Diesel mechanic salary in Wilmington, NC
Updated September 27, 2026 with BLS data from May 2025
Diesel mechanics in the Wilmington, NC area earn a median of $55,560 a year, or $26.71 an hour, according to May 2025 BLS data. One in ten earns more than $75,620. That's 3% less than the North Carolina median of $57,490.
- Entry-level starting pay (estimate)
- $19.62/hr
- Jobs in this area
- 360
- After cost of living
- $57,620
- Median hourly pay
- $26.71/hr
- vs U.S. median
- −10%
- vs North Carolina median
- −3%
Entry-level to master diesel mechanic pay
| Stage | Yearly pay | Hourly pay |
|---|---|---|
| Entry level | $40,820–$48,730$19.62–$23.43/hr | |
| Experienced mechanic | $55,560$26.71/hr | |
| Master / top earners | $62,490–$75,620$30.05–$36.36/hr |
Estimated from BLS percentiles (10th–25th, median, 75th–90th); BLS does not report pay by license level.
How Wilmington, NC compares
- Wilmington ranks 12th of 16 North Carolina metro areas for diesel mechanic pay.
- Diesel mechanics hold about the same share of jobs in the Wilmington area as nationally: 1.9 of every 1,000 jobs.
- The 90th-percentile wage, $75,620, is 1.9 times the 10th-percentile wage, $40,820: a measure of how much pay rises with experience and specialty.
Other North Carolina metro areas
Other trades in Wilmington, NC
Questions
- How much do diesel mechanics make in Wilmington, NC?
- Diesel mechanics in the Wilmington, NC area earn a median of $55,560 a year, or $26.71 an hour, according to May 2025 BLS data. One in ten earns more than $75,620.
- How much do diesel mechanics make an hour in Wilmington, NC?
- The median hourly wage is $26.71. The middle half earn between $23.43 and $30.05 an hour. (BLS, May 2025.)
- What do entry-level diesel mechanics make in Wilmington, NC?
- BLS doesn't report pay by license level. The 10th-percentile wage, $19.62 an hour ($40,820 a year), is a reasonable estimate of starting pay; the 25th percentile is $23.43.
- Do diesel mechanics make more in Wilmington or Raleigh?
- Raleigh pays more: the median is $55,560 in Wilmington and $60,310 in Raleigh, a 8% difference.
- How does Wilmington pay compare with the rest of North Carolina?
- The Wilmington median of $55,560 is 3% less than the North Carolina median of $57,490.
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 48900 (Wilmington, NC). 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 (96.4, where the U.S. average is 100). Page updated September 27, 2026. How we calculate these figures