Lube technician pay
How much does a lube technician make?
The short answer
Lube techs in the US earn a median of $17.15 an hour, about $35,670 a year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn $15.05 to $18.90 an hour. The BLS has no job called lube technician. The closest one is automotive and watercraft service attendants. That group covers oil changers and gas station attendants. On 211 lube technician jobs posted with pay on Tire Careers in the last 30 days, shops offered a median of $17.93 an hour.
Updated
Lube technician pay by percentile
The government survey counts 102,010 automotive and watercraft service attendants in the US. Lube techs and oil changers are part of that group, along with gas station attendants. Half earn more than the median and half earn less.
| Percentile | Hourly | Yearly (full time) |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $13.76 | $28,630 |
| 25th | $15.05 | $31,300 |
| Median | $17.15 | $35,670 |
| 75th | $18.90 | $39,320 |
| 90th | $22.14 | $46,060 |
What shops are posting right now
This is the pay shops put on lube technician jobs listed on Tire Careers in the last 30 days. We count each employer and pay range once, and we take the middle of each posted range. Yearly pay becomes hourly when we divide it by 2,080. We show it once at least 30 postings list pay.
| Role | Median hourly | Middle half | Postings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lube technician | $17.93 | $15.12 to $20.59 | 211 |
How the pay compares
Here is the same survey for other shop jobs, lowest pay first. Many techs start on tires or oil changes and move up from there.
| Job | Median hourly | Median yearly |
|---|---|---|
| Lube techs and service attendants | $17.15 | $35,670 |
| Tire technicians | $18.13 | $37,710 |
| Auto technicians and mechanics | $24.34 | $50,620 |
| Service advisors and counter clerks (auto repair shops) | $24.47 | $50,910 |
| Diesel technicians | $29.70 | $61,770 |
What raises the pay
- Tire work. Learn to mount, balance and repair tires and a shop can put you on more jobs.
- Brakes and alignments. These are common next skills after oil changes, and they are the start of repair work.
- ASE G1. ASE has a test for this kind of work, G1 Auto Maintenance and Light Repair. Passing it shows a shop what you know.
- A state inspection license. Some states license the people who do safety or emissions inspections. With that license you can do work other techs cannot.
Where the job can lead
Lube work is often a first shop job. Many lube techs move on to tire work, then alignments and brakes, then full repair work as an automotive technician.
Looking for work, or hiring?
Common questions
How much does a lube technician make an hour?
The closest job in the Bureau of Labor Statistics survey is automotive and watercraft service attendants, which covers oil changers. The median there is $17.15 an hour (May 2025). The middle half earn between $15.05 and $18.90. The top 10% earn more than $22.14.
How much does a lube tech make a year?
About $35,670 a year at the median, working full time. The lowest 10% earn under $28,630 and the top 10% earn over $46,060.
Is a lube tech the same as an oil change technician?
Yes. Shops use lube tech, lube technician, oil change tech, quick lube tech and general service tech for the same first job.
Do tire techs make more than lube techs?
At the median, yes. Tire technicians earn $18.13 an hour. The service attendant group, which covers lube techs, earns $17.15. Both figures are from the BLS (May 2025).
Do you need experience to be a lube tech?
Not always. Lube work is often a first shop job, and many shops train on the job.
Where do these numbers come from?
The survey figures come from the May 2025 BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. The BLS has no job called lube technician. The closest one is automotive and watercraft service attendants. That group covers oil changers and gas station attendants. The group's code is SOC 53-6031. The posted pay figures come from Tire Careers jobs from the last 30 days that state their pay. We count each employer and pay range once. To get hourly pay, we divide yearly pay by 2,080 hours.
More free guides
Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendants (53-6031), OEWS May 2025
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Tire Repairers and Changers (49-3093), OEWS May 2025
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics (49-3023), OEWS May 2025
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists (49-3031), OEWS May 2025
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Counter and Rental Clerks (41-2021) in Automotive Repair and Maintenance (NAICS 8111), OEWS May 2025
- Tire Careers job board, pay stated on jobs from the last 30 days