How much does a diesel mechanic make? Diesel Mechanic salary and hourly pay
A diesel mechanic in the US earns a median of $61,770 a year, about $29.70 an hour. The lowest-paid 10% earn under $44,530 and the top 10% earn over $88,740. Pay depends heavily on the state: the top-paying state, Hawaii, has a median of $80,080.
Diesel Mechanic pay calculator
Gross pay before taxes. If you enter your own hourly rate, it replaces the BLS figure. Otherwise hourly rate = BLS annual figure ÷ 2,080 hours (40 hours × 52 weeks), the same convention BLS uses.
How much does a diesel mechanic make an hour?
The median diesel mechanic earns $29.70 an hour. Hourly pay ranges from about $21.41 for the lowest-paid 10% to $42.66 for the highest-paid 10%.
| Pay level | Per year | Per hour |
|---|---|---|
| Entry level (bottom 10%) | $44,530 | $21.41 |
| Lower 25% | $50,540 | $24.30 |
| Median (typical) | $61,770 | $29.70 |
| Upper 25% | $75,470 | $36.29 |
| Top 10% | $88,740 | $42.66 |
Diesel Mechanic salary by state
Median annual pay for diesel mechanics in every state, from BLS May 2025 data.
| State | Median per year | ≈ Per hour |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $50,470 | $24.26 |
| Alaska | $75,580 | $36.34 |
| Arizona | $61,680 | $29.65 |
| Arkansas | $52,330 | $25.16 |
| California | $73,950 | $35.55 |
| Colorado | $70,480 | $33.88 |
| Connecticut | $67,300 | $32.36 |
| Delaware | $63,590 | $30.57 |
| District of Columbia | $65,200 | $31.35 |
| Florida | $60,490 | $29.08 |
| Georgia | $61,370 | $29.50 |
| Hawaii | $80,080 | $38.50 |
| Idaho | $59,230 | $28.48 |
| Illinois | $64,340 | $30.93 |
| Indiana | $60,610 | $29.14 |
| Iowa | $59,680 | $28.69 |
| Kansas | $59,460 | $28.59 |
| Kentucky | $55,480 | $26.67 |
| Louisiana | $58,680 | $28.21 |
| Maine | $60,850 | $29.25 |
| Maryland | $74,790 | $35.96 |
| Massachusetts | $73,270 | $35.23 |
| Michigan | $61,420 | $29.53 |
| Minnesota | $66,840 | $32.13 |
| Mississippi | $54,360 | $26.13 |
| Missouri | $59,360 | $28.54 |
| Montana | $59,990 | $28.84 |
| Nebraska | $59,140 | $28.43 |
| Nevada | $68,410 | $32.89 |
| New Hampshire | $71,390 | $34.32 |
| New Jersey | $72,340 | $34.78 |
| New Mexico | $55,910 | $26.88 |
| New York | $70,100 | $33.70 |
| North Carolina | $57,490 | $27.64 |
| North Dakota | $66,110 | $31.78 |
| Ohio | $60,470 | $29.07 |
| Oklahoma | $55,340 | $26.61 |
| Oregon | $63,970 | $30.75 |
| Pennsylvania | $61,740 | $29.68 |
| Rhode Island | $67,270 | $32.34 |
| South Carolina | $59,330 | $28.52 |
| South Dakota | $58,120 | $27.94 |
| Tennessee | $59,190 | $28.46 |
| Texas | $58,810 | $28.27 |
| Utah | $64,350 | $30.94 |
| Vermont | $59,390 | $28.55 |
| Virginia | $61,090 | $29.37 |
| Washington | $77,900 | $37.45 |
| West Virginia | $46,610 | $22.41 |
| Wisconsin | $62,450 | $30.02 |
| Wyoming | $61,580 | $29.61 |
Highest-paying states for diesel mechanics
- Hawaii: $80,080 median
- Washington: $77,900 median
- Alaska: $75,580 median
- Maryland: $74,790 median
- California: $73,950 median
The lowest medians are in West Virginia ($46,610), Alabama ($50,470), Arkansas ($52,330), Mississippi ($54,360), Oklahoma ($55,340). The most diesel mechanic jobs are in Texas (29,870 jobs), California (20,940 jobs), Florida (14,900 jobs), Ohio (14,240 jobs), New York (13,230 jobs).
How much does a diesel mechanic make a month?
At the median salary of $61,770, a diesel mechanic earns about $5,148 a month, $2,376 every two weeks or $1,188 a week, before taxes.
Entry-level vs. experienced diesel mechanic pay
New diesel mechanics typically start near the bottom of the range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $44,530 a year and the lowest 25% under $50,540. The top 25% earn over $75,470 and the top 10% over $88,740. BLS does not break pay down by years of experience; these percentiles are the closest official measure.
Diesel Mechanic salary vs. similar jobs
| Job | Median per year |
|---|---|
| Diesel mechanic | $61,770 |
| Electrician | $63,190 |
| Plumber | $63,800 |
| Welder | $53,750 |
| HVAC technician | $61,010 |
| Lineman | $95,320 |
| Truck driver | $58,640 |
Common questions
How much does a diesel mechanic make?
The US median is $61,770 a year ($29.70 an hour), based on BLS May 2025 data.
How much does a diesel mechanic make an hour?
The median is about $29.70 an hour. The bottom 10% earn about $21.41 and the top 10% about $42.66 an hour.
Which state pays diesel mechanics the most?
Hawaii has the highest median at $80,080, followed by Washington ($77,900) and Alaska ($75,580).
How much does a diesel mechanic make a month?
At the US median of $61,770 a year, about $5,148 a month or $2,376 every two weeks, before taxes.
How much does an entry-level diesel mechanic make?
The lowest-paid 10% earn under $44,530 a year and the lowest 25% under $50,540, the closest official measure of starting pay.
How much do the top 10% of diesel mechanics make?
The top 10% earn over $88,740 a year; the top 25% earn over $75,470.
How much does a diesel mechanic make in California, Texas, Florida and New York?
Median annual pay is $73,950 in California, $58,810 in Texas, $60,490 in Florida, $70,100 in New York, per BLS May 2025 data.
Last reviewed October 31, 2026. All figures are from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 survey (occupation code 49-3031, “Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists”), the most recent official release; “median” means half earn more and half earn less. Figures are gross pay before taxes and benefits. See the BLS OEWS tables and the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. This page is general information, not career or financial advice.