# 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.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/careers/bus-and-truck-mechanics-and-diesel-engine-specialists
- SOC code: 49-3031.00
- Career family: Installation and repair
- Median annual pay: $61,770 (10th percentile $44,530, 90th percentile $88,740)
- Projected growth: As fast as average, +3.6%
- Openings a year: 24,400
- Typical entry education: High school diploma
- Bright outlook: no
- Data years: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

## Interest profile (code RCI)

| Interest area | Score (0–100) |
| --- | ---: |
| Realistic (R) | 100 |
| Investigative (I) | 38 |
| Artistic (A) | 0 |
| Social (S) | 9 |
| Enterprising (E) | 5 |
| Conventional (C) | 46 |

## What you'd do

- Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment (importance 91/100)
- Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials (importance 85/100)
- Getting Information (importance 82/100)
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events (importance 82/100)
- Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment (importance 81/100)
- Repairing and Maintaining Electronic Equipment (importance 78/100)
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems (importance 78/100)
- Controlling Machines and Processes (importance 76/100)
- Performing General Physical Activities (importance 76/100)
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge (importance 75/100)

## Skills

Repairing, Troubleshooting, Operations Monitoring, Equipment Maintenance, Critical Thinking, Quality Control Analysis, Equipment Selection, Judgment and Decision Making, Speaking, Active Listening

## Knowledge

Mechanical, Transportation, Education and Training, English Language, Public Safety and Security, Mathematics, Computers and Electronics, Administration and Management, Production and Processing, Customer and Personal Service

## Also called

Biodiesel Engine Specialist, Boat Diesel Motor Mechanic, Boat Engine Installer, Boat Engine Mechanic, Boat Mechanic, Bus Engine Mechanic, Bus Garage Mechanic, Bus Mechanic, Bus Motor Mechanic, Bus Overhauler

## Majors that lead here (NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk, 4-digit CIP)

- [Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/4706) (CIP 4706, 713 colleges)

## Colleges with strong outcomes (College Scorecard, 2025)

| College | Program | Earnings 1 yr | Earnings 4 yrs | Median debt |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| [Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Worldwide](https://www.collegesref.com/college/embry-riddle-aeronautical-university-worldwide-910) | Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | $77,491 | $87,797 | $21,986 |
| [SUNY Morrisville](https://www.collegesref.com/college/suny-morrisville-2657) | Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | $51,819 | $61,351 | not reported |

## Related careers

- [Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/mobile-heavy-equipment-mechanics-except-engines): $65,510 median pay
- [Rail Car Repairers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/rail-car-repairers): $67,530 median pay
- [Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/automotive-service-technicians-and-mechanics): $50,620 median pay
- [Motorboat Mechanics and Service Technicians](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/motorboat-mechanics-and-service-technicians): $57,550 median pay
- [Outdoor Power Equipment and Other Small Engine Mechanics](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/outdoor-power-equipment-and-other-small-engine-mechanics): $47,880 median pay
- [Engine and Other Machine Assemblers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/engine-and-other-machine-assemblers): $53,710 median pay

## Sources

- [O*NET Database](https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html), version 31.0 (CC BY 4.0)
- [BLS Employment Projections](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables.htm), version 2025-35, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics](https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm), version 2025, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/resources.aspx?y=56), version 2020, data year 2020 (Public domain (U.S. government work))

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. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.