Diesel mechanic salary in North Dakota
Updated September 27, 2026 with BLS data from May 2025
Diesel mechanics in North Dakota earn a median of $66,110 a year, or $31.78 an hour, according to May 2025 BLS data. One in ten earns more than $91,520. Nationally the median is $61,770, so North Dakota pays 7% more than the U.S. overall and ranks 15th of 51.
- Entry-level starting pay (estimate)
- $22.49/hr
- Jobs in North Dakota
- 1,790
- After cost of living
- $74,320
- Median hourly pay
- $31.78/hr
- vs U.S. median
- +7%
- Rank among states
- 15th of 51
Entry-level to master diesel mechanic pay
| Stage | Yearly pay | Hourly pay |
|---|---|---|
| Entry level | $46,790–$58,080$22.49–$27.92/hr | |
| Experienced mechanic | $66,110$31.78/hr | |
| Master / top earners | $81,100–$91,520$38.99–$44.00/hr |
Estimated from BLS percentiles (10th–25th, median, 75th–90th); BLS does not report pay by license level.
Pay over time
The median diesel mechanic wage in North Dakota rose 10.6%, from $59,770 in May 2021 to $66,110 in May 2025. Prices rose 19.4% over the same period, so after inflation it fell 7.4%.
| Year | Median a year | Median an hour |
|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $59,770 | $28.73/hr |
| May 2022 | $61,430 | $29.53/hr |
| May 2023 | $63,060 | $30.32/hr |
| May 2024 | $63,430 | $30.50/hr |
| May 2025 | $66,110 | $31.78/hr |
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, each May release; inflation from the BLS Consumer Price Index (CPI-U, May of each year). BLS cautions against reading much into year-to-year changes, so we compare the first and last years. How we compare years
How North Dakota compares
- Diesel mechanics are more concentrated in North Dakota than nationally: 4.2 of every 1,000 jobs, 2.2 times the U.S. share.
- The 90th-percentile wage, $91,520, is 2.0 times the 10th-percentile wage, $46,790: a measure of how much pay rises with experience and specialty.
Pay by metro area
Rural North Dakota
- West North Dakota$73,960
- East North Dakota$58,800
Other trades in North Dakota
Questions
- How much do diesel mechanics make in North Dakota?
- Diesel mechanics in North Dakota earn a median of $66,110 a year, or $31.78 an hour, according to May 2025 BLS data. One in ten earns more than $91,520.
- How much do diesel mechanics make an hour in North Dakota?
- The median hourly wage is $31.78. The middle half earn between $27.92 and $38.99 an hour. (BLS, May 2025.)
- What do entry-level diesel mechanics make in North Dakota?
- BLS doesn't report pay by license level. The 10th-percentile wage, $22.49 an hour ($46,790 a year), is a reasonable estimate of starting pay; the 25th percentile is $27.92.
- Has diesel mechanic pay gone up in North Dakota?
- The median diesel mechanic wage in North Dakota rose 10.6%, from $59,770 in May 2021 to $66,110 in May 2025. Prices rose 19.4% over the same period, so after inflation it fell 7.4%. (BLS wage data and Consumer Price Index.)
- Where in North Dakota do diesel mechanics earn the most?
- Among North Dakota metro areas, Minot has the highest median at $72,800 a year, and Bismarck the lowest at $63,950.
- Do diesel mechanics in North Dakota earn more than the national average?
- The North Dakota median of $66,110 is 7% more than the U.S. median of $61,770. Prices in North Dakota run 11% below the national average (BEA), so the median buys about what $74,320 would nationally.
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 38. 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