Lead Diesel Technician Salary: United States
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The median annual wage for Lead Diesel Technician in the United States was $61,770 in May 2025 (BLS). The middle half of workers earned between $50,540 and $75,470.
Broader occupation Our title "Lead Diesel Technician" is reported by BLS as SOC 49-3031 Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists. BLS groups Lead Diesel Technician within Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists; it does not publish this niche title or credential level separately.
Annual wages
Lead Diesel Technician, the United States, annual wages: 10% earned less than $44,530, half earned less than the median of $61,770, 90% earned less than $88,740 (BLS, May 2025).
| Measure | Annual wage | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $44,530 | 10% of workers in this occupation and area earned less than this. |
| 25th percentile | $50,540 | 25% earned less than this. |
| Median (50th) | $61,770 | Half earned less, half earned more. |
| 75th percentile | $75,470 | 75% earned less than this. |
| 90th percentile | $88,740 | 90% earned less than this. |
| Mean | $64,320 | Arithmetic average of reported wages. |
Hourly wages
Lead Diesel Technician, the United States, hourly wages: 10% earned less than $21.41, half earned less than the median of $29.70, 90% earned less than $42.66 (BLS, May 2025).
| Measure | Hourly wage | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $21.41 per hour | 10% of workers in this occupation and area earned less than this. |
| 25th percentile | $24.30 per hour | 25% earned less than this. |
| Median (50th) | $29.70 per hour | Half earned less, half earned more. |
| 75th percentile | $36.29 per hour | 75% earned less than this. |
| 90th percentile | $42.66 per hour | 90% earned less than this. |
| Mean | $30.92 per hour | Arithmetic average of reported wages. |
Employment: BLS estimates 289,960 workers in this occupation nationally.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. SOC 49-3031 Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists, National.
What BLS wages include. Base pay plus any guaranteed or production-based incentive pay. They leave out overtime, discretionary bonus, benefits, per diem and relocation.
BLS definitions, verbatim
wages
Base rate; cost-of-living allowances; guaranteed pay; hazardous-duty pay; incentive pay, including commissions and production bonuses; and tips are included. Excluded are overtime pay, severance pay, shift differentials, nonproduction bonuses, employer cost for supplementary benefits, and tuition reimbursements.
hours
Annual wages have been calculated by multiplying the hourly wages by 2,080 hours; for occupations where hourly wages are not published, annual wages were taken directly from the reported survey data.
Target metros
| Metro | Median | 25th to 75th percentile | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $61,340 | $51,110 to $75,750 | 4,240 | 0.81 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $61,060 | $50,550 to $74,950 | 1,910 | 0.71 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $60,240 | $49,010 to $72,640 | 1,960 | 0.74 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $60,310 | $51,200 to $70,790 | 1,070 | 0.77 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $75,780 | $61,440 to $88,760 | 12,430 | 0.7 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $75,780 | $61,440 to $88,760 | 12,430 | 0.7 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $60,390 | $48,520 to $72,590 | 7,940 | 1.05 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $60,770 | $49,810 to $74,500 | 7,410 | 1.21 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $65,680 | $58,080 to $83,900 | 8,660 | 1.03 |
How does Lead Diesel Technician pay differ by industry?
These are national industry estimates for SOC 49-3031, not local offers or separate estimates for the niche title. Industry names are exactly as BLS publishes them.
| Industry | NAICS | Median | Basis | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Utilities | 22 | $99,210 | Annual | 3,030 |
| Utilities | 221000 | $99,210 | Annual | 3,030 |
| Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution | 221100 | $98,940 | Annual | 2,510 |
| Natural Gas Distribution | 221200 | $103,610 | Annual | 460 |
| Water, Sewage and Other Systems | 221300 | $56,730 | Annual | 60 |
| Construction | 23 | $62,720 | Annual | 10,330 |
| Construction of Buildings | 236000 | $57,450 | Annual | 1,070 |
| Residential Building Construction | 236100 | $64,000 | Annual | 150 |
| Nonresidential Building Construction | 236200 | $57,050 | Annual | 920 |
| Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction | 237000 | $66,500 | Annual | 3,640 |
| Utility System Construction | 237100 | $67,100 | Annual | 1,750 |
| Highway, Street, and Bridge Construction | 237300 | $66,570 | Annual | 1,680 |
| Other Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction | 237900 | $61,560 | Annual | 180 |
| Specialty Trade Contractors | 238000 | $62,400 | Annual | 5,620 |
| Foundation, Structure, and Building Exterior Contractors | 238100 | $61,010 | Annual | 1,120 |
| Building Equipment Contractors | 238200 | $62,880 | Annual | 1,380 |
| Building Finishing Contractors | 238300 | $65,200 | Annual | 140 |
| Other Specialty Trade Contractors | 238900 | $62,400 | Annual | 2,970 |
| Food Manufacturing | 311000 | $74,430 | Annual | 2,760 |
| Animal Food Manufacturing | 311100 | $59,560 | Annual | 190 |
| Grain and Oilseed Milling | 311200 | $88,090 | Annual | 160 |
| Fruit and Vegetable Preserving and Specialty Food Manufacturing | 311400 | $47,250 | Annual | 80 |
| Dairy Product Manufacturing | 311500 | $63,950 | Annual | 280 |
| Animal Slaughtering and Processing | 311600 | $53,460 | Annual | 540 |
| Bakeries and Tortilla Manufacturing | 311800 | $66,290 | Annual | 40 |
| Other Food Manufacturing | 311900 | $81,380 | Annual | 1,420 |
| Beverage and Tobacco Product Manufacturing | 312000 | $68,880 | Annual | 840 |
| Beverage Manufacturing | 312100 | $68,880 | Annual | 840 |
| Manufacturing | 31-33 | $62,970 | Annual | 15,390 |
| Wood Product Manufacturing | 321000 | $59,680 | Annual | 340 |
| Sawmills and Wood Preservation | 321100 | $58,680 | Annual | 90 |
| Veneer, Plywood, and Engineered Wood Product Manufacturing | 321200 | $62,830 | Annual | 60 |
| Other Wood Product Manufacturing | 321900 | $59,280 | Annual | 180 |
| Paper Manufacturing | 322000 | $79,620 | Annual | 40 |
| Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing | 324000 | $62,630 | Annual | 240 |
| Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing | 324100 | $62,630 | Annual | 240 |
| Chemical Manufacturing | 325000 | $71,820 | Annual | 450 |
| Chemical Manufacturing (3251, 3252, 3253, and 3259 only) | 3250A1 | $71,730 | Annual | 450 |
| Plastics and Rubber Products Manufacturing | 326000 | $55,570 | Annual | 180 |
| Plastics Product Manufacturing | 326100 | $73,010 | Annual | 80 |
| Rubber Product Manufacturing | 326200 | $45,470 | Annual | 100 |
| Nonmetallic Mineral Product Manufacturing | 327000 | $62,640 | Annual | 6,050 |
| Primary Metal Manufacturing | 331000 | $74,740 | Annual | 120 |
| Alumina and Aluminum Production and Processing | 331300 | $74,780 | Annual | 60 |
| Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing | 332000 | $53,620 | Annual | 360 |
| Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (3321, 3322, 3325, 3326, and 3329 only) | 3320A1 | $65,500 | Annual | 70 |
| Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (3323 and 3324 only) | 3320A2 | $53,620 | Annual | 180 |
| Machine Shops; Turned Product; and Screw, Nut, and Bolt Manufacturing | 332700 | $50,950 | Annual | Not published by BLS |
| Machinery Manufacturing | 333000 | $53,710 | Annual | 370 |
| Machinery Manufacturing (3331, 3332, 3334, and 3339 only) | 3330A1 | $53,710 | Annual | 200 |
| Engine, Turbine, and Power Transmission Equipment Manufacturing | 333600 | $49,710 | Annual | 170 |
| Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing | 334000 | $71,150 | Annual | Not published by BLS |
| Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing | 334500 | $71,150 | Annual | Not published by BLS |
| Transportation Equipment Manufacturing | 336000 | $61,190 | Annual | 3,220 |
| Motor Vehicle Manufacturing | 336100 | $63,430 | Annual | 1,460 |
| Motor Vehicle Body and Trailer Manufacturing | 336200 | $56,610 | Annual | 1,400 |
| Motor Vehicle Parts Manufacturing | 336300 | $68,870 | Annual | 270 |
| Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing | 336400 | $68,300 | Annual | 40 |
| Ship and Boat Building | 336600 | $58,750 | Annual | Not published by BLS |
| Furniture and Related Product Manufacturing | 337000 | $49,330 | Annual | 30 |
| Furniture and Related Product Manufacturing (3371 and 3372 only) | 3370A1 | $49,330 | Annual | 30 |
| Miscellaneous Manufacturing | 339000 | $73,540 | Annual | 80 |
| Other Miscellaneous Manufacturing | 339900 | $73,540 | Annual | 80 |
| Air Transportation | 481000 | $99,420 | Annual | 780 |
| Scheduled Air Transportation | 481100 | $102,280 | Annual | 780 |
| Rail Transportation | 482000 | $62,540 | Annual | 1,500 |
| Rail Transportation | 482100 | $62,540 | Annual | 1,500 |
| Water Transportation | 483000 | $82,090 | Annual | 710 |
| Deep Sea, Coastal, and Great Lakes Water Transportation | 483100 | $78,770 | Annual | 370 |
| Inland Water Transportation | 483200 | $93,680 | Annual | 340 |
| Truck Transportation | 484000 | $59,820 | Annual | 56,870 |
| Transit and Ground Passenger Transportation | 485000 | $61,500 | Annual | 12,700 |
| Urban Transit Systems | 485100 | $69,300 | Annual | 2,950 |
| Interurban and Rural Bus Transportation | 485200 | $63,760 | Annual | 920 |
| Taxi and Limousine Service | 485300 | $63,270 | Annual | 100 |
| School and Employee Bus Transportation | 485400 | $59,680 | Annual | 6,170 |
| Charter Bus Industry | 485500 | $60,130 | Annual | 1,230 |
| Other Transit and Ground Passenger Transportation | 485900 | $60,620 | Annual | 1,330 |
| Pipeline Transportation | 486000 | $75,360 | Annual | 250 |
| Pipeline Transportation of Crude Oil | 486100 | $79,630 | Annual | 140 |
| Other Pipeline Transportation | 486900 | $74,810 | Annual | Not published by BLS |
| Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation | 487000 | $64,530 | Annual | 390 |
| Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Land | 487100 | $64,530 | Annual | 390 |
| Support Activities for Transportation | 488000 | $58,550 | Annual | 5,820 |
| Support Activities for Air Transportation | 488100 | $58,630 | Annual | 360 |
| Support Activities for Rail Transportation | 488200 | $51,050 | Annual | 290 |
| Support Activities for Water Transportation | 488300 | $83,700 | Annual | 1,050 |
| Support Activities for Road Transportation | 488400 | $52,370 | Annual | 2,890 |
| Freight Transportation Arrangement | 488500 | $59,750 | Annual | 950 |
| Other Support Activities for Transportation | 488900 | $52,000 | Annual | 280 |
| Couriers and Messengers | 492000 | $94,860 | Annual | 4,500 |
| Couriers and Express Delivery Services | 492100 | $95,150 | Annual | 4,260 |
| Local Messengers and Local Delivery | 492200 | $51,990 | Annual | 240 |
| Warehousing and Storage | 493000 | $65,530 | Annual | 2,900 |
| Warehousing and Storage | 493100 | $65,530 | Annual | 2,900 |
| Real Estate and Rental and Leasing | 53 | $60,290 | Annual | 19,030 |
| Real Estate | 531000 | $74,430 | Annual | 170 |
| Rental and Leasing Services | 532000 | $60,220 | Annual | 18,860 |
| Rental and Leasing Services (5322, 5323, and 5324 only) | 5320A1 | $62,210 | Annual | 2,510 |
| Automotive Equipment Rental and Leasing | 532100 | $59,990 | Annual | 16,350 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 54 | $60,200 | Annual | 1,820 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 541000 | $60,200 | Annual | 1,820 |
| Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services | 541300 | $52,630 | Annual | 250 |
| Computer Systems Design and Related Services | 541500 | $68,070 | Annual | Not published by BLS |
| Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services | 541600 | $60,910 | Annual | 720 |
| Scientific Research and Development Services | 541700 | $60,200 | Annual | 760 |
| Services to Buildings and Dwellings | 561700 | $63,020 | Annual | Not published by BLS |
| Waste Management and Remediation Services | 562000 | $61,780 | Annual | 14,700 |
| Waste Collection | 562100 | $61,540 | Annual | 10,580 |
| Waste Treatment and Disposal | 562200 | $62,720 | Annual | 2,890 |
| Remediation and Other Waste Management Services | 562900 | $61,350 | Annual | 1,230 |
| Repair and Maintenance | 811000 | $60,790 | Annual | 33,000 |
| Automotive Repair and Maintenance | 811100 | $60,330 | Annual | 27,190 |
| Commercial and Industrial Machinery and Equipment (except Automotive and Electronic) Repair and Maintenance | 811300 | $62,400 | Annual | 5,560 |
| Personal and Household Goods Repair and Maintenance | 811400 | $46,200 | Annual | 260 |
Industry estimates are national. Do not combine an industry median with a local percentile to invent an industry-specific local rate.
Which related roles have a different BLS occupation?
A supervisory occupation is not an experience percentile for the craft. Compare the actual responsibilities and the published SOC.
Shop Foreman (49-1011)Which metros publish the highest and lowest medians?
This ranking uses the May 2025 annual median for Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists. It is not adjusted for living costs. A metro is a BLS statistical area, not just the city limits. Top-coded or suppressed medians are not ranked.
| Metro | Median | Employment | Location quotient | Trade median / all-occupations median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $88,980 | 720 | 0.34 | 1.06 |
| Urban Honolulu, HI | $85,040 | 540 | 0.65 | 1.49 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $82,330 | 3,740 | 0.96 | 1.13 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $82,100 | 1,730 | 0.39 | 1.11 |
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | $80,450 | 160 | 0.94 | 1.27 |
| Boulder, CO | $79,030 | 150 | 0.41 | 1.14 |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | $78,960 | 260 | 1.06 | 1.27 |
| Paducah, KY-IL | $78,900 | 190 | 2.07 | 1.72 |
| Bellingham, WA | $78,330 | 220 | 1.3 | 1.35 |
| Napa, CA | $78,070 | 60 | 0.43 | 1.41 |
| Texarkana, TX-AR | $47,400 | 180 | 1.72 | 1.10 |
| Gadsden, AL | $46,740 | 110 | 1.7 | 1.27 |
| Sebring, FL | $46,650 | 50 | 0.97 | 1.15 |
| Ponce, PR | $46,280 | 60 | 0.53 | 1.72 |
| Morgantown, WV | $44,220 | 50 | 0.37 | 0.93 |
| Arecibo, PR | $43,920 | 40 | 0.68 | 1.68 |
| Parkersburg-Vienna, WV | $43,680 | 60 | 0.82 | 1.04 |
| Mayaguez, PR | $41,460 | 60 | 0.59 | 1.64 |
| San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR | $39,690 | 700 | 0.54 | 1.35 |
| Aguadilla, PR | $30,510 | 50 | 0.53 | 1.15 |
The wage ratio is simple arithmetic: this occupation's median divided by the all-occupations median in the same area and unit. It is not a cost-of-living measure. Location quotient describes the concentration of employment, not relative pay. Neither predicts what a particular candidate will accept.
What do these published wages mean for an offer?
Skilled Trades Headhunters reads the May 2025 figures for Lead Diesel Technician in National as an offer reference, not a quote for a particular candidate. For Lead Diesel Technician in National, the published median for SOC 49-3031, Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists, is $61,770 per year. The middle half of the Lead Diesel Technician in National wage distribution runs from $50,540 to $75,470, a width of $24,930 per year; that spread shows how much published pay varies within the occupation and area, without assigning experience levels.
For the national Lead Diesel Technician comparison, New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ reports $75,780 per year while Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN reports $65,680 per year; these are the largest-employment metros with published medians for the occupation, rather than neighboring places to a national estimate. The United States Lead Diesel Technician figure pools markets with different work scopes and schedules, so use the area table before setting a local offer.
The highest published medians among the selected national industry rows for Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists, read alongside Lead Diesel Technician in National, are Natural Gas Distribution at $103,610 per year (NAICS 221200); Scheduled Air Transportation at $102,280 per year (NAICS 481100); Air Transportation at $99,420 per year (NAICS 481000). Those Lead Diesel Technician in National industry comparisons are national cross-sections, not local industry estimates; BLS does not give us a metro-by-industry wage cut here, and overlapping industry groups should not be added together.
The Lead Diesel Technician in National median was $60,640 per year in May 2024, compared with $61,770 in May 2025, a published difference of $1,130. That Lead Diesel Technician in National comparison is between separate BLS releases, not the raise paid to the same workers or a projection of next year's offer. Read the $60,640 and $61,770 Lead Diesel Technician in National estimates with both dates visible, because the employers and workers represented by the survey can change.
Before offering $61,770 per year for Lead Diesel Technician in National, separate overtime, per diem, lodging and mobilization separately; prevailing wage obligations and union scale depend on the assignment and agreement, not a special BLS traveling-worker percentile. The Lead Diesel Technician in National BLS comparison includes ordinary wages and qualifying incentive pay, but leaves overtime, discretionary bonuses, benefits and relocation outside this wage figure. A candidate's take-home pay and the employer's total cost for Lead Diesel Technician in National can therefore differ from the median without either number being an error.
The mapping for Lead Diesel Technician in National is broader: BLS groups Lead Diesel Technician within Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists; it does not publish this niche title or credential level separately. For a Lead Diesel Technician in National opening, establish the equipment, license requirements and responsibility before deciding which people the pay range should attract. A broader occupation can combine jobs that a Lead Diesel Technician in National buyer would screen separately, which is why the badge and SOC remain beside the figures.
Questions about this occupation and area
What does the middle-half band tell a Lead Diesel Technician in National buyer?
Lead Diesel Technician in National has a published middle-half band of $50,540 to $75,470, a width of $24,930 per year, with median $61,770. An offer inside that Lead Diesel Technician in National band is not automatically competitive for every scope; match the required work and the separate pay terms first.
Which areas should I compare before hiring Lead Diesel Technician in National?
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ and Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN are the largest-employment comparison markets used for Lead Diesel Technician in National. Comparing those Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists tables with the $61,770 Lead Diesel Technician in National median does not measure commuting costs or predict what a particular applicant will accept.
Are the industry figures local to Lead Diesel Technician in National?
Lead Diesel Technician in National uses national industry rows for SOC 49-3031, not local sector-specific wages. Natural Gas Distribution leads the selected sortable rows at $103,610 per year, but that national industry figure is not a quoted offer for Lead Diesel Technician in National.
What changed between the releases for Lead Diesel Technician in National?
Lead Diesel Technician in National moved from $60,640 in May 2024 to $61,770 in May 2025. These Lead Diesel Technician in National published medians do not describe an individual raise or establish a future wage trend.
What changed since May 2024
SOC 49-3031. Published annual median: $60,640 (May 2024) and $61,770 (May 2025). These are two BLS releases, not a projection.