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Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists

Typical education: Certificate or apprenticeshipHigh pressure

What they 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.

Kinds of work

  • Realistic: Hands-on work with tools, machines, plants or animals, often outdoors.
  • Conventional: Organizing information, following clear procedures and working with data and details.

High pressure: How much pressure workers in this job report: deadlines, conflict, dealing with upset people, the cost of mistakes, responsibility for others' safety, competition and long hours. It varies a lot from one employer to the next. Source: U.S. Department of Labor worker surveys.

Pay, tasks and more

Salary

United States $61,770 Median per year · $29.70/hr Most earn $44,530–$88,740

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025.

What you might do

  • Disassemble and overhaul internal combustion engines, pumps, generators, transmissions, clutches, and differential units.
  • Dismount, mount, and repair or replace tires.
  • Adjust and reline brakes, align wheels, tighten bolts and screws, and reassemble equipment.
  • Diagnose and repair vehicle heating and cooling systems.
  • Maintain or repair vehicles with alternative fuel systems, including biodiesel, hybrid, or compressed natural gas vehicles.
  • Install or repair accessories.

Job outlook

United States
4% more jobs by 2035, about as fast as average · about 24,400 openings a year

Openings include new jobs and jobs left by workers who retire or change careers. Projections: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Bright Outlook": U.S. Department of Labor.

Where they work

  • Truck transportation17.8%
  • Local government, excluding education and hospitals9.4%
  • Motor vehicle and motor vehicle parts and supplies merchant wholesalers8.4%
  • Automotive mechanical and electrical repair and maintenance8.2%
  • Self-employed (their own business)5.9%

Share of all workers in this career. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Employment Matrix.

Experience before this job: 1 to 2 years

Some people start through an apprenticeship: paid training on the job, often with classes. Search apprenticeships on Apprenticeship.gov (opens in a new tab) ↗

Career path

How people usually get into this career, from school to their first job and beyond.

Typical education: Certificate or apprenticeshipExperience before this job: 1 to 2 years

You usually start with a high school diploma, then train through a diesel technology certificate or an apprenticeship, often starting as a helper or apprentice. Most people need about 1 to 2 years of training and hands-on work before they're considered a full bus and truck mechanic.

  1. High school diploma with shop, auto, or math and science classes

    4 years

    Classes in shop, auto repair, algebra, and physics build the hands-on skills and problem-solving that diesel training depends on.

  2. Diesel technology certificate or apprenticeship

    1-2 years

    Programs at trade schools or community colleges, or apprenticeships with a truck dealer or fleet, teach engine systems, electrical work, brakes, and diagnostic tools.

  3. Entry-level Diesel Technician Helper or Apprentice Diesel Technician

    1-2 years

    You work under experienced mechanics, doing inspections, basic repairs, and maintenance while you learn to diagnose bigger problems on your own.

  4. Bus and Truck Mechanic and Diesel Engine Specialist

    Ongoing

    You work on buses, trucks, and diesel engines independently, diagnosing and repairing them with a certificate or apprenticeship behind you.

Where it can lead

  1. Lead Diesel Technician

    3-5 years of experience first

    You take charge of harder diagnostic jobs and help train newer technicians, which requires deep experience and strong troubleshooting skills.

  2. Shop Foreman or Service Manager

    5+ years of experience first

    You manage the repair shop, schedule work, and oversee the team, so you'll need good communication and organization skills alongside your technical knowledge.

What you can do now

Ideas for high school and college students.

In high school

  • Take auto or diesel shop classesHands-on shop classes give you real experience with engines, brakes, and tools before you start a program.
  • Take algebra, physics, and electronics if offeredMath and physics help you understand how engines, fuel systems, and electrical circuits work.
  • Join a career and technical student organizationGroups like SkillsUSA, if your school has one, often include mechanics and let you practice skills in friendly competitions.
  • Get a starter job at a gas station, car wash, or tire shopEven basic work with vehicles teaches you customer service and how a shop runs.
  • Ask a working mechanic or truck driver questionsTalking with people in the field, such as through a family friend or a job shadow, helps you see what the daily work is really like.

In college

  • Take a diesel or heavy-duty technology programA certificate or associate degree in diesel technology teaches the exact systems you'll work on, and it's the most direct route into this job.
  • Look for a part-time job or internship at a truck or bus shopPaid shop experience counts toward the 1-2 years of hands-on work most employers expect, and it can lead to a full-time offer.
  • Study electrical systems and basic computer diagnosticsModern diesel engines rely on electronic controls, so skills in electrical work and diagnostic software set you apart.
  • Earn industry certifications as you goCertifications, such as those offered through the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence, show employers you have proven skills.
  • Join a student automotive or diesel clubClubs often run projects, competitions, and events that build teamwork and hands-on experience.

Tips for getting started

  • Ask a local truck dealer, bus garage, or trucking company whether they hire helpers or take apprentices, and ask what training they recommend. Your results page also shows typical pay near you, so you can check that too.
  • Get comfortable with basic tools and with reading manuals and wiring diagrams, since diesel work involves a lot of both.
  • Keep a simple record of any hands-on projects, like small engine repairs or shop tasks, to show future employers what you can do.

Related jobs that often lead here

Related jobs a step up

Education, experience and related careers: U.S. Department of Labor. The step-by-step path, where it can lead and what you can do now were written by AI as typical examples; many people take other ways.

College majors that lead here

Majors: U.S. Department of Education and BLS (CIP–SOC crosswalk). Earnings and debt: College Scorecard, typical across U.S. colleges.

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