Counties in Washington with the most car repair shops | Washington

In the United States overall, there are 53 automotive and maintenance establishments per 100,000 people. A number of factors impact the areas where these establishments are found in the U.S., including population density, income, and overall motor vehicle use.

Washington statistics

– Car repair establishments: 42.1 per 100K people (#48 nationally)

– March 2024 employment: 267.4 per 100K people

Some of the densest states record the highest employment for automotive repair and maintenance, including California, New York, and Texas. States that rely more heavily on cars for transportation account for the highest prevalence of repair shops per 100,000 people, such as Wyoming, where drivers log over 24,000 miles per driver each year, based on data from the Federal Highway Administration and the Census Bureau. Other car-dependent states include South Dakota and Montana, both of which rank above the national average in miles driven and the proportion of working adults with at least one vehicle available.

The number of vehicles in use and extended length of ownership are two factors expected to influence the growing demand for service technicians needed for years to come. There’s a projected average of 67,800 openings annually for automotive service technicians and mechanics through 2033.

Even as the need for their expertise grows, the tools that technicians use will also continue to evolve to help meet demand. Automotive technicians have adopted new tools and emerging technology to streamline repairs and improve operations. Repair and maintenance establishments are adopting digital platforms that can help with diagnostics, scheduling, and customer communication to make service more efficient, according to Global Market Insights. These resources allow existing technicians to better manage workloads and fix issues more accurately.

As the repair and maintenance industry evolves over time across the U.S., the cost of operating these businesses can vary from state to state. Labor rates, state taxes, and regional economic conditions all significantly contribute to how repairs are priced in individual shops. States with higher costs of living, such as Colorado and California, often charge higher rates for repairs due to increased operating expenses for businesses.

Other factors include the types of repairs by state. For example, the parts required for repairs in Michigan—where the most common repair was a new oxygen sensor, considered an inexpensive fix—cost the least of any state. This is largely driven by the weather and the most common type of car found in each state. Monitoring a car’s check engine light, getting routine maintenance, and insuring your vehicle still remain the best ways to avoid spending too much time and money at your local repair shop, regardless of industry changes.

Here are the top counties in Washington

#25. Whitman County

– Car repair establishments: 36.1 per 100K people

– March 2024 employment: 1.8 per 100K people

#24. King County

– Car repair establishments: 38.0 per 100K people

– March 2024 employment: 0.0 per 100K people

#23. San Juan County

– Car repair establishments: 38.3 per 100K people

– March 2024 employment: 2.5 per 100K people

#22. Snohomish County

– Car repair establishments: 38.9 per 100K people

– March 2024 employment: 0.1 per 100K people

#21. Grays Harbor County

– Car repair establishments: 39.3 per 100K people

– March 2024 employment: 0.8 per 100K people

#20. Thurston County

– Car repair establishments: 40.8 per 100K people

– March 2024 employment: 0.3 per 100K people

#19. Walla Walla County

– Car repair establishments: 41.9 per 100K people

– March 2024 employment: 1.0 per 100K people

#18. Grant County

– Car repair establishments: 42.8 per 100K people

– March 2024 employment: 0.6 per 100K people

#17. Benton County

– Car repair establishments: 43.3 per 100K people

– March 2024 employment: 0.6 per 100K people

#16. Pierce County

– Car repair establishments: 43.4 per 100K people

– March 2024 employment: 0.1 per 100K people

#15. Cowlitz County

– Car repair establishments: 45.7 per 100K people

– March 2024 employment: 0.7 per 100K people

#14. Clark County

– Car repair establishments: 46.2 per 100K people

– March 2024 employment: 0.2 per 100K people

#13. Mason County

– Car repair establishments: 46.3 per 100K people

– March 2024 employment: 2.2 per 100K people

#12. Whatcom County

– Car repair establishments: 46.8 per 100K people

– March 2024 employment: 0.5 per 100K people

#11. Kitsap County

– Car repair establishments: 47.0 per 100K people

– March 2024 employment: 0.4 per 100K people

#10. Yakima County

– Car repair establishments: 49.1 per 100K people

– March 2024 employment: 0.4 per 100K people

#9. Franklin County

– Car repair establishments: 49.1 per 100K people

– March 2024 employment: 1.2 per 100K people

#8. Stevens County

– Car repair establishments: 50.6 per 100K people

– March 2024 employment: 3.3 per 100K people

#7. Spokane County

– Car repair establishments: 51.4 per 100K people

– March 2024 employment: 0.2 per 100K people

#6. Clallam County

– Car repair establishments: 51.6 per 100K people

– March 2024 employment: 1.4 per 100K people

#5. Lewis County

– Car repair establishments: 53.6 per 100K people

– March 2024 employment: 1.4 per 100K people

#4. Kittitas County

– Car repair establishments: 53.6 per 100K people

– March 2024 employment: 2.1 per 100K people

#3. Chelan County

– Car repair establishments: 54.1 per 100K people

– March 2024 employment: 0.9 per 100K people

#2. Skagit County

– Car repair establishments: 55.2 per 100K people

– March 2024 employment: 0.9 per 100K people

#1. Okanogan County

– Car repair establishments: 63.1 per 100K people

– March 2024 employment: 1.7 per 100K people

This story features data reporting by Paxtyn Merten, writing by Sydney Angove, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 50 states.

This story originally appeared on The General and was produced and distributed in partnership with Stacker Studio.