Automotive Oil Change and Lubrication Shops — Average Employee Salary
The average employee in the automotive oil change and lubrication shops industry earns $39,465 per year ($18.97/hour), according to Bureau of Labor Statistics QCEW data.
What Do Automotive Oil Change and Lubrication Shops Workers Earn?
At $39,465/year (equivalent to $18.97/hour for a full-time worker), automotive oil change and lubrication shops wages are below the national average of ~$65,000.
Lower wages in this industry are common in service-oriented or retail-adjacent sectors where entry barriers are lower. This can be an advantage for business owners managing payroll costs, but may contribute to higher turnover.
The typical automotive oil change and lubrication shops business employs 9 people. These are mid-sized operations where payroll is a significant but manageable expense.
Wages as a Percentage of Revenue
For the average automotive oil change and lubrication shops business generating $1.3M/year with 9 employees at $39,465 each, total payroll represents roughly 28.0% of revenue. Labor costs are relatively low compared to revenue — other costs (materials, equipment, overhead) dominate.
What This Means for Business Owners
If you're starting or running a automotive oil change and lubrication shopsbusiness, here's what the wage data means for your bottom line:
- Per-employee cost: Budget approximately $51,305/year per employee (salary + ~30% for benefits, taxes, and insurance).
- Typical team size: 9 employees = ~$355,185/year in base payroll.
- Hourly equivalent: $18.97/hour base — factor this into pricing and project estimates.
- Revenue needed: With average revenue of $1.3M/business, you need strong utilization rates to maintain healthy margins after payroll.
See how these wages compare to total revenue and profit margins.
View full Automotive Oil Change and Lubrication Shops revenue benchmarks →Frequently Asked Questions
- How much do automotive oil change and lubrication shops employees make?
- The average automotive oil change and lubrication shops employee earns $39,465 per year, which is equivalent to $18.97/hour for a full-time worker (2,080 hours/year). This is below the national average of approximately $65,000.
- How many people work in the automotive oil change and lubrication shops industry?
- The automotive oil change and lubrication shops industry employs 71,493 workers across 7,824 establishments in the United States. The average business in this industry has approximately 9 employees.
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW 2023).