Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists
Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists (SOC 49-3031) earn a median $61,770 a year ($29.70 an hour) in the United States, with 289,960 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is Hawaii.
What bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists do
Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists diagnose, adjust, repair and overhaul buses and trucks, and maintain and repair diesel engines of any type; the definition includes mechanics working primarily with automobile or marine diesel engines. They use hand tools such as screwdrivers, pliers, wrenches, pressure gauges and precision instruments, and power tools such as pneumatic wrenches, lathes, welding equipment, jacks and hoists. Brake systems, steering mechanisms, wheel bearings and other important parts are inspected to be sure they are in proper operating condition. Trucks, buses and heavy parts are raised with hydraulic jacks or hoists, and brakes are adjusted and relined, wheels aligned and equipment reassembled. To diagnose malfunctions, they attach test instruments, read dials and gauges, and inspect, test and listen to defective equipment using handheld computers, motor analyzers, chassis charts or pressure gauges. Routine maintenance includes changing oil, checking batteries and lubricating equipment, and they examine and adjust protective guards, loose bolts and safety devices. Automotive service technicians (49-3023) are classified separately.
Typical entry: O*NET respondents most often report a postsecondary certificate, meaning training completed after high school but short of a degree.
Also called: Biodiesel Engine Specialist, Boat Diesel Motor Mechanic, Boat Engine Installer, Boat Engine Mechanic, Boat Mechanic.
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $21.41 | $24.30 | $29.70 | $36.29 | $42.66 | $30.92 | 289,960 |
| Annual | $44,530 | $50,540 | $61,770 | $75,470 | $88,740 | $64,320 | ||
Employment per 1,000 jobs and the location quotient are area measures; they appear in the state and metro tables below. To see what a wage in this range leaves after tax, use FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Where bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists earn and work most
Five highest-paying states
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Hawaii | Hourly | $26.12 | $30.22 | $38.50 | $40.89 | $48.34 | $36.89 | 690 | 1.10 | 0.59 |
| Annual | $54,330 | $62,850 | $80,080 | $85,040 | $100,540 | $76,730 | ||||
| Washington | Hourly | $26.31 | $30.62 | $37.45 | $44.66 | $49.42 | $37.88 | 7,410 | 2.09 | 1.12 |
| Annual | $54,720 | $63,700 | $77,900 | $92,880 | $102,800 | $78,790 | ||||
| Alaska | Hourly | $25.00 | $30.02 | $36.34 | $40.00 | $47.41 | $35.85 | 860 | 2.64 | 1.41 |
| Annual | $52,000 | $62,450 | $75,580 | $83,210 | $98,610 | $74,580 | ||||
| Maryland | Hourly | $24.04 | $29.29 | $35.96 | $40.47 | $47.02 | $35.24 | 3,030 | 1.10 | 0.59 |
| Annual | $50,010 | $60,920 | $74,790 | $84,180 | $97,800 | $73,300 | ||||
| California | Hourly | $22.68 | $28.90 | $35.55 | $40.74 | $46.50 | $34.95 | 20,940 | 1.15 | 0.62 |
| Annual | $47,180 | $60,110 | $73,950 | $84,740 | $96,730 | $72,690 | ||||
Five states with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Texas | Hourly | $19.68 | $22.85 | $28.27 | $33.84 | $39.26 | $29.10 | 29,870 | 2.12 | 1.14 |
| Annual | $40,930 | $47,520 | $58,810 | $70,400 | $81,660 | $60,530 | ||||
| California | Hourly | $22.68 | $28.90 | $35.55 | $40.74 | $46.50 | $34.95 | 20,940 | 1.15 | 0.62 |
| Annual | $47,180 | $60,110 | $73,950 | $84,740 | $96,730 | $72,690 | ||||
| Florida | Hourly | $21.30 | $23.90 | $29.08 | $35.53 | $38.08 | $30.17 | 14,900 | 1.50 | 0.80 |
| Annual | $44,300 | $49,720 | $60,490 | $73,900 | $79,210 | $62,750 | ||||
| Ohio | Hourly | $21.57 | $24.37 | $29.07 | $33.31 | $37.56 | $29.42 | 14,240 | 2.57 | 1.38 |
| Annual | $44,860 | $50,700 | $60,470 | $69,290 | $78,120 | $61,190 | ||||
| New York | Hourly | $23.25 | $28.09 | $33.70 | $41.56 | $43.31 | $34.01 | 13,230 | 1.37 | 0.73 |
