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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.
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The median annual wage for diesel mechanics in the United States is $61,770, or about $29.70 per hour. That comes from Bureau of Labor Statistics data collected in May 2025, the most recent official numbers available. The BLS tracks this occupation under code 49-3031: Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists.
There are roughly 289,960 diesel mechanics employed nationwide. The pay range is wide. The bottom 10% earn below $44,530. The top 10% earn above $88,740. The middle 50%, your most likely landing zone with a few years of experience, falls between $50,540 and $75,470. That median of $61,770 beats the national median for all occupations by about 21%, and you can get into this career with a vocational certificate or associate degree instead of a four year degree.
Here is what diesel mechanics earn in every state, ranked from highest to lowest median pay.
Diesel Mechanic Salary by State: Full Table
Rank | State | Median Pay | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | Hawaii | $80,080 | 690 |
2 | Washington | $77,900 | 7,410 |
3 | Alaska | $75,580 | 860 |
4 | Maryland | $74,790 | 3,030 |
5 | California | $73,950 | 20,940 |
6 | Massachusetts | $73,270 | 4,870 |
7 | New Jersey | $72,340 | 8,160 |
8 | New Hampshire | $71,390 | 1,040 |
9 | Colorado | $70,480 | 4,600 |
10 | New York | $70,100 | 13,230 |
11 | Nevada | $68,410 | 1,990 |
12 | Connecticut | $67,300 | 2,860 |
13 | Rhode Island | $67,270 | 350 |
14 | Minnesota | $66,840 | 7,300 |
15 | North Dakota | $66,110 | 1,790 |
16 | District of Columbia | $65,200 | 110 |
17 | Utah | $64,350 | 2,690 |
18 | Illinois | $64,340 | 11,320 |
19 | Oregon | $63,970 | 3,770 |
20 | Delaware | $63,590 | 670 |
21 | Wisconsin | $62,450 | 6,750 |
22 | Pennsylvania | $61,740 | 12,630 |
23 | Arizona | $61,680 | 5,140 |
24 | Wyoming | $61,580 | 1,100 |
25 | Michigan | $61,420 | 9,020 |
26 | Georgia | $61,370 | 10,910 |
27 | Virginia | $61,090 | 8,070 |
28 | Maine | $60,850 | 1,380 |
29 | Indiana | $60,610 | 8,840 |
30 | Florida | $60,490 | 14,900 |
31 | Ohio | $60,470 | 14,240 |
32 | Montana | $59,990 | 1,230 |
33 | Iowa | $59,680 | 4,140 |
34 | Kansas | $59,460 | 3,300 |
35 | Vermont | $59,390 | 550 |
36 | Missouri | $59,360 | 6,780 |
37 | South Carolina | $59,330 | 3,360 |
38 | Idaho | $59,230 | 1,930 |
39 | Tennessee | $59,190 | 5,720 |
40 | Nebraska | $59,140 | 2,720 |
41 | $58,810 | 29,870 | |
42 | Louisiana | $58,680 | 3,270 |
43 | South Dakota | $58,120 | 1,340 |
44 | North Carolina | $57,490 | 11,070 |
45 | New Mexico | $55,910 | 1,740 |
46 | Kentucky | $55,480 | 3,890 |
47 | Oklahoma | $55,340 | 3,970 |
48 | Mississippi | $54,360 | 3,140 |
49 | Arkansas | $52,330 | 4,090 |
50 | Alabama | $50,470 | 6,130 |
51 | West Virginia | $46,610 | 1,040 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. Wages are medians. Half of workers earn more, half earn less.
Highest Paying States
Hawaii ($80,080) leads the nation, but context matters. Prices in Hawaii run about 10% above the national average, according to 2024 BEA regional price data. Island logistics depend entirely on diesel powered equipment, and the labor pool is limited by geography. The wage is high because it has to be.
Washington ($77,900) benefits from major port infrastructure in Seattle and Tacoma, heavy trucking corridors, and a robust public transit system. Strong union presence in transit and municipal fleets pushes wages above what you would see in comparable cost of living states.
Alaska ($75,580) pays a premium for the same reason it always has: remote locations, extreme conditions, and oil field infrastructure that runs on diesel. The workforce is small and the demand is constant. Techs willing to work Slope or remote operations can push well past this median with overtime and per diem.
