Best degree programs for Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists, ranked by enrollment
2 college programs and 369 schools train Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists. Compare graduates per year, cost and pay, $61,770 median wage, 289,960 U.S. jobs. Federal data.
2 college programs at 369 schools train bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists, graduating 12,443 people a year (IPEDS completions). The largest is Diesel Mechanics Technology/Technician. The job pays a median of $61,770 (BLS OEWS May 2025).
About bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists
Diagnose, adjust, repair, or overhaul buses and trucks, or maintain and repair any type of diesel engines. Includes mechanics working primarily with automobile or marine diesel engines.
Fields of study that lead to this job
Grouped at the 4-digit CIP level, the tier our program pages are built on. Numbers are graduates per year.
2 degree programs that lead to this job
Ranked by graduates per year (IPEDS completions). Graduate earnings and debt are College Scorecard figures for people who finished the program, reported at the 4-digit CIP level, so specializations within one field share a figure. That is a different measurement from the occupation-wide wages further down this page.
| # | Program | Graduates / yr | Share of pipeline | Schools | Grad earnings (1 yr) | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CIP 47.0605 | 10,165 | 81.7% | 309 | $37,089 | $11,790 |
| 2 | CIP 47.0613 | 2,278 | 18.3% | 87 | $37,089 | $11,790 |
Top 50 schools by graduates into this job
Counting every feeder program a school offers, not just its largest one.
What bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists earn
What people already working in this job earn (BLS OEWS May 2025). Not graduate earnings.
Top-paying states
Top-paying metro areas
Job outlook
Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections, 2024 to 2034.
Where the jobs are, state by state
Pick a state for in-state pay, the schools there, and the programs they run.
| State | Median pay | Jobs | Concentration | Schools | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | $58,810 | 29,870 | 1.14× | 30 | 1,964 |
| Kentucky | $55,480 | 3,890 | 1.04× | 13 | 1,171 |
| Georgia | $61,370 | 10,910 | 1.20× | 16 | 804 |
| California | $73,950 | 20,940 | 0.62× | 20 | 622 |
| Wyoming | $61,580 | 1,100 | 2.10× | 5 | 590 |
| Florida | $60,490 | 14,900 | 0.80× | 21 | 548 |
| North Carolina | $57,490 | 11,070 | 1.20× | 17 | 449 |
| Arizona | $61,680 | 5,140 | 0.85× | 5 | 382 |
| Oklahoma | $55,340 | 3,970 | 1.25× | 15 | 327 |
| Washington | $77,900 | 7,410 | 1.12× | 11 | 319 |
| Tennessee | $59,190 | 5,720 | 0.94× | 12 | 280 |
| Mississippi | $54,360 | 3,140 | 1.45× | 10 | 266 |
| Illinois | $64,340 | 11,320 | 1.00× | 15 | 261 |
| Pennsylvania | $61,740 | 12,630 | 1.12× | 13 | 257 |
| Alabama | $50,470 | 6,130 | 1.55× | 9 | 254 |
| Colorado | $70,480 | 4,600 | 0.86× | 5 | 236 |
| Ohio | $60,470 | 14,240 | 1.38× | 5 | 230 |
| Nebraska | $59,140 | 2,720 | 1.43× | 5 | 215 |
| Missouri | $59,360 | 6,780 | 1.24× | 8 | 206 |
| Utah | $64,350 | 2,690 | 0.83× | 10 | 201 |
| Wisconsin | $62,450 | 6,750 | 1.23× | 8 | 197 |
| Indianamoderate | $60,610 | 8,840 | 1.48× | 3 | 180 |
| Louisiana | $58,680 | 3,270 | 0.91× | 6 | 179 |
| Kansas | $59,460 | 3,300 | 1.23× | 8 | 178 |
| New Jersey | $72,340 | 8,160 | 1.02× | 5 | 165 |
| Arkansas | $52,330 | 4,090 | 1.68× | 9 | 164 |
| Iowa | $59,680 | 4,140 | 1.42× | 10 | 163 |
| Minnesota | $66,840 | 7,300 | 1.33× | 8 | 152 |
| Nevadamoderate | $68,410 | 1,990 | 0.69× | 3 | 142 |
| South Dakotamoderate | $58,120 | 1,340 | 1.57× | 3 | 140 |
| Oregon | $63,970 | 3,770 | 1.03× | 7 | 125 |
| New Yorkmoderate | $70,100 | 13,230 | 0.73× | 4 | 120 |
| North Dakotalimited | $66,110 | 1,790 | 2.23× | 2 | 102 |
| Idaho | $59,230 | 1,930 | 1.21× | 6 | 99 |
| Virginia | $61,090 | 8,070 | 1.05× | 6 | 91 |
| Montanamoderate | $59,990 | 1,230 | 1.29× | 4 | 83 |
| South Carolina | $59,330 | 3,360 | 0.78× | 5 | 73 |
| Connecticutlimited | $67,300 | 2,860 | 0.90× | 1 | 55 |
| New Mexicolimited | $55,910 | 1,740 | 1.07× | 2 | 47 |
| Marylandlimited | $74,790 | 3,030 | 0.59× | 1 | 46 |
| Alaskamoderate | $75,580 | 860 | 1.41× | 3 | 36 |
| Michiganmoderate | $61,420 | 9,020 | 1.10× | 3 | 33 |
| Hawaiilimited | $80,080 | 690 | 0.59× | 2 | 20 |
| Mainelimited | $60,850 | 1,380 | 1.15× | 2 | 18 |
| West Virginiamoderate | $46,610 | 1,040 | 0.80× | 3 | 17 |
| New Hampshirelimited | $71,390 | 1,040 | 0.82× | 1 | 9 |
| Vermontlimited | $59,390 | 550 | 0.98× | 1 | 9 |
| Delawarelimited | $63,590 | 670 | 0.74× | 2 | 4 |
| Massachusettslimited | $73,270 | 4,870 | 0.72× | 1 | 4 |
Skills and tools
From O*NET, the U.S. Department of Labor's occupational database. Importance is a 1 to 5 scale.
