The median pay for Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists is $61,770 a year ($29.70/hr), according to BLS OEWS, May 2025. Employment is projected to grow 3.6% through 2035, with about 24,400 openings a year (BLS EP, 2025–2035). Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.
- Commonly called: Diesel Mechanic
- SOC 49-3031
- Installation, Maintenance, and Repair
- Last updated October 15, 2026
At a glance
Bus and Truck Mechanic and Diesel Engine Specialist in four numbers
- Median pay
- $61,770a year, or $29.70/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $45KTop 10% $89K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- +3.6%About as fast as averageBLS EP, 2025–2035This career+3.6%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career +3.6% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 24,400316,000 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 2025316K
- Projected 2035327.4K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 316K Projected 2035 327.4K - Typical education
- High schoolneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
- Less than high school1%
- High school36.9%
- Certificate39.5%
- Some college21.9%
- Associate's0.7%
Highest education held by bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists Segment Value Less than high school 1% High school 36.9% Certificate 39.5% Some college 21.9% Associate's 0.7%
Also advertised as: Bus Mechanic, Diesel Mechanic, Diesel Technician (Diesel Tech), Fleet Mechanic, General Repair Mechanic, Heavy Truck Mechanic.
Pay
How much do diesel mechanics make?
Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists earn a median of $61,770 a year ($29.70 an hour, or about $5,150 a month); the lowest-paid 10% earn less than $44,530 and the top 10% more than $88,740 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
The best-paying state is Hawaii, with a median of $80,080. See Diesel mechanic salary in Hawaii and every other state. By city, pay is highest around San Jose ($85,970 average): salary in every city.
Every bus and truck mechanic and diesel engine specialist in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$61,770
Middle half earn $50,540 to $75,470
- 10th
- $44,530
- 25th
- $50,540
- 75th
- $75,470
- 90th
- $88,740
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $44,530 |
| 25th | $50,540 |
| Median | $61,770 |
| 75th | $75,470 |
| 90th | $88,740 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $61,770
- Median hourly wage
- $29.70/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $64,320
- People employed
- 289,960
Versus all US occupations
At $61,770, Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists earn 21% above the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $10,790 a year.
Versus installation, maintenance, and repair occupations
The median is typical for the Installation, Maintenance, and Repair group, where the middle occupation pays $61,150.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $88,740 or more while the bottom 10% earn $44,530, a gap of 2.0×. That is a typical spread for a US occupation.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 35% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Cost of living
Hawaii posts the highest raw median ($80,080), but once local prices are taken into account North Dakota leads at $74,315 in national-average dollars.
Pay by state
Which states pay diesel mechanics the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Hawaii | $80,080 | $72,832 | 690 |
| 2Washington | $77,900 | $72,795 | 7,410 |
| 3Alaska | $75,580 | $73,838 | 860 |
| 4Maryland | $74,790 | $71,256 | 3,030 |
| 5California | $73,950 | $66,790 | 20,940 |
| 6Massachusetts | $73,270 | $69,281 | 4,870 |
| 7New Jersey | $72,340 | $66,486 | 8,160 |
| 8New Hampshire | $71,390 | $68,535 | 1,040 |
| 9Colorado | $70,480 | $68,393 | 4,600 |
| 10New York | $70,100 | $64,955 | 13,230 |
Job outlook
Is diesel mechanic a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
About as fast as average. +3.6% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists | +3.6% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
About as fast as average
BLS projects employment of Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists to change 3.6% over 2025–2035, against 3.5% projected for all occupations. That is 11,400 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 24,400 openings are projected each year, 7.7% of the 316,000 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
As more freight is shipped across the country, diesel-powered trucks will continue to be needed to carry freight wherever trains and pipelines are neither available nor economical. In addition, aging vehicles with diesel engines are likely to require more maintenance and repair, supporting the need for diesel technicians.
However, some demand for these workers may be reduced as more firms turn away from diesel-powered trucks and vehicles in favor of those that require less maintenance and repair. For example, trucks used for courier and delivery services, such as package delivery, are expected to increasingly be electric.
AI exposure: low
BLS places this occupation in its low relative AI exposure category, among the occupations least exposed to current AI.
