Vehicle and Mobile Equipment Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers

How to become a Bus and Truck Mechanic or Diesel Engine Specialist

Official title: Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists

Also called: Bus Mechanic, Diesel Mechanic, Diesel Technician (Diesel Tech), Fleet Mechanic, General Repair Mechanic, Heavy Truck Mechanic, Service Technician, Trailer Mechanic, Transit Mechanic, Truck Mechanic

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.

Main tasks

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.

How to become one

Although diesel service technicians and mechanics typically learn on the job after a high school education, employers may prefer to hire candidates who have completed postsecondary training programs in diesel engine repair. In addition, industry certification may be required.

Typical education to start: High school diploma or equivalent

Read the full guide from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Ways in

Apprenticeship: Bus Maintenance Technician.
Apprenticeship: Crane Mechanic (Existing Title: Mechanic, Industrial Truck).
Apprenticeship: Tractor Mechanic.

Pay · Outlook · AI and this job

Median pay: $61,770 a year The middle half earn $50,540 to $75,470.
About 316,000 people work in this job now, and about 327,400 are projected by 2035. (+3.6%)
People use generative AI for relatively little of this work so far. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as low.

Questions people ask

How do I become a Bus and Truck Mechanic or Diesel Engine Specialist?

How much does a Bus and Truck Mechanic or Diesel Engine Specialist earn in the US?

Median full-time pay is $61,770 a year (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). The middle half earn $50,540 to $75,470.

Is a Bus and Truck Mechanic or Diesel Engine Specialist a growing career in the US?

Yes. Employment is projected to grow 4% by 2035, from about 316,000 to about 327,400 people (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Do you need a degree to become a Bus and Truck Mechanic or Diesel Engine Specialist?

Usually not. Only 5% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Ways in include: Bus Maintenance Technician.

Will AI change the work of a Bus and Truck Mechanic or Diesel Engine Specialist?

People use generative AI for relatively little of this work so far. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as low.

Sources

Microsoft Research: Working with AI: AI applicability by occupation (2025-12-22 (built on O*NET 29.0)), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Employment Projections (2025-35 (released 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook (2025-35 edition (published 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS); photographs excluded, retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03

Updated 2026-10-03

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.