Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists

Median salary

$61,770

Average salary

$64,320

Employment

289,960

Projected growth

2.4% growth

Annual openings

26,500

Typical entry education

High school diploma or equivalent

What Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists Do

Diagnose, adjust, repair, or overhaul buses and trucks, or maintain and repair any type of diesel engines. Includes mechanics working primarily with automobile or marine diesel engines.

See full salary breakdown & percentiles →

Career Outlook

National employment outlook, 2024–2034.

Related work experience: None
On-the-job training: Long-term on-the-job training
Self-employed: 6.8%

Source: BLS Employment Projections — 2024-2034.

How Much Preparation Does This Take?

Job Zone 3 of 5

Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed

Experience: Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations.
Education: Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Job training: Employees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.

Source: O*NET Job Zones.

Key Knowledge Areas

Subject-matter areas this occupation draws on most, per O*NET.

Mechanicalimportance 4.7/5
Transportationimportance 3.9/5
Education and Trainingimportance 3.5/5
English Languageimportance 3.5/5
Public Safety and Securityimportance 3.4/5
Mathematicsimportance 3.3/5
Computers and Electronicsimportance 3.3/5
Administration and Managementimportance 3.0/5

Work Environment

What the day-to-day work setting is like, per O*NET.

Exposed to Contaminants4.8/5
Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls4.8/5
Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets4.8/5
Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams4.7/5
In an Enclosed Vehicle or Operate Enclosed Equipment4.6/5
Exposed to Sounds, Noise Levels that are Distracting or Uncomfortable4.6/5

Careers With Similar Skills

Occupations whose Transferable Skills profile most closely matches this one — a mathematical comparison, not observed data about people actually moving between these careers.

Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door96% skill match
Helpers--Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers95% skill match
Signal and Track Switch Repairers95% skill match
Recreational Vehicle Service Technicians95% skill match
Outdoor Power Equipment and Other Small Engine Mechanics94% skill match
Engine and Other Machine Assemblers94% skill match
Timing Device Assemblers and Adjusters94% skill match
Farm Equipment Mechanics and Service Technicians94% skill match

Transferable Skills

Cross-functional skills this occupation draws on most, per O*NET — the kind that carry over to other careers.

Troubleshootingimportance 4.0/5
Repairingimportance 4.0/5
Operations Monitoringimportance 3.5/5
Equipment Maintenanceimportance 3.4/5
Quality Control Analysisimportance 3.3/5
Equipment Selectionimportance 3.1/5
Judgment and Decision Makingimportance 3.1/5
Complex Problem Solvingimportance 3.0/5

Software & Technologies

Tools and software used in this occupation, per O*NET.

Hot Technologies

Other Software Used

Computerized maintenance management system software CMMS
Cummins INSITE
Dassault Systemes CATIA
Database software
Engine diagnostic software
Fleet management software
Inventory tracking software
Scheduling software

Work Style

Personal work characteristics that matter most for this occupation, per O*NET.

Dependability
Attention to Detail
Cautiousness
Perseverance
Stress Tolerance
Integrity
Achievement Orientation

Career Interests

This occupation’s RIASEC interest profile, per O*NET — how strongly it fits each of the six Holland interest types.

RealisticHigh
ConventionalMedium
InvestigativeMedium
SocialLow
EnterprisingLow
ArtisticLow

This page includes information from the O*NET 30.3 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.

Where This Career Is Most Concentrated

Metro areas where bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists make up the largest share of local employment, relative to the national average (BLS location quotient).