How much do diesel mechanics make an hour in Altoona, PA?

The median hourly wage is $27.72. The middle half earn between $22.69 and $30.00 an hour. (BLS, May 2025.)

What do entry-level diesel mechanics make in Altoona, PA?

BLS doesn't report pay by license level. The 10th-percentile wage, $21.24 an hour ($44,180 a year), is a reasonable estimate of starting pay; the 25th percentile is $22.69.

Do diesel mechanics make more in Altoona or Philadelphia?

Philadelphia pays more: the median is $57,650 in Altoona and $64,550 in Philadelphia, a 11% difference.

How does Altoona pay compare with the rest of Pennsylvania?

The Altoona median of $57,650 is 7% less than the Pennsylvania median of $61,740.

Diesel mechanic salary in Altoona, PA

Updated September 27, 2026 with BLS data from May 2025

Diesel mechanics in the Altoona, PA area earn a median of $57,650 a year, or $27.72 an hour, according to May 2025 BLS data. One in ten earns more than $73,590. Across all of Pennsylvania, the median is $61,740, so Altoona pays 7% less than the state as a whole.

Median yearly pay$57,650

Bottom 10% under$44,180Top 10% over$73,590

Entry-level starting pay (estimate): $21.24/hr
Jobs in this area: 220
After cost of living: $64,410
Median hourly pay: $27.72/hr
vs U.S. median: −7%
vs Pennsylvania median: −7%

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 (area 11020, Altoona, PA). 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	$44,180–$47,190$21.24–$22.69/hr
Experienced mechanic	$57,650$27.72/hr
Master / top earners	$62,390–$73,590$30.00–$35.38/hr

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

How Altoona, PA compares

Altoona ranks 15th of 16 Pennsylvania metro areas for diesel mechanic pay.
Diesel mechanics are more concentrated in the Altoona area than nationally: 3.7 of every 1,000 jobs, 2.0 times the U.S. share.
The 90th-percentile wage, $73,590, is 1.7 times the 10th-percentile wage, $44,180: a measure of how much pay rises with experience and specialty.

Other Pennsylvania metro areas

Other trades in Altoona, PA

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

Questions

How much do diesel mechanics make in Altoona, PA?: Diesel mechanics in the Altoona, PA area earn a median of $57,650 a year, or $27.72 an hour, according to May 2025 BLS data. One in ten earns more than $73,590.
How much do diesel mechanics make an hour in Altoona, PA?: The median hourly wage is $27.72. The middle half earn between $22.69 and $30.00 an hour. (BLS, May 2025.)
What do entry-level diesel mechanics make in Altoona, PA?: BLS doesn't report pay by license level. The 10th-percentile wage, $21.24 an hour ($44,180 a year), is a reasonable estimate of starting pay; the 25th percentile is $22.69.
Do diesel mechanics make more in Altoona or Philadelphia?: Philadelphia pays more: the median is $57,650 in Altoona and $64,550 in Philadelphia, a 11% difference.
How does Altoona pay compare with the rest of Pennsylvania?: The Altoona median of $57,650 is 7% less than the Pennsylvania median of $61,740.

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 11020 (Altoona, PA). 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 (89.5, where the U.S. average is 100). Page updated September 27, 2026. How we calculate these figures