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 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.