How much do diesel mechanics make an hour in Cedar Rapids, IA?

The median hourly wage is $28.85. The middle half earn between $23.88 and $39.76 an hour. (BLS, May 2025.)

What do entry-level diesel mechanics make in Cedar Rapids, IA?

BLS doesn't report pay by license level. The 10th-percentile wage, $22.27 an hour ($46,310 a year), is a reasonable estimate of starting pay; the 25th percentile is $23.88.

Do diesel mechanics make more in Cedar Rapids or Des Moines?

Des Moines pays more: the median is $60,010 in Cedar Rapids and $61,630 in Des Moines, a 3% difference.

How does Cedar Rapids pay compare with the rest of Iowa?

The Cedar Rapids median of $60,010 is 1% more than the Iowa median of $59,680.

Diesel mechanic salary in Cedar Rapids, IA

Updated September 27, 2026 with BLS data from May 2025

Diesel mechanics in the Cedar Rapids, IA area earn a median of $60,010 a year, or $28.85 an hour, according to May 2025 BLS data. One in ten earns more than $88,090. That's 1% more than the Iowa median of $59,680.

Median yearly pay$60,010

Bottom 10% under$46,310Top 10% over$88,090

Entry-level starting pay (estimate): $22.27/hr
Jobs in this area: 490
After cost of living: $67,460
Median hourly pay: $28.85/hr
vs U.S. median: −3%
vs Iowa median: +1%

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 (area 16300, Cedar Rapids, IA). 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	$46,310–$49,680$22.27–$23.88/hr
Experienced mechanic	$60,010$28.85/hr
Master / top earners	$82,690–$88,090$39.76–$42.35/hr

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

How Cedar Rapids, IA compares

Cedar Rapids ranks 7th of 9 Iowa metro areas for diesel mechanic pay.
Diesel mechanics are more concentrated in the Cedar Rapids area than nationally: 3.5 of every 1,000 jobs, 1.9 times the U.S. share.
The 90th-percentile wage, $88,090, is 1.9 times the 10th-percentile wage, $46,310: a measure of how much pay rises with experience and specialty.

Other Iowa metro areas

Other trades in Cedar Rapids, IA

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

Questions

How much do diesel mechanics make in Cedar Rapids, IA?: Diesel mechanics in the Cedar Rapids, IA area earn a median of $60,010 a year, or $28.85 an hour, according to May 2025 BLS data. One in ten earns more than $88,090.
How much do diesel mechanics make an hour in Cedar Rapids, IA?: The median hourly wage is $28.85. The middle half earn between $23.88 and $39.76 an hour. (BLS, May 2025.)
What do entry-level diesel mechanics make in Cedar Rapids, IA?: BLS doesn't report pay by license level. The 10th-percentile wage, $22.27 an hour ($46,310 a year), is a reasonable estimate of starting pay; the 25th percentile is $23.88.
Do diesel mechanics make more in Cedar Rapids or Des Moines?: Des Moines pays more: the median is $60,010 in Cedar Rapids and $61,630 in Des Moines, a 3% difference.
How does Cedar Rapids pay compare with the rest of Iowa?: The Cedar Rapids median of $60,010 is 1% more than the Iowa median of $59,680.

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 16300 (Cedar Rapids, IA). 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 (89.0, where the U.S. average is 100). Page updated September 27, 2026. How we calculate these figures