Diesel mechanic salary in District of Columbia
Median $31.34 an hour for 110 diesel mechanics, May 2025, with the union scale by county, the job trend since 1999 and the state's own outlook.
Diesel mechanic pay in District of Columbia: the full range
District of Columbia ranks 16th of 51 states for median diesel mechanic pay, and 48th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $28.52). 110 diesel mechanics work in the state. The top 10% earn 1.9× what the bottom 10% earn.
| Career stage (approximate) | Hourly | Annual | Where it sits in the distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apprentice / entry level | $24.01 – $28.58 | $49,930 – $59,450 | roughly the 10th to 25th percentile |
| Journeyman | $28.58 – $36.53 | $59,450 – $75,980 | the middle half, around the median |
| Master, foreman or specialist | $36.53 – $44.73 | $75,980 – $93,040 | the 75th to 90th percentile and above |
Where does your pay fall?
Diesel mechanic pay by metro in District of Columbia
| Metro | 10th | Median $/hr | 90th | Jobs | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington DC | $24.62 | $34.89 | $46.66 | 2,910 | 11% above |
Diesel mechanic wages in District of Columbia over time
Table
| Year | District of Columbia $/hr | In 2025 $ | US $/hr | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | $13.19 | $25.49 | $14.77 | — |
| 2000 | $18.44 | $34.48 | $15.55 | — |
| 2001 | $18.87 | $34.30 | $16.14 | 60 |
| 2002 | $19.40 | $34.72 | $16.53 | — |
| 2003 | $18.46 | $32.30 | $16.81 | 280 |
| 2004 | $18.41 | $31.38 | $17.20 | 150 |
| 2005 | $18.97 | $31.27 | $17.61 | 140 |
| 2006 | $20.99 | $33.52 | $18.11 | 80 |
| 2007 | $23.03 | $35.76 | $18.58 | 90 |
| 2008 | $22.89 | $34.23 | $18.94 | 120 |
| 2009 | $23.89 | $35.85 | $19.35 | 70 |
| 2010 | $24.30 | $35.88 | $19.64 | 80 |
| 2011 | $25.08 | $35.90 | $20.02 | 70 |
| 2012 | $23.89 | $33.50 | $20.35 | 90 |
| 2013 | $23.82 | $32.92 | $20.54 | 70 |
| 2014 | $24.04 | $32.69 | $20.98 | 120 |
| 2015 | $25.48 | $34.61 | $21.40 | 140 |
| 2016 | $27.15 | $36.42 | $21.72 | 130 |
| 2017 | $28.34 | $37.22 | $22.29 | 90 |
| 2018 | $31.52 | $40.41 | $22.76 | 60 |
| 2019 | $33.23 | $41.85 | $23.32 | 50 |
| 2020 | $28.11 | $34.97 | $24.13 | 60 |
| 2024 | $31.52 | $32.35 | $29.15 | 90 |
| 2025 | $31.34 | $31.34 | $29.70 | 110 |
In today's dollars, the median diesel mechanic wage in District of Columbia changed by -9.4% over the last ten years of data and by -25.1% since 2019.
Are there more diesel mechanic jobs in District of Columbia?
BLS counted 110 diesel mechanics in District of Columbia in May 2025, an estimate with a relative standard error of 8%. With fewer than 3,000 jobs or a wide margin of error, year-to-year changes are within the survey's noise and are not shown as a trend.
Outlook for diesel mechanics in District of Columbia
No state projection is published for diesel mechanics in District of Columbia. Nationally, BLS projects +3.6% growth over 2025-35 with about 24,400 openings a year; the national page has the openings breakdown and every state that does publish a figure.
Is construction work growing in District of Columbia?
Keep comparing
Diesel mechanic pay in neighbouring states
Other trades in District of Columbia
More on District of Columbia
Questions this page answers
How much do diesel mechanics make in District of Columbia?
The median diesel mechanic in District of Columbia earned $31.34 an hour ($65,200 a year) in May 2025, 6% above the national median of $29.70. The middle half earn $28.58–$36.53; the top 10% earn more than $44.73.
Where does District of Columbia rank for diesel mechanic pay?
District of Columbia ranks 16th of 51 states for diesel mechanic pay, with a median of $31.34 an hour, and 48th after adjusting for District of Columbia's cost of living (BEA price parity 109.9, US = 100).
What is the union diesel mechanic rate in District of Columbia?
Davis-Bacon determinations do not list a diesel mechanic classification for most District of Columbia counties, or the trade is not covered; the BLS wage figures above are the best available measure.
How many diesel mechanics work in District of Columbia?
BLS counted 110 diesel mechanics in District of Columbia in May 2025, 0.2 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 0.08; 1.0 is the national average concentration).
Sources and notes
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, District of Columbia and metro areas, SOC 49-3031. Job counts are survey estimates and exclude the self-employed.
- BLS Current Employment Statistics, state construction employment through 2026-09.
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2025 annual averages.
- BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (cost-of-living adjustment).
- SAM.gov Davis-Bacon wage determinations, current revisions as of 2026-11-13. Not the official determination.
- BLS Employment Projections, national, 2025-35.