Tire technician pay
How much does a tire technician make?
The short answer
Tire technicians in the US earn a median of $18.13 an hour, about $37,710 a year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn $16.68 to $21.78 an hour. On 129 tire tech jobs posted with pay in the last 30 days, shops offered a median of $18.50 an hour.
Updated
Tire technician pay by percentile
The government survey counts 108,410 tire repairers and changers in the US. Half earn more than the median and half earn less. The 10th and 90th percentiles show the low and high end of the pay.
| Percentile | Hourly | Yearly (full time) |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $14.43 | $30,010 |
| 25th | $16.68 | $34,690 |
| Median | $18.13 | $37,710 |
| 75th | $21.78 | $45,300 |
| 90th | $24.15 | $50,230 |
What shops are posting right now
This is the pay shops put on 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. A role shows up here once at least 30 of its postings list pay.
| Role | Median hourly | Middle half | Postings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tire technician (cars and light trucks) | $18.50 | $15.50 to $23.50 | 129 |
| Commercial truck tire technician | $22.80 | $18.00 to $25.06 | 64 |
| Alignment and brake technician | $22.84 | $20.19 to $25.00 | 51 |
| Lube and general service technician | $17.50 | $15.38 to $20.19 | 170 |
| Auto mechanic | $30.05 | $25.37 to $37.50 | 259 |
| Diesel technician | $32.50 | $28.13 to $36.74 | 93 |
How tire tech pay compares
Tire work is a common first step into auto and truck repair. Those jobs pay more as your skills grow. Here is the same survey for the next jobs up.
| Job | Median hourly | Median yearly |
|---|---|---|
| Tire technicians | $18.13 | $37,710 |
| Auto technicians and mechanics | $24.34 | $50,620 |
| Diesel technicians | $29.70 | $61,770 |
What raises a tire technician's pay
- Truck and fleet tires. Commercial tire work is heavier and fewer techs can do it safely.
- Road service and on call. Working roadside and after hours often adds premium or overtime pay.
- Off the road (OTR) tires. Mining, farm and construction tires are specialist work, often with travel.
- Alignment and brakes. Techs who can run an alignment rack and do brake jobs move into repair work.
- Training and certificates. Tire Industry Association courses and ASE certification show a shop you can take on more.
Where the job can lead
The Tire Industry Association career ladder puts the tire technician at a fork. People who start here often move up to Alignment / Brake Technician, Road Service Technician, or Service Manager. On the truck side, a road service technician can move up to OTR Technician.
Looking for tire work, or hiring?
Common questions
How much does a tire technician make an hour?
The median tire technician in the US earns $18.13 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $16.68 and $21.78. The top 10% earn more than $24.15.
How much does a tire technician make a year?
About $37,710 a year at the median, working full time. The lowest 10% earn under $30,010 and the top 10% earn over $50,230.
Do commercial and OTR tire techs make more?
Usually, yes. Truck tires, road service calls and off the road mining or farm tires are heavier and riskier, and fewer people can do the work. On the jobs we list, commercial tire tech postings show a higher median than passenger tire tech postings. The posted pay table on this page has the current numbers when enough jobs state their pay.
Do you need experience or a certificate to be a tire technician?
Not always. Many shops hire people with no experience and train them on the job. To move up faster, look at the Tire Industry Association's Automotive Tire Service and Commercial Tire Service programs. ASE certification helps too if you want brake or alignment work.
Where do these numbers come from?
The survey figures are the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics for Tire Repairers and Changers (SOC 49-3093), from the May 2025 survey. 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, 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
- Tire Careers job board, pay stated on jobs from the last 30 days