BLS wage data · May 2025 Skilled trades O*NET-SOC 49-3023 Tax year 2026

Automotive Technician after tax: what $50,620 becomes in every state

Automotive service technicians and mechanics play a vital role in keeping the nation’s vehicles operational. For those analyzing their earnings, it is helpful to look at the national median wage of $50,620. This figure represents the midpoint of the profession, meaning half of the workforce earns more while half earns less. Because this is a national baseline, individual earnings vary based on experience, specific certifications, and shop location. Understanding these gross figures is the first step in assessing your financial health.

Automotive Technician take-home at $50,620 — strongest and weakest states

Same gross wage everywhere: $50,620 a year. The four states keeping the most and the four keeping the least, ranked by take-home. Rent is the Zillow ZORI metro average for that state and is clearly labelled as a rent figure, not a tax.

State	State tax	Federal	FICA	Take-home / year	Take-home / month	Rent / month	Left after rent
Alaska no state income tax	$0	$3,894	$3,872	$42,854	$3,571	—	—
Florida no state income tax	$0	$3,894	$3,872	$42,854	$3,571	$2,076	$17,942
Nevada no state income tax	$0	$3,894	$3,872	$42,854	$3,571	$1,742	$21,950
New Hampshire no state income tax	$0	$3,894	$3,872	$42,854	$3,571	—	—
South Carolina flat 6.00%	$3,037	$3,894	$3,872	$39,817	$3,318	$1,569	$20,989
Vermont planning estimate	$3,037	$3,894	$3,872	$39,817	$3,318	—	—
District of Columbia planning estimate	$3,290	$3,894	$3,872	$39,564	$3,297	$2,433	$10,368
Oregon planning estimate	$3,543	$3,894	$3,872	$39,311	$3,276	$1,818	$17,495

State income tax on wages is zero in Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, Wyoming — those states share the same take-home on this wage and only differ in what the local rent does to it.

Best and worst states for Automotive Technician

Five states that keep the most of a $50,620 wage and five that keep the least. The full 51-state table follows.

All 51 states →

Highest take-home

State	State tax	Take-home	/ month
1. Alaska	$0	$42,854	$3,571
2. Florida	$0	$42,854	$3,571
3. Nevada	$0	$42,854	$3,571
4. New Hampshire	$0	$42,854	$3,571
5. South Dakota	$0	$42,854	$3,571

Lowest take-home

State	State tax	Take-home	/ month
1. Oregon	$3,543	$39,311	$3,276
2. District of Columbia	$3,290	$39,564	$3,297
3. Vermont	$3,037	$39,817	$3,318
4. South Carolina	$3,037	$39,817	$3,318
5. Minnesota	$3,037	$39,817	$3,318

The gap between Alaska and Oregon is $3,543 a year on an identical $50,620 wage.

Where Automotive Technician pay sits nationally

BLS percentile wages for this occupation, and what each level leaves after 2026 federal, FICA and state tax in the best and the worst state on the page (Alaska and Oregon).

Wage level (BLS national)	Gross / year	Take-home in Alaska	Take-home in Oregon	Difference
10th percentile 'BLS national'	$34,660	$30,030	$27,604	$2,426
25th percentile 'BLS national'	$38,900	$33,436	$30,713	$2,723
Median 'BLS national'	$50,620	$42,854	$39,311	$3,543
75th percentile 'BLS national'	$70,430	$58,377	$53,447	$4,930
90th percentile 'BLS national'	$81,790	$66,369	$60,644	$5,725

Percentile wages are published BLS OEWS values for Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics; the take-home columns are the same engine used by every AfterTaxLab calculator. About 704,640 people work in this occupation nationwide.

How the state line moves this wage

The same $50,620 under different state tax models

State tax policies significantly alter the net income for an automotive technician. In states like Oregon, a worker may face a state tax bill of $3,543. Conversely, states with no personal income tax allow technicians to retain more of their gross pay. The average state tax across the country sits at $1,955, illustrating that geography is a major factor in compensation. When comparing job offers, it is essential to calculate the impact of these varying state levies on your yearly budget, as they directly influence the final take-home amount you receive each pay cycle.

