Heavy Duty Repair Shop Technician Wages are on the Rise

PHOENIX-June, 2023–Fullbay, the turn-key platform that improves the operational efficiency of heavy-duty repair shops, published data regarding 2022 increases in technician wages in its third annual State of Heavy-Duty Repair Report.

The 2022 study of more than 1,600 individuals from the commercial freight, logistics and repair industries reported that 76% of repair shops raised technician wages.

The highest-paid techs in the United States are in the Southeast(earning an average of $46 per hour)and the West ($44.60). The Midwest brings up the rear, with techs there earning $35.10 per hour, while Canada comes in at $44.80 USD.

Shops with fewer technicians raised technician wages by an average of $3.10 per hour, while the largest shops, employing 41 or more technicians, increased their hourly rates by an average of $8.20.

“Technicians are the ones actually wrenching in the bays, so it makes sense to look at how their annual wages are changing year-over-year,” said Patrick McKittrick, CEO of Fullbay. “As shops implement tactics to recruit and retain technicians, having this type of data can help shop owners more effectively run their businesses.”

The Southeast leads the pack in the highest monthly technician wages, as its techs earned an average of (pre-tax) $7,434 per month. The Midwest came in the lowest at an average of $5,672 (pre-tax) per month. These monthly earnings were calculated by multiplying the average hourly rate by the average working hours in a month-about 161.6 hours.

Overall, shop owners reported that 46% of techs were paid hourly; flat rate came in a distant second at 28%. The data tells us that the more techs a shop employs, the more payment options they offer – but those options decrease with the shop’s age. The older the shop, the more likely it is to only offer an hourly rate.

The more techs a shop employs, the higher the flat rate usually is. Shops that employed 41+ technicians paid an average flat rate of $63.60 per hour, while shops with 2 or fewer techs paid $48.60 per hour.

The number of years a shop spends in business also has some impact on the flat rate. The oldest shops reported paying the lowest flat rate: $32.80 per hour. The youngest shops, between three and five years old paid the most: $54.90 per hour.

To download the full 2023 report, click here.

About Fullbay

Based in Phoenix, Arizona, Fullbay revolutionizes the operations of heavy-duty repair shops and internal fleet maintenance departments to create more efficient, focused and faster organizations. The company provides a turn-key platform that connects every function of the business in real time from any location to improve workflow and create transparency in operations. Founded in 2014, Fullbay focuses on delivering operational excellence, preventive maintenance solutions, and inventory management optimization to its wide variety of customers. The company also operates Fullbay Cares, which is dedicated to giving back to the essential workers of heavy-duty repair. More information can be found at www.fullbay.com.