Diesel Mechanics Technology/Technician Degrees (2026 stats)
TL;DR
Diesel Mechanics Technology/Technician maps to BLS occupations averaging about $64,987, with roughly 1,596,050 workers nationwide in those roles. Median in-state published tuition is about $4,320; common paths include Teachers, Postsecondary and Secondary School Teachers.
Key Statistics
Diesel Mechanics Technology/Technician: what the data shows
Common questions about diesel mechanics technology/technician degrees, answered from IPEDS, College Scorecard, BLS OEWS, and O*NET in this repository—not program marketing copy.
What is a diesel mechanics technology/technician degree?
A Diesel Mechanics Technology/Technician program is classified under NCES CIP 47.0605 in the Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians field family (47.06).
A program that prepares individuals to apply technical knowledge and skills to repair, service, and maintain diesel engines in vehicles such as automobiles, buses, ships, trucks, railroad locomotives, and construction equipment; as well as stationary diesel engines in electrical generators and related equipment
IPEDS counted 15 completions for this CIP in the survey year in our extract.
Types of diesel mechanics technology/technician degrees and related programs
Other NCES program codes in the 47.06 family with pages on EDsmart Data:
- Aircraft Powerplant Technology/Technician (CIP 47.0608)
- Airframe Mechanics and Aircraft Maintenance Technology/Technician (CIP 47.0607)
- Alternative Fuel Vehicle Technology/Technician (CIP 47.0614)
- Autobody/Collision and Repair Technology/Technician (CIP 47.0603)
- Automobile Mechanics Technology (CIP 47.0604)
- Avionics Maintenance Technology/Technician (CIP 47.0609)
- Bicycle Mechanics and Repair Technology/Technician (CIP 47.0610)
- Engine Machinist (CIP 47.0615)
- High Performance and Custom Engine Technician/Mechanic (CIP 47.0617)
- Marine Maintenance/Fitter and Ship Repair Technology/Technician (CIP 47.0616)
- Medium/Heavy Vehicle and Truck Technology/Technician (CIP 47.0613)
- Motorcycle Maintenance and Repair Technology/Technician (CIP 47.0611)
- Recreation Vehicle (RV) Service Technician (CIP 47.0618)
- Small Engine Mechanics and Repair Technology/Technician (CIP 47.0606)
- Vehicle Emissions Inspection and Maintenance Technology/Technician (CIP 47.0612)
How long does it take to get a diesel mechanics technology/technician degree?
Award levels reported to IPEDS for CIP 47.0605 in our file:
- 2,419 Associate (44.2% of IPEDS total)—about two years of full-time study
- 15 Bachelor's (0.3% of IPEDS total)—typically four years
- 2,419 Master's (44.2% of IPEDS total)—one to two years beyond a bachelor's
- 619 Doctorate (11.3% of IPEDS total)—varies by program
Time to completion depends on enrollment intensity and transfer credits; figures above describe credential type, not calendar time for every student.
What do you learn in diesel mechanics technology/technician?
O*NET skill ratings for occupations mapped to this major emphasize Reading Comprehension, Active Listening, Speaking, Writing, Critical Thinking, Service Orientation, and related competencies. See the Skills section for the full list in our extract.
What degree do you need?
For Teachers, Postsecondary (top mapped occupation), O*NET incumbent surveys in our career profile report these education credentials most often: Some college (29%), High School or Equivalent (27%), Bachelors Degree (22%).
O*NET education distributions describe incumbent workers, not minimum legal or employer requirements.
What jobs can you get with a diesel mechanics technology/technician degree?
Our degree→occupation mapping links Diesel Mechanics Technology/Technician to the BLS roles below. Employment is U.S. OEWS; median wage is national May 2024 where published in our extract.
| Occupation | U.S. employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,500,000 | — |
| Secondary School Teachers | 1,072,540 | $64,580 |
See Careers & Jobs for mean wages and industry context.
Is a diesel mechanics technology/technician degree worth it?
About 6.1% of graduates in this field family were not working and not enrolled one year after completion in Scorecard's national program medians.
Among schools reporting in our Scorecard extract, median published in-state tuition is $4,320 and median net price is $8,868.
We do not score "worth" on opinion—compare debt, earnings, wages for mapped occupations, and completion data above against your cost and career target.
Institutions
Information about the types of higher education institutions that grant degrees in Diesel Mechanics Technology/Technician and the types of students that study this field.
