Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists
Also called: Bus Mechanic, Diesel Mechanic, Diesel Technician (Diesel Tech), Truck MechanicDiagnose, 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.
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What the data says: AI couldn't halve the time on any of its 26 tasks, and jobs are projected to grow 3.6% by 2035. How to think about this →
About this projection
BLS builds AI into its projections where the research supports it: “BLS generally applies adjustments based on this research conservatively, where there is convincing evidence for a change.”
It also notes a limit: “BLS projection methods are not designed to capture extremely rapid technological change.”
On its AI exposure groups, BLS says exposure “does not imply job loss.”
Recent conditions
- In 2024, 1.6% of people in this work were unemployed, against 3.8% across all occupations Census ACS 2024
- From Sep 2025 to Aug 2026, 9.0 hires for every 10 job openings in transportation, warehousing, and utilities, which employs about 32% of people in this work, against 7.3 across all industries BLS JOLTS
One box per opening, filled for each hire; hires beyond the openings are added in a lighter shade. Higher can mean openings get filled, or that people leave often; lower, that jobs go unfilled, or hiring is slow.9.0 this industry7.3 all industries
Median pay by state BLS OEWS May 2025, state estimates
Tap a state for its figures.
Median pay in every state
| State | Median | Middle half earn | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $50,470 | $45,940 to $61,030 | 6,130 |
| Alaska | $75,580 | $62,450 to $83,210 | 860 |
| Arizona | $61,680 | $51,080 to $74,310 | 5,140 |
| Arkansas | $52,330 | $46,090 to $60,940 | 4,090 |
| California | $73,950 | $60,110 to $84,740 | 20,940 |
| Colorado | $70,480 | $59,300 to $79,780 | 4,600 |
| Connecticut | $67,300 | $60,300 to $81,160 | 2,860 |
| Delaware | $63,590 | $54,260 to $74,380 | 670 |
| District of Columbia | $65,200 | $59,450 to $75,980 | 110 |
| Florida | $60,490 | $49,720 to $73,900 | 14,900 |
| Georgia | $61,370 | $51,510 to $75,340 | 10,910 |
| Guam | $51,720 | $41,630 to $53,950 | 30 |
| Hawaii | $80,080 | $62,850 to $85,040 | 690 |
| Idaho | $59,230 | $48,740 to $69,370 | 1,930 |
| Illinois | $64,340 | $53,640 to $80,640 | 11,320 |
| Indiana | $60,610 | $49,270 to $70,810 | 8,840 |
| Iowa | $59,680 | $48,770 to $71,570 | 4,140 |
| Kansas | $59,460 | $48,870 to $71,430 | 3,300 |
| Kentucky | $55,480 | $46,560 to $63,740 | 3,890 |
| Louisiana | $58,680 | $46,800 to $69,100 | 3,270 |
| Maine | $60,850 | $51,070 to $72,850 | 1,380 |
| Maryland | $74,790 | $60,920 to $84,180 | 3,030 |
| Massachusetts | $73,270 | $59,920 to $84,410 | 4,870 |
| Michigan | $61,420 | $51,280 to $67,460 | 9,020 |
| Minnesota | $66,840 | $59,480 to $78,600 | 7,300 |
| Mississippi | $54,360 | $44,120 to $65,400 | 3,140 |
| Missouri | $59,360 | $48,070 to $69,000 | 6,780 |
| Montana | $59,990 | $51,650 to $71,180 | 1,230 |
| Nebraska | $59,140 | $49,430 to $65,200 | 2,720 |
| Nevada | $68,410 | $58,240 to $80,950 | 1,990 |
| New Hampshire | $71,390 | $60,440 to $82,700 | 1,040 |
| New Jersey | $72,340 | $59,740 to $79,850 | 8,160 |
| New Mexico | $55,910 | $47,560 to $66,900 | 1,740 |
| New York | $70,100 | $58,420 to $86,450 | 13,230 |
| North Carolina | $57,490 | $48,040 to $64,770 | 11,070 |
| North Dakota | $66,110 | $58,080 to $81,100 | 1,790 |
| Ohio | $60,470 | $50,700 to $69,290 | 14,240 |
| Oklahoma | $55,340 | $46,310 to $62,580 | 3,970 |
| Oregon | $63,970 | $57,580 to $76,840 | 3,770 |
| Pennsylvania | $61,740 | $51,060 to $73,000 | 12,630 |
| Puerto Rico | $40,110 | $29,650 to $56,540 | 930 |
| Rhode Island | $67,270 | $60,620 to $77,590 | 350 |
| South Carolina | $59,330 | $48,510 to $65,690 | 3,360 |
| South Dakota | $58,120 | $49,570 to $65,200 | 1,340 |
| Tennessee | $59,190 | $48,680 to $71,610 | 5,720 |
| Texas | $58,810 | $47,520 to $70,400 | 29,870 |
| Utah | $64,350 | $57,450 to $74,930 | 2,690 |
| Vermont | $59,390 | $49,930 to $75,960 | 550 |
| Virginia | $61,090 | $50,840 to $70,460 | 8,070 |
| Washington | $77,900 | $63,700 to $92,880 | 7,410 |
| West Virginia | $46,610 | $37,670 to $62,430 | 1,040 |
| Wisconsin | $62,450 | $52,040 to $74,800 | 6,750 |
| Wyoming | $61,580 | $54,050 to $73,950 | 1,100 |
Nationally: $61,770. Shades run from the lowest state median to the highest; a territory below that range takes the lightest. How to read this
How AI touches the work
What AI could speed up, task by task, and where people already use it.
