Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists Salary: $72,247 Median Pay (2026 stats)
TL;DR
About 287,230 bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists nationally earn a mean of $72,247. Employment in the series shown fell about 18% from the first to the last year; much hiring sits in truck transportation.
Key Statistics
Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists: what the data shows
Common questions about bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists careers, answered from BLS OEWS and O*NET in this repository.
What is a bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists?
Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists is tracked by the Bureau of Labor Statistics under SOC 49-3031.
U.S. employment in our OEWS extract is about 287,230 workers.
What does a bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists do?
O*NET work activities rated highest for this occupation include Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment, Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials, Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events, Getting Information, Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment, Repairing and Maintaining Electronic Equipment, and related tasks. See Work Activities for the full list.
How much does a bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists make?
BLS national median annual wage: $60,640 (May 2024 in our extract).
Mean annual wage in our occupational extract: $72,247 — higher than the median, which often reflects top earners in the distribution.
Wage percentiles below are from the California OEWS extract (not national unless noted).
| Wage percentile | Annual wage |
|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $46,768 |
| 25th percentile | $59,810 |
| Median (50th) | $72,555 |
| 75th percentile | $84,724 |
| 90th percentile | $96,997 |
What education do you need?
For Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists, O*NET incumbent surveys in our extract most often report: Some college (29%), High School or Equivalent (27%), Bachelors Degree (22%).
These are education levels of current workers, not minimum legal requirements.
What skills do you need?
O*NET ratings for this occupation emphasize skills such as Troubleshooting, Repairing, Operations Monitoring, Equipment Maintenance, Quality Control Analysis, Critical Thinking, and knowledge areas including Mechanical, Transportation, Education and Training, English Language. See Education & Skills for detail.
Is bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists in demand?
Historical employment trend in our series implies about 0.0% annual decline (compound rate in the extract).
Five-year projected employment change: -0.1%.
Ten-year projected employment change: -0.3%.
Current U.S. headcount: 287,230.
We report federal series only—compare wages, growth, and openings against your target market.
Where do bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialistss work?
Top industries by employment share in our OEWS industry extract:
| Industry | Employment | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Cross-industry | 287,230 | 18.8% |
| Cross-industry, Private Ownership only | 246,100 | 16.1% |
| Truck Transportation | 114,600 | 7.5% |
| Transportation and Warehousing | 88,350 | 5.8% |
| Wholesale Trade | 43,110 | 2.8% |
| Federal, State, and Local Government, including State and Local Government Schools and Hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | 41,130 | 2.7% |
See Industry for charts.
What degrees lead to this career?
Common majors for Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists in O*NET:
See Related degrees.
What careers are related?
Other occupations linked through shared degree pathways in our mapping:
| Occupation | U.S. employment | Median wage |
|---|---|---|
| Computer Hardware Engineers | 75,710 | $155,020 |
| Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs | 156,260 | $51,500 |
| Farm Equipment Mechanics and Service Technicians | 36,880 | $52,080 |
| Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products | 293,930 | $100,070 |
| Soil and Plant Scientists | 16,600 | $71,410 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | 2,070,480 | $57,440 |
| Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines | 180,270 | $63,980 |
Employment
Employment and salary information for the Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists workforce.
Employment Over Time
287,230 Workforce in 2023
The Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists workforce has been growing over time.
Historical employment trends for Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists.
Yearly Wage Ranking
$72,247 Average Wage
In 2023, Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists earned an average of $72,247.
Wage ranking compared to other occupations.
Wage Distribution
This chart shows the distribution of average salaries by income buckets for Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists.
Salary distribution for Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists.
Employment Growth Projections
-0.0% Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR)
85,755 Projected Employment (5 years)
Projected growth: -0.1%
85,630 Projected Employment (10 years)
Projected growth: -0.3%
This occupation is experiencing a decline. Consider related fields with better growth prospects.
Historical employment trends and future projections for Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists.
Industry
Information on the industries that employ Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists and on wages for those in the field.
Occupations by Industries
This graphic shows the share of Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists employed by various industries.
Industry distribution for Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists.
Wage Trends by Industry
-3.6% Average Annual Wage Growth Rate
Historical wage growth trends by industry for Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists.
Geographic Distribution
Employment and wage information by geographic location for Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists.
State employment and wages are from the U.S. BLS OEWS May 2024 state extract. Metropolitan areas use the national MSA file when available.
Top States by Employment
Top States by Employment:
- TX: 29,730 employees, $58,640 avg wage
- CA: 21,730 employees, $70,350 avg wage
- NY: 14,320 employees, $68,800 avg wage
- OH: 14,170 employees, $59,370 avg wage
- PA: 13,560 employees, $60,370 avg wage
- FL: 12,570 employees, $62,430 avg wage
- GA: 11,470 employees, $62,750 avg wage
- NC: 10,290 employees, $54,920 avg wage
- IL: 9,920 employees, $67,140 avg wage
- IN: 8,730 employees, $61,200 avg wage
Top 10 states by employment for Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists.
Top Metropolitan Areas
Top Metropolitan Areas:
- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ: 13,240 employees, $73,390 avg wage
- Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX: 8,990 employees, $60,870 avg wage
- Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN: 7,340 employees, $70,030 avg wage
- Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX: 6,400 employees, $62,050 avg wage
- Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA: 6,060 employees, $64,490 avg wage
- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA: 6,030 employees, $72,470 avg wage
- Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD: 4,360 employees, $65,190 avg wage
- Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA: 4,170 employees, $65,820 avg wage
- Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI: 4,150 employees, $69,690 avg wage
- Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ: 3,870 employees, $62,200 avg wage
Top 10 metropolitan statistical areas by employment for Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists.
Diversity
Demographic information on Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists in the US.
Gender and Age
The workforce of Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists in 2023 was 287,230 people, with 62.0% women and 38.0% men.
Gender and age distribution for Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists.
Races
Racial and ethnic shares when present in the career dataset. If the chart area shows a notice instead, occupational race/ethnicity fields are not yet populated for this extract.
Race and ethnicity distribution for Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists.
Education & Skills
Data on higher education choices and required skills for Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists.
Majors
The most common majors achieved by Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists in 2023 were Business Administration, Technical Training, Engineering.
Common majors for Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists.
Education Levels
The main educational levels achieved by Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists workers.
Education level distribution for Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists.
Skills
Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists need many skills, but most especially Troubleshooting, Repairing, Operations Monitoring, Equipment Maintenance, Quality Control Analysis.
Required skills for Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists.
Knowledge & Abilities
Knowledge areas and abilities required for Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists.
Knowledge Areas
The most important knowledge areas for Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists include Mechanical, Transportation, Education and Training, English Language, Public Safety and Security.
Knowledge areas required for Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists.
Abilities
Key abilities needed for Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists include Near Vision, Arm-Hand Steadiness, Finger Dexterity, Manual Dexterity, Hearing Sensitivity.
Required abilities for Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists.
Work Activities
Common work activities performed by Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists.
Daily Activities
Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists spend their time on activities such as Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment, Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials, Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events, Getting Information, Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment.
Most important work activities for Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists.
About
Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists
The average yearly wage for Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists was $72,247 in 2023.
SOC Code
49-3031 - Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists
Insights and Analysis
Compensation snapshot: Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists reports an average salary of $72,247.
Labor market presence: The current workforce is approximately 287,230 workers, indicating sustained demand.
Forward outlook: Projected annual decline is -0.0%, which should inform long-term career planning.
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology
Data for this profile is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS), and O*NET Online.
All wage figures represent annual averages and may vary by location, industry, and experience level.