Diesel mechanic salary in North Carolina
Median $27.64 an hour for 11,070 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 North Carolina: the full range
North Carolina ranks 44th of 51 states for median diesel mechanic pay, and 42nd once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $29.31). 11,070 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 | $19.18 – $23.10 | $39,890 – $48,040 | roughly the 10th–25th percentile |
| Journeyman | $23.10 – $31.14 | $48,040 – $64,770 | the middle half, around the median |
| Master / foreman / specialist | $31.14 – $36.65 | $64,770 – $76,240 | the 75th–90th percentile and above |
Where does your pay fall?
Diesel mechanic pay by metro in North Carolina
| Metro | 10th | Median $/hr | 90th | Jobs | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Burlington | $19.47 | $29.17 | $37.67 | 180 | 6% above |
| Durham | $21.38 | $29.11 | $39.53 | 370 | 5% above |
| Charlotte | $18.45 | $28.99 | $37.97 | 3,350 | 5% above |
| Raleigh | $22.48 | $28.99 | $37.12 | 1,070 | 5% above |
| Virginia Beach | $21.02 | $28.46 | $35.48 | 1,360 | 3% above |
| Greensboro | $18.84 | $27.98 | $37.19 | 970 | 1% above |
| Winston-Salem | $19.93 | $27.93 | $35.55 | 580 | 1% above |
| Asheville | $22.48 | $27.48 | $36.32 | 320 | 1% below |
| Rocky Mount | $19.44 | $26.87 | $36.60 | 130 | 3% below |
| Pinehurst | $18.94 | $26.83 | $35.06 | 40 | 3% below |
| Fayetteville | $18.94 | $26.81 | $34.39 | 270 | 3% below |
| Wilmington | $19.62 | $26.71 | $36.36 | 360 | 3% below |
| Hickory | $18.56 | $26.19 | $34.62 | 410 | 5% below |
| Goldsboro | $19.00 | $25.95 | $29.22 | 80 | 6% below |
| Jacksonville | $18.07 | $25.34 | $32.82 | 100 | 8% below |
| Greenville | $18.16 | $23.97 | $34.84 | 160 | 13% below |
Diesel mechanic wages in North Carolina over time
Table
| Year | North Carolina $/hr | In 2025 $ | US $/hr | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | $13.64 | $26.36 | $14.77 | 8,410 |
| 2000 | $14.70 | $27.48 | $15.55 | 8,380 |
| 2001 | $15.11 | $27.47 | $16.14 | 8,130 |
| 2002 | $15.53 | $27.79 | $16.53 | 7,720 |
| 2003 | $15.87 | $27.77 | $16.81 | 6,820 |
| 2004 | $16.48 | $28.09 | $17.20 | 7,310 |
| 2005 | $16.80 | $27.69 | $17.61 | 7,360 |
| 2006 | $17.11 | $27.32 | $18.11 | 7,780 |
| 2007 | $17.75 | $27.56 | $18.58 | 8,040 |
| 2008 | $18.22 | $27.24 | $18.94 | 7,570 |
| 2009 | $18.29 | $27.45 | $19.35 | 6,840 |
| 2010 | $18.60 | $27.46 | $19.64 | 6,090 |
| 2011 | $18.70 | $26.76 | $20.02 | 6,150 |
| 2012 | $19.14 | $26.84 | $20.35 | 5,930 |
| 2013 | $18.84 | $26.04 | $20.54 | 6,130 |
| 2014 | $19.66 | $26.74 | $20.98 | 7,020 |
| 2015 | $19.82 | $26.92 | $21.40 | 7,240 |
| 2016 | $20.04 | $26.88 | $21.72 | 7,690 |
| 2017 | $20.50 | $26.92 | $22.29 | 8,840 |
| 2018 | $21.22 | $27.21 | $22.76 | 8,830 |
| 2019 | $22.04 | $27.75 | $23.32 | 8,450 |
| 2020 | $23.20 | $28.86 | $24.13 | 8,150 |
| 2021 | $22.89 | $27.20 | $23.41 | 9,130 |
| 2022 | $24.18 | $26.60 | $26.14 | 9,990 |
| 2023 | $25.28 | $26.71 | $28.35 | 9,920 |
| 2024 | $25.57 | $26.24 | $29.15 | 10,290 |
| 2025 | $27.64 | $27.64 | $29.70 | 11,070 |
In today's dollars, the median diesel mechanic wage in North Carolina changed by +2.7% over the last ten years of data.
Is construction work growing in North Carolina?
Keep comparing
Diesel mechanic pay in neighbouring states
Other trades in North Carolina
Questions this page answers
How much do diesel mechanics make in North Carolina?
The median diesel mechanic in North Carolina earned $27.64 an hour ($57,490 a year) in May 2025, 7% below the national median of $29.70. The middle half earn $23.10–$31.14; the top 10% earn more than $36.65.
Where does North Carolina rank for diesel mechanic pay?
North Carolina ranks 44th of 51 states for diesel mechanic pay, with a median of $27.64 an hour, and 42nd after adjusting for North Carolina's cost of living (BEA price parity 94.3, US = 100).
What is the union diesel mechanic rate in North Carolina?
Davis-Bacon determinations do not list a diesel mechanic classification for most North Carolina counties, or the trade is not covered; the BLS wage figures above are the best available measure.
How many diesel mechanics work in North Carolina?
BLS counted 11,070 bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists in North Carolina in May 2025, 2.2 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 1.20; 1.0 is the national average concentration).
Sources and notes
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, North Carolina 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.