BLS May 2025
Mechanic Salary in Washington
On mechanic pay, Washington is 14th of 50, well up the table. For automotive service technicians and mechanics (SOC 49-3023), the Bureau of Labor Statistics May 2025 median is $57,270 a year, $6,650 above the national median of $50,620, and 12,930 wage and salary jobs sit behind it. Pay runs from $39,470 at the 10th percentile to $95,620 at the 90th, across 1.8 percent of U.S. technician jobs.
By Trevor Rupe, Contributor at Savo Media Group
At a Glance
- 14th of 50 states on median pay for automotive service technicians and mechanics (SOC 49-3023), $57,270 against $50,620 nationally.
- $98,980 for aircraft mechanics, 73 percent over automotive technicians.
- A $56,150 spread between the 10th and 90th percentiles, 5th widest of 50.
Mechanic Salary in Washington Spans a $56,150 Range
The pay floor of $39,470 runs $4,810 ahead of the nation, and the ceiling of $95,620 runs $13,830 ahead of the nation. $56,150 across the pay scale exceeds the country's range by $9,020. Among states the 90th percentile places Washington 1st.
| Measure | Washington | United States | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $39,470 | $34,660 | +$4,810 |
| 25th percentile | $45,740 | $38,900 | +$6,840 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $57,270 | $50,620 | +$6,650 |
| 75th percentile | $76,960 | $70,430 | +$6,530 |
| 90th percentile | $95,620 | $81,790 | +$13,830 |
| Mean | $62,460 | $56,420 | +$6,040 |
| Wage and salary jobs | 12,930 | 704,640 |
The 25th and 75th percentiles are $45,740 and $76,960, ahead of the national middle half at both edges (+$6,840 and +$6,530).
The average, $62,460, sits $5,190 above the median, lifted by top earners.
The $39,470 at the 10th percentile says where the bottom tenth ends, not what a beginner is paid.
Aircraft Mechanics Out-Earn Auto Mechanics by $41,710 in Washington
The top trade, aircraft mechanics, pays $98,980 with 4,480 jobs behind it, $41,710 more than the $57,270 automotive median. Automotive technicians sit last of 5.
| Trade | Washington median | U.S. median | Rank of 50 | Jobs | Best metro |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aircraft Mechanic | $98,980 | $79,870 | 4th | 4,480 | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA, $103,900 |
| Heavy Equipment Mechanic | $78,620 | $65,510 | 5th | 3,900 | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA, $81,090 |
| Diesel Mechanic | $77,900 | $61,770 | 2nd | 7,410 | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA, $82,330 |
| Collision Repair Technician | $58,340 | $54,890 | 12th | 2,330 | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA, $64,590 |
| Auto Mechanic | $57,270 | $50,620 | 14th | 12,930 | Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA, $60,450 |
Aircraft mechanics ($98,980, +$19,110), heavy equipment mechanics ($78,620, +$13,110), diesel mechanics ($77,900, +$16,130) and collision repair technicians ($58,340, +$3,450) earn more than their counterparts nationwide.
Nationally, diesel mechanics place 2nd among 50 states at $77,900, the strongest of the trades here.
In Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA, aircraft mechanics come to $103,900, the best metro figure for the trade in Washington.
15 Ranked Mechanic Programs in Washington
Washington has 15 ranked programs at 14 schools: 10 automotive and 5 aviation maintenance. The top scorer is Renton Technical College in Renton, WA at 58.8 out of 100 in automotive.
Prices start at $4,711 a year, in-state (Green River College, Auburn, WA) and reach $23,462 for the 12-month program (Perry Technical Institute, Yakima, WA) across 15 priced programs.
Clark College sits in Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA, the best-paying area for mechanics at $60,450.
