What is the best state for diesel mechanics?

After cost of living, North Dakota: the median of $66,110 a year buys about what $74,320 would at average U.S. prices.

Which state pays diesel mechanics the most?

Before adjusting for prices, Hawaii has the highest median, $80,080. After cost of living it ranks 3rd of 51.

What is the worst state for diesel mechanics after cost of living?

West Virginia, where the median of $46,610 buys about what $52,080 would nationally.

How is cost of living adjusted?

We divide each state's median by its Regional Price Parity from the Bureau of Economic Analysis (2024), where the U.S. average is 100. A state with prices 10% above average (110) has its median divided by 1.10.

Best states for diesel mechanics

Updated September 27, 2026

After adjusting for cost of living, North Dakota is the best-paying state for diesel mechanics: its median of $66,110 a year buys what $74,320 would nationally, according to May 2025 BLS wages and BEA 2024 price levels. By raw pay, Hawaii leads at $80,080, but its higher prices drop it to 3rd of 51. Counting prices moves 20 states ten or more places.

Diesel mechanic pay by state, after cost of living

#	State	After cost of living	Median pay	Price level
1	North Dakota$66,110 median · prices 89.0	$74,320	$66,110	89.0
2	Alaska$75,580 median · prices 102.4	$73,840	$75,580	102.4
3	Hawaii$80,080 median · prices 110.0	$72,830	$80,080	110.0
4	Washington$77,900 median · prices 107.0	$72,790	$77,900	107.0
5	Maryland$74,790 median · prices 105.0	$71,260	$74,790	105.0
6	Massachusetts$73,270 median · prices 105.8	$69,280	$73,270	105.8
7	New Hampshire$71,390 median · prices 104.2	$68,540	$71,390	104.2
8	Nevada$68,410 median · prices 100.0	$68,420	$68,410	100.0
9	Colorado$70,480 median · prices 103.1	$68,390	$70,480	103.1
10	Iowa$59,680 median · prices 87.8	$68,000	$59,680	87.8
11	Minnesota$66,840 median · prices 98.6	$67,770	$66,840	98.6
12	California$73,950 median · prices 110.7	$66,790	$73,950	110.7
13	Louisiana$58,680 median · prices 88.2	$66,530	$58,680	88.2
14	New Jersey$72,340 median · prices 108.8	$66,490	$72,340	108.8
15	Wyoming$61,580 median · prices 92.7	$66,440	$61,580	92.7
16	Wisconsin$62,450 median · prices 94.1	$66,370	$62,450	94.1
17	Kansas$59,460 median · prices 90.1	$66,020	$59,460	90.1
18	Rhode Island$67,270 median · prices 102.3	$65,770	$67,270	102.3
19	Nebraska$59,140 median · prices 90.1	$65,640	$59,140	90.1
20	South Dakota$58,120 median · prices 88.6	$65,610	$58,120	88.6
21	Missouri$59,360 median · prices 90.8	$65,360	$59,360	90.8
22	Ohio$60,470 median · prices 92.8	$65,180	$60,470	92.8
23	Utah$64,350 median · prices 98.9	$65,090	$64,350	98.9
24	Connecticut$67,300 median · prices 103.6	$64,960	$67,300	103.6
25	New York$70,100 median · prices 107.9	$64,950	$70,100	107.9
26	Indiana$60,610 median · prices 93.3	$64,940	$60,610	93.3
27	Tennessee$59,190 median · prices 91.9	$64,430	$59,190	91.9
28	Illinois$64,340 median · prices 100.0	$64,370	$64,340	100.0
29	Michigan$61,420 median · prices 96.2	$63,830	$61,420	96.2
30	Georgia$61,370 median · prices 96.3	$63,730	$61,370	96.3
31	Delaware$63,590 median · prices 99.8	$63,710	$63,590	99.8
32	Montana$59,990 median · prices 94.6	$63,380	$59,990	94.6
33	South Carolina$59,330 median · prices 93.7	$63,290	$59,330	93.7
34	Pennsylvania$61,740 median · prices 97.6	$63,280	$61,740	97.6
35	Oklahoma$55,340 median · prices 87.8	$63,000	$55,340	87.8
36	Maine$60,850 median · prices 97.0	$62,700	$60,850	97.0
37	Mississippi$54,360 median · prices 87.0	$62,520	$54,360	87.0
38	Idaho$59,230 median · prices 95.5	$62,020	$59,230	95.5
39	Oregon$63,970 median · prices 103.4	$61,890	$63,970	103.4
40	Kentucky$55,480 median · prices 90.2	$61,540	$55,480	90.2
41	Arizona$61,680 median · prices 100.7	$61,270	$61,680	100.7
42	North Carolina$57,490 median · prices 94.3	$60,950	$57,490	94.3
43	New Mexico$55,910 median · prices 92.2	$60,630	$55,910	92.2
44	Vermont$59,390 median · prices 98.0	$60,630	$59,390	98.0
45	Texas$58,810 median · prices 97.1	$60,590	$58,810	97.1
46	Virginia$61,090 median · prices 101.1	$60,420	$61,090	101.1
47	Arkansas$52,330 median · prices 86.9	$60,190	$52,330	86.9
48	District of Columbia$65,200 median · prices 109.9	$59,330	$65,200	109.9
49	Florida$60,490 median · prices 103.4	$58,490	$60,490	103.4
50	Alabama$50,470 median · prices 88.8	$56,820	$50,470	88.8
51	West Virginia$46,610 median · prices 89.5	$52,080	$46,610	89.5

Price level: BEA Regional Price Parity, U.S. average = 100. Every state links to its full diesel mechanic pay page, with pay in each metro. See also: best-paying cities for diesel mechanics.

How we ranked them

Each state's median annual wage for bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists (BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, SOC 49-3031) divided by its Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parity for 2024 (all items, U.S. = 100), then ranked. Wages exclude self-employed diesel mechanics. Price levels are statewide averages; costs vary within a state. Methodology

Questions

What is the best state for diesel mechanics?: After cost of living, North Dakota: the median of $66,110 a year buys about what $74,320 would at average U.S. prices.
Which state pays diesel mechanics the most?: Before adjusting for prices, Hawaii has the highest median, $80,080. After cost of living it ranks 3rd of 51.
What is the worst state for diesel mechanics after cost of living?: West Virginia, where the median of $46,610 buys about what $52,080 would nationally.
How is cost of living adjusted?: We divide each state's median by its Regional Price Parity from the Bureau of Economic Analysis (2024), where the U.S. average is 100. A state with prices 10% above average (110) has its median divided by 1.10.