AI could halve the time on none of its 26 tasks
| AI rating | Its main tasks | Share of Claude conversations May 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Not much | 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. | Not published |
| Not much | Inspect brake systems, steering mechanisms, wheel bearings, and other important parts to ensure that they are in proper operating condition. | Not published |
| Not much | Perform routine maintenance such as changing oil, checking batteries, and lubricating equipment and machinery. | Not published |
| Not much | Adjust and reline brakes, align wheels, tighten bolts and screws, and reassemble equipment. | Not published |
| Not much | Raise trucks, buses, and heavy parts or equipment using hydraulic jacks or hoists. | Not published |
| Not much | Examine and adjust protective guards, loose bolts, and specified safety devices. | Not published |
See all 26 tasks
| Not much | Attach test instruments to equipment, and read dials and gauges to diagnose malfunctions. | Not published |
| Not much | Inspect, test, and listen to defective equipment to diagnose malfunctions, using test instruments such as handheld computers, motor analyzers, chassis charts, or pressure gauges. | Not published |
| Not much | Test drive trucks and buses to diagnose malfunctions or to ensure that they are working properly. | Not published |
| Not much | Diagnose and repair vehicle heating and cooling systems. | under 0.01% |
| Not much | Rewire ignition systems, lights, and instrument panels. | Not published |
| Not much | Inspect, repair, and maintain automotive and mechanical equipment and machinery, such as pumps and compressors. | Not published |
| Not much | Inspect and verify dimensions and clearances of parts to ensure conformance to factory specifications. | Not published |
| Not much | Repair or adjust seats, doors, or windows. | Not published |
| Not much | Specialize in repairing and maintaining parts of the engine, such as fuel injection systems. | Not published |
| Not much | Install or repair accessories. | Not published |
| Not much | Disassemble and overhaul internal combustion engines, pumps, generators, transmissions, clutches, and differential units. | Not published |
| Not much | Adjust or repair computer controlled exhaust emissions devices. | Not published |
| Not much | Dismount, mount, and repair or replace tires. | Not published |
| Not much | Recondition and replace parts, pistons, bearings, gears, and valves. | Not published |
| Not much | Rebuild gas or diesel engines. | Not published |
| Not much | Align front ends and suspension systems. | Not published |
| Not much | Measure vehicle emissions to determine whether they are within acceptable limits. | Not published |
| Not much | Follow green operational practices involving conservation of water or energy or reduction of solid waste. | Not published |
| Not much | Maintain or repair vehicles with alternative fuel systems, including biodiesel, hybrid, or compressed natural gas vehicles. | Not published |
| Not much | Operate valve-grinding machines to grind and reset valves. | Not published |
Ordered by how important O*NET's respondents rate each task (1 to 5) times the share who say it is part of their job. The ordering is ours. 1 of the 26 have a published share of Claude conversations; “not published” means too few conversations for Anthropic to publish a figure.
Where people already use AI
The tasks above say what AI could speed up. This shows what people are using it for. Its 26 tasks fall under 19 work activities that many occupations share, and Microsoft counted how often each one came up in 200,000 conversations with its Copilot assistant in 2024.
- #38 Select materials or equipment for operations or projects
- #42 Diagnose system or equipment problems
| Work activity | This occupation's tasks under it | People asked AI for help in 10,000 conversations |
AI did it for them in 10,000 conversations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Repair vehicle components | |||
| Adjust equipment to ensure adequate performance | |||
| Inspect vehicles | |||
| Test performance of equipment or systems | |||
| Maintain vehicles in working condition | |||
| Assemble equipment or components | |||
| Select materials or equipment for operations or projects | |||
| Diagnose system or equipment problems |
Show all 19 activities
| Connect components or supply lines to equipment or tools | |||
| Measure physical characteristics of materials, products, or equipment | |||
| Maintain tools or equipment | |||
| Disassemble equipment | |||
| Repair tools or equipment | |||
| Monitor equipment operation | |||
| Position materials or components for assembly | |||
| Monitor resources or inventories | |||
| Smooth surfaces of objects or equipment | |||
| Operate transportation equipment or vehicles | |||
| Operate lifting or moving equipment |
How people in this work use Claude
What people in this work made with Claude % of conversations
- Advice or a recommendation52%
- An explanation or answer43%
- An email or message2%
- A chart or visualization1%
- A plan or strategy1%
How they worked with Claude
2% of these conversations were about work. Anthropic Economic Index, May 2026.