| Annual | $48,360 | $58,420 | $70,100 | $86,450 | $90,090 | $70,740 | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | Hourly | $27.19 | $35.77 | $42.78 | $46.36 | $54.54 | $41.33 | 720 | 0.64 | 0.34 |
| Annual | $56,550 | $74,400 | $88,980 | $96,430 | $113,440 | $85,960 | ||||
| Urban Honolulu, HI | Hourly | $28.56 | $31.40 | $40.89 | $40.89 | $47.98 | $37.68 | 540 | 1.20 | 0.65 |
| Annual | $59,400 | $65,310 | $85,040 | $85,040 | $99,790 | $78,380 | ||||
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | Hourly | $29.53 | $34.53 | $39.58 | $46.73 | $55.56 | $40.74 | 3,740 | 1.79 | 0.96 |
| Annual | $61,410 | $71,810 | $82,330 | $97,190 | $115,550 | $84,730 | ||||
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | Hourly | $23.51 | $30.10 | $39.47 | $47.15 | $50.74 | $39.03 | 1,730 | 0.73 | 0.39 |
| Annual | $48,900 | $62,610 | $82,100 | $98,060 | $105,550 | $81,180 | ||||
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | Hourly | $29.46 | $33.70 | $38.68 | $42.51 | $47.81 | $38.56 | 160 | 1.74 | 0.94 |
| Annual | $61,270 | $70,090 | $80,450 | $88,430 | $99,440 | $80,200 | ||||
Five metropolitan areas with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | Hourly | $24.64 | $29.54 | $36.43 | $42.68 | $45.35 | $36.13 | 12,430 | 1.31 | 0.70 |
| Annual | $51,240 | $61,440 | $75,780 | $88,760 | $94,320 | $75,150 | ||||
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | Hourly | $22.03 | $27.93 | $31.58 | $40.34 | $47.44 | $34.32 | 8,660 | 1.92 | 1.03 |
| Annual | $45,830 | $58,080 | $65,680 | $83,900 | $98,660 | $71,390 | ||||
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | Hourly | $21.99 | $23.33 | $29.04 | $34.90 | $39.26 | $29.96 | 7,940 | 1.96 | 1.05 |
| Annual | $45,730 | $48,520 | $60,390 | $72,590 | $81,660 | $62,310 | ||||
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | Hourly | $21.62 | $23.95 | $29.22 | $35.82 | $46.47 | $30.81 | 7,410 | 2.25 | 1.21 |
| Annual | $44,960 | $49,810 | $60,770 | $74,500 | $96,650 | $64,070 | ||||
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | Hourly | $23.34 | $29.88 | $37.20 | $41.00 | $46.04 | $35.88 | 6,520 | 1.04 | 0.56 |
| Annual | $48,550 | $62,160 | $77,380 | $85,280 | $95,760 | $74,620 | ||||
Top industries employing bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists
Truck Transportation employ 19.6% of bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists nationally (56,870 jobs) at a median $59,820 a year ($28.76 an hour), followed by Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) (10.0%) and Automotive Repair and Maintenance (9.4%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Truck Transportation NAICS 484000 | 56,870 | 19.6% | $59,820 | $28.76 |
| Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) NAICS 999300 | 28,920 | 10.0% | $71,460 | $34.36 |
| Automotive Repair and Maintenance NAICS 811100 | 27,190 | 9.4% | $60,330 | $29.01 |
| Motor Vehicle and Motor Vehicle Parts and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers NAICS 423100 | 26,260 | 9.1% | $63,020 | $30.30 |
| Automotive Equipment Rental and Leasing NAICS 532100 | 16,350 | 5.6% | $59,990 | $28.84 |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (289,960). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $48,690 for bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists in May 2021 and $61,770 in May 2025, with employment of 261,420 and 289,960.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $48,690 | $23.41 | 261,420 |
| May 2022 | $54,360 | $26.14 | 271,720 |
| May 2023 | $58,970 | $28.35 | 285,030 |
| May 2024 | $60,640 | $29.15 | 287,230 |
| May 2025 | $61,770 | $29.70 | 289,960 |
BLS does not design OEWS as a time series: each release pools three years of samples, and occupational classifications, area definitions and estimation methods change between releases, so a difference between two releases is not a measure of change over time. The figures are shown as published, side by side, and nothing is computed from them. See how often OEWS is updated.
