How much do diesel mechanics make an hour in Rochester, MN?

The median hourly wage is $30.74. The middle half earn between $27.87 and $38.91 an hour. (BLS, May 2025.)

What do entry-level diesel mechanics make in Rochester, MN?

BLS doesn't report pay by license level. The 10th-percentile wage, $24.49 an hour ($50,940 a year), is a reasonable estimate of starting pay; the 25th percentile is $27.87.

Do diesel mechanics make more in Rochester or Minneapolis?

Minneapolis pays more: the median is $63,950 in Rochester and $73,730 in Minneapolis, a 13% difference.

How does Rochester pay compare with the rest of Minnesota?

The Rochester median of $63,950 is 4% less than the Minnesota median of $66,840.

Diesel mechanic salary in Rochester, MN

Updated September 27, 2026 with BLS data from May 2025

Diesel mechanics in the Rochester, MN area earn a median of $63,950 a year, or $30.74 an hour, according to May 2025 BLS data. The highest-paid 10% make over $85,800 a year. That's 4% less than the Minnesota median of $66,840.

Median yearly pay$63,950

Bottom 10% under$50,940Top 10% over$85,800

Entry-level starting pay (estimate): $24.49/hr
Jobs in this area: 350
After cost of living: $70,410
Median hourly pay: $30.74/hr
vs U.S. median: +4%
vs Minnesota median: −4%

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 (area 40340, Rochester, MN). 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	$50,940–$57,960$24.49–$27.87/hr
Experienced mechanic	$63,950$30.74/hr
Master / top earners	$80,930–$85,800$38.91–$41.25/hr

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

How Rochester, MN compares

Rochester ranks 6th of 9 Minnesota metro areas for diesel mechanic pay.
Diesel mechanics are more concentrated in the Rochester area than nationally: 2.8 of every 1,000 jobs, 1.5 times the U.S. share.
The 90th-percentile wage, $85,800, is 1.7 times the 10th-percentile wage, $50,940: a measure of how much pay rises with experience and specialty.

Other Minnesota metro areas

Other trades in Rochester, MN

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

Questions

How much do diesel mechanics make in Rochester, MN?: Diesel mechanics in the Rochester, MN area earn a median of $63,950 a year, or $30.74 an hour, according to May 2025 BLS data. The highest-paid 10% make over $85,800 a year.
How much do diesel mechanics make an hour in Rochester, MN?: The median hourly wage is $30.74. The middle half earn between $27.87 and $38.91 an hour. (BLS, May 2025.)
What do entry-level diesel mechanics make in Rochester, MN?: BLS doesn't report pay by license level. The 10th-percentile wage, $24.49 an hour ($50,940 a year), is a reasonable estimate of starting pay; the 25th percentile is $27.87.
Do diesel mechanics make more in Rochester or Minneapolis?: Minneapolis pays more: the median is $63,950 in Rochester and $73,730 in Minneapolis, a 13% difference.
How does Rochester pay compare with the rest of Minnesota?: The Rochester median of $63,950 is 4% less than the Minnesota median of $66,840.

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 40340 (Rochester, MN). 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 (90.8, where the U.S. average is 100). Page updated September 27, 2026. How we calculate these figures