Tuition Costs for Common Institutions
$4,320 Median In-State Public
$16,757 Median Out of State Private
Tuition costs for Diesel Mechanics Technology/Technician majors are, on average, $4,320 for in-state public colleges, and $16,757 for out of state private colleges.
Tuition costs comparison for Diesel Mechanics Technology/Technician programs.
Degrees Awarded Over Time
15 Total Degrees Awarded in 2023
This chart shows the number of degrees awarded in Diesel Mechanics Technology/Technician from 2015 to 2023.
Historical trend of degrees awarded in Diesel Mechanics Technology/Technician.
Top 5 Schools by Enrollment
| # | School | State | Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ivy Tech Community College | IN | 58,267 |
| 2 | Ivy Tech Community College | IN | 58,267 |
| 3 | Liberty University | VA | 50,012 |
| 4 | Liberty University | VA | 50,012 |
| 5 | Miami Dade College | FL | 46,182 |
Schools with the largest enrollment offering Diesel Mechanics Technology/Technician programs.
Top 5 Most Affordable Tuition
| # | School | State | Tuition |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Barstow Community College | CA | $1,104 |
| 2 | Barstow Community College | CA | $1,104 |
| 3 | Antelope Valley Community College District | CA | $1,124 |
| 4 | Antelope Valley Community College District | CA | $1,124 |
| 5 | Antelope Valley Community College District | CA | $1,124 |
Schools with the lowest tuition costs for Diesel Mechanics Technology/Technician programs.
Top 5 Lowest Net Price
| # | School | State | Net Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Mexico State University-Grants | NM | $68 |
| 2 | New Mexico State University-Grants | NM | $68 |
| 3 | Fort Peck Community College | MT | $400 |
| 4 | Fort Peck Community College | MT | $400 |
| 5 | College of the Sequoias | CA | $480 |
Schools with the lowest average net price for Diesel Mechanics Technology/Technician programs.
Graduation Rates
47.78% Median Graduation Rate (150% of normal time)
48.01% Average Graduation Rate
314 Institutions Reporting
33.76% - 60.18% Interquartile Range
Graduation/completion rates for Diesel Mechanics Technology/Technician programs across institutions.
Where students complete this major (IPEDS)
Bachelor's-level completions (IPEDS Completions, award level 5) summed by institution state. State is taken from IPEDS Directory (HD2023) for each reporting institution.
Geographic concentration
The largest number of reported bachelor's completions for Diesel Mechanics Technology/Technician is in MT (15 completions). That state represents about 100.0% of U.S. bachelor's completions reported for this CIP in the IPEDS file we use.
Among states, the highest concentration relative to all bachelor's degrees awarded in-state is MT (0.13% of that state's bachelor's completions).
Top states by count of bachelor's completions for this CIP (IPEDS).
| State | Bachelor's completions (this CIP) | % of U.S. total (this CIP) | % of state's all bachelor's |
|---|---|---|---|
| MT | 15 | 100.0% | 0.13% |
Related specializations
Other NCES program codes in the 47.06 CIP family with dedicated pages on EDsmart Data.
- Aircraft Powerplant Technology/Technician CIP 47.0608
- Airframe Mechanics and Aircraft Maintenance Technology/Technician CIP 47.0607
- Alternative Fuel Vehicle Technology/Technician CIP 47.0614
- Autobody/Collision and Repair Technology/Technician CIP 47.0603
- Automobile Mechanics Technology CIP 47.0604
- Avionics Maintenance Technology/Technician CIP 47.0609
- Bicycle Mechanics and Repair Technology/Technician CIP 47.0610
- Engine Machinist CIP 47.0615
- High Performance and Custom Engine Technician/Mechanic CIP 47.0617
- Marine Maintenance/Fitter and Ship Repair Technology/Technician CIP 47.0616
- Medium/Heavy Vehicle and Truck Technology/Technician CIP 47.0613
- Motorcycle Maintenance and Repair Technology/Technician CIP 47.0611
- Recreation Vehicle (RV) Service Technician CIP 47.0618
- Small Engine Mechanics and Repair Technology/Technician CIP 47.0606
- Vehicle Emissions Inspection and Maintenance Technology/Technician CIP 47.0612
Degree Levels (IPEDS)
Completions reported to IPEDS for CIP 47.0605 in the survey year used in our extract (5,472 total across levels below).
- 2,419 Associate (44.2% of IPEDS total)
- 15 Bachelor's (0.3% of IPEDS total)
- 2,419 Master's (44.2% of IPEDS total)
- 619 Doctorate (11.3% of IPEDS total)
Source: IPEDS Completions (c2024_a), summed by award level for this CIP.
