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A diesel technician's salary can vary widely based on several factors, including experience, location, and the specific industry. Current data shows that the average salary for diesel technicians stands at $46,868 annually. Entry-level positions typically pay less, while experienced technicians can earn significantly more, particularly in high-demand areas.
Technicians with 1-4 years of experience earn around $39,000, while those with 5-9 years can make about $48,000. Technicians with over 10 years of experience often see their salaries exceed $60,000, reflecting their advanced skills and expertise.
Salaries also differ by state. For example, diesel technicians in states like California and Texas tend to earn higher wages due to the concentration of industries relying on diesel engines. Understanding these regional differences can help job seekers target their applications effectively.
In conclusion, pursuing a career as a diesel technician can offer solid earning potential, especially for those willing to gain experience and specialize in their field.
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The average diesel technician salary in California, Alaska, and Connecticut are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average diesel technician salary states are Idaho, Nebraska, and Florida.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nevada | $51,797 | $24.90 |
| 2 | New Hampshire | $55,450 | $26.66 |
| 3 | Alaska | $56,590 | $27.21 |
| 4 | Iowa | $48,952 | $23.53 |
| 5 | Connecticut | $56,235 | $27.04 |
| 6 | Vermont | $51,516 | $24.77 |
| 7 | Oklahoma | $49,850 | $23.97 |
| 8 | Ohio | $48,949 | $23.53 |
| 9 | Montana | $49,459 | $23.78 |
| 10 | Washington | $56,056 | $26.95 |
| 11 | Massachusetts | $56,059 | $26.95 |
| 12 | Texas | $49,603 | $23.85 |
| 13 | New York | $55,228 | $26.55 |
| 14 | Louisiana | $48,191 | $23.17 |
| 15 | Michigan | $49,323 | $23.71 |
| 16 | New Jersey | $54,759 | $26.33 |
| 17 | North Dakota | $48,707 | $23.42 |
| 18 | Pennsylvania | $49,182 | $23.65 |
| 19 | Utah | $48,697 | $23.41 |
| 20 | Maine | $47,340 | $22.76 |
| 21 | Oregon | $49,789 | $23.94 |
| 22 | California | $56,799 | $27.31 |
| 23 | Tennessee | $46,081 | $22.15 |
| 24 | District of Columbia | $57,610 | $27.70 |
| 25 | Maryland | $53,737 | $25.84 |
| 26 | Kentucky | $45,560 | $21.90 |
| 27 | North Carolina | $47,003 | $22.60 |
| 28 | Indiana | $45,882 | $22.06 |
| 29 | Minnesota | $48,898 | $23.51 |
| 30 | New Mexico | $48,255 | $23.20 |
| 31 | Hawaii | $54,336 | $26.12 |
| 32 | Delaware | $48,527 | $23.33 |
| 33 | Arizona | $47,326 | $22.75 |
| 34 | Georgia | $46,707 | $22.46 |
| 35 | Illinois | $48,899 | $23.51 |
| 36 | Wisconsin | $46,247 | $22.23 |
| 37 | Colorado | $48,317 | $23.23 |
| 38 | Virginia | $49,944 | $24.01 |
| 39 | Missouri | $47,441 | $22.81 |
| 40 | Alabama | $45,036 | $21.65 |
| 41 | South Dakota | $45,221 | $21.74 |
| 42 | Wyoming | $45,780 | $22.01 |
| 43 | Arkansas | $44,737 | $21.51 |
| 44 | Nebraska | $42,878 | $20.61 |
| 45 | South Carolina | $42,587 | $20.47 |
| 46 | Mississippi | $39,900 | $19.18 |
| 47 | Florida | $42,817 | $20.59 |
| 48 | Idaho | $42,931 | $20.64 |
| 49 | Kansas | $45,566 | $21.91 |
| 50 | Rhode Island | $45,731 | $21.99 |
| 51 | West Virginia | $41,121 | $19.77 |
The highest-paying cities for diesel technicians are Los Angeles, CA, Seattle, WA, and Rochester, NH.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Los Angeles, CA | $56,528 | $27.18 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $56,310 | $27.07 |
| 3 | Rochester, NH | $55,383 | $26.63 |
| 4 | New York, NY | $55,259 | $26.57 |
| 5 | Baltimore, MD | $53,860 | $25.89 |
| 6 | Las Vegas, NV | $51,765 | $24.89 |
| 7 | El Paso, TX | $51,421 | $24.72 |
| 8 | Oklahoma City, OK | $49,870 | $23.98 |
| 9 | Richmond, VA | $49,866 | $23.97 |
| 10 | Portland, OR | $49,790 | $23.94 |
| 11 | Philadelphia, PA | $49,383 | $23.74 |
| 12 | Chicago, IL | $49,025 | $23.57 |
| 13 | Des Moines, IA | $48,812 | $23.47 |
| 14 | Salt Lake City, UT | $48,679 | $23.40 |
| 15 | Columbus, OH | $48,640 | $23.38 |
| 16 | Rochester, MN | $48,598 | $23.36 |
