Diesel Mechanic Salary (2025)
Automotive · SOC Code 49-3031 · 3-year apprenticeship
National Salary Range
Diesel Mechanic salaries range from $47,316 to $73,710 median across cities, depending on location, union membership, and experience level.
Diesel Mechanic Salary by City
| City | Median | Range (10th-90th) | COL-Adjusted | Grade | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco, CA | $73,710 | $44,794 – $103,708 | $38,795 | D | 10,843 |
| New York, NY | $72,771 | $44,652 – $106,903 | $38,915 | D | 8,334 |
| Philadelphia, PA | $68,978 | $43,732 – $98,789 | $59,981 | C | 3,940 |
| Chicago, IL | $67,940 | $42,737 – $98,558 | $63,495 | C | 3,512 |
| Seattle, WA | $67,005 | $39,686 – $101,307 | $44,970 | D | 3,798 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $66,424 | $42,912 – $96,146 | $40,014 | D | 8,458 |
| Boston, MA | $65,267 | $41,338 – $95,867 | $42,939 | D | 11,613 |
| Denver, CO | $62,846 | $37,042 – $89,928 | $49,098 | C | 4,583 |
| Minneapolis, MN | $61,255 | $39,306 – $87,600 | $57,788 | C | 3,870 |
| Houston, TX | $61,184 | $37,653 – $86,504 | $63,733 | C | 4,032 |
| Portland, OR | $60,373 | $36,314 – $88,427 | $46,441 | D | 4,723 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $58,507 | $35,286 – $84,006 | $63,595 | C | 2,662 |
| Atlanta, GA | $58,416 | $34,958 – $89,478 | $55,109 | C | 5,450 |
| Las Vegas, NV | $56,933 | $33,765 – $84,035 | $54,743 | C | 5,380 |
| Nashville, TN | $56,573 | $34,547 – $81,367 | $54,925 | C | 5,913 |
| Milwaukee, WI | $56,188 | $34,870 – $86,371 | $58,529 | C | 4,036 |
| New Orleans, LA | $55,843 | $35,321 – $84,019 | $58,782 | C | 4,288 |
| Detroit, MI | $55,569 | $34,193 – $80,002 | $62,437 | C | 2,872 |
| Salt Lake City, UT | $55,247 | $33,287 – $83,792 | $53,122 | C | 5,456 |
| Kansas City, MO | $54,335 | $33,437 – $82,038 | $57,803 | C | 4,135 |
| Dallas, TX | $53,970 | $34,131 – $77,097 | $52,912 | C | 3,845 |
| Phoenix, AZ | $53,610 | $32,508 – $80,931 | $52,049 | C | 3,379 |
| St. Louis, MO | $52,947 | $31,720 – $74,958 | $58,830 | C | 2,642 |
| Columbus, OH | $52,810 | $32,655 – $78,233 | $56,785 | C | 3,439 |
| Indianapolis, IN | $52,367 | $33,122 – $76,926 | $57,546 | C | 2,991 |
| Raleigh, NC | $51,277 | $33,020 – $77,620 | $51,277 | C | 3,958 |
| Miami, FL | $50,711 | $30,398 – $76,746 | $41,566 | D | 4,016 |
| Charlotte, NC | $49,453 | $29,301 – $74,665 | $50,462 | C | 3,275 |
| Tampa, FL | $48,707 | $29,223 – $68,888 | $48,225 | C | 4,502 |
| San Antonio, TX | $47,316 | $29,032 – $68,974 | $52,573 | C | 3,620 |
About Diesel Mechanic Pay
Diesel Mechanics earn a national median salary of $58,284 based on 2025 BLS occupational wage data. The highest-paying city for this trade is San Francisco at $73,710 median, while San Antonio offers the lowest at $47,316.
Becoming a diesel mechanic typically requires a 3-year apprenticeship program. Entry-level workers (10th percentile) can expect around $44,794, while master-level tradespeople (90th percentile) earn $103,708 or more. With 9% wage growth over the past 5 years, this trade is growing at a steady pace.
See how this compares to other trades on our highest paying trades ranking, or browse the best cities for trade workers.
Related Automotive Trades
Frequently Asked Questions
The national median salary for diesel mechanics is $58,284 based on 2025 BLS data. Pay ranges from $47,316 to $73,710 depending on city, experience, and union status.
San Francisco offers the highest median pay for diesel mechanics at $73,710. However, cost of living matters — the COL-adjusted pay may tell a different story. Check our city-by-city breakdown above.
With a Trade Pay Score of C and 9% wage growth over 5 years, diesel mechanic offers steady career prospects. There are approximately 143,565 jobs nationwide across 30 metro areas.
Becoming a diesel mechanic typically requires a 3-year apprenticeship program combining on-the-job training with classroom instruction. Entry-level pay starts around $44,794 (10th percentile).
Wage data from BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) 2025. Trade Pay Scores are a composite of median wage vs. metro income, wage growth, job demand, and COL-adjusted pay.