How much do diesel mechanics make an hour in Sioux Falls, SD-MN?

The median hourly wage is $29.67. The middle half earn between $23.62 and $35.01 an hour. (BLS, May 2025.)

What do entry-level diesel mechanics make in Sioux Falls, SD-MN?

BLS doesn't report pay by license level. The 10th-percentile wage, $22.50 an hour ($46,800 a year), is a reasonable estimate of starting pay; the 25th percentile is $23.62.

Do diesel mechanics make more in Sioux Falls or Rapid City?

Rapid City pays more: the median is $61,700 in Sioux Falls and $62,700 in Rapid City, a 2% difference.

How does Sioux Falls pay compare with the rest of South Dakota?

The Sioux Falls median of $61,700 is 6% more than the South Dakota median of $58,120.

Diesel mechanic salary in Sioux Falls, SD-MN

Updated September 27, 2026 with BLS data from May 2025

Diesel mechanics in the Sioux Falls, SD-MN area earn a median of $61,700 a year, or $29.67 an hour, according to May 2025 BLS data. The top 10% earn more than $81,120. Statewide, diesel mechanics earn a median of $58,120; Sioux Falls is 6% above it.

Median yearly pay$61,700

Bottom 10% under$46,800Top 10% over$81,120

Entry-level starting pay (estimate): $22.50/hr
Jobs in this area: 620
After cost of living: $68,080
Median hourly pay: $29.67/hr
vs U.S. median: 0%
vs South Dakota median: +6%

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 (area 43620, Sioux Falls, SD-MN). 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	$46,800–$49,130$22.50–$23.62/hr
Experienced mechanic	$61,700$29.67/hr
Master / top earners	$72,830–$81,120$35.01–$39.00/hr

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

How Sioux Falls, SD-MN compares

Sioux Falls ranks 2nd of 3 South Dakota metro areas for diesel mechanic pay.
Diesel mechanics are more concentrated in the Sioux Falls area than nationally: 3.5 of every 1,000 jobs, 1.9 times the U.S. share.
The 90th-percentile wage, $81,120, is 1.7 times the 10th-percentile wage, $46,800: a measure of how much pay rises with experience and specialty.

Other South Dakota metro areas

Other trades in Sioux Falls, SD-MN

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

Questions

How much do diesel mechanics make in Sioux Falls, SD-MN?: Diesel mechanics in the Sioux Falls, SD-MN area earn a median of $61,700 a year, or $29.67 an hour, according to May 2025 BLS data. The top 10% earn more than $81,120.
How much do diesel mechanics make an hour in Sioux Falls, SD-MN?: The median hourly wage is $29.67. The middle half earn between $23.62 and $35.01 an hour. (BLS, May 2025.)
What do entry-level diesel mechanics make in Sioux Falls, SD-MN?: BLS doesn't report pay by license level. The 10th-percentile wage, $22.50 an hour ($46,800 a year), is a reasonable estimate of starting pay; the 25th percentile is $23.62.
Do diesel mechanics make more in Sioux Falls or Rapid City?: Rapid City pays more: the median is $61,700 in Sioux Falls and $62,700 in Rapid City, a 2% difference.
How does Sioux Falls pay compare with the rest of South Dakota?: The Sioux Falls median of $61,700 is 6% more than the South Dakota median of $58,120.

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 43620 (Sioux Falls, SD-MN). 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 (90.6, where the U.S. average is 100). Page updated September 27, 2026. How we calculate these figures