States such as Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, and Wyoming do not impose a state income tax on wages. For an automotive technician, this means the only standard deductions are federal taxes and FICA. In Alaska, for instance, this results in a take-home pay of $42,854. While these states offer a tax advantage, it is critical to look at the broader picture. Taxes are only one piece of the puzzle, and your overall standard of living is heavily influenced by local market conditions.

All 51 states, ranked for Automotive Technician

Every state and DC, ranked by take-home on the same $50,620 gross wage. Rent is the ZORI metro average for the metros published in that state.

#	State	State tax	Take-home / year	Effective total tax	Rent / month
1	Alaska AK	$0	$42,854	15.3%	—
2	Florida FL	$0	$42,854	15.3%	$2,076
3	Nevada NV	$0	$42,854	15.3%	$1,742
4	New Hampshire NH	$0	$42,854	15.3%	—
5	South Dakota SD	$0	$42,854	15.3%	—
6	Tennessee TN	$0	$42,854	15.3%	$1,607
7	Texas TX	$0	$42,854	15.3%	$1,587
8	Washington WA	$0	$42,854	15.3%	$2,278
9	Wyoming WY	$0	$42,854	15.3%	—
10	Arizona AZ	$1,266	$41,588	17.8%	$1,603
11	California CA	$1,293	$41,561	17.9%	$2,861
12	North Dakota ND	$1,468	$41,386	18.2%	—
13	Louisiana LA	$1,519	$41,335	18.3%	$1,598
14	Ohio OH	$1,519	$41,335	18.3%	$1,499
15	Indiana IN	$1,544	$41,310	18.4%	$1,552
16	Pennsylvania PA	$1,554	$41,300	18.4%	$1,690
17	Iowa IA	$1,924	$40,930	19.1%	—
18	Kentucky KY	$2,025	$40,829	19.3%	$1,348
19	Michigan MI	$2,151	$40,703	19.6%	$1,578
20	North Carolina NC	$2,151	$40,703	19.6%	$1,712
21	New York NY	$2,179	$40,675	19.6%	$2,200
22	Arkansas AR	$2,227	$40,627	19.7%	—
23	Colorado CO	$2,227	$40,627	19.7%	$1,922
24	Delaware DE	$2,278	$40,576	19.8%	—
25	Kansas KS	$2,278	$40,576	19.8%	—
26	Virginia VA	$2,278	$40,576	19.8%	$1,810
27	Utah UT	$2,303	$40,551	19.9%	$1,641
28	Mississippi MS	$2,379	$40,475	20.0%	—
29	Oklahoma OK	$2,404	$40,450	20.1%	$1,385
30	Missouri MO	$2,430	$40,424	20.1%	$1,486
31	West Virginia WV	$2,440	$40,414	20.2%	—
32	New Mexico NM	$2,480	$40,374	20.2%	—
33	Illinois IL	$2,506	$40,348	20.3%	$2,210
34	Alabama AL	$2,531	$40,323	20.3%	$1,433
35	Connecticut CT	$2,531	$40,323	20.3%	$2,462
36	Maryland MD	$2,531	$40,323	20.3%	$1,948
37	Massachusetts MA	$2,531	$40,323	20.3%	$2,599
38	Rhode Island RI	$2,531	$40,323	20.3%	$2,167
39	Wisconsin WI	$2,531	$40,323	20.3%	$1,563
40	Georgia GA	$2,627	$40,227	20.5%	$1,853
41	Nebraska NE	$2,632	$40,222	20.5%	$1,413
42	Maine ME	$2,784	$40,070	20.8%	—
43	New Jersey NJ	$2,784	$40,070	20.8%	—
44	Idaho ID	$2,883	$39,971	21.0%	—
45	Montana MT	$2,987	$39,867	21.2%	—
46	Hawaii HI	$3,037	$39,817	21.3%	$3,020
47	Minnesota MN	$3,037	$39,817	21.3%	$1,719
48	South Carolina SC	$3,037	$39,817	21.3%	$1,569
49	Vermont VT	$3,037	$39,817	21.3%	—
50	District of Columbia DC	$3,290	$39,564	21.8%	$2,433
51	Oregon OR	$3,543	$39,311	22.3%	$1,818

The largest single state tax bill on this wage is in Oregon at $3,543; across the 51 states the average state tax is $1,955. Local city and county taxes, credits and itemised deductions are excluded from every figure.

