Skilled Wages

Diesel mechanic vs electrician: who earns more

Pay, range, growth and a state map of which trade earns more, from BLS May 2025 data.

Data compiled by Skilled WagesBLS OEWS May 2025

Diesel mechanic vs electrician: the numbers

Wage percentiles, Diesel mechanicDiesel mechanics, 10th-90th pctElectricians$10$20$30$40$50$60/hrDiesel mechanic: 10th $21.41 · 25th $24.30 · median $29.70 · 75th $36.29 · 90th $42.66Diesel mechanic$29.70$21.41$42.66Electrician: 10th $20.50 · 25th $23.76 · median $30.38 · 75th $40.36 · 90th $52.17Electrician$30.38
Hourly wage percentiles for diesel mechanics (blue) and electricians (grey), United States, May 2025. Thin track: 10th to 90th percentile; bar: 25th to 75th; dot: median.
Diesel mechanicElectrician
Median hourly wage$29.70$30.38
Median annual pay$61,770$63,190
10th percentile (entry)$21.41$20.50
90th percentile (top)$42.66$52.17
Jobs nationwide289,960757,220
Projected growth 2025-35+3.6%+9.2%
Openings per year24,40072,700
10-year real wage change+2.2%-10.3%
States where this trade pays more738
States about even (within $0.50)66

Which pays more where you live

Which pays more by state: diesel mechanics or electriciansAlaska: Electricians +$6.66/hrAKAlabama: Electricians +$2.52/hrALArkansas: Diesel mechanics +$1.57/hrARArizona: About evenAZCalifornia: Electricians +$1.07/hrCAColorado: Diesel mechanics +$3.97/hrCOConnecticut: Electricians +$4.92/hrDistrict of Columbia: Electricians +$6.63/hrDelaware: About evenFlorida: Diesel mechanics +$1.56/hrFLGeorgia: Diesel mechanics +$1.46/hrGAHawaii: Electricians +$7.88/hrHIIowa: Electricians +$0.57/hrIAIdaho: Electricians +$1.81/hrIDIllinois: Electricians +$16.94/hrILIndiana: Electricians +$3.79/hrINKansas: Electricians +$3.07/hrKSKentucky: Electricians +$2.04/hrKYLouisiana: Electricians +$1.38/hrLAMassachusetts: Electricians +$2.95/hrMaryland: Diesel mechanics +$0.63/hrMaine: Electricians +$6.98/hrMEMichigan: Electricians +$7.14/hrMIMinnesota: Electricians +$5.44/hrMNMissouri: Electricians +$2.91/hrMOMississippi: Electricians +$3.12/hrMSMontana: Electricians +$8.06/hrMTNorth Carolina: About evenNCNorth Dakota: About evenNDNebraska: Electricians +$0.80/hrNENew Hampshire: Diesel mechanics +$4.11/hrNew Jersey: Electricians +$2.36/hrNew Mexico: Electricians +$1.19/hrNMNevada: Electricians +$2.48/hrNVNew York: Electricians +$4.16/hrNYOhio: Electricians +$2.04/hrOHOklahoma: Electricians +$2.72/hrOKOregon: Electricians +$17.95/hrORPennsylvania: Electricians +$2.82/hrPARhode Island: Electricians +$3.28/hrSouth Carolina: About evenSCSouth Dakota: Electricians +$1.57/hrSDTennessee: Electricians +$0.91/hrTNTexas: About evenTXUtah: Diesel mechanics +$1.13/hrUTVirginia: Electricians +$0.87/hrVAVermont: Electricians +$1.94/hrWashington: Electricians +$8.33/hrWAWisconsin: Electricians +$6.78/hrWIWest Virginia: Electricians +$8.75/hrWVWyoming: Electricians +$6.98/hrWYSmall statesCT $4.92DC $6.63DE $0.06MA $2.95MD $0.63NH $4.11NJ $2.36RI $3.28VT $1.94Diesel mechanics earn moreElectricians earn more$8.97$0.50$0.50$8.97about even
Which trade's median hourly wage is higher in each state, May 2025: blue where diesel mechanics earn more, orange where electricians earn more, cream where the two are within $0.50. Hover or tap a state for the gap; hatched states have no BLS estimate for one of the two trades. Links go to the higher-paying trade's state page.
Median hourly wage by state for both trades, with the trade that pays more and the gap
StateDiesel mechanic $/hrElectrician $/hrPays more, by how much
Oregon$30.76$48.71Electrician +$17.95
Illinois$30.93$47.87Electrician +$16.94
West Virginia$22.41$31.16Electrician +$8.75
Washington$37.45$45.78Electrician +$8.33
Montana$28.84$36.90Electrician +$8.06
Hawaii$38.50$46.38Electrician +$7.88
Michigan$29.53$36.67Electrician +$7.14
Wyoming$29.61$36.59Electrician +$6.98
Maine$29.26$36.24Electrician +$6.98
Wisconsin$30.02$36.80Electrician +$6.78
Alaska$36.34$43.00Electrician +$6.66
District of Columbia$31.34$37.97Electrician +$6.63
Minnesota$32.14$37.58Electrician +$5.44
Connecticut$32.36$37.28Electrician +$4.92
New York$33.70$37.86Electrician +$4.16

Questions this page answers

Who makes more, diesel mechanics or electricians?

Nationally, Electricians: a median of $30.38 an hour against $29.70 for diesel mechanics, a gap of $0.68 an hour in May 2025. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists earn more in 7 states, electricians in 38, and the two are within $0.50 an hour in 6.

Which has the better outlook, diesel mechanics or electricians?

BLS projects +3.6% growth for diesel mechanics and +9.2% for electricians over 2025-35, with 24,400 and 72,700 openings a year respectively.

Sources and notes

  • BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025; BLS Employment Projections; CPI-U.