| 17 | Denver, CO | $48,287 | $23.21 |
| 18 | Albuquerque, NM | $48,222 | $23.18 |
| 19 | Kansas City, MO | $47,518 | $22.85 |
| 20 | Phoenix, AZ | $47,369 | $22.77 |
Diesel Technicians are the most in-demand in these five cities:
A diesel technician's salary ranges from $33,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $65,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $65,000 | $5,417 | $31 |
| 75th Percentile | $55,000 | $4,583 | $26 |
| Average | $46,868 | $3,906 | $23 |
| 25th Percentile | $39,000 | $3,250 | $19 |
| 10th Percentile | $33,000 | $2,750 | $16 |
The highest paying types of diesel technicians are master technician, truck mechanic, and diesel mechanic.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mechanic Helper | $31,892 | $2,658 | $15.33 | 48,546 |
| Truck Mechanic | $50,169 | $4,181 | $24.12 | 80,942 |
| Shop Mechanic | $47,377 | $3,948 | $22.78 | 100,379 |
| Mechanic | $47,149 | $3,929 | $22.67 | 100,534 |
| Instrument Technician Apprentice | $39,849 | $3,321 | $19.16 | 130,235 |
| Automotive Mechanic | $42,864 | $3,572 | $20.61 | 95,703 |
Top companies hiring diesel technicians now:
Diesel technician salaries at Cummins and Eversource Energy are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average diesel technician salary at companies like Freightliner Trucks and PACCAR are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cummins | $65,849 | $31.66 |
| 2 | Eversource Energy | $60,081 | $28.89 |
| 3 | Freightliner Trucks | $58,342 | $28.05 |
| 4 | PACCAR | $57,544 | $27.67 |
| 5 | A. Duie Pyle | $56,910 | $27.36 |
| 6 | Oak Harbor Freight Lines | $56,661 | $27.24 |
| 7 | Dayton Freight | $56,593 | $27.21 |
| 8 | R+L Carriers | $56,573 | $27.20 |
| 9 | UPS | $56,412 | $27.12 |
| 10 | All American Group | $56,237 | $27.04 |
| 11 | YRC Freight | $55,927 | $26.89 |
| 12 | XPO Logistics | $55,776 | $26.82 |
| 13 | Rude Transportation | $55,739 | $26.80 |
| 14 | Carnival Cruise Line | $54,913 | $26.40 |
| 15 | Everett Chevrolet Buick GMC Cadillac | $54,656 | $26.28 |
| 16 | GPAC | $54,500 | $26.20 |
| 17 | PITT OHIO | $53,618 | $25.78 |
| 18 | H-E-B | $53,600 | $25.77 |
| 19 | Bobcat Company | $53,579 | $25.76 |
| 20 | Steel Dynamics | $52,985 | $25.47 |
The average diesel technician salary varies across industries:
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Utilities | $49,875 | $23.98 |
| 2 | Transportation | $47,679 | $22.92 |
| 3 | Manufacturing | $47,109 | $22.65 |
| 4 | Retail | $43,950 | $21.13 |
| 5 | Automotive | $42,050 | $20.22 |
The average diesel technician salary has risen by $7,991 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average diesel technician earned $38,877 annually, but today, they earn $46,868 a year. That works out to a 11% change in pay for diesel technicians over the last decade.
Compare diesel technician salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare diesel technician salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $46,900 | $22.53 | +3.4% |
| 2024 | $45,300 | $21.77 | +2.4% |
| 2023 | $44,200 | $21.25 | +2.1% |
| 2022 | $43,300 | $20.81 | +2.6% |
| 2021 | $42,200 | $20.28 | +1.4% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kenan Advantage Group | Diesel Technician | Akron, OH | 06/30/2025 | $43,827 |
| Gobeacon | Diesel Technician-MBS | Bonner Springs, KS | 06/30/2025 | $41,740 |
| Hub Group | Diesel Technician/Mechanic Lead M-F Pm-10Pm) | Bloomington, CA | 06/29/2025 | $85,567 |
| Travelcenters of America | Diesel Tech-Mechanic I | Commerce City, CO | 06/29/2025 | $41,740 |
| NFI Industries | Diesel Technician/Mechanic | Hagerstown, MD | 06/29/2025 | $52,175 |
| Mercedes-Benz of Escondido | Experienced Diesel Technician | Lynnwood, WA | 06/29/2025 | $52,175 |
| Napleton Automotive Group | Diesel Technician | Wayzata, MN | 06/29/2025 | $93,915 |
| Jim Falk Motors | Automotive Diesel Technician | Kahului, HI | 06/29/2025 | $52,175 |
| Parker Global Strategies | Diesel Technician Mechanic III | Conklin, NY | 06/29/2025 | $52,697 |
| Veterans Prime, Inc. | Diesel Technician | Roanoke, VA | 06/29/2025 | $60,523 |
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