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Diesel mechanic: pay, job outlook and how to become one

Updated October 23, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$61,770median pay per year, or $29.70 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $44,530lowest 10% earn less
  2. $50,54025th percentile
  3. $61,770median
  4. $75,47075th percentile
  5. $88,740top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[3]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[4]

Diesel mechanics earned a median of $61,770 a year in May 2025[1]. The typical entry requirement is a high school diploma, followed by long-term on-the-job training[2].

Job growth, 2025–35
+3.6%[5]
Openings per year
24,400[6]
Typical entry education
High school diploma or equivalent[2]

How much do diesel mechanics make?

BLS files this job under the title Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists. In May 2025, the median wage was $61,770 a year, or $29.70 an hour[1]. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. The median for all occupations was $50,980[4], so diesel mechanics sit above it.

The average wage was $64,320 a year, or $30.92 an hour[7].

Percentile Annual wage Hourly wage
10th[3][8] $44,530 $21.41
25th[3][8] $50,540 $24.30
Median[1] $61,770 $29.70
75th[3][8] $75,470 $36.29
90th[3][8] $88,740 $42.66

A percentile is a boundary. For example, the lowest-paid 10% of workers earned less than $44,530[3]. BLS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary[9].

These figures cover about 289,960 wage and salary workers[10]. They leave out the self-employed, nonproduction bonuses and the cost of benefits such as health insurance[11].

Pay by state and city

Hawaii had the highest state median at $80,080, but only 690 jobs[12]. Washington followed at $77,900 and Alaska at $75,580[12]. West Virginia had the lowest median among the places with published data, at $46,610[12].

The most jobs were in Texas (29,870), California (20,940), Florida (14,900), Ohio (14,240) and New York (13,230)[13]. The median in Texas was $58,810, and in California it was $73,950[12].

Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA had the highest median at $88,980[14]. Urban Honolulu, HI was next at $85,040, then Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA at $82,330[14]. The metro area with the most jobs was New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ with 12,430 jobs and a median of $75,780[15]. Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN came next with 8,660 jobs and a median of $65,680[15].

Show median pay in 50 states and DC
StateMedian per yearJobs
Hawaii[12]$80,080690
Washington$77,9007,410
Alaska$75,580860
Maryland$74,7903,030
California$73,95020,940
Massachusetts$73,2704,870
New Jersey$72,3408,160
New Hampshire$71,3901,040
Colorado$70,4804,600
New York$70,10013,230
Nevada$68,4101,990
Connecticut$67,3002,860
Rhode Island$67,270350
Minnesota$66,8407,300
North Dakota$66,1101,790
District of Columbia$65,200110
Utah$64,3502,690
Illinois$64,34011,320
Oregon$63,9703,770
Delaware$63,590670
Wisconsin$62,4506,750
Pennsylvania$61,74012,630
Arizona$61,6805,140
Wyoming$61,5801,100
Michigan$61,4209,020
Georgia$61,37010,910
Virginia$61,0908,070
Maine$60,8501,380
Indiana$60,6108,840
Florida$60,49014,900
Ohio$60,47014,240
Montana$59,9901,230
Iowa$59,6804,140
Kansas$59,4603,300
Vermont$59,390550
Missouri$59,3606,780
South Carolina$59,3303,360
Idaho$59,2301,930
Tennessee$59,1905,720
Nebraska$59,1402,720
Texas$58,81029,870
Louisiana$58,6803,270
South Dakota$58,1201,340
North Carolina$57,49011,070
New Mexico$55,9101,740
Kentucky$55,4803,890
Oklahoma$55,3403,970
Mississippi$54,3603,140
Arkansas$52,3304,090
Alabama$50,4706,130
West Virginia$46,6101,040

How to become a diesel mechanic

BLS lists a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical education, with no related work experience and long-term on-the-job training[2]. O*NET puts the job in Job Zone Three, which means medium preparation[16]. The facts here do not say how many years the training takes.

1) Finish high school. Courses in automotive repair, electronics and math give a good background[17]. 2) Consider a training program. Some employers prefer candidates with postsecondary diesel training[18]. Certificate or degree programs in diesel engine repair are offered at some community colleges and vocational-technical schools[19]. They combine classroom lessons with hands-on work, and students learn to read technical manuals and electronic diagnostic reports[20]. 3) Train on the job. Workers who start without postsecondary education are trained extensively at work[21]. Trainees begin with basic tasks such as cleaning parts and checking fuel and oil levels[21]. After they show competence, they move on to harder subjects such as vehicle diagnostics[22]. 4) Look into certification. Employers may require or prefer it[23]. It shows competence and may bring higher pay[23]. Getting certified may take previous experience and an exam. BLS points to CareerOneStop for details[24]. 5) Check on a commercial driver's license. Diesel technicians might need one to test-drive buses and large trucks[25].

Two qualities BLS names are customer-service skills and attention to detail[26][27]. Learning does not stop after training. Technicians must pick up new techniques and equipment, and employers may send experienced workers to classes run by manufacturers and vendors[28].

