How much do diesel mechanics make an hour in Traverse City, MI?

The median hourly wage is $30.40. The middle half earn between $23.81 and $31.58 an hour. (BLS, May 2025.)

What do entry-level diesel mechanics make in Traverse City, MI?

BLS doesn't report pay by license level. The 10th-percentile wage, $22.02 an hour ($45,790 a year), is a reasonable estimate of starting pay; the 25th percentile is $23.81.

Do diesel mechanics make more in Traverse City or Detroit?

Pay is about the same: the median is $63,240 in Traverse City and $63,360 in Detroit.

How does Traverse City pay compare with the rest of Michigan?

The Traverse City median of $63,240 is 3% more than the Michigan median of $61,420.

Diesel mechanic salary in Traverse City, MI

Updated September 27, 2026 with BLS data from May 2025

Diesel mechanics in the Traverse City, MI area earn a median of $63,240 a year, or $30.40 an hour, according to May 2025 BLS data. The highest-paid 10% make over $77,600 a year. Statewide, diesel mechanics earn a median of $61,420; Traverse City is 3% above it.

Median yearly pay$63,240

Bottom 10% under$45,790Top 10% over$77,600

Entry-level starting pay (estimate): $22.02/hr
Jobs in this area: 150
After cost of living: $67,730
Median hourly pay: $30.40/hr
vs U.S. median: +2%
vs Michigan median: +3%

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 (area 45900, Traverse City, 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	$45,790–$49,520$22.02–$23.81/hr
Experienced mechanic	$63,240$30.40/hr
Master / top earners	$65,680–$77,600$31.58–$37.31/hr

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

How Traverse City, MI compares

Traverse City ranks 3rd of 16 Michigan metro areas for diesel mechanic pay.
Diesel mechanics are more concentrated in the Traverse City area than nationally: 2.1 of every 1,000 jobs, 1.1 times the U.S. share.
The 90th-percentile wage, $77,600, is 1.7 times the 10th-percentile wage, $45,790: a measure of how much pay rises with experience and specialty.

Other Michigan metro areas

Other trades in Traverse City, MI

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

Questions

How much do diesel mechanics make in Traverse City, MI?: Diesel mechanics in the Traverse City, MI area earn a median of $63,240 a year, or $30.40 an hour, according to May 2025 BLS data. The highest-paid 10% make over $77,600 a year.
How much do diesel mechanics make an hour in Traverse City, MI?: The median hourly wage is $30.40. The middle half earn between $23.81 and $31.58 an hour. (BLS, May 2025.)
What do entry-level diesel mechanics make in Traverse City, MI?: BLS doesn't report pay by license level. The 10th-percentile wage, $22.02 an hour ($45,790 a year), is a reasonable estimate of starting pay; the 25th percentile is $23.81.
Do diesel mechanics make more in Traverse City or Detroit?: Pay is about the same: the median is $63,240 in Traverse City and $63,360 in Detroit.
How does Traverse City pay compare with the rest of Michigan?: The Traverse City median of $63,240 is 3% more 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 45900 (Traverse City, 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 (93.4, where the U.S. average is 100). Page updated September 27, 2026. How we calculate these figures