Repair cost estimates: data table

Every job in the repair cost estimator with both estimates. Same numbers in machine-readable form: /cost/estimates.json (all areas × all jobs).

Estimate only. Estimates only, not a quote. Actual prices vary by vehicle, shop and location.

U.S. average (labor only, parts not included)

Job	Typical hours	Average shop cost	Average mobile mechanic cost
Alternator replacement	1.0–3.0	$240 $100–$415	$360 $150–$625
Starter replacement	1.0–3.0	$240 $100–$415	$360 $150–$625
Front brake pads and rotors	1.0–2.0	$180 $100–$280	$270 $150–$415
Rear brake pads and rotors	1.0–2.5	$210 $100–$350	$315 $150–$520
Brake light / third brake light (high-mount) replacement	0.2–0.6 typical 0.3	$35 $20–$85	$55 $30–$125
Water pump replacement	1.5–5.0	$390 $150–$695	$585 $225–$1,045
Spark plug replacement (full set)	0.5–3.0	$210 $50–$415	$315 $75–$625
Battery replacement	0.3–1.0	$80 $30–$140	$115 $45–$210
No-crank / no-start diagnostic	0.5–1.5	$120 $50–$210	$180 $75–$315
Serpentine belt replacement	0.3–1.0	$80 $30–$140	$115 $45–$210
Belt tensioner and idler pulley replacement (with serpentine belt)	1.0–2.5	$210 $100–$350	$315 $150–$520
Thermostat replacement	0.8–3.0	$225 $80–$415	$340 $120–$625
Engine coolant temperature sensor replacement	0.3–1.5	$110 $30–$210	$160 $45–$315
Radiator replacement	1.5–3.5	$300 $150–$485	$450 $225–$730
A/C compressor replacement	2.0–4.0	$360 $200–$555	$540 $300–$835
Fuel pump replacement (in-tank)	1.5–4.0	$330 $150–$555	$495 $225–$835
Oxygen (O2) sensor replacement (one sensor)	0.3–1.0	$80 $30–$140	$115 $45–$210
Wheel bearing / hub replacement (one wheel)	1.0–2.5	$210 $100–$350	$315 $150–$520
CV axle replacement (one side)	1.0–2.5	$210 $100–$350	$315 $150–$520
Ignition coil replacement (one coil)	0.3–1.5	$110 $30–$210	$160 $45–$315
Front struts replacement (pair)	1.5–3.5	$300 $150–$485	$450 $225–$730
Tie rod end replacement (one, outer)	0.5–1.5	$120 $50–$210	$180 $75–$315
Oil change	0.3–0.6	$55 $30–$85	$80 $45–$125
Transmission fluid service (drain and fill)	0.5–1.5	$120 $50–$210	$180 $75–$315
Engine replacement (used or remanufactured engine)	8.0–16.0	$1,435 $800–$2,225	$2,150 $1,200–$3,335
Transmission replacement (automatic or CVT, remanufactured unit)	4.0–10.0	$835 $400–$1,390	$1,255 $600–$2,085
Timing chain and tensioner replacement	4.0–10.0	$835 $400–$1,390	$1,255 $600–$2,085
Head gasket replacement	5.0–14.0	$1,135 $500–$1,945	$1,705 $750–$2,920
Steering rack (rack and pinion / steering gear) replacement	2.0–5.0	$420 $200–$695	$625 $300–$1,045
Catalytic converter replacement (one, bolt-on)	1.0–3.0	$240 $100–$415	$360 $150–$625
Door latch assembly / latch actuator replacement (one door)	1.0–2.0	$180 $100–$280	$270 $150–$415
Electronic throttle body replacement	0.5–1.5	$120 $50–$210	$180 $75–$315
Valve cover gasket replacement (4-cylinder, or one easy-access V6/V8 bank)	1.0–2.5 typical 1.3	$155 $100–$350	$235 $150–$520
Valve cover gaskets, both banks (V6, intake plenum removal)	2.5–5.0 typical 3.5	$420 $250–$695	$625 $375–$1,045
EVAP leak diagnosis (smoke test) for a check engine light	0.5–1.5 typical 1.0	$120 $50–$210	$180 $75–$315
EVAP purge valve (purge solenoid) replacement	0.3–1.5 typical 0.5	$60 $30–$210	$90 $45–$315
Power transfer unit (PTU) replacement (AWD/4WD crossover)	2.0–5.0	$420 $200–$695	$625 $300–$1,045
Totally integrated power module (TIPM) replacement (Chrysler/Dodge/Jeep/Ram)	1.0–3.0	$240 $100–$415	$360 $150–$625
Tail light assembly replacement (one lamp, incl. liftgate-mounted lamps)	0.3–1.5 typical 0.8	$95 $30–$210	$145 $45–$315
Control arm replacement (one arm, bushings and ball joint included in the arm)	1.0–3.0	$240 $100–$415	$360 $150–$625
Heater/A/C blower motor replacement	0.5–2.0 typical 0.8	$95 $50–$280	$145 $75–$415
Radiator cooling fan motor / fan assembly replacement	1.0–3.0	$240 $100–$415	$360 $150–$625
Cam phaser (VCT unit) replacement, all four (twin-cam V6, e.g. Ford 3.5L EcoBoost)	8.0–13.0 typical 10.0	$1,195 $800–$1,805	$1,795 $1,200–$2,710