What this means in practice for Automotive Technician

Evaluating your paycheck requires looking beyond the gross amount. While federal taxes and FICA contributions remain consistent regardless of your location, state-level policies create meaningful differences in your actual spendable income. This analysis is for informational purposes and is not tax advice. By examining these regional variations, you can better understand how local tax burdens influence your ability to manage living expenses like housing, tools, and equipment maintenance, providing a clearer picture of your financial situation regardless of where you work.

In practice, the take-home pay for an automotive technician must be weighed against regional housing costs. Even if your net income is higher in one state, high rent can quickly offset those gains. For example, living in the District of Columbia may leave you with $10,368 after paying a full year of rent. In contrast, working in South Carolina can leave a technician with $20,989 after accounting for the local rent costs. Evaluating your net pay alongside your primary living expenses provides a more accurate assessment of financial stability.

A common mistake when evaluating pay is focusing solely on the gross salary while ignoring state tax differences and cost-of-living variations. Technicians should verify the total compensation package, which may include benefits or tool allowances, before assuming a higher gross wage equals better personal wealth. The difference between the best and worst state for your net income can be $3,543 per year. Always investigate the local rental market and tax requirements to ensure a relocation truly improves your bottom line rather than just increasing your nominal salary.

Automotive Technician pay after tax: common questions

Does the federal government tax every technician the same?

Yes. Federal taxes and FICA contributions are identical in every state for a technician earning the national median wage. You will pay $3,894 in federal tax and $3,872 in FICA regardless of whether you are working in Nevada or Oregon.

Why is my take-home pay different in states with no income tax?

In states like Florida or Washington, you do not pay a state income tax, which increases your annual take-home pay. You still pay the standard federal amounts, but you avoid the state-level tax burden found in places like Oregon.

How does rent affect my actual earnings?

Rent is often the largest recurring expense. In the District of Columbia, high rent can leave you with $10,368 after a year, whereas lower costs in South Carolina might leave you with $20,989.

Is the $50,620 figure a starting salary?

No. This is the national median wage for automotive service technicians, representing the middle of the current professional distribution. It is not an entry-level wage, as many technicians earn more or less based on their specific experience level.

Should I move to a state with no income tax?

Moving for tax reasons requires looking at the total cost of living. While states with no income tax like Texas or Nevada allow you to keep more of your paycheck, you must also compare local rent and living costs before deciding.

What should I verify before accepting an offer in a new state?

Check the state income tax rate and the local average rent. Even if a company offers the same gross pay, a state tax of $3,543 in a high-cost area might result in less disposable income than a lower-tax location.

Sources for this page

Wage data: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), national estimates, May 2025 — series OEUN000000000000049302313 (annual median) and OEUN000000000000049302304 (annual mean), retrieved 2026-09-21 via the BLS Public Data API v2 — https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_nat.htm · Occupation titles: O*NET 29.0 Database — https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html · Take-home figures: AfterTaxLab 2026 engine (/assets/js/tax-2026.js), single filer, no pre-tax contributions · Rents: Zillow Research ZORI (Metro), kamuya açık araştırma dosyası (Aug 2026).

Estimates for planning only — not tax advice. Tax year 2026, single filer, no pre-tax contributions, no city or county tax. Same engine as every AfterTaxLab calculator · methodology.

Automotive Technician after tax: what $50,620 becomes in every state

Automotive Technician take-home at $50,620 — strongest and weakest states

Best and worst states for Automotive Technician

Where Automotive Technician pay sits nationally

The same $50,620 under different state tax models

All 51 states, ranked for Automotive Technician

What this means in practice for Automotive Technician

Automotive Technician pay after tax: common questions

→ Run your own number

→ All careers

On AfterTaxLab

Other careers

Sources & method