Pay, demand and where to work, from BLS data with the year on every table.
low → high: location quotient
Click a state. States: Alabama · Alaska · Arizona · Arkansas · California · Colorado · Connecticut · Delaware · District of Columbia · Florida · Georgia · Hawaii · Idaho · Illinois · Indiana · Iowa · Kansas · Kentucky · Louisiana · Maine · Maryland · Massachusetts · Michigan · Minnesota · Mississippi · Missouri · Montana · Nebraska · Nevada · New Hampshire · New Jersey · New Mexico · New York · North Carolina · North Dakota · Ohio · Oklahoma · Oregon · Pennsylvania · Rhode Island · South Carolina · South Dakota · Tennessee · Texas · Utah · Vermont · Virginia · Washington · West Virginia · Wisconsin · Wyoming.
By AtiveSite · Published 07/11/2026 · Updated 07/11/2026 · Every figure is linked to its source below.
Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists (SOC 49-3031) employed 289,960 people in May 2025. The median pay is $61,770 a year ($29.70 an hour); the lowest-paid 10% earn under $44,530 and the highest-paid 10% more than $88,740. BLS projects its employment to change by +3.6% between 2025 and 2035 (about 24,400 openings a year including replacements). The typical way in: High school diploma or equivalent.
Highest median pay: Hawaii ($80,080), Washington ($77,900), Alaska ($75,580). Most jobs: Texas (29,870), California (20,940), Florida (14,900).
| Measure ⇅ | Annual ⇅ | Hourly equivalent ⇅ |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $44,530 | $21.41 |
| 25th percentile | $50,540 | $24.30 |
| Median | $61,770 | $29.70 |
| Mean | $64,320 | $30.92 |
| 75th percentile | $75,470 | $36.28 |
| 90th percentile (experienced) | $88,740 | $42.66 |
Estimate for a wage earner: 2026 federal brackets and standard deduction (IRS), Social Security 6.2% up to $184,500, Medicare 1.45% (+0.9% above $200,000 single / $250,000 married), and a state rate you set. It ignores credits, pre-tax deductions, local taxes and benefits. Sources: IRS: tax year 2026 inflation adjustments · SSA wage base per Federal Register notice 2025-19763.
Hourly equivalents divide by 2,080 hours. Pay above $239,200 is shown as "≥ $239,200" (BLS top code).
| Measure ⇅ | Value ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Jobs 2025 | 316,000 |
| Jobs 2035 (projected) | 327,400 |
| Change in jobs | 11,400 |
| Percent change | +3.6% |
| Openings a year (growth + replacements) | 24,400 |
| Self-employed share | 5.9% |
| Typical entry education | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Work experience in a related occupation | None |
| Typical on-the-job training | Long-term on-the-job training |
Licences and certifications are set by states and employers; the education shown is the usual entry requirement, not a legal one.
| State ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ | Median pay ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Median vs US ⇅ | Yearly rent as % of median pay ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 6,130 | 1.55 | $50,470 | $37,470 | $75,660 | -18% | 26% |
| Alaska | 860 | 1.41 | $75,580 | $52,000 | $98,610 | +22% | 23% |
| Arizona | 5,140 | 0.85 | $61,680 | $45,460 | $84,350 | -0% | 33% |
| Arkansas | 4,090 | 1.68 | $52,330 | $38,620 | $69,260 | -15% | 23% |
| California | 20,940 | 0.62 | $73,950 | $47,180 | $96,730 | +20% | 34% |
| Colorado | 4,600 | 0.86 | $70,480 | $47,450 | $96,450 | +14% | 31% |