For a state or metro, multiply the hours by that area's shop rate below (mobile = shop × 1.5), or read estimates.json.

Estimated labor rates by area

Key	Area	BLS mean auto tech wage	Est. shop rate /h	Est. mobile rate /h
`us`	U.S. average	$27.13	$100–$139	$150–$208
`al`	Alabama (statewide)	$24.53	$90–$126	$136–$189
`ak`	Alaska (statewide)	$31.55	$116–$162	$174–$242
`az`	Arizona (statewide)	$26.77	$99–$137	$148–$206
`az/phoenix`	Phoenix, AZ	$27.56	$102–$141	$152–$212
`az/tucson`	Tucson, AZ	$25.14	$93–$129	$139–$193
`ar`	Arkansas (statewide)	$23.28	$86–$119	$129–$179
`ca`	California (statewide)	$31.47	$116–$161	$174–$242
`ca/los-angeles`	Los Angeles, CA	$30.61	$113–$157	$169–$235
`ca/san-francisco-bay-area`	San Francisco Bay Area, CA	$36.41	$134–$187	$201–$280
`ca/san-diego`	San Diego, CA	$30.83	$114–$158	$170–$237
`ca/sacramento`	Sacramento, CA	$32.87	$121–$168	$182–$253
`ca/riverside-san-bernardino`	Riverside-San Bernardino, CA	$30.33	$112–$155	$168–$233
`co`	Colorado (statewide)	$30.76	$113–$158	$170–$236
`co/denver`	Denver, CO	$31.44	$116–$161	$174–$242
`ct`	Connecticut (statewide)	$28.92	$107–$148	$160–$222
`de`	Delaware (statewide)	$28.12	$104–$144	$155–$216
`dc`	District of Columbia (statewide)	$32.65	$120–$167	$181–$251
`dc/washington`	Washington, DC	$31.97	$118–$164	$177–$246
`fl`	Florida (statewide)	$25.84	$95–$132	$143–$199
`fl/miami`	Miami, FL	$26.85	$99–$138	$148–$206
`fl/tampa`	Tampa, FL	$25.83	$95–$132	$143–$199
`fl/orlando`	Orlando, FL	$25.77	$95–$132	$142–$198
`fl/jacksonville`	Jacksonville, FL	$26.40	$97–$135	$146–$203
`ga`	Georgia (statewide)	$27.21	$100–$139	$150–$209
`ga/atlanta`	Atlanta, GA	$28.55	$105–$146	$158–$219
`hi`	Hawaii (statewide)	$27.01	$100–$138	$149–$208
`id`	Idaho (statewide)	$25.96	$96–$133	$144–$200
`il`	Illinois (statewide)	$27.25	$100–$140	$151–$209
`il/chicago`	Chicago, IL	$28.52	$105–$146	$158–$219
`in`	Indiana (statewide)	$25.82	$95–$132	$143–$198
`in/indianapolis`	Indianapolis, IN	$26.40	$97–$135	$146–$203
`ia`	Iowa (statewide)	$26.59	$98–$136	$147–$204
`ks`	Kansas (statewide)	$25.37	$94–$130	$140–$195
`ky`	Kentucky (statewide)	$23.07	$85–$118	$128–$177
`ky/louisville`	Louisville, KY	$24.92	$92–$128	$138–$192
`la`	Louisiana (statewide)	$24.35	$90–$125	$135–$187
`la/new-orleans`	New Orleans, LA	$26.00	$96–$133	$144–$200
`me`	Maine (statewide)	$26.54	$98–$136	$147–$204
`md`	Maryland (statewide)	$28.55	$105–$146	$158–$219
