How much do diesel mechanics make an hour in Nashville, TN?

The median hourly wage is $29.21. The middle half earn between $25.07 and $36.11 an hour. (BLS, May 2025.)

What do entry-level diesel mechanics make in Nashville, TN?

BLS doesn't report pay by license level. The 10th-percentile wage, $21.97 an hour ($45,710 a year), is a reasonable estimate of starting pay; the 25th percentile is $25.07.

Do diesel mechanics make more in Nashville or Memphis?

Memphis pays more: the median is $60,760 in Nashville and $61,360 in Memphis, a 1% difference.

How does Nashville pay compare with the rest of Tennessee?

The Nashville median of $60,760 is 3% more than the Tennessee median of $59,190.

Diesel mechanic salary in Nashville, TN

Updated September 27, 2026 with BLS data from May 2025

Diesel mechanics in the Nashville–Davidson––Murfreesboro––Franklin, TN area earn a median of $60,760 a year, or $29.21 an hour, according to May 2025 BLS data. The top 10% earn more than $82,300. That's 3% more than the Tennessee median of $59,190.

Median yearly pay$60,760

Bottom 10% under$45,710Top 10% over$82,300

Entry-level starting pay (estimate): $21.97/hr
Jobs in this area: 1,780
After cost of living: $63,070
Median hourly pay: $29.21/hr
vs U.S. median: −2%
vs Tennessee median: +3%

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 (area 34980, Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN). 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	$45,710–$52,150$21.97–$25.07/hr
Experienced mechanic	$60,760$29.21/hr
Master / top earners	$75,120–$82,300$36.11–$39.57/hr

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

How Nashville, TN compares

Nashville ranks 2nd of 10 Tennessee metro areas for diesel mechanic pay.
Diesel mechanics are less concentrated in the Nashville area than nationally: 1.6 of every 1,000 jobs, 0.87 times the U.S. share.
The 90th-percentile wage, $82,300, is 1.8 times the 10th-percentile wage, $45,710: a measure of how much pay rises with experience and specialty.

Other Tennessee metro areas

Other trades in Nashville, TN

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 Nashville, TN?: Diesel mechanics in the Nashville–Davidson––Murfreesboro––Franklin, TN area earn a median of $60,760 a year, or $29.21 an hour, according to May 2025 BLS data. The top 10% earn more than $82,300.
How much do diesel mechanics make an hour in Nashville, TN?: The median hourly wage is $29.21. The middle half earn between $25.07 and $36.11 an hour. (BLS, May 2025.)
What do entry-level diesel mechanics make in Nashville, TN?: BLS doesn't report pay by license level. The 10th-percentile wage, $21.97 an hour ($45,710 a year), is a reasonable estimate of starting pay; the 25th percentile is $25.07.
Do diesel mechanics make more in Nashville or Memphis?: Memphis pays more: the median is $60,760 in Nashville and $61,360 in Memphis, a 1% difference.
How does Nashville pay compare with the rest of Tennessee?: The Nashville median of $60,760 is 3% more than the Tennessee median of $59,190.

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 34980 (Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN). 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 (96.3, where the U.S. average is 100). Page updated September 27, 2026. How we calculate these figures