How much do diesel mechanics make an hour in Tucson, AZ?

The median hourly wage is $29.02. The middle half earn between $23.37 and $31.47 an hour. (BLS, May 2025.)

What do entry-level diesel mechanics make in Tucson, AZ?

BLS doesn't report pay by license level. The 10th-percentile wage, $19.95 an hour ($41,500 a year), is a reasonable estimate of starting pay; the 25th percentile is $23.37.

Do diesel mechanics make more in Tucson or Phoenix?

Phoenix pays more: the median is $60,370 in Tucson and $63,330 in Phoenix, a 5% difference.

How does Tucson pay compare with the rest of Arizona?

The Tucson median of $60,370 is 2% less than the Arizona median of $61,680.

Diesel mechanic salary in Tucson, AZ

Updated September 27, 2026 with BLS data from May 2025

Diesel mechanics in the Tucson, AZ area earn a median of $60,370 a year, or $29.02 an hour, according to May 2025 BLS data. The highest-paid 10% make over $79,530 a year. Across all of Arizona, the median is $61,680, so Tucson pays 2% less than the state as a whole.

Median yearly pay$60,370

Bottom 10% under$41,500Top 10% over$79,530

Entry-level starting pay (estimate): $19.95/hr
Jobs in this area: 580
After cost of living: $62,300
Median hourly pay: $29.02/hr
vs U.S. median: −2%
vs Arizona median: −2%

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 (area 46060, Tucson, AZ). Excludes self-employed diesel mechanics. Cost of living: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024. *Starting pay is estimated from the 10th percentile; BLS does not report pay by license level.

Entry-level to master diesel mechanic pay

Stage	Yearly pay	Hourly pay
Entry level	$41,500–$48,620$19.95–$23.37/hr
Experienced mechanic	$60,370$29.02/hr
Master / top earners	$65,450–$79,530$31.47–$38.24/hr

Estimated from BLS percentiles (10th–25th, median, 75th–90th); BLS does not report pay by license level.

How Tucson, AZ compares

Tucson ranks 2nd of 7 Arizona metro areas for diesel mechanic pay.
Diesel mechanics are less concentrated in the Tucson area than nationally: 1.5 of every 1,000 jobs, 0.80 times the U.S. share.
The 90th-percentile wage, $79,530, is 1.9 times the 10th-percentile wage, $41,500: a measure of how much pay rises with experience and specialty.

Other Arizona metro areas

Other trades in Tucson, AZ

Electrician HVAC technician Welder Lineman Plumber Carpenter Heavy equipment operator Auto mechanic Roofer Ironworker

Questions

How much do diesel mechanics make in Tucson, AZ?: Diesel mechanics in the Tucson, AZ area earn a median of $60,370 a year, or $29.02 an hour, according to May 2025 BLS data. The highest-paid 10% make over $79,530 a year.
How much do diesel mechanics make an hour in Tucson, AZ?: The median hourly wage is $29.02. The middle half earn between $23.37 and $31.47 an hour. (BLS, May 2025.)
What do entry-level diesel mechanics make in Tucson, AZ?: BLS doesn't report pay by license level. The 10th-percentile wage, $19.95 an hour ($41,500 a year), is a reasonable estimate of starting pay; the 25th percentile is $23.37.
Do diesel mechanics make more in Tucson or Phoenix?: Phoenix pays more: the median is $60,370 in Tucson and $63,330 in Phoenix, a 5% difference.
How does Tucson pay compare with the rest of Arizona?: The Tucson median of $60,370 is 2% less than the Arizona median of $61,680.

About this data

Wages are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey for May 2025, occupation 49-3031 (Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists), area code 46060 (Tucson, AZ). BLS counts wage and salary workers only, so self-employed diesel mechanics and business owners aren't included. The cost-of-living figure divides the median by the Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parity for 2024 (96.9, where the U.S. average is 100). Page updated September 27, 2026. How we calculate these figures