`md/baltimore`	Baltimore, MD	$27.77	$102–$142	$154–$213
`ma`	Massachusetts (statewide)	$30.27	$112–$155	$167–$233
`ma/boston`	Boston, MA	$31.54	$116–$162	$174–$242
`mi`	Michigan (statewide)	$27.16	$100–$139	$150–$209
`mi/detroit`	Detroit, MI	$28.29	$104–$145	$156–$217
`mn`	Minnesota (statewide)	$28.51	$105–$146	$158–$219
`mn/minneapolis-st-paul`	Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN	$30.25	$112–$155	$167–$232
`ms`	Mississippi (statewide)	$21.95	$81–$112	$121–$169
`mo`	Missouri (statewide)	$25.94	$96–$133	$143–$199
`mo/st-louis`	St. Louis, MO	$27.43	$101–$141	$152–$211
`mo/kansas-city`	Kansas City, MO	$27.48	$101–$141	$152–$211
`mt`	Montana (statewide)	$28.51	$105–$146	$158–$219
`ne`	Nebraska (statewide)	$26.65	$98–$137	$147–$205
`nv`	Nevada (statewide)	$26.97	$99–$138	$149–$207
`nv/las-vegas`	Las Vegas, NV	$26.68	$98–$137	$148–$205
`nh`	New Hampshire (statewide)	$29.18	$108–$150	$161–$224
`nj`	New Jersey (statewide)	$28.28	$104–$145	$156–$217
`nj/newark`	Newark, NJ	$29.72	$110–$152	$164–$228
`nm`	New Mexico (statewide)	$24.90	$92–$128	$138–$191
`nm/albuquerque`	Albuquerque, NM	$25.87	$95–$133	$143–$199
`ny`	New York (statewide)	$28.42	$105–$146	$157–$218
`ny/new-york-city`	New York City, NY	$29.72	$110–$152	$164–$228
`ny/buffalo`	Buffalo, NY	$25.43	$94–$130	$141–$195
`nc`	North Carolina (statewide)	$25.72	$95–$132	$142–$198
`nc/charlotte`	Charlotte, NC	$27.88	$103–$143	$154–$214
`nc/raleigh`	Raleigh, NC	$26.98	$99–$138	$149–$207
`nd`	North Dakota (statewide)	$27.88	$103–$143	$154–$214
`oh`	Ohio (statewide)	$26.24	$97–$134	$145–$202
`oh/columbus`	Columbus, OH	$27.97	$103–$143	$155–$215
`oh/cleveland`	Cleveland, OH	$27.71	$102–$142	$153–$213
`oh/cincinnati`	Cincinnati, OH	$26.85	$99–$138	$148–$206
`ok`	Oklahoma (statewide)	$25.04	$92–$128	$138–$192
`ok/oklahoma-city`	Oklahoma City, OK	$26.46	$98–$136	$146–$203
`ok/tulsa`	Tulsa, OK	$25.71	$95–$132	$142–$198
`or`	Oregon (statewide)	$30.39	$112–$156	$168–$234
`or/portland`	Portland, OR	$31.88	$118–$163	$176–$245
`pa`	Pennsylvania (statewide)	$26.13	$96–$134	$144–$201
`pa/philadelphia`	Philadelphia, PA	$28.18	$104–$144	$156–$217
`pa/pittsburgh`	Pittsburgh, PA	$25.44	$94–$130	$141–$196
`ri`	Rhode Island (statewide)	$26.11	$96–$134	$144–$201
`sc`	South Carolina (statewide)	$25.20	$93–$129	$139–$194
`sd`	South Dakota (statewide)	$26.76	$99–$137	$148–$206
`tn`	Tennessee (statewide)	$26.25	$97–$134	$145–$202
