How Much Do Diesel Technicians Make?
National median $60,640/yr ($29.15/hr)
Diesel technicians, whom the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics files under diesel service technicians and mechanics, earned a median wage of $60,640 a year, about $29.15 an hour, as of May 2024. Median means half the trade earned more and half earned less, so it is the honest middle of the pay range, not a starting wage and not a ceiling.
Pay runs in a wide band. The lowest-paid 10 percent made under $41,670 a year, around $20 an hour, which is where most techs start out. The highest-paid 10 percent made over $85,980 a year, around $41 an hour. Plenty of union, industrial, and heavy-overtime techs clear six figures once overtime and per diem are added on top.
What moves you up the band is straightforward. Certifications matter (ASE medium and heavy truck series, plus manufacturer certs from Cummins, Detroit Diesel, Caterpillar, and Paccar). The industry matters more (railroads, pipelines, transit authorities, mining, and oil and gas pay well above small shops and dealerships). Union scale, the amount of overtime you take, and where you live round it out. Traveling and mobile field-service roles add per diem on top of the hourly rate.
Pay by experience
Highest-paying paths
Rail and transit diesel techs on IAM or Teamsters contracts commonly earn $65,000 to $88,000, and master techs top $100,000 to $120,000 with overtime, pension, and full benefits.
Heavy-equipment, drilling, and pipeline sites pay well above shop rate and often add per diem and camp housing. These industrial industries are among the highest-paying for the occupation.
Field and mobile techs earn roughly $31 to $43 an hour for handling travel, on-call, and roadside work, with per diem paid on top when they are away from home.
Overtime pays 1.5x. Techs who run heavy OT can add $10,000 to $30,000 a year, which is how many pass six figures off a mid-range base rate.
Hawaii (about $79,010), Washington (about $76,940), and Alaska (about $73,180) led state annual pay in May 2024, driven by strong industrial demand and thin local labor supply. Weigh cost of living in Hawaii and Alaska.
Advanced diagnostics and electrical, emissions and aftertreatment (DPF, SCR, EGR), engine rebuild, and hydraulics command the highest hourly rates, especially paired with an ASE Master Medium/Heavy Truck credential.
How to earn more
- Earn ASE certifications in the T-series (medium and heavy truck) and work toward Master Medium/Heavy Truck. Add manufacturer certs from Cummins, Detroit Diesel, Caterpillar, and Paccar.
- Move from a small shop or dealership into a higher-paying industry: railroads, transit authorities, pipelines, mining, or oil and gas.
- Get into a union shop for scale pay, guaranteed raises, overtime rules, and pension and health benefits.
- Take a mobile or field-service role that pays per diem and travel money on top of your hourly rate.
- Say yes to overtime, night, and on-call shifts. At 1.5x, heavy OT is the fastest way to reach six figures.
- Specialize in the skills that are hard to hire: advanced diagnostics and electrical, emissions and aftertreatment, and engine rebuild.
- Relocate to a high-paying state or metro, or sign on for remote industrial and pipeline projects that add site and travel premiums.
See who's hiring
Browse Diesel Tech jobs with pay shown upfront, or read the full Diesel Tech career guide.
Diesel Tech pay: common questions
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.