Diesel mechanic salary in Kentucky
Median $26.67 an hour for 3,890 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 Kentucky: the full range
Kentucky ranks 46th of 51 states for median diesel mechanic pay, and 40th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $29.57). 3,890 diesel mechanics work in the state. The top 10% earn 2.1× what the bottom 10% earn.
| Career stage (approximate) | Hourly | Annual | Where it sits in the distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apprentice / entry level | $18.39 – $22.38 | $38,250 – $46,560 | roughly the 10th to 25th percentile |
| Journeyman | $22.38 – $30.64 | $46,560 – $63,740 | the middle half, around the median |
| Master, foreman or specialist | $30.64 – $38.70 | $63,740 – $80,500 | the 75th to 90th percentile and above |
Where does your pay fall?
Diesel mechanic pay by metro in Kentucky
| Metro | 10th | Median $/hr | Cost-of-living adjusted | 90th | Jobs | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paducah | $22.00 | $37.93 | $44.05 | $49.20 | 190 | 42% above |
| Cincinnati | $22.01 | $30.00 | $31.45 | $38.37 | 2,300 | 12% above |
| Louisville | $21.00 | $29.48 | $31.66 | $39.60 | 1,480 | 11% above |
| Lexington | $21.26 | $27.63 | $29.74 | $38.79 | 390 | 4% above |
| Clarksville | $18.07 | $27.38 | $30.12 | $36.36 | 120 | 3% above |
| Elizabethtown | $18.25 | $25.62 | $28.28 | $30.18 | 130 | 4% below |
| Owensboro | $17.75 | $25.50 | $28.78 | $34.32 | 60 | 4% below |
| Bowling Green | $17.54 | $24.96 | $27.67 | $32.35 | 200 | 6% below |
| Huntington | $18.00 | $24.58 | $27.81 | $40.72 | 250 | 8% below |
Cost-of-living adjusted: median divided by the BEA regional price parity for the metro (2024, US = 100).
Diesel mechanic wages in Kentucky over time
Table
| Year | Kentucky $/hr | In 2025 $ | US $/hr | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | $12.92 | $24.97 | $14.77 | 5,420 |
| 2000 | $13.59 | $25.41 | $15.55 | 4,950 |
| 2001 | $14.19 | $25.80 | $16.14 | 4,360 |
| 2002 | $14.29 | $25.57 | $16.53 | 4,300 |
| 2003 | $14.28 | $24.99 | $16.81 | 4,020 |
| 2004 | $14.51 | $24.73 | $17.20 | 4,070 |
| 2005 | $15.50 | $25.55 | $17.61 | 4,210 |
| 2006 | $15.74 | $25.14 | $18.11 | 3,940 |
| 2007 | $16.37 | $25.42 | $18.58 | 4,200 |
| 2008 | $16.26 | $24.31 | $18.94 | 4,350 |
| 2009 | $17.09 | $25.65 | $19.35 | 4,240 |
| 2010 | $17.05 | $25.17 | $19.64 | 3,940 |
| 2011 | $17.15 | $24.55 | $20.02 | 3,970 |
| 2012 | $17.29 | $24.24 | $20.35 | 4,170 |
| 2013 | $17.85 | $24.67 | $20.54 | 4,690 |
| 2014 | $18.15 | $24.68 | $20.98 | 4,590 |
| 2015 | $18.65 | $25.33 | $21.40 | 4,330 |
| 2016 | $19.00 | $25.49 | $21.72 | 4,000 |
| 2017 | $19.75 | $25.94 | $22.29 | 3,790 |
| 2018 | $20.52 | $26.31 | $22.76 | 3,670 |
| 2019 | $20.40 | $25.69 | $23.32 | 3,700 |
| 2020 | $21.48 | $26.72 | $24.13 | 3,860 |
| 2021 | $22.66 | $26.92 | $23.41 | 3,750 |
| 2022 | $23.09 | $25.40 | $26.14 | 4,100 |
| 2023 | $23.34 | $24.66 | $28.35 | 4,540 |
| 2024 | $25.49 | $26.16 | $29.15 | 3,920 |
| 2025 | $26.67 | $26.67 | $29.70 | 3,890 |
In today's dollars, the median diesel mechanic wage in Kentucky changed by +5.3% over the last ten years of data and by +3.8% since 2019.
