How much does a mechanic charge per hour? Good question!
Mechanic labor rates can confuse the best of us. While it seems like your final bill has been thrown together like a rushed art project, many factors influence the overall cost of mechanic’s rates.
This article will give you a general idea of what mechanics charge for labor, the 7 factors that affect what mechanics charge, and some helpful FAQs for staying ahead of the game.
How Much Does A Mechanic Charge Per Hour?
According to recent labor statistics, the average hourly rate for mechanic work in the US is between $75 and $130 per hour. However, if you’re looking for an exact number, it’s unfortunately not that simple.
State-by-state analysis of labor rates
We’ve compiled the state-by-state auto mechanic labor rate for you here.
Northeast
- Maine: $130-$140 per hour
- New Hampshire: $120-$135 per hour
- Vermont: $115-$130 per hour
- Massachusetts: $130-$135 per hour
- Rhode Island: $120-$130 per hour
- Connecticut: $125-$140 per hour
- New York: $135-$140 per hour
- New Jersey: $140-$145 per hour
- Pennsylvania: $135-$140 per hour
Midwest
- Ohio: $130-$140 per hour
- Michigan: $135-$145 per hour
- Indiana: $135-$145 per hour
- Illinois: $125-$140 per hour
- Wisconsin: $130-$145 per hour
- Minnesota: $135-$150 per hour
- Iowa: $130-$145 per hour
- Missouri: $135-$150 per hour
- North Dakota: $130-$145 per hour
- South Dakota: $130-$150 per hour
- Nebraska: $135-$150 per hour
- Kansas: $135-$150 per hour
South
- Delaware: $130-$145 per hour
- Maryland: $135-$145 per hour
- Virginia: $130-$145 per hour
- West Virginia: $140-$145 per hour
- North Carolina: $85-$105 per hour
- South Carolina: $130-$145 per hour
- Georgia: $140-$150 per hour
- Florida: $140-$145 per hour
- Kentucky: $140-$150 per hour
- Tennessee: $140-$150 per hour
- Mississippi: $150-$155 per hour
- Alabama: $140-$150 per hour
- Oklahoma: $135-$150 per hour
- Texas: $140-$145 per hour
- Arkansas: $140-$150 per hour
- Louisiana: $140-$150 per hour
West
- Idaho: $130-$145 per hour
- Montana: $140-$150 per hour
- Wyoming: $150-$155 per hour
- Nevada: $130-$140 per hour
- Utah: $130-$145 per hour
- Colorado: $135-150 per hour
- Arizona: $125-$140 per hour
- New Mexico: $135-$145 per hour
- Alaska: $135-$150 per hour
- Washington: $135-$145 per hour
- Oregon: $1300-$140 per hour
- California: $155-$175 per hour
- Hawaii: $120-$140 per hour
Let’s check out the factors influencing a mechanic’s hourly labor rate.
7 Factors That Affect What Mechanics Charge
Here are the main factors influencing mechanic rates:
1. Repair Shop Location
The region you live in has a profound impact on the labor prices you are going to pay, as with everything you buy.
First, you have to look at the state you reside in and what type of area it is. For example, if you are in the country, you will likely pay less than at the mechanic in the center of a city.
Costs are lower outside of the city because the repair shop doesn’t need to pay as much to operate in that location.
The mortgage or rent is going to be lower, allowing the mechanic to keep the prices down. If you can find a mechanic that owns the building, you could even get lower rates.
2. Type Of Auto Shop
The kind of work you need done will dictate the associated labor costs. If you are looking for an oil change, you can go to a local lube and pay a minimal amount of labor.
However, if you require extensive engine or transmission repair, you’ll need to visit a specialist, and they are naturally going to charge more.
You may also choose to visit a location with certified technicians. Not only can the mechanics have ASE certifications, but also get special recognition for working with particular brands. These shops are going to be more expensive than the average mechanic down the road.
One example of this is the dealership. While the price is going to be higher than most independent shops, the technicians are certified and held to a particular standard.
Sadly, some dealership prices are suggested by the automaker, so there’s not much distinction between the rates at the one in the city and the one outside of town.
When you visit a dealership, you gain a few other benefits. First, the work is listed in the service history for the vehicle.
This step ensures that buyers trust the vehicle’s history more because everything remains transparent. There’s also normally a warranty offered by the dealership, giving you further peace of mind.
3. Specialization and Skill Level
When it comes to determining cost, the level of skill offered by the technicians goes hand-in-hand with the type of dealership you take your car to.
If you don’t mind having entry-level mechanics working on your car, you could save a lot of money.
However, you might want to have a technician that understands your car better.
It’s also helpful if you visit a shop that has the latest diagnostic and repair equipment for a better experience. All of these factors increase the cost but provide you with some security in the long run.
