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.
Bus and Truck Mechanic and Diesel Engine Specialist Salary (2026): Data, Outlook & How to Become One
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 2.4% through 2034, with about 26,500 openings a year (BLS EP, 2024–2034). Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.
SOC 49-3031Installation, Maintenance, and RepairLast updated August 15, 2026
- Median pay
- $61,770
- Projected growth
- +2.4%
- Openings a year
- 26,500
- Typical education
- High school
BLS OEWS, May 2025
BLS EP, 2024–2034
BLS EP, 2024–2034
BLS EP, 2024–2034
Also advertised as: Bus Mechanic, Diesel Mechanic, Diesel Technician (Diesel Tech), Fleet Mechanic, General Repair Mechanic, Heavy Truck Mechanic.
How much do Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists make?
10th percentile$44,530
Entry / lowest-paid tenth
25th percentile$50,540
Lower quartile
Median (50th)$61,770
Half earn more, half earn less
75th percentile$75,470
Upper quartile
90th percentile$88,740
Top-paid tenth
| 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 $60,460.
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 44% of the 923 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.
Which states pay Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists the most?
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | $80,080 | $72,832 | 690 |
| Washington | $77,900 | $72,795 | 7,410 |
| Alaska | $75,580 | $73,838 | 860 |
| Maryland | $74,790 | $71,256 | 3,030 |
| California | $73,950 | $66,790 | 20,940 |
| Massachusetts | $73,270 | $69,281 | 4,870 |
| New Jersey | $72,340 | $66,486 | 8,160 |
| New Hampshire | $71,390 | $68,535 | 1,040 |
| Colorado | $70,480 | $68,393 | 4,600 |
| New York | $70,100 | $64,955 | 13,230 |
Is Bus and Truck Mechanic and Diesel Engine Specialist a growing career?
Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists2.4%
All US occupations3.1%
+2.4% projected growth vs 3.1% for all occupations.
About as fast as average
BLS projects employment of Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists to change 2.4% over 2024–2034, against 3.1% projected for all occupations. That is 7,800 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 26,500 openings are projected each year, 8.3% of the 319,900 jobs that existed in 2024. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Despite limited employment growth, about 26,500 openings for diesel service technicians and mechanics are projected each year, on average, over the decade.
Most 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.
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 short-haul transportation, such as local delivery services, are expected to increasingly be electric.
However, 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.
How to become a Bus and Truck Mechanic and Diesel Engine Specialist
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.
| Typical entry-level education | High school diploma or equivalent |
|---|---|
| Preparation needed (O*NET job zone) | Some preparation |
| Work experience in a related occupation | None |
| Typical on-the-job training | Long-term on-the-job training |
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 Diploma36.9%
- Some College Courses21.9%
- Less than a High School Diploma1.0%
- Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree)0.7%
What does a Bus and Truck Mechanic and Diesel Engine Specialist 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.
Where bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists work
| Truck transportation | 18% |
|---|---|
| Wholesale trade | 14% |
| Automotive repair and maintenance | 9% |
| Local government, excluding education and hospitals | 9% |
| Rental and leasing services | 5% |
BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2024–2034 edition.
Core skills
- Critical Thinking3.3/5
- Speaking3.1/5
- Active Listening3.0/5
- Monitoring3.0/5
- Reading Comprehension2.9/5
- Active Learning2.8/5
- Learning Strategies2.8/5
- Writing2.6/5
Transferable skills
- Troubleshooting4.0/5
- Repairing4.0/5
- Operations Monitoring3.5/5
- Equipment Maintenance3.4/5
- Quality Control Analysis3.3/5
- Equipment Selection3.1/5
- Judgment and Decision Making3.1/5
- Complex Problem Solving3.0/5
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.
What personality type suits a Bus and Truck Mechanic and Diesel Engine Specialist?
Interest profile: O*NET Occupational Interests, scored 1–7
Realisticprimary7.0
Investigativeprimary3.3
Artistic1.0
Social1.5
Enterprising1.3
Conventionalprimary3.7
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.
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.
Bus and Truck Mechanic and Diesel Engine Specialist: frequently asked questions
How much do Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists 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.
Do you need a degree to become a Bus and Truck Mechanic and Diesel Engine Specialist?
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.
Is Bus and Truck Mechanic and Diesel Engine Specialist a growing career?
It is stable rather than fast-growing: employment is projected to change 2.4% over 2024–2034, about the same as the 3.1% projected across all occupations (BLS EP, 2024–2034). BLS still projects about 26,500 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a Bus and Truck Mechanic and Diesel Engine Specialist 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.
Which states pay Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists 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 personality type suits a Bus and Truck Mechanic and Diesel Engine Specialist?
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 923 occupations in the bank.