Getting in
How to become a diesel mechanic
There is no diesel mechanic licence in the United States, and ASE certification is voluntary. But this is the one repair trade with real federal qualification rules, and almost nobody searching for the job knows them: under the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations, no carrier may permit anyone who does not meet the brake inspector qualifications to be responsible for inspecting, maintaining, servicing or repairing the brakes on a commercial motor vehicle, and a separate rule qualifies whoever performs the annual DOT inspection. Neither is a licence you apply for. Both are conditions your employer must satisfy and document about you.
The credential path, step by step
- Get the high school diploma and, if possible, a diesel programme
BLS states most employers require a high school diploma or equivalent, and that some prefer candidates with postsecondary education in diesel engine repair. Community colleges and vocational-technical schools offer certificate or degree programmes mixing classroom instruction with hands-on training, covering diesel technology, repair techniques, and how to interpret technical manuals and electronic diagnostic reports.
- Train on the shop floor
BLS describes technicians who start without postsecondary education being trained extensively on the job: basic tasks such as cleaning parts, checking fuel and oil levels and moving vehicles in and out of the shop, then more complicated work such as vehicle diagnostics once competence is demonstrated.
- Meet the federal brake inspector qualification before you touch brakes
Under 49 CFR 396.25 a motor carrier may not require or permit any employee who does not meet the minimum brake inspector qualifications to be responsible for the inspection, maintenance, service or repair of any brakes on its commercial motor vehicles. You qualify by completing an apprenticeship sponsored by a state, a Canadian province, a federal agency or a labor union, or a training programme approved by a state, provincial or federal agency, or by holding a state or provincial certificate for the task (passing the CDL air brake tests counts for brake inspection), or by accumulating at least one year of brake-related training or experience. The carrier must keep the evidence of your qualification at its principal place of business or where you work, for as long as you hold the role and one year afterward.
- Meet the separate inspector qualification if you sign annual inspections
Performing the federally required annual inspection is a different qualification again. Under 49 CFR 396.19 the carrier must ensure the inspector understands the inspection criteria in Part 393 and Appendix A, has mastered the methods and tools, and is capable by reason of experience or training: either a completed federal or state sponsored training programme or a state or provincial certificate qualifying them to perform commercial motor vehicle safety inspections, or at least one year of combined training and experience.
- Get a CDL if the job requires road testing
BLS notes diesel technicians might need a commercial driver's licence to test-drive buses and large trucks. It also happens to be the cleanest way to satisfy the air brake element of the brake inspector qualification, since 396.25 accepts passage of the CDL air brake knowledge and skills tests.
- Add ASE certification for portability and pay
BLS says employers may require or prefer certification and that having it demonstrates competence and may bring higher pay. The relevant series is Medium-Heavy Truck: T1 Gasoline Engines, T2 Diesel Engines, T3 Drive Train, T4 Brakes, T5 Suspension and Steering, T6 Electrical and Electronic Systems, T7 HVAC, and T8 Preventive Maintenance Inspection. Certification in T2 through T8 earns ASE Certified Master Medium-Heavy Truck Technician status; T1 is not required for it.
- Add EPA certification if you service air conditioning
Any person who repairs or services a motor vehicle air conditioning system for consideration must be trained and certified under section 609 of the Clean Air Act by an EPA-approved programme. That is a federal requirement, not an employer preference, and it applies to a bus or truck A/C system as much as to a car.
Exams you have to pass
ASE Medium-Heavy Truck certification tests (T1 to T8) (T-series)
Eight tests covering Class 4 through Class 8 trucks and tractors, ranging from 40 to 55 scored questions each plus 10 unscored research questions. Passing a test alone does not certify you: ASE also requires documented hands-on work experience, and if you test before you have it you receive a score report but no certificate until the experience is filed. Recertification tests (T1R to T8R) are about half as long as the initial tests and may only be taken once the corresponding initial test has been passed.
Administered by National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence.
- Continuing education
Required to stay credentialed
ASE certification must be renewed every five years by retesting. That obligation exists only if you choose to certify. The federal qualifications under 49 CFR 396.19 and 396.25 have no expiry and no continuing education requirement, but the carrier must retain the evidence of your qualification for the whole period you perform the work and for one year afterward, which means it follows the job rather than following you.
Who governs the credential
- Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA)
Sets the brake inspector qualifications at 49 CFR 396.25 and the annual inspector qualifications at 49 CFR 396.19. These bind the motor carrier, which must ensure and document that the person doing the work qualifies; there is no FMCSA-issued mechanic credential.
