Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists
Diesel service technicians and mechanics inspect, repair, and overhaul buses, trucks, or any vehicle with a diesel engine.
Is bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists a good career?
It scores 18/100 and ranks #370 of 825 occupations on pay, growth, employment and openings. Here's what the federal data says, with no editorializing.
Advantages
- Pays above the U.S. median wage ($61,770)
- High volume of openings — about 26,500 a year
- No college degree typically required to enter
Possible tradeoffs
- Slower-than-average projected growth (+2.4%)
What bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists earn
Wages: BLS OEWS May 2025Pay is a range, not a number. Half of U.S. bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists earn between $50,540 and $75,470 a year.
Best-paying states
Best-paying metros
Strongest employment concentration
Live bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists jobs
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- Typical education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Long-term on-the-job training
- Outlook
- Employment is projected to grow slower than average through 2034.
Education
Most employers require a high school diploma or equivalent. High school or postsecondary courses in automotive repair, electronics, and mathematics provide a strong educational background for a career as a diesel technician.
Some employers may prefer to hire candidates with postsecondary education in diesel engine repair. Some community colleges and vocational-technical schools offer certificate or degree programs in diesel engine repair.
These programs mix classroom instruction with hands-on training and include learning the basics of diesel technology, repair techniques and equipment, and practical exercises. Students also learn how to interpret technical manuals and electronic diagnostic reports.
Training
Diesel technicians who begin working without any postsecondary education are trained extensively on the job. Trainees are assigned basic tasks, such as cleaning parts, checking fuel and oil levels, and driving vehicles in and out of the shop.
After they learn routine maintenance and repair tasks and demonstrate competence, trainees move on to more complicated subjects, such as vehicle diagnostics.
Over the course of their careers, diesel technicians must learn to use new techniques and equipment. Employers may send experienced technicians to special training classes conducted by manufacturers and vendors to learn about the latest diesel technology.
Licenses, certifications & registrations
Employers may require or prefer that their diesel technicians become certified. Having industry certifications demonstrates competence and may bring higher pay.
To become certified, diesel technicians may need previous experience and must pass an exam.
Diesel technicians might need a commercial driver’s license to test-drive buses and large trucks.
Important qualities
Customer-service skills. Diesel technicians discuss problems and necessary repairs with their customers. They must be courteous, listen well, and be ready to answer customers’ questions.
Detail oriented. Diesel technicians must be aware of small details when inspecting or repairing engines and components, because mechanical and electronic malfunctions may be due to misalignments and other easy-to-miss causes.
Dexterity. Mechanics need a steady hand and good hand–eye coordination for many tasks, such as disassembling engine parts, connecting or attaching components, and using hand tools.
Mechanical skills. Diesel technicians must be familiar with engine components and systems and know how they interact with each other. They often disassemble major parts for repairs, and they must be able to put them back together properly.
Organizational skills. Diesel technicians must keep workspaces clean and organized to maintain safety and accountability for parts.
Physical strength. Diesel technicians often lift heavy parts and tools, such as exhaust system components and pneumatic wrenches.
Problem-solving skills. Diesel technicians must be able to diagnose problems with diesel engines and systems to determine the best way to repair them.
Related occupations
How much do bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists make?
The national median wage is $61,770 a year, with the middle half earning between $50,540 and $75,470 (BLS OEWS May 2025).
Is bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists a good career?
On the Jobs.best index it scores 18 of 100 and ranks #370 of 825 occupations, weighing pay, growth, employment and openings. Employment is projected to change +2.4% through 2034.
What education do you need to become a bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialist?
The typical entry-level education is high school diploma or equivalent.
Where do bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists earn the most?
Among states, Hawaii pays the highest median ($80,080). Local pay for every state and metro is below.