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Diesel Tech Salary in Cincinnati, OH

U.S. median $60,640/yr ($29.15/hr)

What a diesel technician earns in Cincinnati, Ohio depends on the industry hiring, from truck transportation to railroads to city fleets, plus your certifications and shift. These are the live numbers for the area today.

Checking live local pay...

National benchmarks

Median$60,640/yr ($29.15/hr)
Hourly range$20 to $41/hr
Bottom 10%under $41,670/yr
Top 10%over $85,980/yr

Local pay in Cincinnati moves with cost of living, union presence, and demand. The live figure above reflects what Cincinnati employers are posting right now.

Pay by experience

Apprentice / entry (0 to 2 years)New techs and helpers start near the bottom 10 percent (under $41,670). You do oil changes, brakes, tire and PM work while you learn diagnostics. Pay climbs fast once you can turn jobs on your own and start earning ASE certs.$38,000 to $48,000/yr ($18 to $23/hr)
Journeyman / mid (3 to 7 years)This is where the national median of $60,640 sits. You handle full diagnostics, engine and driveline work, and electrical. ASE certification and a fleet or transportation employer push you toward the top of this range.$52,000 to $72,000/yr ($25 to $35/hr)
Experienced / master (8+ years, ASE Master)Top-10 percent territory starts at $85,980. Master techs with strong diagnostic and aftertreatment skills, manufacturer certs, and overtime routinely pass $90,000, and union or industrial roles reach six figures.$75,000 to $95,000+/yr ($36 to $46+/hr)
Shop foreman / ownerLead techs, shop foremen, and service managers earn a premium for running the floor. Independent mobile-repair owners can earn more, but income swings with the book of business and truck and tooling costs.$85,000 to $120,000+/yr

Diesel Tech jobs in Cincinnati

See Diesel Tech jobs hiring in Cincinnati with pay shown upfront.

Diesel Tech pay in nearby cities

Columbus, OHCleveland, OHToledo, OHAkron, OH

Diesel Tech pay in Cincinnati: FAQs

How much do diesel mechanics make?

The median wage for diesel service technicians and mechanics was $60,640 a year, about $29.15 an hour, as of May 2024 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). Half the trade earned more than that and half earned less. Entry techs start under $41,670, and the top 10 percent earn more than $85,980.

Do diesel mechanics make good money?

Yes, for a trade you can enter without a college degree. The median of $60,640 beats the median for all U.S. workers, and it climbs steadily with certifications and experience. Union, industrial, and high-overtime techs regularly clear $85,000 to over $100,000.

What is the highest-paying diesel mechanic job?

The biggest paychecks come from railroads, transit authorities, pipelines, mining, and oil and gas, especially in union shops. Add heavy overtime and per diem from traveling or field-service work and master techs pass $100,000. The top 10 percent of the trade earn over $85,980 before overtime.

What is the diesel mechanic salary per hour?

The median is about $29.15 an hour (May 2024, BLS). The range runs from around $20 an hour at the bottom 10 percent to about $41 an hour at the top 10 percent. Mobile and field techs often earn $31 to $43 an hour plus per diem.

Can you make $100,000 as a diesel mechanic?

Yes, though it is not the average. It usually takes a master-level tech in a union, rail, industrial, or oil-and-gas role, ASE and manufacturer certifications, and steady overtime or per diem. The straight median is $60,640, so six figures means stacking the higher-paying industry, certs, and hours.