Careers & Jobs
Occupations linked to this major in our degree→career mapping, with wages and employment from processed BLS career profiles in this repo.
Across these BLS occupations, employment-weighted mean pay is about $64,987. Figures are national OEWS estimates for the occupation—not earnings of Diesel Mechanics Technology/Technician graduates alone.
Related occupations (BLS OEWS)
| Occupation | Mean annual wage | U.S. employment |
|---|---|---|
| Teachers, Postsecondary | $36,511 | 1,500,000 |
| Secondary School Teachers | $104,813 | 1,072,540 |
Open each occupation for full career profile charts and industry breakdowns on EDsmart Data.
Program outcomes (College Scorecard)
National medians across bachelor's programs in the Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians CIP family (n/a programs reporting debt). Not specific to every Diesel Mechanics Technology/Technician graduate.
- $80,809 median earnings four years after enrollment (national program median)
- 6.1% of graduates not working and not enrolled one year out (program cohort)
Source: College Scorecard program-level outcomes aggregated by 4-digit CIP family.
Employment
Wages and industry mix below use BLS OEWS data for occupations linked to this major in our mapping—not a graduate earnings survey.
Yearly Income for Common Jobs
$40,621 Average Wage in Workforce
The average salary for Diesel Mechanics Technology/Technician majors is $40,621.
Average annual salaries of the most common occupations for Diesel Mechanics Technology/Technician majors.
Occupations by Share
1,596,050 2023 Workforce
The number of Diesel Mechanics Technology/Technician graduates in the workforce has been growing.
Various jobs filled by those with a major in Diesel Mechanics Technology/Technician by share of the total number of graduates.
Diversity
Demographic information for those who earn a degree in Diesel Mechanics Technology/Technician in the United States.
Workforce Age
N/A Average Age in 2023
This chart shows distribution of ages for employees with a degree in Diesel Mechanics Technology/Technician.
Age distribution for Diesel Mechanics Technology/Technician degree holders in the workforce.
Gender Distribution
Counts below are bachelor's-level completions only (IPEDS Completions, award level 5).
15 Total Degrees Awarded
14 Male (93.33%)
1 Female (6.67%)
Gender distribution of Diesel Mechanics Technology/Technician degree recipients.
Race and Ethnicity Distribution
Counts below are bachelor's-level completions only (IPEDS Completions, award level 5).
14 White (93.33%)
1 American Indian/Alaska Native (6.67%)
Racial and ethnic distribution of Diesel Mechanics Technology/Technician degree recipients.
Degrees Awarded
The most common degree types awarded to students graduating in Diesel Mechanics Technology/Technician are Bachelors Degree, Masters Degree, and Associates Degree.
Distribution of degree types awarded in Diesel Mechanics Technology/Technician.
Skills
Data on the critical and distinctive skills necessary for those working in the Diesel Mechanics Technology/Technician field from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Required Skills
Diesel Mechanics Technology/Technician majors need many skills, but most especially Critical Thinking, Active Listening, and Reading Comprehension.
Rating of how necessary various skills are for Diesel Mechanics Technology/Technician majors.
Skills Bar Chart
This bar chart shows the same information as the radar chart, displaying the importance of each skill.
Skill importance ratings for Diesel Mechanics Technology/Technician majors.
About
A program that prepares individuals to apply technical knowledge and skills to repair, service, and maintain diesel engines in vehicles such as automobiles, buses, ships, trucks, railroad locomotives, and construction equipment; as well as stationary diesel engines in electrical generators and related equipment
In 2023, 15 degrees were awarded across all undergraduate and graduate programs in Diesel Mechanics Technology/Technician.
CIP Code
47.0605 - Diesel Mechanics Technology/Technician
What the data shows
Men earned 5.7% of 9,859 Diesel Mechanics Technology/Technician completions in the IPEDS file used here.
Mapped BLS occupations show employment-weighted mean pay of about $64,987. The largest mapped role by headcount is Teachers, Postsecondary (1,500,000 U.S. jobs in OEWS).
Published tuition medians in College Scorecard land at $4,320 in-state at public colleges and $16,757 at private institutions for programs in this field.
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 U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard dataset, IPEDS completion data, and Bureau of Labor Statistics employment data.
All financial figures are adjusted for inflation and represent the most recent available data. Employment and wage data are from the most recent Census Bureau ACS PUMS estimates.