What diesel mechanics do

O*NET describes the work as diagnosing, adjusting, repairing or overhauling buses and trucks, or maintaining and repairing any type of diesel engine[29]. Typical tasks include:

Job titles reported by workers include bus mechanic, fleet mechanic, heavy truck mechanic, trailer mechanic and service technician[31].

Where they work

Diesel technicians usually work in well-ventilated repair shops that are sometimes noisy. Now and then they repair vehicles at roadsides or worksites[32]. Truck transportation was the largest employer, at 18% of jobs in 2025[33]. About 5.9% of workers were self-employed in 2025[34].

The work is physical. Technicians often lift heavy parts and tools. They also work with greasy or dirty equipment and in awkward positions. Cuts and sprains are common[35].

Full-time work is typical, and some technicians work more than 40 hours a week[36]. Some shops extend hours into evenings and weekends, and some truck and bus shops offer 24-hour service[36].

Job outlook

BLS projects employment to grow 3.6% from 2025 to 2035[5]. That is from about 316,000 to 327,400 jobs, a gain of 11,400[5]. Employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% over the same years[37]. So growth is close to the all-occupation rate. These projection counts include self-employed workers[5].

BLS expects about 24,400 openings a year, on average, from 2025 to 2035[6]. Openings count jobs left by workers who retire or switch occupations, as well as new jobs[6]. Each year, 3% of workers leave the labor force and 4.2% move to a different occupation[38].

Is it a good fit?

The entry bar is a high school diploma and no prior experience, but the training that follows is long-term and happens on the job[2]. Pay was above the all-occupation median, though the range was wide, from $44,530 at the 10th percentile to $88,740 at the 90th[3][4]. Growth is projected to be about average, with openings coming from exits and job changes as well as new jobs[5][37][6]. The work involves heavy lifting, dirty equipment and sometimes long or irregular hours[35][36]. People who like hands-on repair and diagnosis may find the tasks a match[30].

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[39].

Frequently asked questions

How much does a diesel mechanic make an hour?
The median wage was $29.70 an hour in May 2025, and the average was $30.92 an hour[1][7].
What education do you need to be a diesel mechanic?
BLS lists a high school diploma or equivalent, with long-term on-the-job training[2]. Some employers prefer postsecondary diesel training[18].
Is diesel mechanic in demand?
BLS projects 3.6% growth from 2025 to 2035, compared with 3.5% for all occupations, and about 24,400 openings a year[5][37][6].
What is the highest paying state for diesel mechanics?
Hawaii had the highest median at $80,080, followed by Washington at $77,900 and Alaska at $75,580[12].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists in the US was $61,770 per year and $29.70 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists: education needed for entry: High school diploma or equivalent; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: Long-term on-the-job training. BLS Employment Projections
  3. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists: 10th percentile $44,530, 25th percentile $50,540, 75th percentile $75,470, 90th percentile $88,740. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS Employment Projections: employment of Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists is projected to grow 3.6% from 2025 to 2035, from about 316,000 to 327,400 jobs (a change of +11,400). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  6. BLS Employment Projections: about 24,400 openings for Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
  7. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists was $64,320 per year and $30.92 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  8. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists: 10th percentile $21.41, 25th percentile $24.30, 75th percentile $36.29, 90th percentile $42.66. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 289,960 people were employed as Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. Median annual wage for Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists jobs: Texas 29,870; California 20,940; Florida 14,900; Ohio 14,240; New York 13,230. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists (areas with at least 100 jobs): San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $88,980; Urban Honolulu, HI $85,040; Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $82,330; San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $82,100; Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA $80,450; Boulder, CO $79,030; Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA $78,960; Paducah, KY-IL $78,900. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists jobs: New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 12,430 (median $75,780); Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN 8,660 (median $65,680); Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 7,940 (median $60,390); Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX 7,410 (median $60,770); Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 6,520 (median $77,380); Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA 5,940 (median $62,270). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  16. O*NET 49-3031.00: Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed. Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job. O*NET OnLine
  17. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  18. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  19. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  20. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  21. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  22. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  23. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  24. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  25. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  26. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  27. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  28. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  29. O*NET description of Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists. O*NET OnLine
  30. O*NET task list for Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists. O*NET OnLine
  31. O*NET 49-3031.00 sample job titles reported by workers: Bus Mechanic, Diesel Mechanic, Diesel Technician (Diesel Tech), Fleet Mechanic, General Repair Mechanic, Heavy Truck Mechanic, Service Technician, Trailer Mechanic. O*NET OnLine
  32. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  33. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, largest employers of diesel service technicians and mechanics in 2025: Truck transportation 18%. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  34. BLS Employment Projections: 5.9% of Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists were self-employed in 2025. BLS Employment Projections
  35. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Injuries and Illnesses. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  36. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  37. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  38. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists: 3% of workers leave the labor force each year and 4.2% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  39. Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine

Notes are for reading the data only. They are not facts and cannot be cited: use the wage_scope and percentile_meaning facts instead. OEWS employment (jobs in May 2025) and Employment Projections employment (2025, includes self-employed) are different measures and can differ. O*NET education shares come from a small survey of workers in the occupation, not from all workers.

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.