Maryland ($74,790) is a surprise to most people. Federal fleet operations around the DC metro area, port activity in Baltimore, and a concentration of government maintenance contracts drive wages. Government fleet positions here come with strong benefits on top of the base pay.
California ($73,950) has the sheer volume. Nearly 21,000 diesel techs employed. LA, the Inland Empire, and the Central Valley are heavy trucking and logistics corridors. The high wages track with the high cost of living, but the job market is deep and there is always work.
Lowest Paying States
West Virginia ($46,610) sits at the bottom by a significant margin, over $15,000 below the national median. Lower cost of living softens the gap somewhat, but the industrial base is narrower and the employer options are limited.
Alabama ($50,470) and Arkansas ($52,330) follow a similar pattern. Strong demand from trucking and agriculture, but lower cost of living regions with less union presence and fewer government fleet positions means lower overall pay.
Mississippi ($54,360) and Oklahoma ($55,340) round out the bottom five. Both states have steady diesel employment from energy and transportation, but the labor market dynamics (lower cost of living, less union density, smaller metro areas) keep wages compressed compared to coastal and industrial states.
What Drives the Differences
The $33,470 gap between Hawaii and West Virginia is not random. State to state wage differences come down to three factors:
Union density. States with strong union representation in transit, municipal, and utility fleets consistently pay diesel techs more. Union contracts include negotiated wage floors, overtime protections, and annual increases that compound over a career.
Cost of living. Wages in Hawaii, California, Washington, and the Northeast partially reflect what it costs to live there. A $74,000 salary in Maryland stretches differently than a $59,000 salary in Iowa. Always compare take home value, not just the number on the offer.
Industry mix. States with heavy port activity, oil and gas operations, large government fleets, and dense trucking corridors pay more because the demand for qualified diesel techs outpaces the local supply. Texas employs the most diesel techs of any state (29,870) but pays below the national median because the supply of techs is also large.
What This Means for You
If you are already working in diesel, use this table to check whether your pay is competitive for your state. If you are below the median, that is a data point worth bringing to a conversation with your employer, especially if you hold ASE certifications.
If the better move is a new employer, start with a resume that leads with your ASE certs and the systems you work on, like aftertreatment, air brakes, and electrical. PopResume is a resume builder you can use to put one together.
If you are considering entering the trade, look at both the wage and the employment column. Texas, California, Florida, Ohio, and New York have the largest diesel workforces. More jobs means more options and more leverage to move between employers as you build experience. See who is hiring now in diesel mechanic jobs in Texas or browse diesel mechanic jobs nationwide.
The BLS projects about 24,400 annual job openings through 2035, and most of them replace mechanics who retire or move into other work. If you are just starting out, the how to become a diesel mechanic guide compares the three ways in.
Dealer programs pay you while you train, and the diesel mechanic apprenticeship guide shows how to get into one. If a job asks for a CDL, the CDL guide explains when you need one.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do diesel mechanics make per hour?
The national median hourly wage for diesel mechanics is $29.70, based on BLS May 2025 data. Entry level techs start closer to $21.40 per hour (10th percentile), while experienced techs with ASE certifications can earn $42.66 or more (90th percentile). Overtime and flat rate pay structures push actual take home above the base hourly rate in most shops.
What state pays diesel mechanics the most?
Hawaii pays the highest median wage at $80,080 per year, followed by Washington ($77,900) and Alaska ($75,580). However, all three have above average costs of living. When adjusted for cost of living, states like North Dakota and Wyoming offer strong purchasing power relative to their median diesel mechanic wages.
Do ASE certified diesel mechanics earn more?
Yes. Employers consistently pay a premium for ASE diesel certification. Government fleet and dealership positions increasingly list ASE certification as a requirement rather than a preference.
How long does it take to become a diesel mechanic?
Most diesel mechanic training programs take 6 months to 2 years. Certificate programs at vocational schools run 6 to 12 months. Associate degree programs at community colleges run 18 to 24 months. Many dealers also offer paid training programs where you earn while you learn. ASE certification requires two years of relevant work experience before you can sit for the exam.
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Data in this article comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, May 2025 release (published May 2026). BLS occupation code: 49-3031, Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists. This is the most recent federal wage data available as of September 2026.