How much do diesel mechanics make an hour in Lakeland, FL?

The median hourly wage is $28.74. The middle half earn between $24.07 and $32.48 an hour. (BLS, May 2025.)

What do entry-level diesel mechanics make in Lakeland, FL?

BLS doesn't report pay by license level. The 10th-percentile wage, $20.45 an hour ($42,530 a year), is a reasonable estimate of starting pay; the 25th percentile is $24.07.

Do diesel mechanics make more in Lakeland or Cape Coral?

Cape Coral pays more: the median is $59,780 in Lakeland and $62,010 in Cape Coral, a 4% difference.

How does Lakeland pay compare with the rest of Florida?

The Lakeland median of $59,780 is 1% less than the Florida median of $60,490.

Diesel mechanic salary in Lakeland, FL

Updated September 27, 2026 with BLS data from May 2025

Diesel mechanics in the Lakeland–Winter Haven, FL area earn a median of $59,780 a year, or $28.74 an hour, according to May 2025 BLS data. One in ten earns more than $77,110. Across all of Florida, the median is $60,490, so Lakeland pays 1% less than the state as a whole.

Median yearly pay$59,780

Bottom 10% under$42,530Top 10% over$77,110

Entry-level starting pay (estimate): $20.45/hr
Jobs in this area: 790
After cost of living: $61,540
Median hourly pay: $28.74/hr
vs U.S. median: −3%
vs Florida median: −1%

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 (area 29460, Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL). 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	$42,530–$50,060$20.45–$24.07/hr
Experienced mechanic	$59,780$28.74/hr
Master / top earners	$67,550–$77,110$32.48–$37.07/hr

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

How Lakeland, FL compares

Lakeland ranks 12th of 22 Florida metro areas for diesel mechanic pay.
Diesel mechanics are more concentrated in the Lakeland area than nationally: 3.0 of every 1,000 jobs, 1.6 times the U.S. share.
The 90th-percentile wage, $77,110, is 1.8 times the 10th-percentile wage, $42,530: a measure of how much pay rises with experience and specialty.

Other Florida metro areas

Other trades in Lakeland, FL

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

Questions

How much do diesel mechanics make in Lakeland, FL?: Diesel mechanics in the Lakeland–Winter Haven, FL area earn a median of $59,780 a year, or $28.74 an hour, according to May 2025 BLS data. One in ten earns more than $77,110.
How much do diesel mechanics make an hour in Lakeland, FL?: The median hourly wage is $28.74. The middle half earn between $24.07 and $32.48 an hour. (BLS, May 2025.)
What do entry-level diesel mechanics make in Lakeland, FL?: BLS doesn't report pay by license level. The 10th-percentile wage, $20.45 an hour ($42,530 a year), is a reasonable estimate of starting pay; the 25th percentile is $24.07.
Do diesel mechanics make more in Lakeland or Cape Coral?: Cape Coral pays more: the median is $59,780 in Lakeland and $62,010 in Cape Coral, a 4% difference.
How does Lakeland pay compare with the rest of Florida?: The Lakeland median of $59,780 is 1% less than the Florida median of $60,490.

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 29460 (Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL). 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 (97.1, where the U.S. average is 100). Page updated September 27, 2026. How we calculate these figures