Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics pay range in Durham
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $35,360 a year or less, while the top 10% make $78,870 or more. The middle half of automotive service technicians and mechanics in Durham earn between $37,290 and $64,580.
- $35K10th
- $37K25th
- $52KMedian
- $65K75th
- $79K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $55,780 | $4,648 | $26.82 |
| Median | $51,580 | $4,298 | $24.80 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $37,290 | $3,108 | $17.93 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $64,580 | $5,382 | $31.05 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics pay in Durham vs. North Carolina and the U.S.
Automotive service technicians and mechanics in Durham earn 4% more than the North Carolina average ($53,510) and about the same as the U.S. average ($56,420). At the median the gap is +2% against the U.S. median of $50,620.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Durham | $55,780 | $51,580 | $35,360 | $78,870 | 1,090 |
| North Carolina | $53,510 | $48,200 | $31,500 | $79,610 | 26,510 |
| 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 Durham
On the average salary of $55,780, a single filer in Durham takes home about $45,282 a year, or $3,774 a month and $1,742 every two weeks. Taxes take 19% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Durham a good place for automotive service technicians and mechanics? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Durham area are 2% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 97.6), so the average $55,780 buys what about $57,168 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Durham ($60,720). A typical home costs $414,340, or 7.4 years of this average salary before tax.
Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics salary in other North Carolina cities
Durham ranks 3rd of 15 North Carolina metro areas for this job; Charlotte pays the most ($57,990).
- Charlotte$57,990
- Raleigh$56,110
- Durham$55,780
- Wilmington$53,720
- Asheville$52,480
- Pinehurst$52,130
- Greensboro$51,680
- Fayetteville$51,230
- Hickory$51,040
- Winston-Salem$50,500
All Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics salaries in North Carolina
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 Durham: questions
How much do automotive service technicians and mechanics make an hour in Durham?
$26.82 an hour on average, and $24.80 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level automotive service technicians and mechanics salary in Durham?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $35,360 a year and the 25th percentile is $37,290, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the automotive service technicians and mechanics take-home pay in Durham?
About $45,282 a year ($3,774 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $55,780.
Do automotive service technicians and mechanics earn more in Durham than elsewhere?
The average here is about the same as 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 Durham-Chapel Hill, NC (20500). 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 (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.70, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.70).
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