`tn/nashville`	Nashville, TN	$27.83	$103–$143	$154–$214
`tn/memphis`	Memphis, TN	$26.40	$97–$135	$146–$203
`tx`	Texas (statewide)	$25.47	$94–$130	$141–$196
`tx/dallas-fort-worth`	Dallas-Fort Worth, TX	$26.81	$99–$137	$148–$206
`tx/houston`	Houston, TX	$26.39	$97–$135	$146–$203
`tx/san-antonio`	San Antonio, TX	$25.03	$92–$128	$138–$192
`tx/austin`	Austin, TX	$27.61	$102–$141	$153–$212
`ut`	Utah (statewide)	$24.85	$92–$127	$137–$191
`ut/salt-lake-city`	Salt Lake City, UT	$25.42	$94–$130	$141–$195
`vt`	Vermont (statewide)	$27.90	$103–$143	$154–$214
`va`	Virginia (statewide)	$29.62	$109–$152	$164–$228
`va/virginia-beach-norfolk`	Virginia Beach-Norfolk, VA	$28.76	$106–$147	$159–$221
`va/richmond`	Richmond, VA	$29.40	$108–$151	$163–$226
`wa`	Washington (statewide)	$30.03	$111–$154	$166–$231
`wa/seattle`	Seattle, WA	$30.99	$114–$159	$171–$238
`wv`	West Virginia (statewide)	$21.19	$78–$109	$117–$163
`wi`	Wisconsin (statewide)	$27.35	$101–$140	$151–$210
`wi/milwaukee`	Milwaukee, WI	$29.86	$110–$153	$165–$229
`wy`	Wyoming (statewide)	$26.59	$98–$136	$147–$204

How these estimates work

Labor hours (Mechanic Notes estimate): each job has our own editorial "typical labor hours" range. Real times depend on the vehicle, engine and condition, and are not taken from any licensed labor guide.
Shop labor rate (assumption): $100–$139/hour, the band where about half of surveyed U.S. general repair shops put their average labor rate (PartsTech / OEC U.S. General Auto Repair Shop Survey (about 700 shops, Sept 2025), as reported by Ratchet+Wrench), scaled by your area's mean wage for automotive service technicians divided by the U.S. mean ($27.13/h; BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, SOC 49-3023; verify on bls.gov). States and metros without wage data use the next-wider area.
Average shop cost = typical hours × estimated shop rate. The headline number uses the middle of both ranges (or a job’s stated typical hours, where the usual job sits near the low end); the range uses low hours × low rate to high hours × high rate. Rounded to $5.
Average mobile mechanic cost = shop labor × 1.5 (mobile convenience premium: travel and convenience are built in). This is a default assumption, not a survey result.
Parts are not included. Parts prices vary too much by vehicle and brand to estimate honestly here; price parts separately.

Page last updated 2026-11-02.