Diesel mechanic salary in Wisconsin
Median $30.02 an hour for 6,750 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 Wisconsin: the full range
Wisconsin ranks 21st of 51 states for median diesel mechanic pay, and 16th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $31.90). 6,750 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 | $21.76 – $25.02 | $45,250 – $52,040 | roughly the 10th–25th percentile |
| Journeyman | $25.02 – $35.96 | $52,040 – $74,800 | the middle half, around the median |
| Master / foreman / specialist | $35.96 – $39.52 | $74,800 – $82,210 | the 75th–90th percentile and above |
Where does your pay fall?
Diesel mechanic pay by metro in Wisconsin
| Metro | 10th | Median $/hr | 90th | Jobs | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis | $24.71 | $35.45 | $45.25 | 4,290 | 18% above |
| Duluth | $23.69 | $32.81 | $43.33 | 370 | 9% above |
| Janesville | $22.74 | $32.28 | $41.97 | 240 | 8% above |
| Oshkosh | $22.55 | $31.44 | $42.72 | 260 | 5% above |
| Racine | $22.47 | $31.14 | $36.90 | 290 | 4% above |
| Appleton | $21.31 | $30.70 | $38.53 | 270 | 2% above |
| Madison | $21.88 | $30.70 | $39.02 | 840 | 2% above |
| Milwaukee | $22.46 | $30.25 | $40.04 | 1,380 | 1% above |
| Fond du Lac | $21.12 | $30.08 | $37.62 | 120 | about the same as |
| Eau Claire | $21.38 | $30.00 | $37.66 | 270 | about the same as |
| La Crosse | $21.78 | $29.37 | $37.29 | 260 | 2% below |
| Green Bay | $22.00 | $29.26 | $39.13 | 430 | 3% below |
| Kenosha | $22.15 | $28.82 | $36.97 | 190 | 4% below |
| Sheboygan | $22.48 | $28.73 | $36.84 | 110 | 4% below |
| Wausau | $17.49 | $28.53 | $36.97 | 280 | 5% below |
Diesel mechanic wages in Wisconsin over time
Table
| Year | Wisconsin $/hr | In 2025 $ | US $/hr | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | $14.39 | $27.81 | $14.77 | 7,740 |
| 2000 | $15.88 | $29.69 | $15.55 | 7,240 |
| 2001 | $16.42 | $29.85 | $16.14 | 6,650 |
| 2002 | $16.86 | $30.17 | $16.53 | 6,290 |
| 2003 | $16.81 | $29.41 | $16.81 | 5,750 |
| 2004 | $16.79 | $28.62 | $17.20 | 5,130 |
| 2005 | $17.33 | $28.57 | $17.61 | 5,340 |
| 2006 | $18.11 | $28.92 | $18.11 | 5,210 |
| 2007 | $17.90 | $27.79 | $18.58 | 5,630 |
| 2008 | $18.35 | $27.44 | $18.94 | 5,480 |
| 2009 | $19.06 | $28.60 | $19.35 | 5,800 |
| 2010 | $19.61 | $28.95 | $19.64 | 5,450 |
| 2011 | $19.68 | $28.17 | $20.02 | 6,220 |
| 2012 | $19.29 | $27.05 | $20.35 | 6,080 |
| 2013 | $19.41 | $26.82 | $20.54 | 5,980 |
| 2014 | $20.09 | $27.32 | $20.98 | 6,060 |
| 2015 | $20.90 | $28.39 | $21.40 | 6,050 |
| 2016 | $21.58 | $28.95 | $21.72 | 6,130 |
| 2017 | $22.61 | $29.70 | $22.29 | 6,210 |
| 2018 | $22.86 | $29.31 | $22.76 | 5,990 |
| 2019 | $23.46 | $29.54 | $23.32 | 6,070 |
| 2020 | $23.83 | $29.64 | $24.13 | 5,440 |
| 2021 | $23.74 | $28.21 | $23.41 | 6,120 |
| 2022 | $27.28 | $30.01 | $26.14 | 5,700 |
| 2023 | $28.57 | $30.19 | $28.35 | 6,250 |
| 2024 | $28.94 | $29.70 | $29.15 | 7,170 |
| 2025 | $30.02 | $30.02 | $29.70 | 6,750 |
In today's dollars, the median diesel mechanic wage in Wisconsin changed by +5.7% over the last ten years of data.
Is construction work growing in Wisconsin?
Keep comparing
Diesel mechanic pay in neighbouring states
Other trades in Wisconsin
Questions this page answers
How much do diesel mechanics make in Wisconsin?
The median diesel mechanic in Wisconsin earned $30.02 an hour ($62,450 a year) in May 2025, 1% above the national median of $29.70. The middle half earn $25.02–$35.96; the top 10% earn more than $39.52.
Where does Wisconsin rank for diesel mechanic pay?
Wisconsin ranks 21st of 51 states for diesel mechanic pay, with a median of $30.02 an hour, and 16th after adjusting for Wisconsin's cost of living (BEA price parity 94.1, US = 100).
What is the union diesel mechanic rate in Wisconsin?
Davis-Bacon determinations do not list a diesel mechanic classification for most Wisconsin counties, or the trade is not covered; the BLS wage figures above are the best available measure.
How many diesel mechanics work in Wisconsin?
BLS counted 6,750 bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists in Wisconsin in May 2025, 2.3 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 1.23; 1.0 is the national average concentration).
Sources and notes
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Wisconsin 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.