Mechanic labor rates by state, 2026
The hourly rate is half of every repair bill — and the half that varies most by where you live. Here's the honest spread: independent shops vs franchise dealers, state by state.
How to use this table: take the labor hours from any of our repair guides, multiply by your state's rate, add the parts band — that's the whole estimate model. If a shop's quoted hours are far above the guide's range, that's the line to question; rates varying by geography is normal, hours varying isn't.
| State | Independent shop ($/hr) | Dealer ($/hr) | Dealer premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $95 | $128 | +35% |
| Alaska | $130 | $165 | +27% |
| Arizona | $110 | $145 | +32% |
| Arkansas | $92 | $122 | +33% |
| California | $150 | $190 | +27% |
| Colorado | $120 | $155 | +29% |
| Connecticut | $130 | $170 | +31% |
| Delaware | $110 | $145 | +32% |
| District of Columbia | $140 | $180 | +29% |
| Florida | $105 | $140 | +33% |
| Georgia | $100 | $135 | +35% |
| Hawaii | $140 | $175 | +25% |
| Idaho | $105 | $135 | +29% |
| Illinois | $110 | $150 | +36% |
| Indiana | $95 | $128 | +35% |
| Iowa | $92 | $122 | +33% |
| Kansas | $94 | $124 | +32% |
| Kentucky | $94 | $125 | +33% |
| Louisiana | $98 | $130 | +33% |
| Maine | $105 | $138 | +31% |
| Maryland | $120 | $158 | +32% |
| Massachusetts | $135 | $175 | +30% |
| Michigan | $95 | $128 | +35% |
| Minnesota | $108 | $142 | +31% |
| Mississippi | $90 | $120 | +33% |
| Missouri | $95 | $125 | +32% |
| Montana | $105 | $135 | +29% |
| Nebraska | $94 | $124 | +32% |
| Nevada | $115 | $150 | +30% |
| New Hampshire | $115 | $150 | +30% |
| New Jersey | $130 | $170 | +31% |
| New Mexico | $100 | $132 | +32% |
| New York | $140 | $185 | +32% |
| North Carolina | $100 | $135 | +35% |
| North Dakota | $96 | $126 | +31% |
| Ohio | $95 | $125 | +32% |
| Oklahoma | $94 | $124 | +32% |
| Oregon | $130 | $160 | +23% |
| Pennsylvania | $105 | $140 | +33% |
| Rhode Island | $125 | $162 | +30% |
| South Carolina | $98 | $130 | +33% |
| South Dakota | $95 | $125 | +32% |
| Tennessee | $95 | $130 | +37% |
| Texas | $105 | $140 | +33% |
| Utah | $108 | $142 | +31% |
| Vermont | $108 | $140 | +30% |
| Virginia | $105 | $140 | +33% |
| Washington | $135 | $170 | +26% |
| West Virginia | $92 | $122 | +33% |
| Wisconsin | $100 | $132 | +32% |
| Wyoming | $100 | $130 | +30% |
Why rates differ this much
Shop rates track commercial rent, technician wages, and local competition — which is why California independents charge roughly what Mississippi dealers do. None of that is padding. The dealer premium buys OEM parts policy, factory tooling and, sometimes, brand-specific expertise that matters on newer or European vehicles; for out-of-warranty commodity repairs (brakes, alternators, cooling), a good independent at 25–40% less is usually the rational default.
Two honest caveats on our numbers: these are state averages spanning metro and rural markets — a downtown shop can sit 20% above its state figure legitimately — and specialty shops (European, diesel, transmission) price above general-repair independents everywhere. Method and sources on the methodology page.