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The DieselTechWork Team covers pay, career paths, and hiring for diesel and heavy equipment mechanics. Pay and employment figures come from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. Living cost comparisons come from Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price data. Statistics about job listings, such as how often listings ask for a CDL, come from listings posted on DieselTechWork.
Texas has nearly 30,000 diesel mechanics, more than any other state, according to BLS May 2025 data. The typical Texas diesel mechanic earns about $58,800 a year, a little under the national median of about $61,800.
Typical pay ranges from about $47,000 a year in El Paso and McAllen to about $62,000 in Midland.
The quick version:
- Dallas Fort Worth and Houston each have about 7,400 to 8,000 diesel mechanics, together about half the state.
- Midland, Odessa, and Austin pay the most, around $61,000 to $62,000.
- El Paso, Laredo, and McAllen pay the least, around $47,000 to $48,000, even though Laredo and El Paso have some of the highest concentrations of diesel work in the state.
- Rural Texas pays close to big city rates.
Which Texas Cities Have the Most Diesel Mechanic Jobs?
Dallas Fort Worth and Houston have the most, with about 7,900 and 7,400 diesel mechanics, followed by San Antonio and Austin.
| Metro | Mechanics | Median Pay |
|---|---|---|
| DFW | 7,940 | $60,390 |
| Houston | 7,410 | $60,770 |
| San Antonio | 2,160 | $58,620 |
| Austin | 1,560 | $61,070 |
| El Paso | 1,090 | $47,520 |
| Laredo | 760 | $48,270 |
| McAllen | 650 | $47,500 |
| Midland | 580 | $61,810 |
| Corpus Christi | 430 | $53,220 |
| Odessa | 420 | $61,560 |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.
The four largest metros hold about 2 in 3 Texas diesel mechanic jobs. Browse fleet mechanic jobs and truck mechanic jobs to see current openings in these cities.
Dallas Fort Worth vs Houston
The two metros are close to even on job count and typical pay, both around $60,500. The highest paid 10% of diesel mechanics in Houston earn about $96,700 or more, compared with about $81,700 in Dallas Fort Worth. If you are an experienced tech chasing top pay, Houston has more room above the median.
Where Do Texas Diesel Mechanics Earn the Most?
Midland, Odessa, and Austin lead the state, each around $61,000 to $62,000, which is right at the national median. Odessa also matches Houston at the top end, with its highest paid 10% earning about $96,400 or more.
Texas has no state income tax, so these wages go further than the same pay in a state that taxes income. The diesel mechanic salary by state guide compares Texas with every other state.
Why the Border Cities Pay Less
Pay is lower in El Paso, Laredo, and McAllen mainly because living costs are lower. Prices in McAllen and Laredo run about 13% to 14% below the national average, and housing costs run about 40% below, according to BEA regional price data for 2024. Wages for most jobs follow local prices, so the typical job of any kind pays less there too. The typical job in McAllen pays about $35,800 a year, compared with about $51,400 in Dallas Fort Worth.
Because things cost less there, a border paycheck stretches further. A typical McAllen diesel mechanic earns about $47,500, and with prices about 14% below the national average, that pay buys what about $55,300 would buy in a typical U.S. city.
Once prices are counted, the border cities trail Dallas Fort Worth and Houston by about $3,000 to $9,000 a year instead of about $13,000. Odessa and Midland come out ahead of every other Texas metro, because their pay is among the highest in the state and their prices run below the national average. Dallas Fort Worth is the only large Texas metro where prices run above the national average, so its paychecks go the shortest distance.
What Would a Move Within Texas Pay?
The biggest raise comes from moving out of the border cities. Here is what four moves would change at the typical diesel mechanic wage, first in the paycheck and then after counting local living costs:
- El Paso to Midland - About $14,300 more in pay, and about $11,700 more after living costs.
- Laredo to Austin - About $12,800 more in pay, but only about $6,800 more after living costs, because Austin prices run much higher.
- Dallas Fort Worth to Odessa - About $1,200 more in pay, and about $7,000 more after living costs, because Odessa prices run lower.
- San Antonio to Houston - About $2,200 more in pay, and about the same after living costs.
Texas employers are not required to post pay in job listings, and many do not. Use the typical pay for the city as your starting point when you discuss pay with an employer. Browse current diesel mechanic jobs in Texas to compare openings city by city.
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If you are relocating, rebuild your resume around the equipment you have worked on, like Class 8 trucks, heavy equipment, or specific engine brands. PopResume is a resume builder you can use for that.
Is Rural Texas Worth Considering?
Yes, if you want small town life without a big pay cut. Typical rural pay runs about $55,000 to $60,000, within a few thousand dollars of San Antonio and Dallas Fort Worth. About 1 in 13 Texas diesel mechanics work outside a metro area. The Coastal Plains and Hill Country regions sit near the top of that range.
Texas does not license diesel mechanics, so employers set the requirements, most often a CDL or ASE certification. See whether you need a CDL to be a diesel mechanic, and use the ASE diesel certification guide to plan your tests.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What Do New Diesel Mechanics Make in Texas?
New diesel mechanics usually start around $45,000 to $46,000 a year in Dallas Fort Worth and Houston, and around $37,000 in El Paso and McAllen. Those figures are what the lowest paid 10% of diesel mechanics earn in each metro, the closest official measure of starting pay.
Do Texas Diesel Mechanics Pay State Income Tax?
No. Texas has no state personal income tax, so a Texas diesel mechanic keeps more of each paycheck than a mechanic earning the same wage in a state that taxes income.
Can You Switch From Auto Repair to Diesel in Texas?
Yes. Texas has no state license for either trade, so the move depends on employer training and certifications. Our diesel vs auto mechanic comparison covers what transfers and what pays more.
Last updated: October 2026.