How much does a diesel mechanic make in North Carolina?

The median was $57,490 a year in May 2025, and the average was $57,910. The middle half earned between $48,040 and $64,770.

How much does a diesel mechanic make an hour in North Carolina?

The median was $27.64 an hour. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $19.18 an hour, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $36.65.

Which city in North Carolina pays diesel mechanics the most?

Burlington had the highest median of the metro areas with a published figure, at $60,680 a year.

Is North Carolina a good state for diesel mechanics?

North Carolina had the 44th highest median annual wage among the states and DC with a published median. Its median was 6.9% below the US median.

What do you need to become a diesel mechanic in North Carolina?

This is a US figure and not a North Carolina one. Across the US, the typical education for entry is a high school diploma or equivalent, with no related work experience and long-term on-the-job training.

All careers › Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists › North Carolina

Diesel mechanic salary in North Carolina

Updated November 2, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Published by Humblebee.

$57,490median pay per year in North Carolina, or $27.64 an hour, May 2025^[1]

$39,890lowest 10% earn less
$48,04025th percentile
$57,490median
$64,77075th percentile
$76,240top 10% earn more

Middle half of workers in the inner band^[2]US median for this job, $61,770^[3]

Diesel mechanics in North Carolina had a median wage of $57,490 a year^[1]. That was 6.9% below the US median^[6].

Jobs in NC: 11,070^[4]
Rank by median pay: 44 of 51^[5]
Compared with US median: −6.9%^[6]

How much do diesel mechanics make in North Carolina?

The median wage for diesel mechanics in North Carolina was $57,490 a year, or $27.64 an hour^[1]. Half of them earned more and half earned less. The average was $57,910 a year^[7]. Across the US, the median was $61,770^[3], so North Carolina was $4,280 (6.9%) lower^[6]. North Carolina had the 44th highest median among the states and DC with a published figure^[5].

All jobs in North Carolina had a median of $47,970 a year^[8]. Diesel mechanics earned $9,520 more than that^[9].

The lowest-paid 10% of diesel mechanics in North Carolina earned less than $39,890 a year^[2]. The highest-paid 10% earned more than $76,240^[2]. Among metro areas, Burlington had the highest median at $60,680^[10]. Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia had the largest job count, with a median of $60,300^[11].

OEWS counts wage and salary workers, and it leaves out the self-employed and business owners. It also leaves out nonproduction bonuses and the cost of benefits such as health insurance^[12].

North Carolina vs US pay

Pay for diesel mechanics in North Carolina next to the national figures^[1]^[3].

	NC	US
Median per year	$57,490^[1]	$61,770^[3]
Median per hour	$27.64^[1]	$29.70^[3]
Lowest 10% earn less than	$39,890^[2]	$44,530^[13]
Top 10% earn more than	$76,240^[2]	$88,740^[13]
Jobs	11,070^[4]	289,960^[3]

Pay by metro area in North Carolina

Metro areas in North Carolina with the most jobs for diesel mechanics, and the median pay in each^[11]. A metro area that crosses state lines is counted as a whole.

Metro area	Median per year	Jobs
Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC^[11]	$60,300	3,350
Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC	$59,200	1,360
Raleigh-Cary, NC	$60,310	1,070
Greensboro-High Point, NC	$58,190	970
Winston-Salem, NC	$58,100	580
Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC	$54,480	410
Durham-Chapel Hill, NC	$60,540	370
Wilmington, NC	$55,560	360

Pay in nearby states

Median pay for diesel mechanics in the states that border North Carolina, highest first^[14].

State	Median per year	Jobs
Georgia^[14]	$61,370	10,910
Virginia	$61,090	8,070
South Carolina	$59,330	3,360
Tennessee	$59,190	5,720

Median pay for diesel mechanics in every state

Job outlook and training

Across the US, jobs for diesel mechanics are projected to grow 3.6% from 2025 to 2035^[15]. BLS does not publish this projection by state. The typical education for entry is: high school diploma or equivalent^[16].

How to become one: steps, training and duties

Frequently asked questions

How much does a diesel mechanic make in North Carolina?: The median was $57,490 a year in May 2025, and the average was $57,910^[1]^[7]. The middle half earned between $48,040 and $64,770^[2].
How much does a diesel mechanic make an hour in North Carolina?: The median was $27.64 an hour^[1]. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $19.18 an hour, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $36.65^[17]^[2].
Which city in North Carolina pays diesel mechanics the most?: Burlington had the highest median of the metro areas with a published figure, at $60,680 a year^[10].
Is North Carolina a good state for diesel mechanics?: North Carolina had the 44th highest median annual wage among the states and DC with a published median^[5]. Its median was 6.9% below the US median^[6].
What do you need to become a diesel mechanic in North Carolina?: This is a US figure and not a North Carolina one. Across the US, the typical education for entry is a high school diploma or equivalent, with no related work experience and long-term on-the-job training^[16].

Facts and sources

BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists in North Carolina was $57,490 per year and $27.64 per hour. Half of these workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists in North Carolina: 10th percentile $39,890, 25th percentile $48,040, 75th percentile $64,770, 90th percentile $76,240. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less, the 90th means 10% earned more. BLS OEWS, May 2025
BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists in the US as a whole was $61,770 per year and $29.70 per hour, with about 289,960 jobs nationwide. BLS OEWS, May 2025
BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 11,070 people worked as Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists in North Carolina (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
BLS OEWS, May 2025: North Carolina had the 44th highest median annual wage for Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists out of the 50 states and DC with a published median. BLS OEWS, May 2025
CareerFacts calculation from BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists in North Carolina ($57,490) was $4,280 (6.9%) lower than the US median ($61,770). BLS OEWS, May 2025
BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists in North Carolina was $57,910 per year and $27.84 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in North Carolina was $47,970. BLS OEWS, May 2025
CareerFacts calculation from BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists in North Carolina was $9,520 higher than the median for all occupations in the state ($47,970). BLS OEWS, May 2025
BLS OEWS, May 2025: of the 16 metro areas in or partly in North Carolina with a published median for Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists, Burlington, NC had the highest median annual wage, $60,680. BLS OEWS, May 2025
Metro areas with the most jobs in this occupation, with median annual wage, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
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
BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists in the US: 10th percentile $44,530, 25th percentile $50,540, 75th percentile $75,470, 90th percentile $88,740. BLS OEWS, May 2025
BLS OEWS, May 2025, median annual wage for Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists in states that border North Carolina (highest first): Georgia $61,370; Virginia $61,090; South Carolina $59,330; Tennessee $59,190. BLS OEWS, May 2025
BLS Employment Projections (US, not by state): employment of Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists is projected to grow 3.6% nationwide from 2025 to 2035, with about 24,400 openings a year on average. All occupations are projected to grow 3.5%. BLS Employment Projections
BLS Employment Projections (US, not by state), 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
BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists in North Carolina: 10th percentile $19.18, 25th percentile $23.10, 75th percentile $31.14, 90th percentile $36.65. BLS OEWS, May 2025

State figures cover only North Carolina. Job outlook and entry requirements are national (US) figures: BLS does not publish them by state in our sources. Figures labelled “CareerFacts calculation” are simple differences between the BLS numbers shown.