36,980 to $83,610 | 430 |
| Winchester, VA-WV | $57,570 | -$1,760 | $35,720 to $81,030 | 410 |
| Harrisonburg, VA | $48,930 | -$10,400 | $35,120 to $78,210 | 340 |
| Staunton-Stuarts Draft, VA | $49,470 | -$9,860 | $34,790 to $78,430 | 230 |
| Southwest Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $46,510 | -$12,820 | $32,450 to $75,710 | 650 |
| Southside Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $47,620 | -$11,710 | $31,710 to $76,090 | 560 |
| Northwest Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $47,890 | -$11,440 | $33,990 to $78,320 | 300 |
| Northeast Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $53,030 | -$6,300 | $31,640 to $76,540 | 240 |
Mechanic Salary in Virginia Spans a $56,030 Range
The pay floor of $36,540 runs $1,880 over national pay and the ceiling of $92,570 runs $10,780 over national pay. The $56,030 spread between the 10th and 90th percentiles beats the national spread by $8,900. For the top tenth of earners, Virginia stands 6th nationally.
| Measure | Virginia | United States | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $36,540 | $34,660 | +$1,880 |
| 25th percentile | $45,080 | $38,900 | +$6,180 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $59,330 | $50,620 | +$8,710 |
| 75th percentile | $76,540 | $70,430 | +$6,110 |
| 90th percentile | $92,570 | $81,790 | +$10,780 |
| Mean | $61,600 | $56,420 | +$5,180 |
| Wage and salary jobs | 17,880 | 704,640 |
The middle half of Virginia mechanics make $45,080 to $76,540, and each edge beats its national counterpart (+$6,180, +$6,110).
The $61,600 mean edges $2,270 past the median.
The 10th percentile figure of $36,540 says where the bottom tenth ends, not what a beginner is paid.
13 Ranked Mechanic Programs in Virginia
10 schools supply 13 ranked programs (8 automotive, 1 diesel, 1 collision repair and 3 aviation maintenance); Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Manassas in Manassas, VA scores best, 63.1 in aviation maintenance.
Among 13 priced programs the range is $4,979 per year, in-state at New River Community College (Dublin, VA) to $22,465 annually at Liberty University (Lynchburg, VA).
4 ranked programs are in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC, where the median is $58,290.
- Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Manassas Manassas, VA, aviation maintenance, score 63.1, #27 of 148
- Blue Ridge Community College Weyers Cave, VA, automotive, score 60.6, #83 of 415
- Northern Virginia Community College Annandale, VA, automotive, score 59.5, #89 of 415
- Tidewater Community College Norfolk, VA, automotive, score 54.0, #167 of 415
- Germanna Community College Locust Grove, VA, automotive, score 52.0, #199 of 415
- New River Community College Dublin, VA, automotive, score 51.8, #203 of 415
- Blue Ridge Community College Weyers Cave, VA, aviation maintenance, score 51.3, #81 of 148
- Tidewater Community College Norfolk, VA, diesel, score 50.8, #50 of 76
- Tidewater Community College Norfolk, VA, collision repair, score 48.6, #40 of 59
- Danville Community College Danville, VA, automotive, score 44.2, #321 of 415
- J Sargeant Reynolds Community College Richmond, VA, automotive, score 44.0, #326 of 415
- Advanced Technology Institute Virginia Beach, VA, automotive, score 40.2, #366 of 415
Best Mechanic Schools in Virginia, with 13 programs ranked in the state
Aircraft Mechanics Lead Trade Pay by $22,870 in Virginia
The trade a mechanic chooses moves pay by 39 percent: aircraft mechanics at $82,200 compared with $59,330 for automotive technicians, with heavy equipment mechanics next at $63,950.
| Trade | Virginia median | U.S. median | Rank of 50 | Jobs | Best metro |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aircraft Mechanic | $82,200 | $79,870 | 16th | 2,260 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV, $93,910 |
| Heavy Equipment Mechanic | $63,950 | $65,510 | 31st | 4,340 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV, $71,540 |
| Diesel Mechanic | $61,090 | $61,770 | 26th | 8,070 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV, $72,580 |
| Auto Mechanic | $59,330 | $50,620 | 6th | 17,880 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV, $61,860 |
| Collision Repair Technician | $57,760 | $54,890 | 14th | 3,720 | Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC, $60,100 |
Ahead of the national picture: collision repair technicians ($57,760, +$2,870).
Aircraft mechanics ($82,200, +$2,330), heavy equipment mechanics ($63,950, -$1,560) and diesel mechanics ($61,090, -$680) land close to their national medians.
Aircraft mechanics do best in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV, where the median is $93,910.
17,880 Mechanic Jobs in Virginia at the National Density
The technician share is 4.4 per 1,000 jobs, within 4 percent of the national rate (location quotient 0.96). That puts Virginia 34th among 50 states on concentration.
Diesel mechanics rank first on concentration (1.05, 8,070 jobs), and aircraft mechanics the least at 0.62.
Mechanic Licensing in Virginia
Safety inspector license (Class A, B, C) comes from the Virginia Department of State Police and covers state inspection or emissions work, which is separate from general repair.
Official Virginia source (law.lis.virginia.gov), read October 23, 2026.
Virginia Between Connecticut and New Hampshire on Mechanic Pay
The nearest state is New Hampshire, $310 below at $59,020; after that comes Connecticut at $60,220, $890 away.
12 other states land within $2,500 of $59,330, 6 within $1,000. A small shift in pay moves Virginia several places.
Questions About Mechanic Salary in Virginia
What is a typical mechanic salary in Virginia?
Half make more than $59,330 a year, $28.53 an hour, $8,710 above the nation. The 10th percentile is $36,540 and the 90th $92,570.
Is the largest metro area also the best-paying in Virginia?
Yes. Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV has 12,030 jobs and a $61,860 median, $2,530 over the state and $14,890 over Lynchburg, VA.
Which mechanic school in Virginia ranks highest?
Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Manassas (Manassas, VA) leads: at 63.1 out of 100; 13 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 Virginia for any one job depends on the employer, the metro area and the trade.
Sources for Mechanic Salary in Virginia
- BLS OEWS, Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics May 2025, read October 23, 2026.
- BLS OEWS technical notes Wage and salary workers only.
- Official Virginia source (law.lis.virginia.gov) Read October 23, 2026.