- Renton Technical College Renton, WA, automotive, score 58.8, #100 of 415
- Green River College Auburn, WA, automotive, score 56.9, #123 of 415
- Clover Park Technical College Lakewood, WA, aviation maintenance, score 56.9, #51 of 148
- Everett Community College Everett, WA, aviation maintenance, score 56.0, #57 of 148
- Clark College Vancouver, WA, automotive, score 55.5, #138 of 415
- Clover Park Technical College Lakewood, WA, automotive, score 54.9, #146 of 415
- Big Bend Community College Moses Lake, WA, aviation maintenance, score 52.2, #74 of 148
- Skagit Valley College Mount Vernon, WA, automotive, score 52.1, #195 of 415
- South Seattle College Seattle, WA, aviation maintenance, score 52.1, #75 of 148
- Walla Walla Community College Walla Walla, WA, automotive, score 48.0, #262 of 415
- Shoreline College Shoreline, WA, automotive, score 46.0, #297 of 415
- Spokane Community College Spokane, WA, aviation maintenance, score 44.4, #110 of 148
Best Mechanic Schools in Washington scores all 15 programs by one method
Mechanic Employment 20 Percent Below the National Rate in Washington
Technician employment here is 3.6 per 1,000 jobs, 20 percent short of the national rate (location quotient 0.80). The state is 46th of 50 on concentration.
The most concentrated trade is aircraft mechanics with a quotient of 1.42; collision repair technicians trail at 0.68.
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA Leads Mechanic Pay in Washington
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA is the largest of 13 areas and pays $2,020 more than the $57,270 figure for Washington; the next two, Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA and Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA, bring the top three to 12,140 jobs.
Kennewick-Richland, WA pays $53,450 and Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $60,450, a $7,000 difference, counting areas with 500 or more jobs.
2 nonmetropolitan areas add 1,030 jobs (8 percent of 12,930), all under the $57,270 state median at $54,900 to $56,920, while the best metro clears the best of them by $3,530.
2 of the 13 areas, led by Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA, extend into OR and carry one figure for the whole area.
| Area | Median | Against Washington | 10th to 90th percentile | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $59,290 | +$2,020 | $43,750 to $99,190 | 6,860 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $60,450 | +$3,180 | $40,040 to $93,310 | 4,180 |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | $54,840 | -$2,430 | $37,880 to $85,080 | 1,100 |
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | $53,450 | -$3,820 | $39,860 to $94,320 | 590 |
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | $53,820 | -$3,450 | $40,770 to $97,350 | 470 |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | $51,260 | -$6,010 | $38,870 to $81,710 | 450 |
| Yakima, WA | $50,150 | -$7,120 | $37,480 to $93,360 | 410 |
| Bellingham, WA | $56,550 | -$720 | $38,810 to $89,530 | 360 |
| Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA | $55,270 | -$2,000 | $38,370 to $98,150 | 280 |
| Longview-Kelso, WA | $54,080 | -$3,190 | $39,430 to $95,610 | 230 |
| Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA | $50,940 | -$6,330 | $37,960 to $86,650 | 230 |
| Lewiston, ID-WA | $48,870 | -$8,400 | $37,290 to $77,580 | 190 |
| Walla Walla, WA | $50,090 | -$7,180 | $36,850 to $77,530 | 90 |
| Western Washington nonmetropolitan area | $56,920 | -$350 | $39,200 to $99,260 | 570 |
| Eastern Washington nonmetropolitan area | $54,900 | -$2,370 | $39,740 to $95,710 | 460 |
Washington Between North Dakota and New Jersey on Mechanic Pay
North Dakota sits closest, at $57,360, $90 higher; New Jersey sits farther down at $56,610, $660 below.
9 other states fall within $2,500 of $57,270, 3 within $1,000. A small shift in pay moves Washington several places.
Questions About Mechanic Salary in Washington
What is a typical mechanic salary in Washington?
The median is $57,270 per year, or $27.54 an hour, $6,650 above the nation. At the bottom tenth it is $39,470, at the top tenth $95,620.
How much more do aircraft mechanics earn than auto mechanics in Washington?
$41,710 more at the median, $98,980 compared with $57,270 for automotive technicians, across 4,480 jobs.
Which mechanic school in Washington ranks highest?
The top score belongs to Renton Technical College in Renton, WA, with 58.8 points, from 15 ranked programs.
The figures here are the Bureau of Labor Statistics median for wage and salary workers, so the mechanic salary in Washington for any one job depends on the employer, the metro area and the trade.
Sources for Mechanic Salary in Washington
- BLS OEWS, Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics May 2025, read October 23, 2026.
- BLS OEWS technical notes Wage and salary workers only.