How much do diesel mechanics make an hour in Battle Creek, MI?

The median hourly wage is $28.27. The middle half earn between $23.73 and $30.81 an hour. (BLS, May 2025.)

What do entry-level diesel mechanics make in Battle Creek, MI?

BLS doesn't report pay by license level. The 10th-percentile wage, $19.04 an hour ($39,610 a year), is a reasonable estimate of starting pay; the 25th percentile is $23.73.

Do diesel mechanics make more in Battle Creek or Detroit?

Detroit pays more: the median is $58,810 in Battle Creek and $63,360 in Detroit, a 7% difference.

How does Battle Creek pay compare with the rest of Michigan?

The Battle Creek median of $58,810 is 4% less than the Michigan median of $61,420.

Diesel mechanic salary in Battle Creek, MI

Updated September 27, 2026 with BLS data from May 2025

Diesel mechanics in the Battle Creek, MI area earn a median of $58,810 a year, or $28.27 an hour, according to May 2025 BLS data. One in ten earns more than $73,950. Statewide, diesel mechanics earn a median of $61,420; Battle Creek is 4% below it.

Median yearly pay$58,810

Bottom 10% under$39,610Top 10% over$73,950

Entry-level starting pay (estimate): $19.04/hr
Jobs in this area: 130
After cost of living: $64,950
Median hourly pay: $28.27/hr
vs U.S. median: −5%
vs Michigan median: −4%

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 (area 12980, Battle Creek, MI). 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	$39,610–$49,360$19.04–$23.73/hr
Experienced mechanic	$58,810$28.27/hr
Master / top earners	$64,090–$73,950$30.81–$35.55/hr

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

How Battle Creek, MI compares

Battle Creek ranks 14th of 16 Michigan metro areas for diesel mechanic pay.
Diesel mechanics are more concentrated in the Battle Creek area than nationally: 2.4 of every 1,000 jobs, 1.3 times the U.S. share.
The 90th-percentile wage, $73,950, is 1.9 times the 10th-percentile wage, $39,610: a measure of how much pay rises with experience and specialty.

Other Michigan metro areas

Other trades in Battle Creek, MI

Electrician HVAC technician Welder Plumber Carpenter Heavy equipment operator Auto mechanic

Questions

How much do diesel mechanics make in Battle Creek, MI?: Diesel mechanics in the Battle Creek, MI area earn a median of $58,810 a year, or $28.27 an hour, according to May 2025 BLS data. One in ten earns more than $73,950.
How much do diesel mechanics make an hour in Battle Creek, MI?: The median hourly wage is $28.27. The middle half earn between $23.73 and $30.81 an hour. (BLS, May 2025.)
What do entry-level diesel mechanics make in Battle Creek, MI?: BLS doesn't report pay by license level. The 10th-percentile wage, $19.04 an hour ($39,610 a year), is a reasonable estimate of starting pay; the 25th percentile is $23.73.
Do diesel mechanics make more in Battle Creek or Detroit?: Detroit pays more: the median is $58,810 in Battle Creek and $63,360 in Detroit, a 7% difference.
How does Battle Creek pay compare with the rest of Michigan?: The Battle Creek median of $58,810 is 4% less than the Michigan median of $61,420.

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 12980 (Battle Creek, MI). 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 (90.5, where the U.S. average is 100). Page updated September 27, 2026. How we calculate these figures