Best And Worst Cities For Mechanics To Earn A Living

• As a tradesman or tradeswoman, you want each dollar earned to go as far as possible.
• Some data sources show you average wages in major cities, but we all know that $20 per hour will go a lot further in Cleveland, Ohio than it will in San Francisco, California. 
• The data team at Xemplar Tradesmen Recruiting sourced cost of living data for each of the major metropolitan areas and then adjusted the average wage data to assemble a list of average national pay rates for Mechanics adjusted for the cost of living for each of the top metropolitan areas. 
• This list tells you where the value of a Mechanic’s wages will go the farthest and where they won’t go very far at all, and it may just help you make a decision about where you might want to be working.  

Hardworking Mechanics want every dollar they earn to take them as far as possible. Xemplar Tradesmen Recruiting asked the question: “Which cities of the top 50 metropolitan areas are the best or worst paying when you take into account the cost of living?” 

We used average pay rate information from Indeed and cost of living index data from Best Places and adjusted the average pay rate upwards or downwards based on the cost of living index. For example, if the average pay rate in City ABC is $20 per hour and the cost of living index is 125 (which means the city costs 25% more than the average cost of living), the adjusted pay rate will be $16.00 (or $20 divided by 1.25). If the average pay rate in City XYZ is $20 per hour and cost of living index is 75 (which means the city costs 25% less than the average cost of living), the adjusted pay rate will be $26.67 (or $20 divided by 0.75).  

The idea behind the study is that a dollar earned in a more expensive city is worth less than a dollar earned in a less expensive city. At two extremes, $20 dollars earned in San Francisco, California with a cost of living index of 269.3 is equivalent to $7.43 in purchasing power (i.e. buying food, paying rent, etc.), while $20 dollars earned in Cleveland, Ohio with a cost of living index of 72.6 is actually equivalent to $27.55 in purchasing power. 

From its data set, Xemplar Tradesmen Recruiting has assembled a list of the adjusted pay levels for Mechanics below in the top 50 largest metropolitan areas in the United States. 

The results will surprise you! With 50 cities, adjusted average hourly pay levels range from $8.83 all the way up to $27.37. You might expect the most expensive cities to provide the least value to its Mechanics, but that is not the case. 

Below, see the best and worst major U.S. cities to make a living as a Mechanic, ranked from worst to best. 

