How much do diesel mechanics make an hour in Richmond, VA?

The median hourly wage is $29.51. The middle half earn between $25.18 and $31.89 an hour. (BLS, May 2025.)

What do entry-level diesel mechanics make in Richmond, VA?

BLS doesn't report pay by license level. The 10th-percentile wage, $22.19 an hour ($46,160 a year), is a reasonable estimate of starting pay; the 25th percentile is $25.18.

Do diesel mechanics make more in Richmond or Washington?

Washington pays more: the median is $61,390 in Richmond and $72,580 in Washington, a 15% difference.

How does Richmond pay compare with the rest of Virginia?

The Richmond median of $61,390 is about the same as the Virginia median of $61,090.

Diesel mechanic salary in Richmond, VA

Updated September 27, 2026 with BLS data from May 2025

Diesel mechanics in the Richmond, VA area earn a median of $61,390 a year, or $29.51 an hour, according to May 2025 BLS data. One in ten earns more than $79,200. That's about the same as the Virginia median of $61,090.

Median yearly pay$61,390

Bottom 10% under$46,160Top 10% over$79,200

Entry-level starting pay (estimate): $22.19/hr
Jobs in this area: 1,400
After cost of living: $62,730
Median hourly pay: $29.51/hr
vs U.S. median: −1%
vs Virginia median: 0%

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 (area 40060, Richmond, VA). 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	$46,160–$52,380$22.19–$25.18/hr
Experienced mechanic	$61,390$29.51/hr
Master / top earners	$66,320–$79,200$31.89–$38.08/hr

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

How Richmond, VA compares

Richmond ranks 4th of 10 Virginia metro areas for diesel mechanic pay.
Diesel mechanics are more concentrated in the Richmond area than nationally: 2.1 of every 1,000 jobs, 1.1 times the U.S. share.
The 90th-percentile wage, $79,200, is 1.7 times the 10th-percentile wage, $46,160: a measure of how much pay rises with experience and specialty.

Other Virginia metro areas

Other trades in Richmond, VA

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

Questions

How much do diesel mechanics make in Richmond, VA?: Diesel mechanics in the Richmond, VA area earn a median of $61,390 a year, or $29.51 an hour, according to May 2025 BLS data. One in ten earns more than $79,200.
How much do diesel mechanics make an hour in Richmond, VA?: The median hourly wage is $29.51. The middle half earn between $25.18 and $31.89 an hour. (BLS, May 2025.)
What do entry-level diesel mechanics make in Richmond, VA?: BLS doesn't report pay by license level. The 10th-percentile wage, $22.19 an hour ($46,160 a year), is a reasonable estimate of starting pay; the 25th percentile is $25.18.
Do diesel mechanics make more in Richmond or Washington?: Washington pays more: the median is $61,390 in Richmond and $72,580 in Washington, a 15% difference.
How does Richmond pay compare with the rest of Virginia?: The Richmond median of $61,390 is about the same as the Virginia median of $61,090.

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 40060 (Richmond, VA). 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 (97.9, where the U.S. average is 100). Page updated September 27, 2026. How we calculate these figures