How much do diesel mechanics make an hour in Madison, WI?

The median hourly wage is $30.70. The middle half earn between $23.74 and $36.72 an hour. (BLS, May 2025.)

What do entry-level diesel mechanics make in Madison, WI?

BLS doesn't report pay by license level. The 10th-percentile wage, $21.88 an hour ($45,500 a year), is a reasonable estimate of starting pay; the 25th percentile is $23.74.

Do diesel mechanics make more in Madison or Minneapolis?

Minneapolis pays more: the median is $63,850 in Madison and $73,730 in Minneapolis, a 13% difference.

How does Madison pay compare with the rest of Wisconsin?

The Madison median of $63,850 is 2% more than the Wisconsin median of $62,450.

Diesel mechanic salary in Madison, WI

Updated September 27, 2026 with BLS data from May 2025

Diesel mechanics in the Madison, WI area earn a median of $63,850 a year, or $30.70 an hour, according to May 2025 BLS data. The highest-paid 10% make over $81,160 a year. Statewide, diesel mechanics earn a median of $62,450; Madison is 2% above it.

Median yearly pay$63,850

Bottom 10% under$45,500Top 10% over$81,160

Entry-level starting pay (estimate): $21.88/hr
Jobs in this area: 840
After cost of living: $65,630
Median hourly pay: $30.70/hr
vs U.S. median: +3%
vs Wisconsin median: +2%

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 (area 31540, Madison, WI). 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	$45,500–$49,380$21.88–$23.74/hr
Experienced mechanic	$63,850$30.70/hr
Master / top earners	$76,380–$81,160$36.72–$39.02/hr

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

How Madison, WI compares

Madison ranks 7th of 15 Wisconsin metro areas for diesel mechanic pay.
Diesel mechanics are more concentrated in the Madison area than nationally: 2.0 of every 1,000 jobs, 1.1 times the U.S. share.
The 90th-percentile wage, $81,160, is 1.8 times the 10th-percentile wage, $45,500: a measure of how much pay rises with experience and specialty.

Other Wisconsin metro areas

Other trades in Madison, WI

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

Questions

How much do diesel mechanics make in Madison, WI?: Diesel mechanics in the Madison, WI area earn a median of $63,850 a year, or $30.70 an hour, according to May 2025 BLS data. The highest-paid 10% make over $81,160 a year.
How much do diesel mechanics make an hour in Madison, WI?: The median hourly wage is $30.70. The middle half earn between $23.74 and $36.72 an hour. (BLS, May 2025.)
What do entry-level diesel mechanics make in Madison, WI?: BLS doesn't report pay by license level. The 10th-percentile wage, $21.88 an hour ($45,500 a year), is a reasonable estimate of starting pay; the 25th percentile is $23.74.
Do diesel mechanics make more in Madison or Minneapolis?: Minneapolis pays more: the median is $63,850 in Madison and $73,730 in Minneapolis, a 13% difference.
How does Madison pay compare with the rest of Wisconsin?: The Madison median of $63,850 is 2% more than the Wisconsin median of $62,450.

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 31540 (Madison, WI). 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 (97.3, where the U.S. average is 100). Page updated September 27, 2026. How we calculate these figures