50. San Francisco, CA

Population:  4,727,357

Average Mechanic Pay Rate: $23.79

Cost of Living Index: 269.30

Average Adjusted Mechanic Pay Rate: $8.83

49. Los Angeles, CA

Population:  13,353,907

Average Mechanic Pay Rate: $21.37

Cost of Living Index: 173.30

Average Cost of Living Adjusted Mechanic Pay Rate: $12.33

48. San Jose, CA

Population:  1,998,463

Average Mechanic Pay Rate: $27.57

Cost of Living Index: 214.50

Average Cost of Living Adjusted Mechanic Pay Rate: $12.85

47. Denver, CO

Population:  2,888,227

Average Mechanic Pay Rate: $18.03

Cost of Living Index: 128.70

Average Cost of Living Adjusted Mechanic Pay Rate: $14.01

46. Seattle, WA

Population:  3,867,046

Average Mechanic Pay Rate: $24.36

Cost of Living Index: 172.30

Average Cost of Living Adjusted Mechanic Pay Rate: $14.14

45. Portland, OR

Population:  2,453,168

Average Mechanic Pay Rate: $18.68

Cost of Living Index: 130.80

Average Cost of Living Adjusted Mechanic Pay Rate: $14.28

44. San Diego, CA

Population:  3,337,685

Average Mechanic Pay Rate: $23.65

Cost of Living Index: 160.10

Average Cost of Living Adjusted Mechanic Pay Rate: $14.77

43. New York, NY

Population:  20,320,876

Average Mechanic Pay Rate: $29.31

Cost of Living Index: 178.20

Average Cost of Living Adjusted Mechanic Pay Rate: $16.45

42. Washington DC

Population:  6,216,589

Average Mechanic Pay Rate: $25.14

Cost of Living Index: 152.10

Average Cost of Living Adjusted Mechanic Pay Rate: $16.53

41. Miami, FL

Population:  6,158,824

Average Mechanic Pay Rate: $20.36

Cost of Living Index: 123.10

Average Cost of Living Adjusted Mechanic Pay Rate: $16.54

40. Austin, TX

Population:  2,115,827

Average Mechanic Pay Rate: $20.22

Cost of Living Index: 119.30

Average Cost of Living Adjusted Mechanic Pay Rate: $16.95

39. Boston, MA

Population:  4,836,531

Average Mechanic Pay Rate: $27.79

Cost of Living Index: 162.40

Average Cost of Living Adjusted Mechanic Pay Rate: $17.11

38. Riverside, CA

Population:  4,580,670

Average Mechanic Pay Rate: $22.85

Cost of Living Index: 133.10

Average Cost of Living Adjusted Mechanic Pay Rate: $17.17

37. Minneapolis, MN

Population:  3,600,618

Average Mechanic Pay Rate: $18.56

Cost of Living Index: 106.50

Average Cost of Living Adjusted Mechanic Pay Rate: $17.43

36. Las Vegas, NV

Population:  2,204,079

Average Mechanic Pay Rate: $19.91

Cost of Living Index: 111.60

Average Cost of Living Adjusted Mechanic Pay Rate: $17.84

35. Sacramento, CA

Population:  2,324,884

Average Mechanic Pay Rate: $21.26

Cost of Living Index: 118.20

Average Cost of Living Adjusted Mechanic Pay Rate: $17.99

34. Atlanta, GA

Population:  5,884,736

Average Mechanic Pay Rate: $20.26

Cost of Living Index: 107.50

Average Cost of Living Adjusted Mechanic Pay Rate: $18.85

33. Charlotte, NC

Population:  2,525,305

Average Mechanic Pay Rate: $18.66

Cost of Living Index: 98.90

Average Cost of Living Adjusted Mechanic Pay Rate: $18.87

32. Salt Lake City, UT

Population:  1,203,105

Average Mechanic Pay Rate: $22.84

Cost of Living Index: 118.90

Average Cost of Living Adjusted Mechanic Pay Rate: $19.21

31. Tampa, FL

Population:  3,091,399

Average Mechanic Pay Rate: $19.28

Cost of Living Index: 100.10

Average Cost of Living Adjusted Mechanic Pay Rate: $19.26

30. Dallas, TX

Population:  7,399,662

Average Mechanic Pay Rate: $20.03

Cost of Living Index: 101.60

Average Cost of Living Adjusted Mechanic Pay Rate: $19.71

29. Chicago, IL

Population:  9,533,040

Average Mechanic Pay Rate: $21.25

Cost of Living Index: 106.90

Average Cost of Living Adjusted Mechanic Pay Rate: $19.88

28. Raleigh, NC

Population:  1,335,079

Average Mechanic Pay Rate: $20.62

Cost of Living Index: 102.30

Average Cost of Living Adjusted Mechanic Pay Rate: $20.16

27. Orlando, FL

Population:  2,509,831

Average Mechanic Pay Rate: $21.07

Cost of Living Index: 104.10

Average Cost of Living Adjusted Mechanic Pay Rate: $20.24

26. Phoenix, AZ

Population:  4,737,270

Average Mechanic Pay Rate: $22.23

Cost of Living Index: 103.70

Average Cost of Living Adjusted Mechanic Pay Rate: $21.44

25. Houston, TX

Population:  6,892,427

Average Mechanic Pay Rate: $20.84

Cost of Living Index: 96.50

Average Cost of Living Adjusted Mechanic Pay Rate: $21.60

24. St. Louis, MO

Population:  2,807,338

Average Mechanic Pay Rate: $17.7

Cost of Living Index: 81.30

Average Cost of Living Adjusted Mechanic Pay Rate: $21.77

23. Nashville, TN

Population:  1,903,045

