Auto repair labor rates
Hourly shop labor rates across 16 states and 24 metros, with the city adjustment applied. Use it to sanity-check a quote before you approve the work.
24 metros · average $146/hr
| Base / City factor | Service | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta | Georgia (GA) | $126 | 33 | $122 × 1.03 | Mobile · Same-day |
| Austin | Texas (TX) | $139 | 29 | $130 × 1.07 | Mobile · Same-day |
| Boston | Massachusetts (MA) | $182 | 26 | $158 × 1.15 | — |
| Buffalo | New York (NY) | $158 | 11 | $172 × 0.92 | Same-day |
| Charlotte | North Carolina (NC) | $118 | 19 | $118 × 1.00 | Mobile · Same-day |
| Chicago | Illinois (IL) | $156 | 48 | $142 × 1.10 | Mobile |
| Colorado Springs | Colorado (CO) | $130 | 12 | $138 × 0.94 | Same-day |
| Columbus | Ohio (OH) | $116 | 18 | $120 × 0.97 | Mobile · Same-day |
| Dallas | Texas (TX) | $133 | 44 | $130 × 1.02 | Mobile · Same-day |
| Denver | Colorado (CO) | $144 | 27 | $138 × 1.04 | Mobile · Same-day |
| Detroit | Michigan (MI) | $123 | 30 | $128 × 0.96 | Mobile · Same-day |
| Houston | Texas (TX) | $130 | 46 | $130 × 1.00 | Mobile · Same-day |
| Los Angeles | California (CA) | $185 | 62 | $165 × 1.12 | Mobile · Same-day |
| Miami | Florida (FL) | $135 | 41 | $125 × 1.08 | Mobile · Same-day |
| Nashville | Tennessee (TN) | $116 | 20 | $115 × 1.01 | Mobile · Same-day |
| New York | New York (NY) | $220 | 71 | $172 × 1.28 | Mobile |
| Orlando | Florida (FL) | $124 | 24 | $125 × 0.99 | Mobile · Same-day |
| Philadelphia | Pennsylvania (PA) | $140 | 35 | $132 × 1.06 | Mobile |
| Phoenix | Arizona (AZ) | $118 | 34 | $118 × 1.00 | Mobile · Same-day |
| Pittsburgh | Pennsylvania (PA) | $125 | 15 | $132 × 0.95 | Same-day |
| Portland | Oregon (OR) | $147 | 22 | $140 × 1.05 | Mobile · Same-day |
| Sacramento | California (CA) | $162 | 21 | $165 × 0.98 | Same-day |
| San Francisco | California (CA) | $205 | 28 | $165 × 1.24 | Mobile |
| Seattle | Washington (WA) | $173 | 31 | $152 × 1.14 | Mobile |
How a labor rate is calculated
1. State base rate
Each state has a prevailing hourly rate driven by technician wages, insurance, rent and local competition. That base is the starting point for every quote in the state.
2. City factor
Metros adjust the base up or down. Dense, high-rent cities carry factors above 1.00; smaller markets sit below it. Effective rate = base rate × city factor.
3. Book time (labor hours)
Shops bill a published book time for each procedure rather than a stopwatch. Labor cost = effective rate × book hours, so a 2.4-hour job at $130/hr is roughly $312 in labor.
4. Parts, fees and diagnostics
Parts are quoted separately with a markup, plus shop supplies, waste disposal, and any diagnostic time. Dealers typically bill 15–35% above independent shops for the same procedure.
Rates are indicative market estimates for comparison, not quotes. Confirm pricing with the shop before authorising work.
Estimate a specific repair →Labor rate questions
- What is a typical auto repair labor rate in the US?
- Most independent shops bill between $95 and $185 per hour. Rural markets sit near the low end, dense coastal metros near the high end, and franchise dealers usually charge 15–35% above the local independent rate.
- Why do two shops in the same city quote different labor totals?
- Two variables move independently: the hourly rate and the book time billed for the procedure. A shop with a lower rate can still quote more if it bills more hours, so compare rate × hours rather than the rate alone.
- Is labor time measured with a stopwatch?
- No. Shops bill a published book time per procedure, so you pay the same labor whether the technician finishes early or hits a seized bolt. Diagnostic work is the common exception and is often billed in real time.
- Are dealer labor rates worth the premium?
- For warranty work, recalls, software updates and model-specific electrical faults, dealer tooling usually pays for itself. For brakes, suspension, fluids and routine maintenance an independent shop at a lower rate is typically the better value.
- Can I negotiate the labor rate?
- The posted hourly rate is rarely negotiable, but the scope often is: ask which line items are recommended versus required, whether book time overlaps between jobs done together, and whether a diagnostic fee is credited toward the repair.
- How current are the rates on this page?
- They are indicative market estimates built from state base rates and a metro cost factor, meant for comparison and budgeting. Always confirm the exact rate and book time with the shop before authorising work.