Know your market value with insights across roles — from individual contributors to executive pay and overall company compensation trends.
Access a suite of powerful calculators to make data-driven career decisions.
Automate pay cycles, manage job architectures, and ensure pay equity with AI-powered compensation platforms.
Access validated salary benchmarks, labor market trends, and minimum wage data to stay competitive.
Participate in and purchase industry-specific salary surveys to obtain the most accurate, peer-reported pay data.
As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for an Entry Level Automotive Technician in Iowa is $38,062 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $18.
However, an Entry Level Automotive Technician's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:
Compensation Planning
Develop a Job Description
Pay Equity
2026 Compensation Trend
AI-Powered HR
Recruit with AI
Entry Level Automotive Technician Salaries by Percentile
| Annual Salary |
Monthly Pay |
Weekly Pay |
Hourly Wage |
|
| 75th Percentile | $41,075 | $3,423 | $790 | $20 |
| Average | $38,062 | $3,172 | $732 | $18 |
| 25th Percentile | $34,299 | $2,858 | $660 | $16 |
Dale Howard Auto Center - Iowa Falls, IA
Brakes Plus - Davenport, IA
Lithia Nissan and Honda of Ames - Ames, IA
Mad Hatter Auto Repair - Council Bluffs, IA
An Entry Level Automotive Technician's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location and company size can directly affect your earning potential.
Experience is a primary driver of an Entry Level Automotive Technician's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here’s how the average salary grows at different career stages:
| Levels | Salary |
|---|---|
| Entry Lev... Level Entry Level Automotive Technician | $38,323 |
| Material ... Level Entry Level Automotive Technician | $44,602 |
| Material ... Level Entry Level Automotive Technician | $50,503 |
| Material ... Level Entry Level Automotive Technician | $64,008 |
| Materials... Level Entry Level Automotive Technician | $84,028 |
What Am I Worth?
Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Entry Level Automotive Technicians. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:
For Entry Level Automotive Technician roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 55% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Software & Networking and Financial Services sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 30% above the average. In contrast, Entry Level Automotive Technician positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit or Retail & Wholesale typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Entry Level Automotive Technician as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.
| Industry Sector | Average Annual Salary | Average Hourly Rate | Pay vs.Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software & Networking | $49,480 | $24.0 | 30% |
| Financial Services | $45,674 | $22.0 | 20% |
| Energy & Utilities | $43,771 | $21.0 | 15% |
| Internet | $43,771 | $21.0 | 15% |
| Biotechnology | $41,868 | $20.0 | 10% |
Understanding how an Entry Level Automotive Technician's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.
| Annual Salary | Monthly Pay | Weekly Pay | Hourly Wage | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 75th Percentile | $41,075 | $3,423 | $790 | $20 |
| Average | $38,062 | $3,172 | $732 | $18 |
| 25th Percentile | $34,299 | $2,858 | $660 | $16 |
Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Entry Level Automotive Technician job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.
Waste Management, Inc.
Pella, IA
Waste Management, Inc. | Pella, IA
Waste Management, Inc. 500 41st Avenue SW Dr - Responsibilities: Travel between customer healthcare facilities to proactively monitor, collect, and exchang... more
3 Days Ago
Southern Tire Mart at Pilot LLC
Walcott, IA
Southern Tire Mart at Pilot LLC | Walcott, IA
Job Description. Job Description. Key Responsibilities. Respond to roadside and on-site service calls using a company service truck. Mount, dismount, repai... more
2 Days Ago
Diamond Jo Casino Dubuque
Dubuque, IA
Diamond Jo Casino Dubuque | Dubuque, IA
The Diamond Jo Casino is looking for a full-time Maintenance Technician (Entry Level) to join our third shift team.In this maintenance position you will ha... more
1 Day Ago
Outsource
Cedar Rapids, IA
Outsource | Cedar Rapids, IA
Job Description. Job Description. Construction - Entry Level Cable Installer – FREE PAID TRAINING PROVIDED. Are you looking for a career. Looking for an op... more
3 Days Ago
Loffredo Fresh Foods
Norwalk, IA
Loffredo Fresh Foods | Norwalk, IA
Maintenance Technician. Join Produce Innovations/Loffredo Fresh Foods as a Maintenance Technician 1 or Maintenance Technician 3 based out of our food proce... more
1 Day Ago
Access Systems - Operations & Service
Carroll, IA
Get a Salary Increase
Analyze the market and your qualifications to negotiate your salary with confidence.
Search Job Openings
Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.
Adjust Employee Salary
Individualize employee pay based on unique job requirements and personal qualifications.
Price My Industry Jobs
Get the latest market price for benchmark jobs and jobs in your industry.
Use Salary.com's Cost of Living Calculator to find out what income you need to maintain your standard of living in a different city and how much more or less money you need to budget for basic expenses.
Explore Cost of Living CalculatorSalary.com experts will help you thrive your workplaces.
Salary.com provides salary survey data for thousands of industry Jobs.
Salary.com salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons are derived from both employer job postings and third-party data sources. We also provide multiple percentiles of salary information for your reference, click here to know Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial to Getting Pay Equity Right. With more online, real-time compensation data than any other website, Salary.com helps you determine your exact pay target.
Salary.com's CompAnalyst platform offers:
