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Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists

Job Zone 3 - Medium preparation needed

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.

Pay & job outlook

Median pay: $61,770/yr (U.S. national, May 2025)

$44,530$88,740

Typical range nationwide (10th–90th percentile). This is a population snapshot, not a personal prediction - actual pay varies by location, employer, and experience.

Job outlook: +2.4% projected growth, 20242034 — about as fast as average.

About 26,500 openings per year, on average, over the decade.

Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS and Employment Projections.

Top skills
TroubleshootingRepairingOperations MonitoringEquipment MaintenanceCritical ThinkingQuality Control AnalysisEquipment SelectionSpeakingJudgment and Decision MakingMonitoring
Top knowledge areas
MechanicalTransportationEducation and TrainingEnglish LanguagePublic Safety and SecurityMathematicsComputers and ElectronicsAdministration and Management
Core tasks

Use handtools, such as screwdrivers, pliers, wrenches, pressure gauges, or precision instruments, as well as power tools, such as pneumatic wrenches, lathes, welding equipment, or jacks and hoists.

Inspect brake systems, steering mechanisms, wheel bearings, and other important parts to ensure that they are in proper operating condition.

Raise trucks, buses, and heavy parts or equipment using hydraulic jacks or hoists.

Adjust and reline brakes, align wheels, tighten bolts and screws, and reassemble equipment.

Attach test instruments to equipment, and read dials and gauges to diagnose malfunctions.

Perform routine maintenance such as changing oil, checking batteries, and lubricating equipment and machinery.

Examine and adjust protective guards, loose bolts, and specified safety devices.

Inspect, test, and listen to defective equipment to diagnose malfunctions, using test instruments such as handheld computers, motor analyzers, chassis charts, or pressure gauges.