Every state, by median wage
51 states and DC publish a row for this occupation. A linked state has its own page with the within-state metro table and comparison; the others appear here only.
| Rank | State | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hawaii profile | $38.50 | $80,080 | $54,330 | $100,540 | 690 | 1.10 | 0.59 |
| 2 | Washington profile | $37.45 | $77,900 | $54,720 | $102,800 | 7,410 | 2.09 | 1.12 |
| 3 | Alaska profile | $36.34 | $75,580 | $52,000 | $98,610 | 860 | 2.64 | 1.41 |
| 4 | Maryland profile | $35.96 | $74,790 | $50,010 | $97,800 | 3,030 | 1.10 | 0.59 |
| 5 | California profile | $35.55 | $73,950 | $47,180 | $96,730 | 20,940 | 1.15 | 0.62 |
| 6 | Massachusetts profile | $35.23 | $73,270 | $49,400 | $99,460 | 4,870 | 1.34 | 0.72 |
| 7 | New Jersey profile | $34.78 | $72,340 | $49,140 | $94,150 | 8,160 | 1.90 | 1.02 |
| 8 | New Hampshire profile | $34.32 | $71,390 | $52,730 | $99,590 | 1,040 | 1.53 | 0.82 |
| 9 | Colorado profile | $33.89 | $70,480 | $47,450 | $96,450 | 4,600 | 1.60 | 0.86 |
| 10 | New York profile | $33.70 | $70,100 | $48,360 | $90,090 | 13,230 | 1.37 | 0.73 |
| 11 | Nevada profile | $32.89 | $68,410 | $48,770 | $97,720 | 1,990 | 1.28 | 0.69 |
| 12 | Connecticut profile | $32.36 | $67,300 | $45,260 | $97,220 | 2,860 | 1.69 | 0.90 |
| 13 | Rhode Island profile | $32.34 | $67,270 | $51,020 | $85,420 | 350 | 0.70 | 0.38 |
| 14 | Minnesota profile | $32.14 | $66,840 | $49,810 | $90,520 | 7,300 | 2.48 | 1.33 |
| 15 | North Dakota profile | $31.78 | $66,110 | $46,790 | $91,520 | 1,790 | 4.17 | 2.23 |
| 16 | District of Columbia profile | $31.34 | $65,200 | $49,930 | $93,040 | 110 | 0.16 | 0.08 |
| 17 | Utah profile | $30.94 | $64,350 | $46,970 | $83,140 | 2,690 | 1.55 | 0.83 |
| 18 | Illinois profile | $30.93 | $64,340 | $44,760 | $97,670 | 11,320 | 1.86 | 1.00 |
| 19 | Oregon profile | $30.76 | $63,970 | $47,690 | $90,700 | 3,770 | 1.92 | 1.03 |
| 20 | Delaware profile | $30.57 | $63,590 | $49,250 | $82,650 | 670 | 1.38 | 0.74 |
| 21 | Wisconsin profile | $30.02 | $62,450 | $45,250 | $82,210 | 6,750 | 2.30 | 1.23 |
| 22 | Pennsylvania profile | $29.68 | $61,740 | $45,910 | $80,440 | 12,630 | 2.08 | 1.12 |
| 23 | Arizona profile | $29.65 | $61,680 | $45,460 | $84,350 | 5,140 | 1.59 | 0.85 |
| 24 | Wyoming profile | $29.61 | $61,580 | $45,140 | $80,400 | 1,100 | 3.92 | 2.10 |
| 25 | Michigan profile | $29.53 | $61,420 | $45,240 | $81,010 | 9,020 | 2.05 | 1.10 |
| 26 | Georgia profile | $29.50 | $61,370 | $45,890 | $85,260 | 10,910 | 2.23 | 1.20 |
| 27 | Virginia profile | $29.37 | $61,090 | $45,250 | $79,150 | 8,070 | 1.96 | 1.05 |
| 28 | Maine profile | $29.26 | $60,850 | $45,760 | $79,450 | 1,380 | 2.15 | 1.15 |
| 29 | Indiana profile | $29.14 | $60,610 | $44,160 | $79,730 | 8,840 | 2.76 | 1.48 |
| 30 | Florida profile | $29.08 | $60,490 | $44,300 | $79,210 | 14,900 | 1.50 | 0.80 |
| 31 | Ohio profile | $29.07 | $60,470 | $44,860 | $78,120 | 14,240 | 2.57 | 1.38 |
| 32 | Montana profile | $28.84 | $59,990 | $44,880 | $77,700 | 1,230 | 2.40 | 1.29 |
| 33 | Iowa profile | $28.69 | $59,680 | $43,710 | $80,080 | 4,140 | 2.66 | 1.42 |
| 34 | Kansas profile | $28.59 | $59,460 | $43,610 | $81,000 | 3,300 | 2.29 | 1.23 |
