Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists salary in the U.S.
Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists in the U.S. earn a median of $61,770 a year ($29.70 an hour), based on BLS data for 289,960 workers.
Pay ranges from $44,530 for the lowest-paid 10% to $88,740 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $64,320, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $44,530 | $21.41 |
| 25th percentile | $50,540 | $24.30 |
| Median | $61,770 | $29.70 |
| 75th percentile | $75,470 | $36.29 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $88,740 | $42.66 |
| Average (mean) | $64,320 | $30.92 |
Half of bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $5,147.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,573.75 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,375.77 |
| Weekly | $1,187.88 |
| Hourly | $29.70 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
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Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| District of Columbia | $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 |
| Guam | $51,720 | 30 |
| Alabama | $50,470 | 6,130 |
| West Virginia | $46,610 | 1,040 |
| Puerto Rico | $40,110 | 930 |
Best-paying metro areas for bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $88,980 | 720 |
| Urban Honolulu, HI | $85,040 | 540 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $82,330 | 3,740 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $82,100 | 1,730 |
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | $80,450 | 160 |
| Boulder, CO | $79,030 | 150 |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | $78,960 | 260 |
| Paducah, KY-IL | $78,900 | 190 |
| Bellingham, WA | $78,330 | 220 |
| Napa, CA | $78,070 | 60 |
| Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA | $77,460 | 170 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $77,380 | 6,520 |
| Modesto, CA | $76,640 | 420 |
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | $75,940 | 420 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $75,780 | 12,430 |
Metro areas with the most bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 12,430 | $75,780 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 8,660 | $65,680 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 7,940 | $60,390 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 7,410 | $60,770 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 6,520 | $77,380 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 5,940 | $62,270 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 4,490 | $64,550 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 4,290 | $73,730 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 4,240 | $61,340 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | 3,820 | $63,360 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 3,740 | $82,330 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | 3,550 | $63,330 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | 3,400 | $71,300 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | 3,350 | $60,300 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 3,110 | $75,770 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics | $50,620 | $24.34 |
| Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines | $65,510 | $31.50 |
| Automotive Body and Related Repairers | $54,890 | $26.39 |
| Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians | $79,870 | $38.40 |
| Tire Repairers and Changers | $37,710 | $18.13 |
| Farm Equipment Mechanics and Service Technicians | $56,550 | $27.19 |
| Outdoor Power Equipment and Other Small Engine Mechanics | $47,880 | $23.02 |
| Motorboat Mechanics and Service Technicians | $57,550 | $27.67 |
| Rail Car Repairer | $67,530 | $32.46 |
| Automotive Glass Installers and Repairers | $47,630 | $22.90 |
| Recreational Vehicle Service Technician | $52,000 | $25.00 |
| Motorcycle Mechanic | $48,580 | $23.35 |
| Bicycle Repairer | $42,780 | $20.57 |
| Maintenance and Repair Workers, General | $49,590 | $23.84 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 49-3031. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists make in the U.S.?
The median salary for bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists in the U.S. is $61,770 a year, or $29.70 an hour. Pay ranges from $44,530 for the lowest-paid 10% to $88,740 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists in the U.S. earn at least $88,740 a year. The top 25% earn $75,470 or more.
What is the starting pay for bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $44,530 a year, and a quarter of bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists earn $50,540 or less.
How many bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists work in the U.S.?
About 289,960 bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.