Diesel mechanic salary in Tennessee
Median $28.46 an hour for 5,720 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 Tennessee: the full range
Tennessee ranks 39th of 51 states for median diesel mechanic pay, and 27th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $30.97). 5,720 diesel mechanics work in the state. The top 10% earn 2.0× what the bottom 10% earn.
| Career stage (approximate) | Hourly | Annual | Where it sits in the distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apprentice / entry level | $19.45 – $23.40 | $40,450 – $48,680 | roughly the 10th to 25th percentile |
| Journeyman | $23.40 – $34.43 | $48,680 – $71,610 | the middle half, around the median |
| Master, foreman or specialist | $34.43 – $38.74 | $71,610 – $80,580 | the 75th to 90th percentile and above |
Where does your pay fall?
Diesel mechanic pay by metro in Tennessee
| Metro | 10th | Median $/hr | Cost-of-living adjusted | 90th | Jobs | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Memphis | $22.15 | $29.50 | $32.00 | $46.21 | 1,240 | 4% above |
| Nashville | $21.97 | $29.21 | $30.33 | $39.57 | 1,780 | 3% above |
| Morristown | $20.00 | $29.19 | $33.78 | $35.51 | 130 | 3% above |
| Knoxville | $17.61 | $27.89 | $30.12 | $35.89 | 910 | 2% below |
| Kingsport | $18.53 | $27.71 | $32.07 | $37.08 | 290 | 3% below |
| Chattanooga | $18.75 | $27.62 | $30.19 | $40.00 | 480 | 3% below |
| Clarksville | $18.07 | $27.38 | $30.12 | $36.36 | 120 | 4% below |
| Jackson | $19.05 | $26.77 | $31.31 | $34.91 | 210 | 6% below |
| Johnson City | $18.09 | $25.62 | $29.15 | $37.98 | 60 | 10% below |
| Cleveland | $18.64 | $23.58 | $26.77 | $31.46 | 90 | 17% below |
Cost-of-living adjusted: median divided by the BEA regional price parity for the metro (2024, US = 100).
Diesel mechanic wages in Tennessee over time
Table
| Year | Tennessee $/hr | In 2025 $ | US $/hr | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | $12.76 | $24.66 | $14.77 | 4,760 |
| 2000 | $14.28 | $26.70 | $15.55 | 5,460 |
| 2001 | $14.84 | $26.98 | $16.14 | 5,230 |
| 2002 | $14.90 | $26.66 | $16.53 | 5,810 |
| 2003 | $15.35 | $26.86 | $16.81 | 5,920 |
| 2004 | $15.45 | $26.33 | $17.20 | 6,480 |
| 2005 | $16.02 | $26.41 | $17.61 | 6,480 |
| 2006 | $16.64 | $26.57 | $18.11 | 6,530 |
| 2007 | $17.51 | $27.19 | $18.58 | 6,340 |
| 2008 | $18.09 | $27.05 | $18.94 | 6,670 |
| 2009 | $18.30 | $27.46 | $19.35 | 6,070 |
| 2010 | $18.38 | $27.14 | $19.64 | 5,120 |
| 2011 | $17.95 | $25.69 | $20.02 | 4,870 |
| 2012 | $18.49 | $25.93 | $20.35 | 4,870 |
| 2013 | $18.67 | $25.80 | $20.54 | 5,490 |
| 2014 | $20.27 | $27.57 | $20.98 | 5,760 |
| 2015 | $20.97 | $28.48 | $21.40 | 6,390 |
| 2016 | $20.63 | $27.67 | $21.72 | 6,950 |
| 2017 | $20.89 | $27.44 | $22.29 | 7,000 |
| 2018 | $20.77 | $26.63 | $22.76 | 6,410 |
| 2019 | $21.43 | $26.99 | $23.32 | 5,770 |
| 2020 | $21.97 | $27.33 | $24.13 | 5,380 |
| 2021 | $22.75 | $27.03 | $23.41 | 5,320 |
| 2022 | $23.47 | $25.82 | $26.14 | 5,260 |
| 2023 | $26.95 | $28.47 | $28.35 | 6,370 |
| 2024 | $28.42 | $29.17 | $29.15 | 6,640 |
| 2025 | $28.46 | $28.46 | $29.70 | 5,720 |
In today's dollars, the median diesel mechanic wage in Tennessee changed by -0.1% over the last ten years of data and by +5.5% since 2019.
