Diesel mechanic salary in California
Median $35.55 an hour for 20,940 bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists, May 2025, with the union scale by county and the trend since 1999.
Diesel mechanic pay in California: the full range
California ranks 5th of 51 states for median diesel mechanic pay, and 12th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $32.11). 20,940 bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists work in the state.
| Career stage (approximate) | Hourly | Annual | Where it sits in the distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apprentice / entry | $22.68 – $28.90 | $47,180 – $60,110 | roughly the 10th–25th percentile |
| Journeyman | $28.90 – $40.74 | $60,110 – $84,740 | the middle half, around the median |
| Master / foreman / specialist | $40.74 – $46.50 | $84,740 – $96,730 | the 75th–90th percentile and above |
Where does your pay fall?
Diesel mechanic pay by metro in California
| Metro | 10th | Median $/hr | 90th | Jobs | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose | $27.19 | $42.78 | $54.54 | 720 | 20% above |
| San Francisco | $23.51 | $39.47 | $50.74 | 1,730 | 11% above |
| Napa | $24.60 | $37.54 | $49.98 | 60 | 6% above |
| Los Angeles | $23.34 | $37.20 | $46.04 | 6,520 | 5% above |
| Modesto | $22.95 | $36.85 | $47.11 | 420 | 4% above |
| Santa Cruz | $27.17 | $36.38 | $47.76 | 90 | 2% above |
| Vallejo | $23.80 | $36.30 | $48.22 | 200 | 2% above |
| San Diego | $24.70 | $36.09 | $45.92 | 1,430 | 2% above |
| Oxnard | $24.73 | $35.93 | $46.71 | 350 | 1% above |
| San Luis Obispo | $22.64 | $35.88 | $43.90 | 120 | 1% above |
| Sacramento | $23.42 | $34.93 | $45.39 | 1,190 | 2% below |
| Riverside | $22.54 | $34.28 | $43.06 | 3,400 | 4% below |
| Stockton | $22.59 | $33.85 | $43.35 | 760 | 5% below |
| El Centro | $17.54 | $33.83 | $46.95 | 140 | 5% below |
| Santa Maria | $18.44 | $33.68 | $44.73 | 210 | 5% below |
| Santa Rosa | $23.19 | $32.89 | $47.93 | 240 | 7% below |
| Visalia | $21.25 | $32.03 | $39.46 | 240 | 10% below |
| Redding | $17.41 | $31.59 | $43.70 | 100 | 11% below |
| Fresno | $21.40 | $31.35 | $46.25 | 720 | 12% below |
| Salinas | $18.62 | $30.69 | $45.08 | 200 | 14% below |
| Bakersfield | $18.81 | $30.54 | $41.29 | 860 | 14% below |
| Merced | $22.08 | $30.27 | $43.21 | 120 | 15% below |
| Yuba City | $22.05 | $29.85 | $39.09 | 100 | 16% below |
| Hanford | $17.13 | $29.30 | $43.75 | 110 | 18% below |
| Chico | $22.02 | $26.81 | $41.93 | 100 | 25% below |
Diesel mechanic wages in California over time
Table
| Year | California $/hr | In 2025 $ | US $/hr | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | $17.16 | $33.16 | $14.77 | 18,940 |
| 2000 | $18.06 | $33.76 | $15.55 | 21,700 |
| 2001 | $18.99 | $34.52 | $16.14 | 22,930 |
| 2002 | $19.06 | $34.11 | $16.53 | 24,700 |
| 2003 | $19.54 | $34.19 | $16.81 | 26,160 |
| 2004 | $20.44 | $34.84 | $17.20 | 24,750 |
| 2005 | $20.23 | $33.35 | $17.61 | 25,280 |
| 2006 | $20.46 | $32.67 | $18.11 | 26,080 |
| 2007 | $21.16 | $32.86 | $18.58 | 25,270 |
| 2008 | $21.78 | $32.57 | $18.94 | 22,140 |
| 2009 | $22.07 | $33.12 | $19.35 | 19,220 |
| 2010 | $22.67 | $33.47 | $19.64 | 16,990 |
| 2011 | $22.73 | $32.53 | $20.02 | 17,490 |
| 2012 | $23.50 | $32.95 | $20.35 | 18,620 |
| 2013 | $23.44 | $32.39 | $20.54 | 19,820 |
| 2014 | $24.23 | $32.95 | $20.98 | 20,910 |
| 2015 | $24.82 | $33.71 | $21.40 | 20,490 |
| 2016 | $25.02 | $33.56 | $21.72 | 20,590 |
| 2017 | $25.81 | $33.90 | $22.29 | 20,220 |
| 2018 | $26.36 | $33.80 | $22.76 | 21,320 |
| 2019 | $27.16 | $34.20 | $23.32 | 22,330 |
| 2020 | $28.36 | $35.28 | $24.13 | 21,180 |
| 2021 | $29.11 | $34.59 | $23.41 | 19,340 |
| 2022 | $30.24 | $33.27 | $26.14 | 20,330 |
| 2023 | $33.16 | $35.04 | $28.35 | 26,370 |
| 2024 | $33.97 | $34.86 | $29.15 | 21,730 |
| 2025 | $35.55 | $35.55 | $29.70 | 20,940 |
In today's dollars, the median diesel mechanic wage in California changed by +5.4% over the last ten years of data.
Is construction work growing in California?
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Diesel mechanic pay in neighbouring states
Other trades in California
Questions this page answers
How much do diesel mechanics make in California?
The median diesel mechanic in California earned $35.55 an hour ($73,950 a year) in May 2025, 20% above the national median of $29.70. The middle half earn $28.90–$40.74; the top 10% earn more than $46.50.
Where does California rank for diesel mechanic pay?
California ranks 5th of 51 states for diesel mechanic pay, with a median of $35.55 an hour, and 12th after adjusting for California's cost of living (BEA price parity 110.7, US = 100).
What is the union diesel mechanic rate in California?
Davis-Bacon determinations do not list a diesel mechanic classification for most California counties, or the trade is not covered; the BLS wage figures above are the best available measure.
How many diesel mechanics work in California?
BLS counted 20,940 bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists in California in May 2025, 1.1 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 0.62; 1.0 is the national average concentration).
Sources and notes
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, California and metro areas, SOC 49-3031.
- BLS Current Employment Statistics, state construction employment through 2026-08.
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2025 annual averages.
- BEA Regional Price Parities (cost-of-living adjustment).
- SAM.gov Davis-Bacon wage determinations, current revisions as of 2026-09-28. Not the official determination.