| Connecticut | 2,860 | 0.90 | $67,300 | $45,260 | $97,220 | +9% | 28% |
| Delaware | 670 | 0.74 | $63,590 | $49,250 | $82,650 | +3% | 29% |
| District of Columbia | 110 | 0.08 | $65,200 | $49,930 | $93,040 | +6% | 36% |
| Florida | 14,900 | 0.80 | $60,490 | $44,300 | $79,210 | -2% | 36% |
| Georgia | 10,910 | 1.20 | $61,370 | $45,890 | $85,260 | -1% | 29% |
| Hawaii | 690 | 0.59 | $80,080 | $54,330 | $100,540 | +30% | 29% |
| Idaho | 1,930 | 1.21 | $59,230 | $45,960 | $77,800 | -4% | 28% |
| Illinois | 11,320 | 1.00 | $64,340 | $44,760 | $97,670 | +4% | 25% |
| Indiana | 8,840 | 1.48 | $60,610 | $44,160 | $79,730 | -2% | 22% |
| Iowa | 4,140 | 1.42 | $59,680 | $43,710 | $80,080 | -3% | 20% |
| Kansas | 3,300 | 1.23 | $59,460 | $43,610 | $81,000 | -4% | 22% |
| Kentucky | 3,890 | 1.04 | $55,480 | $38,250 | $80,500 | -10% | 22% |
| Louisiana | 3,270 | 0.91 | $58,680 | $38,900 | $79,160 | -5% | 22% |
| Maine | 1,380 | 1.15 | $60,850 | $45,760 | $79,450 | -1% | 24% |
| Maryland | 3,030 | 0.59 | $74,790 | $50,010 | $97,800 | +21% | 28% |
| Massachusetts | 4,870 | 0.72 | $73,270 | $49,400 | $99,460 | +19% | 30% |
| Michigan | 9,020 | 1.10 | $61,420 | $45,240 | $81,010 | -1% | 23% |
| Minnesota | 7,300 | 1.33 | $66,840 | $49,810 | $90,520 | +8% | 23% |
| Mississippi | 3,140 | 1.45 | $54,360 | $37,390 | $82,020 | -12% | 22% |
| Missouri | 6,780 | 1.24 | $59,360 | $41,170 | $82,480 | -4% | 22% |
| Montana | 1,230 | 1.29 | $59,990 | $44,880 | $77,700 | -3% | 24% |
| Nebraska | 2,720 | 1.43 | $59,140 | $44,010 | $79,400 | -4% | 22% |
| Nevada | 1,990 | 0.69 | $68,410 | $48,770 | $97,720 | +11% | 30% |
| New Hampshire | 1,040 | 0.82 | $71,390 | $52,730 | $99,590 | +16% | 26% |
| New Jersey | 8,160 | 1.02 | $72,340 | $49,140 | $94,150 | +17% | 30% |
| New Mexico | 1,740 | 1.07 | $55,910 | $37,860 | $83,260 | -9% | 24% |
| New York | 13,230 | 0.73 | $70,100 | $48,360 | $90,090 | +13% | 28% |
| North Carolina | 11,070 | 1.20 | $57,490 | $39,890 | $76,240 | -7% | 28% |
| North Dakota | 1,790 | 2.23 | $66,110 | $46,790 | $91,520 | +7% | 18% |
| Ohio | 14,240 | 1.38 | $60,470 | $44,860 | $78,120 | -2% | 22% |
| Oklahoma | 3,970 | 1.25 | $55,340 | $37,250 | $76,130 | -10% | 23% |
| Oregon | 3,770 | 1.03 | $63,970 | $47,690 | $90,700 | +4% | 30% |
| Pennsylvania | 12,630 | 1.12 | $61,740 | $45,910 | $80,440 | -0% | 24% |
| Rhode Island | 350 | 0.38 | $67,270 | $51,020 | $85,420 | +9% | 25% |
| South Carolina | 3,360 | 0.78 | $59,330 | $41,440 | $76,670 | -4% | 26% |
| South Dakota | 1,340 | 1.57 | $58,120 | $45,500 | $78,810 | -6% | 21% |
| Tennessee | 5,720 | 0.94 | $59,190 | $40,450 | $80,580 | -4% | 26% |
| Texas | 29,870 | 1.14 | $58,810 | $40,930 | $81,660 | -5% | 30% |
| Utah | 2,690 | 0.83 | $64,350 | $46,970 | $83,140 | +4% | 30% |
| Vermont | 550 | 0.98 | $59,390 | $46,380 | $84,060 | -4% | 27% |
| Virginia | 8,070 | 1.05 | $61,090 | $45,250 | $79,150 | -1% | 32% |
| Washington | 7,410 | 1.12 | $77,900 | $54,720 | $102,800 | +26% | 28% |
| West Virginia | 1,040 | 0.80 | $46,610 | $35,350 | $78,460 | -25% | 23% |
| Wisconsin | 6,750 | 1.23 | $62,450 | $45,250 | $82,210 | +1% | 22% |
| Wyoming | 1,100 | 2.10 | $61,580 | $45,140 | $80,400 | -0% | 19% |
Location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in the state than in the nation. "n/a" means BLS suppressed the figure. Rent uses the state median gross rent (ACS).
The 60 highest-paying metropolitan areas among those with at least 300 jobs in this occupation.