- National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE)
A non-profit established by the industry in 1972 that writes and administers the voluntary T-series Medium-Heavy Truck certification tests, sets the accompanying work experience requirement, and requires recertification every five years.
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Requires anyone who repairs or services a motor vehicle air conditioning system for payment or barter to be trained and certified by an EPA-approved section 609 programme, and publishes the list of approved programmes.
Credential detail for bus and truck mechanic and diesel engine specialists is researched by hand from the bodies that issue it, not derived from BLS or O*NET. Sources last checked August 23, 2026. Requirements change: confirm with your own state board before enrolling in anything.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook — Diesel Service Technicians and Mechanics, How to Become One · checked August 23, 2026
- eCFR, 49 CFR 396.25 — Qualifications of brake inspectors · checked August 23, 2026
- eCFR, 49 CFR 396.19 — Inspector qualifications (annual inspections) · checked August 23, 2026
- ASE — Medium-Heavy Truck Certification Tests T1 to T8, master status and five-year recertification · checked August 23, 2026
- ASE — Work Experience Requirements (you may test before you have the experience, but you will not be certified until you file it) · checked August 23, 2026
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency — Section 609 Technician Training and Certification Programs · checked August 23, 2026
What the federal data says
Although most diesel technicians learn on the job after a high school education, employers may prefer to hire candidates who have completed postsecondary training programs in diesel engine repair. In addition, industry certification may be required.
- 1
Typical entry-level education
High school diploma or equivalent
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
None
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
Long-term on-the-job training
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Medium preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists.
- Post-Secondary Certificate39.5%
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)36.9%
- Some College Courses21.9%
- Less than a High School Diploma1%
- Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree0.7%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Post-Secondary Certificate | 39.5% |
| High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) | 36.9% |
| Some College Courses | 21.9% |
| Less than a High School Diploma | 1% |
| Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree | 0.7% |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
The work
What does a diesel mechanic do?
Diagnose, adjust, repair, or overhaul buses and trucks, or maintain and repair any type of diesel engines. Includes mechanics working primarily with automobile or marine diesel engines.
Diesel service technicians and mechanics (also known as diesel technicians) inspect, repair, or overhaul buses and trucks, or maintain and repair any type of diesel engine.
Day-to-day tasks
- Use handtools, such as screwdrivers, pliers, wrenches, pressure gauges, or precision instruments, as well as power tools, such as pneumatic wrenches, lathes, welding equipment, or jacks and hoists.
- Perform routine maintenance such as changing oil, checking batteries, and lubricating equipment and machinery.
- Examine and adjust protective guards, loose bolts, and specified safety devices.
- Inspect brake systems, steering mechanisms, wheel bearings, and other important parts to ensure that they are in proper operating condition.
- Adjust and reline brakes, align wheels, tighten bolts and screws, and reassemble equipment.
- Raise trucks, buses, and heavy parts or equipment using hydraulic jacks or hoists.
- Repair or adjust seats, doors, or windows.
- Inspect, test, and listen to defective equipment to diagnose malfunctions, using test instruments such as handheld computers, motor analyzers, chassis charts, or pressure gauges.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Working conditions and hours
Fatal injury rate: 8.6 per 100,000 workers (2.6x the 3.3 average)
BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries, 2024: 29 deaths that year.
Most diesel technicians work full time, and some work more than 40 hours per week. Some repair shops extend their service hours during evenings and weekends. In addition, some truck and bus repair shops provide 24-hour maintenance and repair services.
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayOutdoors in all weather
NeverEvery dayOutdoors in all weather at least weekly.
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeStanding
NeverAlmost all the timeOn their feet more than half the working day.
Bending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the timeRegular bending or twisting.
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantFace-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayFace-to-face discussions every day.
Dealing with the public
Not importantExtremely important
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayMeeting strict deadlines at least weekly.
Conflict situations
NeverEvery dayCost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely serious
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lotA lot of freedom to make decisions without checking first.
