Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics pay range in Chicago
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $34,520 a year or less, while the top 10% make $92,460 or more. The middle half of automotive service technicians and mechanics in Chicago earn between $39,240 and $78,370.
- $35K10th
- $39K25th
- $55KMedian
- $78K75th
- $92K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $59,320 | $4,943 | $28.52 |
| Median | $55,320 | $4,610 | $26.60 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $39,240 | $3,270 | $18.87 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $78,370 | $6,531 | $37.68 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics pay in Chicago vs. Illinois and the U.S.
Automotive service technicians and mechanics in Chicago earn 5% more than the Illinois average ($56,680) and 5% more than the U.S. average ($56,420). At the median the gap is +9% against the U.S. median of $50,620.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago | $59,320 | $55,320 | $34,520 | $92,460 | 20,140 |
| Illinois | $56,680 | $49,170 | $34,190 | $91,200 | 29,510 |
| United States | $56,420 | $50,620 | $34,660 | $81,790 | 704,640 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics salary after taxes in Chicago
On the average salary of $59,320, a single filer in Chicago takes home about $47,048 a year, or $3,921 a month and $1,810 every two weeks. Taxes take 21% of gross pay.
The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in IN | $48,094 | $4,008 |
| Working in IL | $47,048 | $3,921 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
Is Chicago a good place for automotive service technicians and mechanics? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Chicago area are 4% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 103.6), so the average $59,320 buys what about $57,261 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.0 times the median wage of all jobs in Chicago ($54,720). A typical home costs $353,998, or 6.0 years of this average salary before tax.
Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics salary in other Illinois cities
Chicago ranks 1st of 8 Illinois metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Chicago$59,320
- Peoria$54,810
- Springfield$54,320
- Rockford$54,130
- Champaign$53,550
- Decatur$51,840
- Bloomington$51,630
- Kankakee$50,850
All Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics salaries in Illinois
Highest-paying cities for automotive service technicians and mechanics
San Francisco, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($75,730).
- San Francisco, CA$75,730
- San Jose, CA$75,410
- Hinesville, GA$74,460
- Napa, CA$71,100
- Santa Rosa, CA$70,890
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Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics salary in Chicago: questions
How much do automotive service technicians and mechanics make an hour in Chicago?
$28.52 an hour on average, and $26.60 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level automotive service technicians and mechanics salary in Chicago?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $34,520 a year and the 25th percentile is $39,240, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the automotive service technicians and mechanics take-home pay in Chicago?
About $47,048 a year ($3,921 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $59,320.
Do automotive service technicians and mechanics earn more in Chicago than elsewhere?
The average here is 5% more than the U.S. average for this job ($56,420).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 49-3023; area Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN (16980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.9%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.98, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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