How much do diesel mechanics make an hour in Portland, OR-WA?

The median hourly wage is $34.61. The middle half earn between $30.06 and $39.42 an hour. (BLS, May 2025.)

What do entry-level diesel mechanics make in Portland, OR-WA?

BLS doesn't report pay by license level. The 10th-percentile wage, $24.60 an hour ($51,160 a year), is a reasonable estimate of starting pay; the 25th percentile is $30.06.

Do diesel mechanics make more in Portland or Bend?

Portland pays more: the median is $71,990 in Portland and $64,620 in Bend, a 11% difference.

How does Portland pay compare with the rest of Oregon?

The Portland median of $71,990 is 13% more than the Oregon median of $63,970.

Diesel mechanic salary in Portland, OR-WA

Updated September 27, 2026 with BLS data from May 2025

Diesel mechanics in the Portland–Vancouver–Hillsboro, OR-WA area earn a median of $71,990 a year, or $34.61 an hour, according to May 2025 BLS data. One in ten earns more than $90,700. Across all of Oregon, the median is $63,970, so Portland pays 13% more than the state as a whole.

Median yearly pay$71,990

Bottom 10% under$51,160Top 10% over$90,700

Entry-level starting pay (estimate): $24.60/hr
Jobs in this area: 2,330
After cost of living: $68,290
Median hourly pay: $34.61/hr
vs U.S. median: +17%
vs Oregon median: +13%

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 (area 38900, Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA). 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	$51,160–$62,520$24.60–$30.06/hr
Experienced mechanic	$71,990$34.61/hr
Master / top earners	$81,990–$90,700$39.42–$43.61/hr

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

How Portland, OR-WA compares

Portland has the highest diesel mechanic median of the 8 Oregon metro areas with published pay.
Diesel mechanics hold about the same share of jobs in the Portland area as nationally: 1.9 of every 1,000 jobs.
The 90th-percentile wage, $90,700, is 1.8 times the 10th-percentile wage, $51,160: a measure of how much pay rises with experience and specialty.

Other Oregon metro areas

Other trades in Portland, OR-WA

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

Questions

How much do diesel mechanics make in Portland, OR-WA?: Diesel mechanics in the Portland–Vancouver–Hillsboro, OR-WA area earn a median of $71,990 a year, or $34.61 an hour, according to May 2025 BLS data. One in ten earns more than $90,700.
How much do diesel mechanics make an hour in Portland, OR-WA?: The median hourly wage is $34.61. The middle half earn between $30.06 and $39.42 an hour. (BLS, May 2025.)
What do entry-level diesel mechanics make in Portland, OR-WA?: BLS doesn't report pay by license level. The 10th-percentile wage, $24.60 an hour ($51,160 a year), is a reasonable estimate of starting pay; the 25th percentile is $30.06.
Do diesel mechanics make more in Portland or Bend?: Portland pays more: the median is $71,990 in Portland and $64,620 in Bend, a 11% difference.
How does Portland pay compare with the rest of Oregon?: The Portland median of $71,990 is 13% more than the Oregon median of $63,970.

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 38900 (Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA). 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 (105.4, where the U.S. average is 100). Page updated September 27, 2026. How we calculate these figures