Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics pay range in Modesto
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $38,370 a year or less, while the top 10% make $95,680 or more. The middle half of automotive service technicians and mechanics in Modesto earn between $45,800 and $74,690.
- $38K10th
- $46K25th
- $63KMedian
- $75K75th
- $96K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $62,820 | $5,235 | $30.20 |
| Median | $62,770 | $5,231 | $30.18 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $45,800 | $3,817 | $22.02 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $74,690 | $6,224 | $35.91 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics pay in Modesto vs. California and the U.S.
Automotive service technicians and mechanics in Modesto earn 4% less than the California average ($65,470) and 11% more than the U.S. average ($56,420). At the median the gap is +24% against the U.S. median of $50,620.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Modesto | $62,820 | $62,770 | $38,370 | $95,680 | 1,030 |
| California | $65,470 | $64,980 | $38,180 | $95,280 | 65,420 |
| 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 Modesto
On the average salary of $62,820, a single filer in Modesto takes home about $50,694 a year, or $4,225 a month and $1,950 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 (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Is Modesto a good place for automotive service technicians and mechanics? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Modesto area are 4% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 104.1), so the average $62,820 buys what about $60,341 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.2 times the median wage of all jobs in Modesto ($50,610). A typical home costs $468,302, or 7.5 years of this average salary before tax.
Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics salary in other California cities
Modesto ranks 13th of 25 California metro areas for this job; San Francisco pays the most ($75,730).
- San Francisco$75,730
- San Jose$75,410
- Napa$71,100
- Santa Rosa$70,890
- Sacramento$68,380
- Vallejo$68,130
- Salinas$64,620
- San Diego$64,120
- Los Angeles$63,670
- Modesto$62,820
All Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics salaries in California
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 Modesto: questions
How much do automotive service technicians and mechanics make an hour in Modesto?
$30.20 an hour on average, and $30.18 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level automotive service technicians and mechanics salary in Modesto?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $38,370 a year and the 25th percentile is $45,800, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the automotive service technicians and mechanics take-home pay in Modesto?
About $50,694 a year ($4,225 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $62,820. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do automotive service technicians and mechanics earn more in Modesto than elsewhere?
The average here is 11% 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 Modesto, CA (33700). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.4%.
- 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). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.16, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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