Diesel mechanic salary in Michigan
Median $29.53 an hour for 9,020 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 Michigan: the full range
Michigan ranks 25th of 51 states for median diesel mechanic pay, and 29th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $30.70). 9,020 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 | $21.75 – $24.66 | $45,240 – $51,280 | roughly the 10th–25th percentile |
| Journeyman | $24.66 – $32.43 | $51,280 – $67,460 | the middle half, around the median |
| Master / foreman / specialist | $32.43 – $38.95 | $67,460 – $81,010 | the 75th–90th percentile and above |
Where does your pay fall?
Diesel mechanic pay by metro in Michigan
| Metro | 10th | Median $/hr | 90th | Jobs | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ann Arbor | $24.42 | $31.62 | $38.94 | 220 | 7% above |
| Detroit | $22.52 | $30.46 | $42.70 | 3,820 | 3% above |
| Traverse City | $22.02 | $30.40 | $37.31 | 150 | 3% above |
| Jackson | $21.14 | $30.30 | $40.67 | 90 | 3% above |
| Flint | $21.36 | $29.70 | $36.99 | 170 | 1% above |
| Lansing | $21.32 | $29.69 | $37.30 | 400 | 1% above |
| Midland | $21.86 | $29.51 | $35.92 | 40 | about the same as |
| Grand Rapids | $21.72 | $29.44 | $40.52 | 1,550 | about the same as |
| Bay City | $20.37 | $29.10 | $39.14 | 90 | 1% below |
| Kalamazoo | $21.96 | $28.94 | $37.59 | 230 | 2% below |
| South Bend | $22.21 | $28.81 | $36.95 | 350 | 2% below |
| Niles | $20.16 | $28.65 | $36.32 | 90 | 3% below |
| Saginaw | $19.56 | $28.37 | $37.00 | 190 | 4% below |
| Battle Creek | $19.04 | $28.27 | $35.55 | 130 | 4% below |
| Monroe | $19.56 | $28.00 | $36.34 | 160 | 5% below |
| Muskegon | $17.76 | $26.78 | $33.44 | 100 | 9% below |
Diesel mechanic wages in Michigan over time
Table
| Year | Michigan $/hr | In 2025 $ | US $/hr | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | $15.90 | $30.73 | $14.77 | 7,910 |
| 2000 | $17.70 | $33.09 | $15.55 | 9,090 |
| 2001 | $17.81 | $32.38 | $16.14 | 8,290 |
| 2002 | $17.93 | $32.09 | $16.53 | 7,490 |
| 2003 | $18.55 | $32.46 | $16.81 | 7,580 |
| 2004 | $19.04 | $32.45 | $17.20 | 7,420 |
| 2005 | $19.15 | $31.57 | $17.61 | 7,430 |
| 2006 | $19.24 | $30.73 | $18.11 | 6,970 |
| 2007 | $19.70 | $30.59 | $18.58 | 6,590 |
| 2008 | $20.32 | $30.38 | $18.94 | 6,540 |
| 2009 | $20.81 | $31.23 | $19.35 | 6,020 |
| 2010 | $20.70 | $30.56 | $19.64 | 6,320 |
| 2011 | $20.51 | $29.35 | $20.02 | 6,530 |
| 2012 | $20.53 | $28.79 | $20.35 | 7,080 |
| 2013 | $20.77 | $28.70 | $20.54 | 6,790 |
| 2014 | $19.92 | $27.09 | $20.98 | 6,360 |
| 2015 | $20.38 | $27.68 | $21.40 | 6,690 |
| 2016 | $20.15 | $27.03 | $21.72 | 7,440 |
| 2017 | $21.15 | $27.78 | $22.29 | 8,600 |
| 2018 | $21.68 | $27.80 | $22.76 | 9,360 |
| 2019 | $22.25 | $28.02 | $23.32 | 8,960 |
| 2020 | $23.03 | $28.65 | $24.13 | 7,400 |
| 2021 | $23.01 | $27.34 | $23.41 | 7,690 |
| 2022 | $24.50 | $26.95 | $26.14 | 7,820 |
| 2023 | $26.75 | $28.26 | $28.35 | 8,610 |
| 2024 | $28.50 | $29.25 | $29.15 | 8,330 |
| 2025 | $29.53 | $29.53 | $29.70 | 9,020 |
In today's dollars, the median diesel mechanic wage in Michigan changed by +6.7% over the last ten years of data.
Is construction work growing in Michigan?
Keep comparing
Diesel mechanic pay in neighbouring states
Other trades in Michigan
Questions this page answers
How much do diesel mechanics make in Michigan?
The median diesel mechanic in Michigan earned $29.53 an hour ($61,420 a year) in May 2025, 1% below the national median of $29.70. The middle half earn $24.66–$32.43; the top 10% earn more than $38.95.
Where does Michigan rank for diesel mechanic pay?
Michigan ranks 25th of 51 states for diesel mechanic pay, with a median of $29.53 an hour, and 29th after adjusting for Michigan's cost of living (BEA price parity 96.2, US = 100).
What is the union diesel mechanic rate in Michigan?
Davis-Bacon determinations do not list a diesel mechanic classification for most Michigan counties, or the trade is not covered; the BLS wage figures above are the best available measure.
How many diesel mechanics work in Michigan?
BLS counted 9,020 bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists in Michigan in May 2025, 2.0 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 1.10; 1.0 is the national average concentration).
Sources and notes
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Michigan 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.