| 35 | Vermont profile | $28.55 | $59,390 | $46,380 | $84,060 | 550 | 1.82 | 0.98 |
| 36 | Missouri profile | $28.54 | $59,360 | $41,170 | $82,480 | 6,780 | 2.31 | 1.24 |
| 37 | South Carolina profile | $28.53 | $59,330 | $41,440 | $76,670 | 3,360 | 1.46 | 0.78 |
| 38 | Idaho profile | $28.48 | $59,230 | $45,960 | $77,800 | 1,930 | 2.25 | 1.21 |
| 39 | Tennessee profile | $28.46 | $59,190 | $40,450 | $80,580 | 5,720 | 1.75 | 0.94 |
| 40 | Nebraska profile | $28.44 | $59,140 | $44,010 | $79,400 | 2,720 | 2.66 | 1.43 |
| 41 | Texas profile | $28.27 | $58,810 | $40,930 | $81,660 | 29,870 | 2.12 | 1.14 |
| 42 | Louisiana profile | $28.21 | $58,680 | $38,900 | $79,160 | 3,270 | 1.69 | 0.91 |
| 43 | South Dakota profile | $27.94 | $58,120 | $45,500 | $78,810 | 1,340 | 2.92 | 1.57 |
| 44 | North Carolina profile | $27.64 | $57,490 | $39,890 | $76,240 | 11,070 | 2.24 | 1.20 |
| 45 | New Mexico profile | $26.88 | $55,910 | $37,860 | $83,260 | 1,740 | 2.00 | 1.07 |
| 46 | Kentucky profile | $26.67 | $55,480 | $38,250 | $80,500 | 3,890 | 1.94 | 1.04 |
| 47 | Oklahoma profile | $26.61 | $55,340 | $37,250 | $76,130 | 3,970 | 2.33 | 1.25 |
| 48 | Mississippi profile | $26.14 | $54,360 | $37,390 | $82,020 | 3,140 | 2.70 | 1.45 |
| 49 | Arkansas profile | $25.16 | $52,330 | $38,620 | $69,260 | 4,090 | 3.14 | 1.68 |
| 50 | Alabama profile | $24.26 | $50,470 | $37,470 | $75,660 | 6,130 | 2.90 | 1.55 |
| 51 | West Virginia profile | $22.41 | $46,610 | $35,350 | $78,460 | 1,040 | 1.49 | 0.80 |
Part of Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations. Compare any area in the wage explorer.
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS 49-3031 Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.
- Top industries: nat4d_M2025_dl.xlsx in oesm25in4.zip (BLS OEWS May 2025, national, 4-digit NAICS, cross-ownership). Employment is the industry's rounded total for this occupation; industries whose employment BLS withheld (**) are not ranked.
- Published medians: national_M2021_dl.xlsx to national_M2024_dl.xlsx in oesm21nat.zip to oesm24nat.zip (BLS OEWS May 2021 to May 2024, national, cross-industry, all ownerships) and the May 2025 spine. Each release is shown as published; nothing is computed between them.
Sources
- BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018, definition of 49-3031, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 49-3031.00, National Center for O*NET Development, USDOL/ETA (CC BY 4.0).
- OEWS May 2025 national industry-specific estimates, 4-digit NAICS (oesm25in4.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2021 national estimates (oesm21nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2022 national estimates (oesm22nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2023 national estimates (oesm23nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2024 national estimates (oesm24nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2025 national estimates (oesm25nat.zip), the site's data spine, US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
Includes information from O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Description written 2026-10-17 in our own words from the sources above.