Diesel mechanic salary in Texas
Median $28.27 an hour for 29,870 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 Texas: the full range
Texas ranks 41st of 51 states for median diesel mechanic pay, and 45th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $29.11). 29,870 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 | $19.68 – $22.85 | $40,930 – $47,520 | roughly the 10th–25th percentile |
| Journeyman | $22.85 – $33.84 | $47,520 – $70,400 | the middle half, around the median |
| Master / foreman / specialist | $33.84 – $39.26 | $70,400 – $81,660 | the 75th–90th percentile and above |
Where does your pay fall?
Diesel mechanic pay by metro in Texas
| Metro | 10th | Median $/hr | 90th | Jobs | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Midland | $20.95 | $29.71 | $43.13 | 580 | 5% above |
| Odessa | $21.51 | $29.60 | $46.34 | 420 | 5% above |
| Austin | $22.64 | $29.36 | $38.94 | 1,560 | 4% above |
| Houston | $21.62 | $29.22 | $46.47 | 7,410 | 3% above |
| Dallas-Fort Worth | $21.99 | $29.04 | $39.26 | 7,940 | 3% above |
| San Antonio | $20.85 | $28.18 | $38.67 | 2,160 | about the same as |
| Sherman | $19.54 | $27.98 | $37.49 | 70 | 1% below |
| Waco | $21.21 | $27.84 | $38.57 | 300 | 2% below |
| Amarillo | $18.37 | $27.43 | $35.32 | 350 | 3% below |
| Beaumont | $19.41 | $27.43 | $37.04 | 340 | 3% below |
| Abilene | $19.49 | $27.22 | $38.77 | 210 | 4% below |
| College Station | $17.12 | $26.86 | $41.44 | 210 | 5% below |
| Wichita Falls | $18.43 | $26.31 | $37.99 | 80 | 7% below |
| Tyler | $17.54 | $26.18 | $33.68 | 260 | 7% below |
| Killeen | $20.12 | $26.15 | $33.43 | 360 | 7% below |
| Corpus Christi | $18.00 | $25.59 | $37.82 | 430 | 9% below |
| Longview | $19.00 | $25.04 | $37.89 | 350 | 11% below |
| Victoria | $18.55 | $24.77 | $38.22 | 70 | 12% below |
| San Angelo | $17.74 | $24.64 | $32.72 | 80 | 13% below |
| Brownsville | $20.28 | $24.30 | $30.93 | 380 | 14% below |
| Lubbock | $17.06 | $23.99 | $34.84 | 340 | 15% below |
| Laredo | $18.49 | $23.21 | $31.34 | 760 | 18% below |
| El Paso | $18.04 | $22.85 | $32.85 | 1,090 | 19% below |
| McAllen | $17.78 | $22.84 | $32.82 | 650 | 19% below |
| Texarkana | $18.20 | $22.79 | $33.48 | 180 | 19% below |
Diesel mechanic wages in Texas over time
Table
| Year | Texas $/hr | In 2025 $ | US $/hr | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | $13.70 | $26.47 | $14.77 | 18,420 |
| 2000 | $14.04 | $26.25 | $15.55 | 15,910 |
| 2001 | $14.73 | $26.78 | $16.14 | 16,050 |
| 2002 | $14.79 | $26.47 | $16.53 | 17,840 |
| 2003 | $15.18 | $26.56 | $16.81 | 17,770 |
| 2004 | $15.40 | $26.25 | $17.20 | 19,610 |
| 2005 | $15.91 | $26.23 | $17.61 | 18,470 |
| 2006 | $16.14 | $25.77 | $18.11 | 18,750 |
| 2007 | $16.34 | $25.37 | $18.58 | 18,940 |
| 2008 | $17.15 | $25.64 | $18.94 | 20,610 |
| 2009 | $18.09 | $27.15 | $19.35 | 18,830 |
| 2010 | $18.37 | $27.12 | $19.64 | 18,860 |
| 2011 | $18.55 | $26.55 | $20.02 | 18,590 |
| 2012 | $18.79 | $26.35 | $20.35 | 21,180 |
| 2013 | $19.46 | $26.89 | $20.54 | 21,980 |
| 2014 | $20.27 | $27.57 | $20.98 | 22,780 |
| 2015 | $20.64 | $28.04 | $21.40 | 25,330 |
| 2016 | $21.43 | $28.75 | $21.72 | 26,320 |
| 2017 | $21.63 | $28.41 | $22.29 | 27,410 |
| 2018 | $22.50 | $28.85 | $22.76 | 27,960 |
| 2019 | $22.94 | $28.89 | $23.32 | 26,430 |
| 2020 | $23.95 | $29.79 | $24.13 | 25,140 |
| 2021 | $23.01 | $27.34 | $23.41 | 23,950 |
| 2022 | $24.50 | $26.95 | $26.14 | 25,040 |
| 2023 | $27.30 | $28.84 | $28.35 | 28,410 |
| 2024 | $27.82 | $28.55 | $29.15 | 29,730 |
| 2025 | $28.27 | $28.27 | $29.70 | 29,870 |
In today's dollars, the median diesel mechanic wage in Texas changed by +0.8% over the last ten years of data.
Is construction work growing in Texas?
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Diesel mechanic pay in neighbouring states
Other trades in Texas
Questions this page answers
How much do diesel mechanics make in Texas?
The median diesel mechanic in Texas earned $28.27 an hour ($58,810 a year) in May 2025, 5% below the national median of $29.70. The middle half earn $22.85–$33.84; the top 10% earn more than $39.26.
Where does Texas rank for diesel mechanic pay?
Texas ranks 41st of 51 states for diesel mechanic pay, with a median of $28.27 an hour, and 45th after adjusting for Texas's cost of living (BEA price parity 97.1, US = 100).
What is the union diesel mechanic rate in Texas?
Davis-Bacon determinations do not list a diesel mechanic classification for most Texas counties, or the trade is not covered; the BLS wage figures above are the best available measure.
How many diesel mechanics work in Texas?
BLS counted 29,870 bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists in Texas in May 2025, 2.1 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 1.14; 1.0 is the national average concentration).
Sources and notes
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Texas 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.