| Metropolitan area ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Median pay ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | 720 | $88,980 | $56,550 | $113,440 | 0.34 |
| Urban Honolulu, HI | 540 | $85,040 | $59,400 | $99,790 | 0.65 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 3,740 | $82,330 | $61,410 | $115,550 | 0.96 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 1,730 | $82,100 | $48,900 | $105,550 | 0.39 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 6,520 | $77,380 | $48,550 | $95,760 | 0.56 |
| Modesto, CA | 420 | $76,640 | $47,740 | $97,980 | 1.15 |
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | 420 | $75,940 | $49,910 | $104,000 | 0.55 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 12,430 | $75,780 | $51,240 | $94,320 | 0.70 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 3,110 | $75,770 | $52,030 | $103,850 | 0.62 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | 1,430 | $75,070 | $51,370 | $95,520 | 0.50 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | 350 | $74,730 | $51,440 | $97,160 | 0.58 |
| Anchorage, AK | 410 | $74,480 | $47,840 | $97,400 | 1.25 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | 1,670 | $74,470 | $49,960 | $91,510 | 0.66 |
| Reno, NV | 470 | $74,110 | $52,860 | $105,680 | 0.92 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 4,290 | $73,730 | $51,390 | $94,110 | 1.18 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | 2,770 | $72,800 | $50,450 | $98,130 | 0.92 |
| Savannah, GA | 1,260 | $72,770 | $46,030 | $85,260 | 3.40 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | 1,190 | $72,660 | $48,710 | $94,410 | 0.59 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 2,910 | $72,580 | $51,200 | $97,060 | 0.50 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | 2,330 | $71,990 | $51,160 | $90,700 | 1.03 |
| Worcester, MA | 660 | $71,780 | $51,970 | $97,500 | 1.02 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | 3,400 | $71,300 | $46,890 | $89,570 | 1.06 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | 760 | $70,410 | $46,990 | $90,170 | 1.41 |
| Reading, PA | 710 | $68,640 | $48,770 | $77,510 | 2.19 |
| Duluth, MN-WI | 370 | $68,240 | $49,270 | $90,120 | 1.58 |
| Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | 1,290 | $66,770 | $46,910 | $97,720 | 0.61 |
| Portland-South Portland, ME | 590 | $66,100 | $50,420 | $83,140 | 1.10 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 8,660 | $65,680 | $45,830 | $98,660 | 1.03 |
| Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | 820 | $65,620 | $50,530 | $87,130 | 0.61 |
| Fresno, CA | 720 | $65,210 | $44,510 | $96,210 | 0.80 |
| Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | 1,500 | $65,200 | $48,530 | $84,740 | 0.97 |
| Springfield, MA | 410 | $65,200 | $47,990 | $83,930 | 1.10 |
| New Haven, CT | 520 | $65,140 | $44,960 | $94,130 | 1.00 |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | 780 | $64,860 | $50,640 | $93,280 | 1.63 |
| Syracuse, NY | 670 | $64,770 | $47,250 | $88,300 | 1.20 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 4,490 | $64,550 | $47,380 | $87,700 | 0.83 |
| Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | 1,310 | $64,530 | $44,720 | $97,220 | 1.17 |
| St. Cloud, MN | 330 | $64,410 | $48,280 | $81,940 | 1.73 |
| Fargo, ND-MN | 500 | $64,370 | $48,620 | $89,700 | 1.82 |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | 880 | $64,110 | $47,420 | $81,280 | 1.25 |
| Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | 1,120 | $64,010 | $48,950 | $82,130 | 1.79 |
| Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY | 650 | $63,950 | $49,550 | $81,420 | 1.29 |
| Rochester, MN | 350 | $63,950 | $50,940 | $85,800 | 1.51 |
| Colorado Springs, CO | 310 | $63,910 | $41,600 | $86,900 | 0.52 |
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | 780 | $63,850 | $46,490 | $83,730 | 0.93 |
| Madison, WI | 840 | $63,850 | $45,500 | $81,160 | 1.10 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | 860 | $63,520 | $39,120 | $85,870 | 1.36 |
| Lancaster, PA | 820 | $63,510 | $47,430 | $80,380 | 1.75 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | 3,820 | $63,360 | $46,840 | $88,810 | 1.07 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | 3,550 | $63,330 | $48,150 | $86,000 | 0.80 |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | 1,020 | $63,270 | $46,960 | $84,700 | 1.03 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | 1,380 | $62,920 | $46,710 | $83,290 | 0.90 |
| Greeley, CO | 350 | $62,850 | $42,150 | $95,630 | 1.59 |
| Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH | 810 | $62,730 | $47,740 | $79,040 | 1.17 |
| York-Hanover, PA | 500 | $62,700 | $47,360 | $80,280 | 1.45 |
| Cleveland, OH | 1,970 | $62,690 | $47,250 | $81,290 | 1.02 |
| Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA | 760 | $62,580 | $47,150 | $83,270 | 1.59 |
| Kansas City, MO-KS | 2,890 | $62,570 | $46,170 | $86,650 | 1.41 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | 2,300 | $62,400 | $45,780 | $79,810 | 1.12 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | 2,610 | $62,280 | $46,290 | $85,460 | 1.04 |
The median is $61,770 a year ($29.70 an hour); the lowest-paid tenth earn under $44,530 and the highest-paid tenth over $88,740 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
289,960 in May 2025, and BLS projects +3.6% growth to 2035.
The typical entry education is: High school diploma or equivalent (BLS).
Hawaii, with a median of $80,080 (among states with published figures).