What they do day to day
- Use handtools, such as screwdrivers, pliers, wrenches, pressure gauges, or precision instruments, as well as power tools, such as pneumatic wrenches, lathes, welding equipment, or jacks and hoists.
- Inspect brake systems, steering mechanisms, wheel bearings, and other important parts to ensure that they are in proper operating condition.
- Raise trucks, buses, and heavy parts or equipment using hydraulic jacks or hoists.
- Adjust and reline brakes, align wheels, tighten bolts and screws, and reassemble equipment.
- Attach test instruments to equipment, and read dials and gauges to diagnose malfunctions.
- Perform routine maintenance such as changing oil, checking batteries, and lubricating equipment and machinery.
- Examine and adjust protective guards, loose bolts, and specified safety devices.
- Inspect, test, and listen to defective equipment to diagnose malfunctions, using test instruments such as handheld computers, motor analyzers, chassis charts, or pressure gauges.
Skills
- Critical Thinking3.3
- Speaking3.1
- Monitoring3.0
- Active Listening3.0
- Reading Comprehension2.9
- Active Learning2.8
- Learning Strategies2.8
- Writing2.6
Knowledge areas
- Mechanical4.7
- Transportation3.9
- Education and Training3.5
- English Language3.5
- Public Safety and Security3.4
- Mathematics3.3
Abilities
- Near Vision4.0
- Finger Dexterity3.9
- Arm-Hand Steadiness3.9
- Manual Dexterity3.9
- Hearing Sensitivity3.8
- Control Precision3.8
Core activities
- Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment4.6
- Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials4.4
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events4.3
- Getting Information4.3
- Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment4.2
- Repairing and Maintaining Electronic Equipment4.1
Tools and technology
hotmarks an O*NET hot technologyHow to get in
How to become a Bus
Job zone 3 of 5 · SVP 6.0 to < 7.0- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- On-the-job training
- Long-term on-the-job training
Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.
Employees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.
Every major mapped to this job
The official federal mapping behind the rankings above.
All 2 majors mapped to Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists2 of them graduated someone in the latest IPEDS year. NCES CIP 2020 → SOC 2018 crosswalk.+
- 47.0605Diesel Mechanics Technology/Technician
- 47.0613Medium/Heavy Vehicle and Truck Technology/Technician
Related careers
Jobs O*NET identifies as close to this one, with their own pay and outlook.
Common questions
What degree do you need to become a Bus?+
High school diploma or equivalent is the typical entry-level education BLS reports for this occupation. The most common program people actually graduate from is Diesel Mechanics Technology/Technician, which awarded 10,165 degrees in 2024-25, 81.7% of everyone graduating from a program that feeds this career.
Which college majors lead to becoming a Bus?+
The NCES CIP-to-SOC crosswalk maps 2 programs to this occupation. The largest are Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians. Together they graduate about 12,443 people a year.
How much do bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists earn?+
The median is $61,770 a year (BLS OEWS May 2025). The middle range runs from $44,530 at the 10th percentile to $88,740 at the 90th. This is pay for people already working in the occupation, not the same thing as graduate earnings one year after finishing a degree.
Is demand for bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists growing?+
BLS projects a +2.4% change in employment between 2024 and 2034, about as fast as average, with roughly 26,500 openings a year nationally once retirements and job changes are counted.
How many schools offer programs for this career?+
369 institutions reported graduates from at least one of the 2 programs that feed this occupation in IPEDS 2024-25. Rankings on this page use graduates per year, because the federal data publishes no enrollment count by program.
What other job titles do bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists work under?+
Employers advertise this work under many names. O*NET records Bus Mechanic, Truck Mechanic, Diesel Mechanic, Diesel Technician (Diesel Tech) among the most commonly reported, all mapping to SOC 49-3031.
About the data on this page
Rankings use IPEDS completions 2024-25, degrees awarded per year. That is the closest federal measure of how many people a program puts into a career, because no federal dataset publishes enrollment by program. Wages and employment come from BLS OEWS May 2025, growth and openings from BLS Employment Projections 2024-34, and which majors lead to which jobs from the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk. Occupation descriptions, tasks, skills and tools are O*NET 30.3 (CC BY 4.0, U.S. Department of Labor/ETA).
BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics
May 2025Wages, employment counts, location quotients and metro breakdowns.
BLS Employment Projections
2024–34Projected growth, annual openings and typical entry-level education.
IPEDS Completions
2024-25 (provisional)Graduates per year by program and institution — the ranking metric.
College Scorecard, Field of Study
2020-21 cohortsMedian graduate earnings one year after completion, and median debt.
Census Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes
latest availableGraduate earnings 1/5/10 years out, where the state participates.
NCES CIP 2020 and the CIP-to-SOC 2018 crosswalk
CIP 2020 / SOC 2018Which college programs officially lead to this occupation.
O*NET Database 30.3
30.3Tasks, skills, knowledge, tools, job zone and alternate job titles.
Official source →CC BY 4.0, U.S. Department of Labor / ETA
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