How to read this
Work activities come from O*NET, which links every task to the broader activities it involves. Microsoft's figures are for the activity across everyone who used Copilot, not for bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists specifically. Copilot is a general chat assistant; dedicated coding tools are not included, so programming help is under-counted here. Activities are listed by how many of this occupation's tasks fall under them.
The task ratings say whether AI could halve the time a task takes: on its own (“AI alone”), or with software built on it (“AI + software”). They were made by people in 2023 (Eloundou et al.). Claude's share is the task's share of all Claude.ai conversations in May 2026; Anthropic doesn't publish a task with too few conversations. None of these add up to the BLS exposure group, which combines five research measures.
More in the Guide: task ratings · task order · work activities · Copilot figures · Claude
High exposure doesn't mean fewer jobs
BLS projects most occupations in its two most exposed groups to grow: 141 of 206 rated Very high and 165 of 206 rated High. Each dot is one of the 831 occupations BLS rates.
Career moves into and out of this occupation
From moves between occupations found in online resumes, 2002–2016. Career changes only: a first job after school isn't a move.
Where people moved next
of 13,212 moves out
- 1 Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers Moderate +3.8% 10%
- 2 Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics Moderate +5.0% 6%
- 3 First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers High +4.1% 6%
- 4 Managers, All Other (2010 group) an older group BLS has since split; no exposure group today 5%
- 5 Industrial Machinery Mechanics Moderate +17.8% 5%
Where people moved in from
of 11,096 moves in
- 1 Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics Moderate +5.0% 9%
- 2 Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers Moderate +3.8% 7%
- 3 Industrial Machinery Mechanics Moderate +17.8% 4%
- 4 Managers, All Other (2010 group) an older group BLS has since split; no exposure group today 4%
- 5 First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers High +4.1% 4%
Resumes over-represent younger, white-collar job-seekers and moves into management. Schubert, Stansbury and Taska (resume data).
Education and training for the occupation
O*NET survey of workers in this occupation
- 1% less than high school
- 37% high school
- 39% postsecondary certificate
- 1% associate's
- 22% not published
O*NET marks 22% of the answers as too uncertain to publish, so the parts shown don't add up to 100%.
O*NET 31.0 survey of workers in this occupation · 27 people answered.
Census survey (American Community Survey)
- 12% less than high school
- 44% high school
- 23% some college
- 17% associate's
- 3% bachelor's
Census ACS 2024, all workers in this occupation · 3,117 people surveyed.
Why the two can differ
O*NET asks about 20 people in each occupation, which makes its shares uncertain, but it reports the exact occupation and counts certificates. The Census survey reaches thousands, but it groups some occupations together and counts degrees only. More in the Guide
Median pay by highest degree full-time, year-round · Census ACS 2024, all workers in this occupation
2 programs: Diesel Mechanics Technology/Technician and Medium/Heavy Vehicle and Truck Technology/Technician.
Jobs that require a credential BLS Occupational Requirements Survey 2023
73.0% this occupation
45.3% all occupations
| By kind | This occupation | All occupations |
|---|---|---|
| a license | 24.9% | 19.1% |
| a certification | 13.5% | 5.8% |
| an educational certificate | 5.5% | 2.8% |
Share of jobs whose employer requires it. BLS doesn't say which credential. How to read this
Look up certifications, training and licenses U.S. Department of Labor
- Certification Finder ↗ certifications CareerOneStop lists for this occupation
- Training Finder ↗ schools and programs, nationwide; narrow the place there
- License Finder ↗ licenses by state
- Apprenticeship Finder ↗ DOL lists 12 registered apprenticeships in this occupation. Apprenticeship.gov can't be linked to one occupation, so search for “Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists” there.
These open in a new tab and send only the occupation's public code. More in the Guide
BLS AI exposure categories (Aug 2026) · BLS Employment Projections 2025–35 · O*NET 31.0 · Task ratings: Eloundou et al., Science (2024) · Microsoft "Working with AI" v1.1 · Anthropic Economic Index (2026-06-26) · Schubert, Stansbury and Taska · NCES CIP–SOC · Census ACS 2024 · BLS JOLTS
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