Mechanic labor rate
In a 2025 PartsTech survey of US repair shops, the most common posted labor rate was $100 to $119 an hour, and nearly half of shops charged between $100 and $139. Dealers usually charge more than independents, and rates run higher in big metro areas. Set your own rate from your costs and how many hours you actually bill, not just from what the shop down the road charges.
What drives the rate
- Location: rent and wages in your area.
- Type of shop: dealers, European and diesel specialists charge more than general repair.
- Equipment and training: scan tools, ADAS calibration, EV certification.
- Efficiency: how many of your paid hours turn into billed hours.
Set your rate from your numbers
- Add up a year of costs: rent, utilities, insurance, tool payments, software, your own pay and your techs' wages and taxes.
- Estimate billed hours: techs × paid hours × efficiency. Most shops bill well under 100% of clock hours.
- Rate = costs ÷ billed hours, plus your profit margin.
| Example: two-bay shop | Amount |
|---|---|
| Yearly costs, including owner's pay | $310,000 |
| Billed hours: 2 techs × 2,000 h × 75% | 3,000 h |
| Break-even labor rate | $103 / h |
| With a 15% profit margin | about $122 / h |
Parts markup also pays the bills, so shops look at labor and parts together. Many raise the rate a few dollars each year rather than in one big jump.
Labor on the estimate and invoice
Show labor as hours × rate for each job. Several states require labor to be itemized separately from parts, and Pennsylvania spells out hours and rate on the invoice. See auto repair laws by state. For how many hours to charge for a job, see labor time guides and flat rate.
Your rate on every job, automatically. Set your labor rate once in WrenchTicket and each labor line on the estimate, repair order and invoice starts with it. Pro adds unlimited jobs, VIN history and approval links customers sign on their phone, for $15 a month.
Write an estimateQuestions
Why are dealer labor rates higher?
Dealers carry factory training, special tools and larger facilities, and price for warranty-level work. Independents often charge less for the same job.
Should a mobile mechanic charge less?
Not necessarily. You skip rent but pay for a van, fuel and travel time, and customers pay for convenience. See starting a mobile mechanic business.
Do I charge sales tax on labor?
It depends on the state. Many tax parts but not repair labor; some tax both. Check your state revenue department.
Source: PartsTech shop survey, September 2025, as reported by Ratchet+Wrench. Checked October 31, 2026. Rates vary by region; this is general information.