4. Towing Service
Whether you needed gas help or just had a flat tire, we’ve all called upon a tow truck service for roadside assistance at least once.
While not all auto repair shops offer a towing service, the ones that do may include the service in your final bill. The mechanic will need to include the cost of gas, maintenance, and of course, profit for the service.
5. Car Brand and Model
The type of vehicle you drive also significantly affects the price. If you have a run-of-the-mill Toyota Camry, you know that most mechanics will be familiar with its operations.
However, if you drive a Volkswagen, Land Rover, Mercedes-Benz or another luxury model, you want an expert on your side.
With these types of vehicles, you can expect to pay more for the repair, even when it’s comparable to work done on an American brand. In most cases, it’s just that extra training is required of the technicians, and the parts can be more difficult to get to.
As an example, there could be a part that is easy to replace on the Chevy Suburban that requires a lot more effort to get to with a Land Rover Range Rover. Even if the labor rate is the same between the two cars, the added time could easily double the total cost.
If you choose to go to a shop that specializes in a particular car brand, you will pay a premium price. However, since this shop only works on select brands, you know the job should get done right and the diagnostic time will be minimized.
6. Type of Repair or Maintenance
The type of auto repair and maintenance needed for your car can be broken down into two categories:
- Parts needed: Understandably, you’ll pay less for spark plugs than you would for an engine.
- Time needed: Depending on whether the auto repair shop works on per hour charges or flat rates, the time taken to complete a job will affect the overall charge.
For example, doing plumbing work on a car’s radiator can take quite a while to complete, when compared to repairing a punctured tire.
Wait, what’s a flat rate? We thought you’d never ask!
7. Flat Rate VS. Per Hour Rate
Mechanics work on two different measurements for pay — flat rate and per-hour rates. Most dealerships work on per-hour rates, while an independent garage often uses flat rates.
Let’s go over each in more detail:
- Flat rates: A flat rate is when an auto mechanic is paid a fixed fee for completing a specific job. For example, if brake pads need to be replaced, the mechanic could be paid a $200 flat rate — regardless of whether it took 10 minutes or 4 hours to complete the job.
- Per hour rates: Per hour rate is the standard hourly wage a mechanic is paid, regardless of the time taken to complete a job — or the type of job. This kind of rate could very much affect your final bill for a complicated, time-consuming task like a head gasket repair, for example.
If you’re curious, the estimated labor cost for a head gasket repair falls around a whopping $909-$1147, with the parts varying between $715-$832!
Also, keep in mind that whether it’s a flat rate or per hour rate, it’ll vary from repair shop to repair shop.
Now, let’s answer some common mechanic rate questions.
FAQs.
Here are the answers to four common mechanic rate questions.
Should Labor Cost More Than Parts?
In most cases, yes — the labor rate is often more than parts. The knowledge and skill required to install parts often outweigh the average cost of the parts themselves.
General automotive parts like brake pads are inexpensive. However, installing them takes time and requires extensive knowledge to execute correctly.
Parts become more expensive when you get a major auto repair done on your vehicle, like a new transmission or engine. Another way to easily push up the average cost of parts is by purchasing aftermarket parts, such as exhaust systems.
How Can I Avoid Getting Overcharged?
Here are some simple ways a car owner can stay ahead of dishonesty:
- Use a referred mechanic: Having a friend or family member recommend a trusted mechanic is a sure way to get honest service.
- Learn the basics of auto mechanics: This doesn’t mean you need to fix cars yourself, only to learn what basic parts cost — like brake pads and oil filters. This will prevent mechanics from trying to sell you “premium air” during your next tire change. Read more on this related article to find the right oil filter for your car.
- Ask for an up-front price estimate: It’s never a good idea to just drop off your car at an auto technician and give them free rein over your car repair.
Instead, ask the technician to evaluate the car while you’re there, and give you a written estimate on the spot. This way, you’ll know what repair to expect, and leaves little room for surprises down the line.
What Is A Mechanics Average Hourly Wage?
According to the latest labor statistics, the average hourly wage for an auto technician is $22.54, or a salary of $46,880 per year. This is very similar to the labor hour salary in the plumbing industry.
These statistics do vary on whether or not the auto shop uses flat rates, or pays a salary based on an hourly labor rate.
Is A Mobile Mechanic Service More Affordable?
Yes!, Since mobile mechanic companies have fewer overhead expenses, their overall rates are usually cheaper.
Some mobile mechanics may be limited to simpler repairs. However, there are many mobile repair services that can perform more intricate repair work when required.
A bonus with using mobile repair services is that they can often perform their services anywhere, meaning you can get back on the road without having to use a tow truck service.
Overall, mobile mechanic services are around 30% less expensive than a repair shop.