Are there more diesel mechanic jobs in Kentucky?
Since 1999, the number of diesel mechanics counted in Kentucky has changed by -28.2%, against +6.1% for the country as a whole. Since 2019 the state count changed by +5.1%.
Table
| Year | Kentucky jobs | Kentucky index | US index |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 5,420 | 100 | 100 |
| 2000 | 4,950 | 91 | 95 |
| 2001 | 4,360 | 80 | 93 |
| 2002 | 4,300 | 79 | 93 |
| 2003 | 4,020 | 74 | 91 |
| 2004 | 4,070 | 75 | 92 |
| 2005 | 4,210 | 78 | 91 |
| 2006 | 3,940 | 73 | 93 |
| 2007 | 4,200 | 78 | 92 |
| 2008 | 4,350 | 80 | 91 |
| 2009 | 4,240 | 78 | 85 |
| 2010 | 3,940 | 73 | 82 |
| 2011 | 3,970 | 73 | 82 |
| 2012 | 4,170 | 77 | 84 |
| 2013 | 4,690 | 86 | 87 |
| 2014 | 4,590 | 85 | 89 |
| 2015 | 4,330 | 80 | 92 |
| 2016 | 4,000 | 74 | 93 |
| 2017 | 3,790 | 70 | 95 |
| 2018 | 3,670 | 68 | 97 |
| 2019 | 3,700 | 68 | 97 |
| 2020 | 3,860 | 71 | 93 |
| 2021 | 3,750 | 69 | 96 |
| 2022 | 4,100 | 76 | 99 |
| 2023 | 4,540 | 84 | 104 |
| 2024 | 3,920 | 72 | 105 |
| 2025 | 3,890 | 72 | 106 |
Job counts are BLS OEWS survey estimates built from three years of samples, so moves of a few percent from one year to the next are within the survey's margin. Self-employed tradespeople are not counted. Areas with fewer than 3,000 jobs or a large sampling error are shown as a single figure rather than a trend.
Outlook for diesel mechanics in Kentucky
Kentucky's labor market agency projects the number of diesel mechanics in the state to change by +2.5% between 2024 and 2034, from 4,190 to 4,300, with about 350 openings a year. Nationally, BLS projects +3.6% over 2025-35. State counts include the self-employed, so the base is larger than the 3,890 counted by the BLS employer survey.
Source: Kentucky labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034 long-term projections (state projections page).
Is construction work growing in Kentucky?
Keep comparing
Diesel mechanic pay in neighbouring states
Other trades in Kentucky
More on Kentucky
Questions this page answers
How much do diesel mechanics make in Kentucky?
The median diesel mechanic in Kentucky earned $26.67 an hour ($55,480 a year) in May 2025, 10% below the national median of $29.70. The middle half earn $22.38–$30.64; the top 10% earn more than $38.70.
Where does Kentucky rank for diesel mechanic pay?
Kentucky ranks 46th of 51 states for diesel mechanic pay, with a median of $26.67 an hour, and 40th after adjusting for Kentucky's cost of living (BEA price parity 90.2, US = 100).
What is the union diesel mechanic rate in Kentucky?
Davis-Bacon determinations do not list a diesel mechanic classification for most Kentucky counties, or the trade is not covered; the BLS wage figures above are the best available measure.
How many diesel mechanics work in Kentucky?
BLS counted 3,890 diesel mechanics in Kentucky in May 2025, 1.9 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 1.04; 1.0 is the national average concentration).
Is diesel mechanic work growing in Kentucky?
The BLS employer survey count of diesel mechanics in Kentucky went from 4,330 in 2015 to 3,890 in 2025, -10.2%, and +5.1% since 2019. Kentucky's labor market agency projects +2.5% growth for diesel mechanics between 2024 and 2034, from 4,190 to 4,300 jobs.
How many diesel mechanic openings a year are there in Kentucky?
Kentucky projects about 350 openings a year for diesel mechanics over 2024–2034, counting both new positions and replacements for people who retire or change occupation. Nationally BLS projects about 24,400 a year.
Sources and notes
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Kentucky 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.
- State projection: Kentucky labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034, fetched 2026-10-05.