"How long does it take to become an auto mechanic in New York?"

"Most paths into the auto mechanic field take 1 to 5 years, depending on whether you complete a trade school program, a registered apprenticeship, or a combination of both."

"What apprenticeships are available for auto mechanics in New York?"

"In New York, registered apprenticeships are administered through the New York Office of Apprenticeship, which works with employers and trade union locals to register programs. See the apprenticeship section above for office contact details."

How to Become An Auto Mechanic in New York

Q: "How much do auto mechanics earn in New York?"

"According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), auto mechanics in New York earned a median annual wage of approximately $54,120. Employment concentration in New York is roughly 0.73 of the national average, meaning fewer workers per capita than the U.S. as a whole."

Q: "What is the job outlook for auto mechanics in New York?"

"New York currently employs approximately 32,020 workers, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 4.2% national employment change for this occupation from 2024 to 2034."

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

New York automotive service technicians and mechanics earn a median annual wage of $54,120 ($26.02/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 32,020 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately 6.9% above the national median of $50,620 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $54,120 ($26.02/hr)
25th percentile: $45,550 per year
75th percentile: $73,320 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $91,490 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $35,470 per year
Workers employed in New York: 32,020
Versus national median: 6.9% above the U.S. median of $50,620
Job concentration: Location quotient 0.73 - this occupation is less concentrated in New York than the national average

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. Last reviewed June 8, 2026.

New York employs approximately 32,020 auto mechanics according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $54,120 ¹. Nationally, auto mechanic employment is projected to grow 4.2% from 2024 to 2034, with about 70,000 openings per year ². This page covers how to become an auto mechanic in New York, including requirements, training programs, and salary data.

Quick Answers About Becoming An Auto Mechanic in New York

How do I become an auto mechanic in New York? Complete a training program or apprenticeship, gain work experience, and meet any state or employer requirements for auto mechanics in New York.

How long does it take? Most paths take 1 to 5 years depending on whether you choose trade school, an apprenticeship, or a combination of both.

What do auto mechanics earn in New York? The median annual wage for auto mechanics in New York is $54,120 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $35,470 and experienced professionals can earn $91,490 or more ¹.

At a Glance

Training paths: trade school, community college, or apprenticeship
Typical timeline: 1 to 5 years depending on the path
Median wage (New York): $54,120 per year ¹

Auto Mechanic Apprenticeship Information in New York

Apprenticeships combine paid on-the-job training with classroom instruction and typically last 3 to 5 years. New York’s apprenticeship program is administered by the New York Office of Apprenticeship ³.

Contact Information:

Office: Apprenticeship Training Unit, New York State Department of Labor
Address: State Campus Building, Albany, NY 12240
Phone: (518) 457-4497
Email: [email protected]

Auto Mechanic Wages by Metro Area in New York

Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics Wages by Metro Area in New York

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (2025 OES data), automotive service technicians and mechanics wages in New York vary by metro area.

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
New York-Newark-Jersey City	28,420	$57,760	$61,820	$34,740	$94,320
Buffalo-Cheektowaga	2,590	$48,550	$52,900	$36,080	$74,980
Rochester	2,310	$58,530	$57,750	$36,840	$78,400
Albany-Schenectady-Troy	2,140	$55,500	$57,010	$37,400	$76,570
Syracuse	1,650	$49,410	$53,900	$34,970	$75,950
Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh	1,530	$56,260	$58,820	$37,260	$80,300
Utica-Rome	670	$47,770	$50,870	$34,770	$72,580
Binghamton	520	$47,870	$53,690	$35,970	$77,210
Kingston	440	$53,290	$58,420	$36,120	$81,910
Glens Falls	370	$50,300	$54,320	$37,020	$75,250
Watertown-Fort Drum	350	$47,280	$50,700	$34,920	$69,490
Elmira	210	$46,720	$52,680	$35,590	$78,850
Ithaca	190	$48,820	$52,400	$34,220	$73,560

Wages reflect survey data and vary based on experience, credentials, employer, and local market conditions. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025.

Top Metros for Auto mechanics in New York

The metropolitan areas listed below report the highest auto mechanic employment within New York according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025).

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage
New York-Newark-Jersey City	28,420	$57,760
Buffalo-Cheektowaga	2,590	$48,550
Rochester	2,310	$58,530
Albany-Schenectady-Troy	2,140	$55,500
Syracuse	1,650	$49,410

Explore More Trades in New York

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for auto mechanics in New York? New York currently employs approximately 32,020 auto mechanics ¹. Nationally, auto mechanic employment is projected to grow 4.2% from 2024 to 2034 ².

What training programs are available in New York? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and apprenticeship programs. Use the school finder above to search for accredited programs in New York. You can also contact the New York Office of Apprenticeship for apprenticeship opportunities.

How much do auto mechanics earn in New York compared to the national average? The median annual wage for auto mechanics in New York is $54,120, which is $4,450 above the national median of $49,670 according to BLS data ¹.

Citations

About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.

References

Bureau of Labor Statistics - Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics: https://www.bls.gov/oes/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
Bureau of Labor Statistics - Employment Projections: https://www.bls.gov/emp/ ↩︎ ↩︎
New York Office of Apprenticeship: https://www.labor.ny.gov/apprenticeship/sponsor/index.shtm ↩︎

Data sources

Figures on this page are sourced from the federal and state datasets below. Methodology: how we rank and source data.

Data	Provider	Vintage
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	May 2025
Employment Projections	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	2024-2034
Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System	National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)	2024
College Scorecard (school-level outcomes)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release
College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release (updated 2026-06-12)
Occupational licensing requirements	CareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor)	latest release (updated 2026-02-22)
Registered apprenticeship programs	CareerOneStop / Apprenticeship.gov (U.S. Department of Labor)	latest release (updated 2025-10-25)
O*NET occupation profiles (skills, tasks, tools, job zones)	U.S. Department of Labor (O*NET / Employment & Training Admin.)	O*NET 29.1 (updated 2026-06-13)