Trenton-Princeton, NJ metro area · BLS May 2025 · Updated

How much does an auto mechanic make in Trenton-Princeton, NJ?

In the Trenton-Princeton, NJ metropolitan area, auto mechanics earned a median of $56,550 a year ($27.19 an hour) in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey for the metro. BLS counted 800 of these jobs there. That is 11% below the $63,490 median for all jobs in the metro. The middle 80% earned between $37,130 and $82,030; these percentiles do not measure years of experience. Applying 2026 federal and New Jersey tax rules to the median leaves an estimated $46,041 in take-home pay.

Auto mechanic pay in Trenton-Princeton, NJ at a glance

Median salary

$56,550$27.19 per hour · $4,713 monthly · BLS May 2025
10th percentile$37,130$17.85/hr
25th percentile$43,940$21.13/hr
75th percentile$71,910$34.57/hr
90th percentile$82,030$39.44/hr
Jobs in this metro800Location quotient 0.74 (U.S. = 1.00)
Against all jobs here11% belowAll-jobs median $63,490
Against New Jerseyabout the same asStatewide median $56,610
Against the U.S.12% aboveNational median $50,620

Run the numbers on your own pay

Same U.S. tax tables as the rest of the site. Change the salary, state, or filing status.

Auto mechanic salary in Trenton-Princeton, NJ after taxes

$56,550
$20,000$115,000
Filing status:
Gross salary breakdown$56,550
Net 81%
Fed 8%
NJ 3%
FICA 8%
Annual take-home$46,041After all taxes
Monthly deposit$3,837Estimated per month
Biweekly paycheck$1,771Every 2 weeks (26/yr)
Effective tax rate18.6%Total tax burden
Federal income tax$4,606 / yr
New Jersey state income tax$1,577 / yr
FICA (Social Security & Medicare)$4,326 / yr

Auto mechanics pay range in Trenton-Princeton, NJ, hourly and yearly

BLS May 2025 estimates for the Trenton-Princeton, NJ metropolitan statistical area. Monthly and take-home figures are ours, computed from the annual wage.

What auto mechanics earned in the Trenton-Princeton, NJ metro area, May 2025
PercentileHourlyMonthlyYearlyAfter tax a year (NJ)
10th percentile$17.85/hr$3,094$37,130$31,432
25th percentile$21.13/hr$3,662$43,940$36,606
MedianMedian$27.19/hr$4,713$56,550$46,041
75th percentile$34.57/hr$5,993$71,910$56,993
90th percentile$39.44/hr$6,836$82,030$63,503

Is $56,550 a good salary in Trenton-Princeton, NJ?

It depends on what else people there earn and what things cost. Here is the median for auto mechanics next to both.

Median household income$100,645Census Bureau ACS
Local price level (U.S. = 100)103.23.2% above national average
One paycheck vs. a household56.2%of area median income

The same job statewide and nationally, and a calculator for your own paycheck.

Auto mechanic pay in Trenton-Princeton, NJ: common questions

What is the median salary for auto mechanics in Trenton-Princeton, NJ?

The BLS median annual wage for auto mechanics in the Trenton-Princeton, NJ metro area was $56,550 in May 2025, about $4,713 a month or $27.19 an hour. Statewide, the New Jersey median for this job is $56,610, so the metro pays about the same as the state.

What is the hourly pay for auto mechanics in Trenton-Princeton, NJ?

The median hourly wage for auto mechanics in Trenton-Princeton, NJ was $27.19 in the BLS survey. One in ten earned less than $17.85 an hour and one in ten earned more than $39.44.

How many auto mechanics work in Trenton-Princeton, NJ?

BLS estimated 800 jobs for auto mechanics in the metro in May 2025, or 3.4 of every 1,000 jobs. Its location quotient of 0.74 means the job is less concentrated here than in the country as a whole.

What is the pay range for auto mechanics in Trenton-Princeton, NJ?

BLS wage estimates for auto mechanics in Trenton-Princeton, NJ run from $37,130 at the 10th percentile to $43,940 at the 25th, $71,910 at the 75th, and $82,030 at the 90th. These are points in the wage distribution, not experience levels.

How much do auto mechanics take home after taxes in Trenton-Princeton, NJ?

On a median gross salary of $56,550, an estimated $46,041 lands in net take-home pay per year ($1,771 biweekly) for a single filer claiming the standard deduction in New Jersey in 2026. Total tax withholding equals $10,509 (an effective rate of 18.6%).

How much do auto mechanics make per month in Trenton-Princeton, NJ?

On the median annual salary of $56,550, gross monthly income is $4,713. After federal, FICA, and New Jersey state income taxes, estimated net take-home pay is $3,837 per month (or $1,771 every two weeks).

Is $56,550 a good salary in Trenton-Princeton, NJ?

At $56,550, the median salary for auto mechanics is 56.2% of the Trenton-Princeton, NJ median household income ($100,645). It is 11% below the $63,490 median for all jobs in the metro. The BEA regional price parity is 103.2, so prices here run 3.2% above the U.S. average.