Are there more diesel mechanic jobs in Tennessee?
Since 1999, the number of diesel mechanics counted in Tennessee has changed by +20.2%, against +6.1% for the country as a whole. Since 2019 the state count changed by -0.9%.
Table
| Year | Tennessee jobs | Tennessee index | US index |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 4,760 | 100 | 100 |
| 2000 | 5,460 | 115 | 95 |
| 2001 | 5,230 | 110 | 93 |
| 2002 | 5,810 | 122 | 93 |
| 2003 | 5,920 | 124 | 91 |
| 2004 | 6,480 | 136 | 92 |
| 2005 | 6,480 | 136 | 91 |
| 2006 | 6,530 | 137 | 93 |
| 2007 | 6,340 | 133 | 92 |
| 2008 | 6,670 | 140 | 91 |
| 2009 | 6,070 | 128 | 85 |
| 2010 | 5,120 | 108 | 82 |
| 2011 | 4,870 | 102 | 82 |
| 2012 | 4,870 | 102 | 84 |
| 2013 | 5,490 | 115 | 87 |
| 2014 | 5,760 | 121 | 89 |
| 2015 | 6,390 | 134 | 92 |
| 2016 | 6,950 | 146 | 93 |
| 2017 | 7,000 | 147 | 95 |
| 2018 | 6,410 | 135 | 97 |
| 2019 | 5,770 | 121 | 97 |
| 2020 | 5,380 | 113 | 93 |
| 2021 | 5,320 | 112 | 96 |
| 2022 | 5,260 | 110 | 99 |
| 2023 | 6,370 | 134 | 104 |
| 2024 | 6,640 | 140 | 105 |
| 2025 | 5,720 | 120 | 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 Tennessee
Tennessee's labor market agency projects the number of diesel mechanics in the state to change by +9.1% between 2024 and 2034, from 7,060 to 7,710, with about 650 openings a year. Nationally, BLS projects +3.6% over 2025-35. State counts include the self-employed, so the base is larger than the 5,720 counted by the BLS employer survey.
Source: Tennessee labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034 long-term projections (state projections page).
Is construction work growing in Tennessee?
Keep comparing
Diesel mechanic pay in neighbouring states
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More on Tennessee
Questions this page answers
How much do diesel mechanics make in Tennessee?
The median diesel mechanic in Tennessee earned $28.46 an hour ($59,190 a year) in May 2025, 4% below the national median of $29.70. The middle half earn $23.40–$34.43; the top 10% earn more than $38.74.
Where does Tennessee rank for diesel mechanic pay?
Tennessee ranks 39th of 51 states for diesel mechanic pay, with a median of $28.46 an hour, and 27th after adjusting for Tennessee's cost of living (BEA price parity 91.9, US = 100).
What is the union diesel mechanic rate in Tennessee?
Davis-Bacon determinations do not list a diesel mechanic classification for most Tennessee counties, or the trade is not covered; the BLS wage figures above are the best available measure.
How many diesel mechanics work in Tennessee?
BLS counted 5,720 diesel mechanics in Tennessee in May 2025, 1.8 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 0.94; 1.0 is the national average concentration).
Is diesel mechanic work growing in Tennessee?
The BLS employer survey count of diesel mechanics in Tennessee went from 6,390 in 2015 to 5,720 in 2025, -10.5%, and -0.9% since 2019. Tennessee's labor market agency projects +9.1% growth for diesel mechanics between 2024 and 2034, from 7,060 to 7,710 jobs.
How many diesel mechanic openings a year are there in Tennessee?
Tennessee projects about 650 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, Tennessee 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: Tennessee labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034, fetched 2026-10-05.