Auto Mechanic & Technician programs: earnings, debt and schools by state
1,557 certificate and associate-degree programs at 956 U.S. schools teach automotive service technicians and collision repairers. Federal data shows what past graduates earned and borrowed. Vehicle Maintenance and Repair programs (CIP 47.06) include general automotive service, collision repair, motorcycle and small-engine repair, and diesel or EV-focused tracks at some schools.
Best-paying auto technician programs (one year after completion)
Ranked by the median earnings of completers working and not enrolled, among programs with at least 10 earners reported. High earnings can reflect local labor markets and who enrolls, so compare debt and completion too.
| School | City | Program | Credential | Completers/yr | 1-yr earnings | Median debt | Monthly payment* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southwestern Illinois College | Belleville, IL | Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technology | Certificate | 26 | $79,057 | $5,500 | $63 |
| Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach | Daytona Beach, FL | Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technology | Associate degree | – | $75,552 | $10,062 | $114 |
| Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Worldwide | Daytona Beach, FL | Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technology | Associate degree | 76 | $75,552 | $10,062 | $114 |
| Ferris State University | Big Rapids, MI | Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technology | Certificate | 9 | $74,056 | – | – |
| Vincennes University | Vincennes, IN | Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technology | Certificate | 53 | $72,802 | $11,281 | $128 |
| Minneapolis Community and Technical College | Minneapolis, MN | Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technology | Associate degree | 7 | $71,326 | – | – |
| Minneapolis Community and Technical College | Minneapolis, MN | Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technology | Certificate | 20 | $70,835 | – | – |
| Alexandria Technical & Community College | Alexandria, MN | Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technology | Associate degree | 26 | $68,272 | $10,906 | $124 |
| Mohawk Valley Community College | Utica, NY | Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technology | Certificate | 30 | $67,845 | $8,485 | $96 |
| Utah State University | Logan, UT | Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technology | Associate degree | 23 | $67,525 | – | – |
| Honolulu Community College | Honolulu, HI | Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technology | Associate degree | 24 | $66,905 | – | – |
| West Los Angeles College | Culver City, CA | Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technology | Certificate | 108 | $66,879 | – | – |
| Tarrant County College District | Fort Worth, TX | Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technology | Associate degree | 91 | $66,556 | – | – |
| Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics | West Mifflin, PA | Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technology | Associate degree | 33 | $66,517 | $14,498 | $165 |
| Cape Cod Community College | West Barnstable, MA | Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technology | Certificate | 24 | $65,860 | $15,000 | $170 |
*Scorecard's estimated monthly payment on the median debt over 10 years. “Not reported” means the Department suppressed or did not publish the figure.
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Auto Technician programs by state
| State | Programs | Schools | Median 1-yr earnings | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 27 | 18 | $65,481 | $11,000 |
| Alaska | 7 | 4 | $59,255 | $9,375 |
| Arizona | 36 | 22 | $45,375 | $11,044 |
| Arkansas | 35 | 22 | $36,663 | – |
| California | 180 | 100 | $44,168 | $12,588 |
| Colorado | 34 | 20 | $45,885 | $14,869 |
| Connecticut | 7 | 5 | $40,387 | $13,466 |
| Delaware | 3 | 2 | $45,033 | – |
| Florida | 74 | 67 | $41,627 | $12,588 |
| Georgia | 45 | 26 | $40,542 | $14,777 |
| Hawaii | 10 | 5 | $66,905 | – |
| Idaho | 14 | 7 | $46,747 | $10,250 |
| Illinois | 77 | 41 | $46,664 | $12,469 |
| Indiana | 8 | 4 | $48,352 | $12,884 |
| Iowa | 30 | 15 | $50,164 | $8,750 |
| Kansas | 43 | 24 | $42,497 | $10,999 |
| Kentucky | 29 | 15 | $42,419 | $8,875 |
| Louisiana | 14 | 10 | $39,884 | $11,000 |
| Maine | 12 | 7 | $51,344 | – |
| Maryland | 12 | 7 | $40,542 | $12,938 |
| Massachusetts | 17 | 10 | $51,565 | $10,976 |
| Michigan | 53 | 29 | $56,106 | $12,000 |
| Minnesota | 40 | 22 | $52,842 | $11,734 |
| Mississippi | 29 | 15 | $44,630 | $7,625 |
| Missouri | 31 | 20 | $48,048 | $12,000 |
| Montana | 16 | 8 | $49,572 | $12,000 |
| Nebraska | 12 | 6 | $51,938 | $8,800 |
| Nevada | 11 | 7 | $42,048 | $9,500 |
| New Hampshire | 9 | 5 | $55,941 | $11,000 |
| New Jersey | 18 | 17 | $41,342 | $13,769 |
| New Mexico | 30 | 16 | $28,775 | – |
| New York | 40 | 26 | $48,592 | $12,000 |
| North Carolina | 89 | 47 | $47,160 | $12,000 |
| North Dakota | 11 | 6 | $54,942 | $11,000 |
| Ohio | 34 | 24 | $42,754 | $12,000 |
| Oklahoma | 35 | 31 | $45,854 | $13,290 |
| Oregon | 26 | 13 | $42,294 | – |
| Pennsylvania | 48 | 34 | $44,396 | $12,469 |
| Rhode Island | 3 | 2 | $41,916 | $12,574 |
| South Carolina | 21 | 13 | $50,656 | $11,250 |
| South Dakota | 8 | 5 | $51,758 | $12,000 |
| Tennessee | 34 | 29 | $38,891 | $13,769 |
| Texas | 93 | 53 | $47,118 | $14,108 |
| Utah | 21 | 15 | $54,738 | $12,852 |
| Vermont | 2 | 1 | not reported | – |
| Virginia | 28 | 21 | $42,116 | $18,219 |
| Washington | 50 | 29 | $43,412 | $10,416 |
| West Virginia | 13 | 9 | $55,957 | – |
| Wisconsin | 26 | 16 | $42,886 | $6,981 |
| Wyoming | 12 | 6 | $49,700 | $6,800 |
States with fewer than three programs have no detail page.
What to know before you enroll
ASE certifications are the common industry credential and generally require work experience as well as a test. Manufacturer-sponsored programs may add brand-specific training.
Questions to ask every school
- Is the program manufacturer-sponsored or ASE-accredited?
- Do I need to bring my own tools, and what do they cost?
- What share of graduates are placed at dealerships or independent shops?
For national pay and job outlook, see the Bureau of Labor Statistics profile: Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics.
Frequently asked questions
How much do auto technician graduates earn?
Among 420 auto technician programs that report earnings, the median first-year figure is $45,424 for certificate programs ($42,072) and $48,236 for associate programs. These are medians of past graduates and vary by state and employer.
How much debt do auto technician students take on?
The median federal loan debt among borrowers across programs reporting it is $12,000. Many students in short programs borrow nothing; the figure only covers borrowers.
Is the data current?
It comes from the College Scorecard release dated October 15, 2026. The Department updates it annually and each figure describes graduates from earlier years.
Can I trust a school's own job-placement claims?
Treat them as a starting point. Ask for the placement rate definition, the number of graduates counted and the time window, then compare with the federal earnings above.
Related programs
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard Field of Study and Institution files (release dated 10/15/2026). Earnings are median annual earnings of completers working and not enrolled one year after finishing; debt is median federal loan debt of borrowers; both describe past cohorts and small programs are suppressed by the Department. See our methodology.