Vehicle Maintenance Technician Salary in the United States

How much does a Vehicle Maintenance Technician make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Vehicle Maintenance Technician in the United States is $57,279 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $28.

However, a Vehicle Maintenance Technician's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $71,037
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $50,811 to $64,480
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $44,922

Key Factors That Influence Vehicle Maintenance Technician Salaries

A Vehicle Maintenance 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, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Vehicle Maintenance Technician Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Vehicle Maintenance 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:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $51,958
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $57,728
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $64,440
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $74,073
  • Expert (over 8 years): $80,176
Levels Salary
Facilitie... Level Vehicle Maintenance Technician$51,958
Vehicle M... Level Vehicle Maintenance Technician$57,728
Facilitie... Level Vehicle Maintenance Technician$64,440
Facilitie... Level Vehicle Maintenance Technician$74,073
Facilitie... Level Vehicle Maintenance Technician$80,176

How Do Vehicle Maintenance Technician Salaries Vary from State to State?

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 Vehicle Maintenance Technicians. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $63,419.
  • California: $63,178.
  • Massachusetts: $62,336.

Top Paying Cities for Vehicle Maintenance Technicians

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:

  • San Jose: $72,245
  • San Francisco: $71,454
  • Oakland: $69,949

What Skills Can Increase a Vehicle Maintenance Technician's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Customer Service (Mentioned in 10.1% Job Postings): Customer service is the provision of service to customers before, during and after a purchase. The perception of success of such interactions is dependent on employees "who can adjust themselves to the personality of the guest". Customer service concerns the priority an organization assigns to customer service relative to components such as product innovation and pricing. In this sense, an organization that values good customer service may spend more money in training employees than the average organization or may proactively interview customers for feedback. From the point of view of an overall sales process engineering effort, customer service plays an important role in an organization's ability to generate income and revenue. From that perspective, customer service should be included as part of an overall approach to systematic improvement. One good customer service experience can change the entire perception a customer holds towards the organization.
  • Hydraulics (Mentioned in 3.69% Job Postings): Hydraulics is a technology and applied science using engineering, chemistry, and other sciences involving the mechanical properties and use of liquids.
  • Pneumatics (Mentioned in 2.4% Job Postings): Pneumatics (pronounced new-MATT-ix) is an aspect of physics and engineering that is concerned with using the energy in compressed gas to make something move or work.
Skills Demand Percentage
Customer Service 10.1%
Hydraulics 3.69%
Pneumatics 2.4%

What skills can make your compensation higher?

Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Vehicle Maintenance Technician's salary.

  • Troubleshooting: Can increase your salary by up to 3%.
  • Analysis: Can increase your salary by up to 3%.
  • Schematic: Can increase your salary by up to 3%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Troubleshooting $58,997
3%
Analysis $58,997
3%
Schematic $58,997
3%

Vehicle Maintenance Technician Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Vehicle Maintenance Technician roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 80% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Software & Networking and Pharmaceuticals sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 40% above the average. In contrast, Vehicle Maintenance Technician positions in Telecom or Media typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Vehicle Maintenance Technician as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Vehicle Maintenance Technician

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Software & Networking$80,190$39.040%
Pharmaceuticals$74,462$36.030%
Internet$71,598$34.025%
Financial Services$68,734$33.020%
Energy & Utilities$65,870$32.015%

How Education impacts a Vehicle Maintenance Technician's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Vehicle Maintenance Technicians enter the field with a No Diploma degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for a Vehicle Maintenance Technician with a No Diploma is between $55,199 and $59,342).

Vehicle Maintenance Technician Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Vehicle Maintenance Technician
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 5.2%
High School 75.9%
Associates 17.2%
Bachelors 1.7%
Masters 0.0%
Doctorate 0.0%

Vehicle Maintenance Technician Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Vehicle Maintenance 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.

Last Updated on September 01, 2026
$50,811
Average $57,279/year
$64,480
$4,234
Average $4,773/month
$5,373
$977
Average $1,102/week
$1,240
$24
Average $28/hour
$31
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $64,480 $5,373 $1,240 $31
Average $57,279 $4,773 $1,102 $28
25th Percentile $50,811 $4,234 $977 $24

Most common benefits for Vehicle Maintenance Technician

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Vehicle Maintenance Technician

Here are companies hiring for Vehicle Maintenance Technician and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Vehicle Maintenance Technician

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Vehicle Maintenance Technician?

The Software & Networking industry offers the highest average compensation for Vehicle Maintenance Technician roles, with salaries approximately 40% above the market median.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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