Schedules: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–2035 edition. Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Where bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists work
Share of jobs by employer type
- Truck transportation18%
- Wholesale trade13%
- Local government, excluding education and hospitals9%
- Automotive repair and maintenance9%
- Rental and leasing services6%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Truck transportation | 18% |
| Wholesale trade | 13% |
| Local government, excluding education and hospitals | 9% |
| Automotive repair and maintenance | 9% |
| Rental and leasing services | 6% |
Source: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–2035 edition
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Critical Thinking3.3
- Speaking3.1
- Active Listening3.0
- Monitoring3.0
- Reading Comprehension2.9
- Active Learning2.8
- Learning Strategies2.8
- Writing2.6
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Critical Thinking | 3.3 |
| Speaking | 3.1 |
| Active Listening | 3.0 |
| Monitoring | 3.0 |
| Reading Comprehension | 2.9 |
| Active Learning | 2.8 |
| Learning Strategies | 2.8 |
| Writing | 2.6 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Troubleshooting4.0
- Repairing4.0
- Operations Monitoring3.5
- Equipment Maintenance3.4
- Quality Control Analysis3.3
- Equipment Selection3.1
- Judgment and Decision Making3.1
- Complex Problem Solving3.0
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Troubleshooting | 4.0 |
| Repairing | 4.0 |
| Operations Monitoring | 3.5 |
| Equipment Maintenance | 3.4 |
| Quality Control Analysis | 3.3 |
| Equipment Selection | 3.1 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.1 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.0 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Computer aided design CAD software · in demand
- Enterprise resource planning ERP software · in demand
- Office suite software · in demand
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Word processing software · in demand
- Analytical or scientific software
- Calendar and scheduling software
- Data base user interface and query software
- Facilities management software
- Inventory management software
- Materials requirements planning logistics and supply chain software
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
The workforce
Who works as a diesel mechanic?
Women make up 1.8% of bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists, against 47.1% of all employed people: a heavily male-dominated occupation.
19.8% are 55 or older, close to the 23.2% across all jobs.
The median worker is 41.5 years old (all workers: 42.1).
- Women
- 1.8%All workers 47.1% · BLS CPS, 2025
- Median age
- 41.5All workers 42.1 · BLS CPS, 2025
- Aged 55+
- 19.8%All workers 23.2% · BLS CPS, 2025
- Employed (CPS)
- 369,000BLS CPS, 2025
| Group | Share of bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists | All employed people |
|---|---|---|
| Women | 1.8% | 47.1% |
| White | 88.1% | 75.7% |
| Black or African American | 7.1% | 12.7% |
| Asian | 2.2% | 7.5% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 22.6% | 20.0% |
| Aged 55 and over | 19.8% | 23.2% |
| Aged 16 to 24 | 14.4% | 12.2% |
Current Population Survey annual averages, 2025 (BLS tables 11 and 11b). Race groups can overlap with Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, so they do not sum to 100%.
Personality fit
What personality type suits a diesel mechanic?
O*NET Occupational Interests (RIASEC), scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Bus and Truck Mechanic and Diesel Engine Specialist |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 7 |
| Investigative | 3 |
| Artistic | 1 |
| Social | 2 |
| Enterprising | 1 |
| Conventional | 4 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors, combined with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data.
- Realistic7.0
- Conventional3.7
- Investigative3.3
- Social1.5
- Enterprising1.3
- Artistic1.0
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
Careers related to Bus and Truck Mechanic and Diesel Engine Specialist
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Most earn $47K to $94K
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More installation, maintenance, and repair careers
Median annual pay, with bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists highlighted
- Aircraft Mechanic$79,870
- Millwright$65,700
- Industrial Machinery Mechanic$64,520
- Telecommunications Equipment Installer and Repairer, Except Line Installers$63,890
- Bus and Truck Mechanic and Diesel Engine Specialist$61,770
- Medical Equipment Repairer$61,660
- Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanic and Installer$61,010
- Automotive Body and Related Repairer$54,890
- Automotive Service Technician and Mechanic$50,620
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Aircraft Mechanic | $79,870 |
| Millwright | $65,700 |
| Industrial Machinery Mechanic | $64,520 |
| Telecommunications Equipment Installer and Repairer, Except Line Installers | $63,890 |
| Bus and Truck Mechanic and Diesel Engine Specialist | $61,770 |
| Medical Equipment Repairer | $61,660 |
| Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanic and Installer | $61,010 |
| Automotive Body and Related Repairer | $54,890 |
| Automotive Service Technician and Mechanic | $50,620 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lists Bus and Truck Mechanic and Diesel Engine Specialist appears on
Questions
Bus and Truck Mechanic and Diesel Engine Specialist: frequently asked questions
How much do diesel mechanics make?
Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists earn a median of $61,770 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025), 21% above the $50,980 US median across all occupations. That works out at $29.70/hr. The middle half earn between $50,540 and $75,470. The top 10% earn $88,740 or more.
How much do diesel mechanics make an hour?
The median hourly wage for bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists is $29.70 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). On a full-year basis the $61,770 annual median works out to about $5,150 a month before tax.
What is the starting salary for a diesel mechanic?
BLS does not publish a starting salary. The nearest measure is the low end of the pay range: the lowest-paid 10% of bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists earn less than $44,530 a year and the bottom quarter less than $50,540 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). New workers often start near that end, but where a particular job starts depends on the employer, the state and the credentials you bring, so read these as the bottom of the range rather than a guaranteed entry wage.
Do diesel mechanics make $100k?
Rarely. Even the 90th percentile is $88,740, so fewer than 10% of bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists earn $100,000 or more (BLS OEWS, May 2025). No state's median reaches $100,000; the highest is Hawaii at $80,080.
Which states pay diesel mechanics the most?
The highest state medians for Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists are Hawaii ($80,080), Washington ($77,900), Alaska ($75,580) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Adjusted for local prices using BEA Regional Price Parities, North Dakota moves to the top at $74,315.
What kind of diesel mechanic earns the most?
BLS does not split bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists' pay by specialty or employer, but its range shows how far the top end runs: the highest-paid 10% earn more than $88,740, against a median of $61,770 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Location moves pay the most in the published data: the best-paying states are Hawaii ($80,080), Washington ($77,900), Alaska ($75,580).
Do you need a degree to become a diesel mechanic?
No. A bachelor's degree is not the norm: BLS reports a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education for Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists. BLS also lists long-term on-the-job training as typical on-the-job training. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 39.5% hold post-secondary certificate.
How long does it take to become a diesel mechanic?
BLS does not publish a fixed length; it depends on the route. What it does publish: the typical way in for diesel mechanics is a high school diploma or equivalent. Once hired, BLS lists long-term on-the-job training as typical. O*NET classes the work as needing medium preparation.
Is diesel mechanic a growing career?
It is stable rather than fast-growing: employment is projected to change 3.6% over 2025–2035, about the same as the 3.5% projected across all occupations (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 24,400 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a diesel mechanic do?
Diesel service technicians and mechanics (also known as diesel technicians) inspect, repair, or overhaul buses and trucks, or maintain and repair any type of diesel engine. A core O*NET task: use handtools, such as screwdrivers, pliers, wrenches, pressure gauges, or precision instruments, as well as power tools, such as pneumatic wrenches, lathes, welding equipment, or jacks and hoists. Employers most often ask for Computer aided design CAD software, Enterprise resource planning ERP software, Office suite software.
Do diesel mechanics work 40 hours a week?
Most work more than 40. In O*NET's survey of people in the job, 53% of bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists usually work more than 40 hours a week, 46% work exactly 40 and 2% work fewer. 87% say their schedule is regular and 13% irregular. Source: O*NET 31.0 Database, Work Context.
What personality type suits a diesel mechanic?
O*NET scores Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists highest on the Realistic, Conventional and Investigative interest areas, so the work mixes hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping that lines up most closely with ISTJ personalities. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.
What exams do you have to pass to become a diesel mechanic?
The T-series (ASE Medium-Heavy Truck certification tests (T1 to T8)). Eight tests covering Class 4 through Class 8 trucks and tractors, ranging from 40 to 55 scored questions each plus 10 unscored research questions. Passing a test alone does not certify you: ASE also requires documented hands-on work experience, and if you test before you have it you receive a score report but no certificate until the experience is filed. Recertification tests (T1R to T8R) are about half as long as the initial tests and may only be taken once the corresponding initial test has been passed.
What percentage of diesel mechanics are women?
Women make up 1.8% of bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists, against 47.1% of all employed people: a heavily male-dominated occupation. 19.8% are 55 or older, close to the 23.2% across all jobs. The median worker is 41.5 years old (all workers: 42.1). Source: BLS Current Population Survey, 2025 annual averages.