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

The median hourly wage is $28.00. The middle half earn between $22.88 and $29.56 an hour. (BLS, May 2025.)

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

BLS doesn't report pay by license level. The 10th-percentile wage, $21.10 an hour ($43,900 a year), is a reasonable estimate of starting pay; the 25th percentile is $22.88.

Do diesel mechanics make more in Roanoke or Washington?

Washington pays more: the median is $58,240 in Roanoke and $72,580 in Washington, a 20% difference.

How does Roanoke pay compare with the rest of Virginia?

The Roanoke median of $58,240 is 5% less than the Virginia median of $61,090.

Diesel mechanic salary in Roanoke, VA

Updated September 27, 2026 with BLS data from May 2025

Diesel mechanics in the Roanoke, VA area earn a median of $58,240 a year, or $28.00 an hour, according to May 2025 BLS data. The highest-paid 10% make over $73,610 a year. That's 5% less than the Virginia median of $61,090.

Median yearly pay$58,240

Bottom 10% under$43,900Top 10% over$73,610

Entry-level starting pay (estimate): $21.10/hr
Jobs in this area: 420
After cost of living: $62,210
Median hourly pay: $28.00/hr
vs U.S. median: −6%
vs Virginia median: −5%

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 (area 40220, Roanoke, 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	$43,900–$47,580$21.10–$22.88/hr
Experienced mechanic	$58,240$28.00/hr
Master / top earners	$61,470–$73,610$29.56–$35.39/hr

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

How Roanoke, VA compares

Roanoke ranks 9th of 10 Virginia metro areas for diesel mechanic pay.
Diesel mechanics are more concentrated in the Roanoke area than nationally: 2.8 of every 1,000 jobs, 1.5 times the U.S. share.
The 90th-percentile wage, $73,610, is 1.7 times the 10th-percentile wage, $43,900: a measure of how much pay rises with experience and specialty.

Other Virginia metro areas

Other trades in Roanoke, VA

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

Questions

How much do diesel mechanics make in Roanoke, VA?: Diesel mechanics in the Roanoke, VA area earn a median of $58,240 a year, or $28.00 an hour, according to May 2025 BLS data. The highest-paid 10% make over $73,610 a year.
How much do diesel mechanics make an hour in Roanoke, VA?: The median hourly wage is $28.00. The middle half earn between $22.88 and $29.56 an hour. (BLS, May 2025.)
What do entry-level diesel mechanics make in Roanoke, VA?: BLS doesn't report pay by license level. The 10th-percentile wage, $21.10 an hour ($43,900 a year), is a reasonable estimate of starting pay; the 25th percentile is $22.88.
Do diesel mechanics make more in Roanoke or Washington?: Washington pays more: the median is $58,240 in Roanoke and $72,580 in Washington, a 20% difference.
How does Roanoke pay compare with the rest of Virginia?: The Roanoke median of $58,240 is 5% less than 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 40220 (Roanoke, 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 (93.6, where the U.S. average is 100). Page updated September 27, 2026. How we calculate these figures