Diesel mechanic vs electrician: who earns more
Pay, range, growth and a state-by-state winner map, from BLS May 2025 data.
Diesel mechanic vs electrician: the numbers
| Diesel mechanic | Electrician | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 nationwide | 289,960 | 757,220 |
| Projected growth 2025-35 | +3.6% | +9.2% |
| Openings per year | 24,400 | 72,700 |
| 10-year real wage change | +2.2% | -10.3% |
| States where this trade pays more | 12 | 39 |
Which pays more where you live
| State | Diesel mechanic $/hr | Electrician $/hr | Pays more |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Hampshire | $34.32 | $30.21 | Diesel mechanic |
| Colorado | $33.89 | $29.92 | Diesel mechanic |
| Arkansas | $25.16 | $23.59 | Diesel mechanic |
| Florida | $29.08 | $27.52 | Diesel mechanic |
| Georgia | $29.50 | $28.04 | Diesel mechanic |
| Utah | $30.94 | $29.81 | Diesel mechanic |
| Maryland | $35.96 | $35.33 | Diesel mechanic |
| North Carolina | $27.64 | $27.31 | Diesel mechanic |
| South Carolina | $28.53 | $28.24 | Diesel mechanic |
| Arizona | $29.65 | $29.36 | Diesel mechanic |
| North Dakota | $31.78 | $31.59 | Diesel mechanic |
| Texas | $28.27 | $28.16 | Diesel mechanic |
| Delaware | $30.57 | $30.63 | Electrician |
| Iowa | $28.69 | $29.26 | Electrician |
| Nebraska | $28.44 | $29.24 | Electrician |
| Virginia | $29.37 | $30.24 | Electrician |
| Tennessee | $28.46 | $29.37 | Electrician |
| California | $35.55 | $36.62 | Electrician |
| New Mexico | $26.88 | $28.07 | Electrician |
| Louisiana | $28.21 | $29.59 | Electrician |
| South Dakota | $27.94 | $29.51 | Electrician |
| Idaho | $28.48 | $30.29 | Electrician |
| Vermont | $28.55 | $30.49 | Electrician |
| Kentucky | $26.67 | $28.71 | Electrician |
| Ohio | $29.07 | $31.11 | Electrician |
| New Jersey | $34.78 | $37.14 | Electrician |
| Nevada | $32.89 | $35.37 | Electrician |
| Alabama | $24.26 | $26.78 | Electrician |
| Oklahoma | $26.61 | $29.33 | Electrician |
| Pennsylvania | $29.68 | $32.50 | Electrician |
| Missouri | $28.54 | $31.45 | Electrician |
| Massachusetts | $35.23 | $38.18 | Electrician |
| Kansas | $28.59 | $31.66 | Electrician |
| Mississippi | $26.14 | $29.26 | Electrician |
| Rhode Island | $32.34 | $35.62 | Electrician |
| Indiana | $29.14 | $32.93 | Electrician |
| New York | $33.70 | $37.86 | Electrician |
| Connecticut | $32.36 | $37.28 | Electrician |
| Minnesota | $32.14 | $37.58 | Electrician |
| District of Columbia | $31.34 | $37.97 | Electrician |
| Alaska | $36.34 | $43.00 | Electrician |
| Wisconsin | $30.02 | $36.80 | Electrician |
| Maine | $29.26 | $36.24 | Electrician |
| Wyoming | $29.61 | $36.59 | Electrician |
| Michigan | $29.53 | $36.67 | Electrician |
| Hawaii | $38.50 | $46.38 | Electrician |
| Montana | $28.84 | $36.90 | Electrician |
| Washington | $37.45 | $45.78 | Electrician |
| West Virginia | $22.41 | $31.16 | Electrician |
| Illinois | $30.93 | $47.87 | Electrician |
| Oregon | $30.76 | $48.71 | Electrician |
Questions this page answers
Who makes more, diesel mechanics or electricians?
Nationally, electricians: a median of $30.38 an hour against $29.70 for bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists, a gap of $0.68 an hour in May 2025. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists earn more in 12 states, electricians in 39.
Which has the better outlook, diesel mechanic or electrician?
BLS projects +3.6% growth for bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists 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.