How Many Mechanics Are There in the U.S.? (2026)

General mechanic statistics

As of 2025, there are 652,141 people employed in the auto mechanic industry and over 302,754 auto mechanic businesses in the U.S. On average, there are two auto mechanics employed at each business, though this number may vary widely based on location and the services they offer.

In 2023, automotive repair and maintenance workers made up the majority (63%) of the repair and maintenance sector, followed by commercial and industrial machinery and equipment mechanics (15%) and car wash technicians (9.6%).

Repair industry by sector, 2023

Repair industry by sector, 2024

Auto mechanic employment statistics

There is an urgent need to recruit and retain new auto mechanics, as car maintenance and repair will always be a necessity for vehicle owners. As of 2025, there are approximately 67,000 open auto mechanic positions that need to be filled by the end of the year to keep up with demand.

Top sectors for auto mechanic employment, 2022

Most mechanics work at car dealerships, auto repair/maintenance shops, and auto parts, tires, and accessories retailers. The mid-range salary for auto mechanics is $22.58 per hour, or just under $47,000 per year. Due to low job availability and the high level of expertise required for the job, the highest-paying industries employ the fewest people. Auto mechanics in the telecommunications industry can expect to be one of 370 employees while earning an annual salary of almost $92,000.

Highest paying industries for auto mechanics, 2023

Auto mechanics by gender

Although historically the auto repair industry is dominated by men (who comprise 87% of the field), the number of female auto mechanics is on the rise thanks to a public focus on women in STEM. In 2022, the number of women auto mechanics reached its highest point, at approximately 19,000 employees,and in 2024, that number rose to 21,000. This came two years after the height of the pandemic, which saw the largest decrease in female auto mechanics, from 12,000 in 2019 to 4,000 in 2020. In total, over 130,000 women work in the entire auto repair and maintenance industry, and as of 2025, women represent 10.9% of the field.

Additionally, there is an increased consumer demand for women in the auto mechanics trades. Over one-third of car owners in the U.S. are women who, among other customers, may feel more comfortable working with female technicians.

Although women are a growing presence in the field, according to the Institute for Women’s Policy Research, there are still too few to accurately estimate their earnings. Current data shows that women employed in the installation, repair and maintenance trades make a median of $229 less than men per week.

Median weekly earnings in repair, installation and maintenance by gender, 2023

Auto mechanics by state

The most populous states in the U.S., Texas, California and Florida, have the highest representation in the auto mechanics industry, with Texas being home to over 67,680 employees in 2023. As of 2022, California has the highest proportion of auto mechanic businesses, at nearly 33,000.

Though these states house the most auto mechanics and shops, they are not necessarily the most profitable locations for auto mechanics. The states with the highest-paid mechanics by average salary in 2022 were Alaska ($60,640), California ($58,980), Washington state($56,260) and New Jersey($55,100).

States with the most auto mechanic businesses, 2022

In recent years, an increase in population density, a diverse economy, an older population and a focus on environmental sustainability have led to an increase in auto mechanic businesses in the Northeastern and mid-Atlantic regions of the U.S.

States with the most auto mechanic employees, 2023

Auto mechanics by race/ethnicity

Auto mechanics are predominantly white, but there has been a steady increase in the number of minorities joining the field.

Native American, American Indian and Alaskan Native auto mechanics have seen the largest proportional increase in representation at 22% since 2014. White auto mechanics had the largest decrease, down 6% during the COVID-19 pandemic, with poor recovery compared to other races and ethnicities during the same year.

Hispanic/Latino auto mechanics have consistently been the largest represented minority group at over 20% every year since 2014, reaching almost a quarter of the total in 2021. The number of Black and Asian technicians decreased slightly over the majority of the seven-year period, but has seen upticks post-pandemic. In 2024, 84% of automotive repair and maintenance workers were white, followed by 28% Hispanic or Latino mechanics, 8% Black and 4% Asian technicians.

Auto mechanics by age

The majority of auto mechanics in the U.S. are young, white males, between the ages of 25 and 29 years old, according to the latest data. The average age of men in the auto mechanics industry is around 40 years old and 36 for women. Male mechanics skew slightly younger than females. Most of the men range from ages 20 to 34 years and women 20 to 49.

Men who are nearing retirement, between the ages of 60 and 64, have the highest unemployment rates, nearly 28,000 of which found themselves unemployed in 2021. Many older employees lost their jobs during the pandemic, which in turn led to over 70% of middle-aged individuals being unemployed long-term.

Auto mechanics by education level

Over one-third of auto mechanics have a high school education, but relatively few receive any formal schooling beyond their diploma. A degree is not required for the auto service industry. Instead, auto mechanics can earn certifications from the National Institute of Automotive Service Excellence (ASE), the national standard and leading certifier in auto repair. About 250,000 auto technicians are ASE certified, which can bring more specialized work opportunities and higher pay.

Auto mechanic education level, 2023

Of auto mechanics with college degrees, the most common majors in 2023 were business (6,819), engineering (5,975) and engineering technologies (1,796); these have consistently been the top three majors since 2014.

Around 2016, some of the top-ranked college majors for auto mechanics shifted from education and social science to computer technologies, mechanical technologies, and public safety and protective services.

Future projections

Automotive maintenance and preventative services will always be a necessity as long as people need cars, which ensures some sort of sustainable revenue for mechanics. Experts project that there will be 67,000 new job openings for auto mechanics and technicians every year until at least 2033 due to vacancies created by retirement or auto mechanics leaving the industry.

Though auto repair and maintenance shops were deemed essential businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic, many had to downsize their operations, which led to decreases in revenue, employment and customer satisfaction due to mistrust and price discrepancies. However, the few years after COVID-19 have seen a resurgence in employment thanks to an increased interest in auto mechanic careers among minority groups. As consumer trust in auto mechanics improves and prices stabilize, their growing presence in auto mechanic shops should continue to sustain the job market.

While auto mechanic jobs may be widely available now, the increase in electric vehicles and cars that use electronic and computer components, are redefining what is expected of auto mechanics. As evidenced by the surge of computer majors in the industry, skills like computer literacy and IT knowledge are becoming more valuable and are now sometimes required in the automotive service industry. Some experts predict a loss of 75,000 auto mechanic jobs by 2030 due to this shift.