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

The median hourly wage is $28.25. The middle half earn between $23.46 and $31.58 an hour. (BLS, May 2025.)

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

BLS doesn't report pay by license level. The 10th-percentile wage, $20.00 an hour ($41,600 a year), is a reasonable estimate of starting pay; the 25th percentile is $23.46.

Do diesel mechanics make more in State College or Philadelphia?

Philadelphia pays more: the median is $58,760 in State College and $64,550 in Philadelphia, a 9% difference.

How does State College pay compare with the rest of Pennsylvania?

The State College median of $58,760 is 5% less than the Pennsylvania median of $61,740.

Diesel mechanic salary in State College, PA

Updated September 27, 2026 with BLS data from May 2025

Diesel mechanics in the State College, PA area earn a median of $58,760 a year, or $28.25 an hour, according to May 2025 BLS data. The highest-paid 10% make over $82,170 a year. Across all of Pennsylvania, the median is $61,740, so State College pays 5% less than the state as a whole.

Median yearly pay$58,760

Bottom 10% under$41,600Top 10% over$82,170

Entry-level starting pay (estimate): $20.00/hr
Jobs in this area: 120
After cost of living: $60,730
Median hourly pay: $28.25/hr
vs U.S. median: −5%
vs Pennsylvania median: −5%

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 (area 44300, State College, 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	$41,600–$48,800$20.00–$23.46/hr
Experienced mechanic	$58,760$28.25/hr
Master / top earners	$65,690–$82,170$31.58–$39.50/hr

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

How State College, PA compares

State College ranks 12th of 16 Pennsylvania metro areas for diesel mechanic pay.
Diesel mechanics hold about the same share of jobs in the State College area as nationally: 1.7 of every 1,000 jobs.
The 90th-percentile wage, $82,170, is 2.0 times the 10th-percentile wage, $41,600: a measure of how much pay rises with experience and specialty.

Other Pennsylvania metro areas

Other trades in State College, PA

Electrician HVAC technician Welder Plumber Carpenter Heavy equipment operator Auto mechanic

Questions

How much do diesel mechanics make in State College, PA?: Diesel mechanics in the State College, PA area earn a median of $58,760 a year, or $28.25 an hour, according to May 2025 BLS data. The highest-paid 10% make over $82,170 a year.
How much do diesel mechanics make an hour in State College, PA?: The median hourly wage is $28.25. The middle half earn between $23.46 and $31.58 an hour. (BLS, May 2025.)
What do entry-level diesel mechanics make in State College, PA?: BLS doesn't report pay by license level. The 10th-percentile wage, $20.00 an hour ($41,600 a year), is a reasonable estimate of starting pay; the 25th percentile is $23.46.
Do diesel mechanics make more in State College or Philadelphia?: Philadelphia pays more: the median is $58,760 in State College and $64,550 in Philadelphia, a 9% difference.
How does State College pay compare with the rest of Pennsylvania?: The State College median of $58,760 is 5% 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 44300 (State College, 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 (96.8, where the U.S. average is 100). Page updated September 27, 2026. How we calculate these figures