SOC 49-3031 · May 2025
Diesel Mechanic Salary
Diesel Mechanics in the US earn a median of $61,770 a year ($30.92 an hour on average), according to the BLS May 2025 wage survey. Average Diesel Mechanic pay climbed from $50,360 in 2019 to $64,320 in 2025, a +27.7% change in 6 years.
Median annual
$61,770
Half of all Diesel Mechanics in the United States earn more than this figure, half earn less. From the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025 release.
Wage trend
+27.7% since 2019 · +2.9% YoY
Hourly
$30.92
Job growth 2025-35
+3.6%
US workers
289,960
BLS series
Annual median wage for Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists in All Industries in the United States
Salary range
From entry to top decile
The 10th-to-90th percentile spread for Diesel Mechanics is $44,530 – $88,740.
Percentile distribution
USD · annual
10th
$44,530
25th
$50,540
Median
$61,770
75th
$75,470
90th
$88,740
Percentile bands
Where your pay would sit
Percentile bands
Annual wages at each point of the BLS distribution for Diesel Mechanics. Where you sit depends on experience, employer, location and credentials.
| Percentile | What it means | Annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | 10% earn less. Common for new entrants | $44,530 |
| 25th percentile | A quarter earn less | $50,540 |
| Median | Half earn more, half earn less | $61,770 |
| 75th percentile | A quarter earn more | $75,470 |
| 90th percentile | 10% earn more. Often senior or specialist staff | $88,740 |
Geography
Diesel Mechanic pay by state
Diesel Mechanics earn the most in Hawaii ($80,080, +30% against the national median) and the least in West Virginia ($46,610). BLS publishes a May 2025 estimate for this occupation in 51 of 51 states and D.C.
National median
$61,770
Highest-paying states for diesel mechanics
| State | Annual median | vs national | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | $80,080 | +30% | 690 |
| Washington | $77,900 | +26% | 7,410 |
| Alaska | $75,580 | +22% | 860 |
| Maryland | $74,790 | +21% | 3,030 |
| California | $73,950 | +20% | 20,940 |
| Massachusetts | $73,270 | +19% | 4,870 |
| New Jersey | $72,340 | +17% | 8,160 |
| New Hampshire | $71,390 | +16% | 1,040 |
| Colorado | $70,480 | +14% | 4,600 |
| New York | $70,100 | +13% | 13,230 |
All 51 states, highest to lowest
| State | Annual median | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | $80,080 | 690 |
| Washington | $77,900 | 7,410 |
| Alaska | $75,580 | 860 |
| Maryland | $74,790 | 3,030 |
| California | $73,950 | 20,940 |
| Massachusetts | $73,270 | 4,870 |
| New Jersey | $72,340 | 8,160 |
| New Hampshire | $71,390 | 1,040 |
| Colorado | $70,480 | 4,600 |
| New York | $70,100 | 13,230 |
| Nevada | $68,410 | 1,990 |
| Connecticut | $67,300 | 2,860 |
| Rhode Island | $67,270 | 350 |
| Minnesota | $66,840 | 7,300 |
| North Dakota | $66,110 | 1,790 |
| D.C. | $65,200 | 110 |
| Utah | $64,350 | 2,690 |
| Illinois | $64,340 | 11,320 |
| Oregon | $63,970 | 3,770 |
| Delaware | $63,590 | 670 |
| Wisconsin | $62,450 | 6,750 |
| Pennsylvania | $61,740 | 12,630 |
| Arizona | $61,680 | 5,140 |
| Wyoming | $61,580 | 1,100 |
| Michigan | $61,420 | 9,020 |
| Georgia | $61,370 | 10,910 |
| Virginia | $61,090 | 8,070 |
| Maine | $60,850 | 1,380 |
| Indiana | $60,610 | 8,840 |
| Florida | $60,490 | 14,900 |
| Ohio | $60,470 | 14,240 |
| Montana | $59,990 | 1,230 |
| Iowa | $59,680 | 4,140 |
| Kansas | $59,460 | 3,300 |
| Vermont | $59,390 | 550 |
| Missouri | $59,360 | 6,780 |
| South Carolina | $59,330 | 3,360 |
| Idaho | $59,230 | 1,930 |
| Tennessee | $59,190 | 5,720 |
| Nebraska | $59,140 | 2,720 |
| Texas | $58,810 | 29,870 |
| Louisiana | $58,680 | 3,270 |
| South Dakota | $58,120 | 1,340 |
| North Carolina | $57,490 | 11,070 |
| New Mexico | $55,910 | 1,740 |
| Kentucky | $55,480 | 3,890 |
| Oklahoma | $55,340 | 3,970 |
| Mississippi | $54,360 | 3,140 |
| Arkansas | $52,330 | 4,090 |
| Alabama | $50,470 | 6,130 |
| West Virginia | $46,610 | 1,040 |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, state estimates, May 2025, all industries.
What affects this salary
Pay drivers for Diesel Mechanics
Bus and truck mechanics and diesel-engine specialists (BLS SOC 49-3031) inspect, repair, and overhaul heavy-duty diesel equipment. The role typically requires a vocational certificate or associate degree, plus ASE certification for advanced work. Fleet operations, dealerships, and union shops generally pay above the OEWS median; smaller independent shops fall closer to it. Mobile diesel-mechanic operators (fleet servicing on-site) often earn premium rates.
The 10th-to-90th percentile spread is $44,530 – $88,740. That gap reflects experience, certification, employer type, geographic cost of living, and shift differentials where applicable.
Geography matters. The best-paying states for this role are Hawaii, Washington and Alaska. Pay in Hawaii runs 1.7 times the level in West Virginia, before any adjustment for cost of living.
Getting in. BLS lists the typical entry-level education as high school diploma or equivalent, and projects about 24,400 openings a year over 2025-35. Employment is projected to grow 3.6% over the same period, against 3.5% for all occupations.
Frequently asked
Questions readers ask
Frequently asked
What is the average Diesel Mechanic salary in the US?
How much does a Diesel Mechanic make an hour?
How much do Diesel Mechanics make at the low and high end?
Which state pays Diesel Mechanics the most?
Is the average Diesel Mechanic salary higher than the median?
Is Diesel Mechanic a growing career?
Open positions
Open Diesel Mechanic roles hiring now
Browse current Diesel Mechanic listings on Indeed and ZipRecruiter, filtered to your role.
Source & methodology
Wage and employment figures are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, May 2025 release. Standard Occupational Classification: 49-3031. Figures represent the national median, mean, and percentile distribution across all employers and industries. Hourly equivalents assume a 2,080-hour work year. Job growth, annual openings and typical education are from the BLS Employment Projections program, 2025-35; see the Occupational Outlook Handbook entry. Read our methodology for details on how the data is sourced, transformed, and refreshed.