Average Mechanic Pay Rate: $22.09

Cost of Living Index: 101.40

Average Cost of Living Adjusted Mechanic Pay Rate: $21.79

22. Louisville, KY

Population:  1,293,953

Average Mechanic Pay Rate: $19.49

Cost of Living Index: 88.40

Average Cost of Living Adjusted Mechanic Pay Rate: $22.05

21. San Antonio, TX

Population:  2,473,974

Average Mechanic Pay Rate: $20.16

Cost of Living Index: 89.70

Average Cost of Living Adjusted Mechanic Pay Rate: $22.47

20. Milwaukee, WI

Population:  1,576,236

Average Mechanic Pay Rate: $19.33

Cost of Living Index: 84.90

Average Cost of Living Adjusted Mechanic Pay Rate: $22.77

19. Detroit, MI

Population:  4,313,002

Average Mechanic Pay Rate: $20.08

Cost of Living Index: 87.60

Average Cost of Living Adjusted Mechanic Pay Rate: $22.92

18. Virginia Beach, VA

Population:  1,725,246

Average Mechanic Pay Rate: $20.34

Cost of Living Index: 88.40

Average Cost of Living Adjusted Mechanic Pay Rate: $23.01

17. Providence, RI

Population:  1,621,122

Average Mechanic Pay Rate: $24.33

Cost of Living Index: 105.10

Average Cost of Living Adjusted Mechanic Pay Rate: $23.15

16. Hartford, CT

Population:  1,210,259

Average Mechanic Pay Rate: $21.94

Cost of Living Index: 93.90

Average Cost of Living Adjusted Mechanic Pay Rate: $23.37

15. Jacksonville, FL

Population:  1,504,980

Average Mechanic Pay Rate: $22.05

Cost of Living Index: 93.50

Average Cost of Living Adjusted Mechanic Pay Rate: $23.58

14. Philadelphia, PA

Population:  6,096,120

Average Mechanic Pay Rate: $24.42

Cost of Living Index: 101.20

Average Cost of Living Adjusted Mechanic Pay Rate: $24.13

13. Oklahoma City, OK

Population:  1,383,737

Average Mechanic Pay Rate: $20.83

Cost of Living Index: 85.40

Average Cost of Living Adjusted Mechanic Pay Rate: $24.39

12. New Orleans, LA

Population:  1,275,762

Average Mechanic Pay Rate: $21.46

Cost of Living Index: 87.70

Average Cost of Living Adjusted Mechanic Pay Rate: $24.47

11. Richmond, VA

Population:  1,294,204

Average Mechanic Pay Rate: $23.36

Cost of Living Index: 95.10

Average Cost of Living Adjusted Mechanic Pay Rate: $24.56

10. Cincinnati, OH

Population:  2,179,082

Average Mechanic Pay Rate: $20.83

Cost of Living Index: 84.60

Average Cost of Living Adjusted Mechanic Pay Rate: $24.62

9. Columbus, OH

Population:  2,078,725

Average Mechanic Pay Rate: $21.38

Cost of Living Index: 85.50

Average Cost of Living Adjusted Mechanic Pay Rate: $25.01

8. Pittsburgh, PA

Population:  2,333,367

Average Mechanic Pay Rate: $22.14

Cost of Living Index: 87.50

Average Cost of Living Adjusted Mechanic Pay Rate: $25.30

7. Cleveland, OH

Population:  2,058,844

Average Mechanic Pay Rate: $18.86

Cost of Living Index: 72.60

Average Cost of Living Adjusted Mechanic Pay Rate: $25.98

6. Buffalo, NY

Population:  1,136,856

Average Mechanic Pay Rate: $20.73

Cost of Living Index: 79.50

Average Cost of Living Adjusted Mechanic Pay Rate: $26.08

5. Kansas City, KS

Population:  2,128,912

Average Mechanic Pay Rate: $21.44

Cost of Living Index: 81.60

Average Cost of Living Adjusted Mechanic Pay Rate: $26.27

4. Memphis, TN

Population:  1,348,260

Average Mechanic Pay Rate: $20.02

Cost of Living Index: 76.00

Average Cost of Living Adjusted Mechanic Pay Rate: $26.34

3. Baltimore, MD

Population:  2,808,175

Average Mechanic Pay Rate: $23.46

Cost of Living Index: 88.20

Average Cost of Living Adjusted Mechanic Pay Rate: $26.60

2. Birmingham, AL

Population:  1,149,807

Average Mechanic Pay Rate: $19.76

Cost of Living Index: 74.10

Average Cost of Living Adjusted Mechanic Pay Rate: $26.67

1. Indianapolis, IN

Population:  2,028,614

Average Mechanic Pay Rate: $22.85

Cost of Living Index: 83.50

Average Cost of Living Adjusted Mechanic Pay Rate: $27.37

    

About Xemplar Tradesmen Recruiting

Xemplar Tradesmen Recruiting is a specialty industrial staffing and recruiting company focused on the permanent placement of machinists, welders, technicians, mechanics, fabricators, electricians, precision assemblers, quality inspectors and related positions. We match top trades professionals with best-in-class industrial employers and reduce cost-per-hire through a service proven to be 2x-plus more effective than traditional temp-to-hire staffing. Headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah, Xemplar Tradesmen Recruiting provides nationwide support to its clients’ locations. Learn more about Xemplar Tradesmen Recruiting here.

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