How much do diesel mechanics make an hour in the District of Columbia?

The median hourly wage is $31.34. The middle half earn between $28.58 and $36.53 an hour. (BLS, May 2025.)

What do entry-level diesel mechanics make in the District of Columbia?

BLS doesn't report pay by license level. The 10th-percentile wage, $24.01 an hour ($49,930 a year), is a reasonable estimate of starting pay; the 25th percentile is $28.58.

Do diesel mechanics in the District of Columbia earn more than the national average?

The District of Columbia median of $65,200 is 6% more than the U.S. median of $61,770. Prices in the District of Columbia run 10% above the national average (BEA), so the median buys about what $59,330 would nationally.

Diesel mechanic salary in the District of Columbia

Updated September 27, 2026 with BLS data from May 2025

Diesel mechanics in the District of Columbia earn a median of $65,200 a year, or $31.34 an hour, according to May 2025 BLS data. The top 10% earn more than $93,040. That's 6% more than the national median of $61,770, 16th of 51 states and DC.

Median yearly pay$65,200

Bottom 10% under$49,930Top 10% over$93,040

Entry-level starting pay (estimate): $24.01/hr
Jobs in the District of Columbia: 110
After cost of living: $59,330
Median hourly pay: $31.34/hr
vs U.S. median: +6%
Rank among states: 16th of 51

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 (area 11). 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	$49,930–$59,450$24.01–$28.58/hr
Experienced mechanic	$65,200$31.34/hr
Master / top earners	$75,980–$93,040$36.53–$44.73/hr

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

How the District of Columbia compares

Diesel mechanics are less concentrated in the District of Columbia than nationally: 0.2 of every 1,000 jobs, 0.08 times the U.S. share.
The 90th-percentile wage, $93,040, is 1.9 times the 10th-percentile wage, $49,930: a measure of how much pay rises with experience and specialty.

Pay by metro area

Washington–Arlington–Alexandria$72,580

Other trades in the District of Columbia

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

Questions

How much do diesel mechanics make in the District of Columbia?: Diesel mechanics in the District of Columbia earn a median of $65,200 a year, or $31.34 an hour, according to May 2025 BLS data. The top 10% earn more than $93,040.
How much do diesel mechanics make an hour in the District of Columbia?: The median hourly wage is $31.34. The middle half earn between $28.58 and $36.53 an hour. (BLS, May 2025.)
What do entry-level diesel mechanics make in the District of Columbia?: BLS doesn't report pay by license level. The 10th-percentile wage, $24.01 an hour ($49,930 a year), is a reasonable estimate of starting pay; the 25th percentile is $28.58.
Do diesel mechanics in the District of Columbia earn more than the national average?: The District of Columbia median of $65,200 is 6% more than the U.S. median of $61,770. Prices in the District of Columbia run 10% above the national average (BEA), so the median buys about what $59,330 would nationally.

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 11. 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 (109.9, where the U.S. average is 100). Page updated September 27, 2026. How we calculate these figures