Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists Salary - BLS OEWS Wage Benchmarks
SOC 49-3031 · National · May 2025 OEWS Data
Median Annual Salary
$61,776
$29.70/hr
Verified BLS OEWS data · Updated May 18, 2026
Source: BLS OEWS · Published May 15, 2026
Next refresh: May 2027
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The national median salary for Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists is $61,776 per year ($29.70/hr) according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2025. The middle 50% of earners make between $50,544 and $75,483 annually. Top earners at the 90th percentile reach $88,733 per year. There are approximately 289,960 bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists employed in the United States.
About This Role
BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018
Diagnose, adjust, repair, or overhaul buses and trucks, or maintain and repair any type of diesel engines. Includes mechanics working primarily with automobile or marine diesel engines.
Career Outlook
BLS Employment Projections · 2024-2034
10-year growth
+2.4%
About as fast as average
Annual openings
27K
per year, on avg
Workforce today
320K
as of 2024
Why those openings exist
3% from new growth97% from people leaving the role
Most openings come from replacement, not growth. Retention matters more than recruiting here.
Typical entry requirements
Education
High school diploma or equivalent
Experience
None
On-the-job training
Long-term on-the-job training
Industry Wage Breakdown
Top 5 industries by employment · median annual wage, sector-specific
Industry
Workforce
Median Pay
Truck Transportation
NAICS 484000
57K
$59,820
Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation)
NAICS 999300
29K
$71,460
Automotive Repair and Maintenance
NAICS 811100
27K
$60,330
Motor Vehicle and Motor Vehicle Parts and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers
NAICS 423100
26K
$63,020
Automotive Equipment Rental and Leasing
NAICS 532100
16K
$59,990
Wage range across top 5 industries: $59,820 to $71,460 (19% spread)
Wage Percentiles
Hourly & annualized (2,080 hours)
Percentile
Hourly Rate
Annual Salary
P10
$21.41
$44,533
P25
$24.30
$50,544
P50MEDIAN
$29.70
$61,776
P75
$36.29
$75,483
P90
$42.66
$88,733
Market Context Signal
JOLTS · manufacturing sector
Stable
Openings Rate
3.5%
Quits Rate
1.4%
Manufacturing openings ticked up to 462K (+19K) in March, with the rate at 3.5%. Hires rose to 310K. The sector has stabilized after late-2025 softening.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists salary?
The national median salary for Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists is $61,776 per year ($29.70/hr) according to BLS OEWS May 2025 data. The middle 50% earn between $50,544 and $75,483 annually.
How much do top-earning bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists make?
The 90th percentile salary for Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists is $88,733 per year ($42.66/hr). The 75th percentile is $75,483 per year.
What is the entry-level salary for bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists?
Entry-level Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists (10th percentile) earn approximately $44,533 per year ($21.41/hr). The 25th percentile is $50,544 per year.
Wage figures on this page come from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2025 release. OEWS surveys roughly 1.1 million establishments annually. It is the most comprehensive employer-reported wage dataset in the United States.
P10 through P90 percentiles represent the wage distribution across all surveyed employers (not self-reported by workers). Geographic adjustments use BLS-derived cost multipliers calibrated from regional wage variation.
Wages are estimates. Individual compensation depends on experience, education, employer size, industry, and negotiation. Use this as benchmark context, not absolute ground truth.
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