SOC 49-3031 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists — California
California · 10 metro areas compared
Median pay for this occupation in California comes to $73,950 a year, ahead of the national median of $61,770 by 19.7%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay for this occupation in California comes to $73,950 a year, ahead of the national median of $61,770 by 19.7%. Pay ranges from under $47,180 at the tenth percentile to more than $96,730 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $60,110 to $84,740.
Employment stands at 20,940, or 1.1 jobs per thousand held locally. California ranks number 5th out of 51 states by median pay for this occupation. Within the state, San Jose records the highest median at $88,980. Of the 793 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 380th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $47,180 | −23.6% |
| 25th | $60,110 | −2.7% |
| Median (50th) | $73,950 | +19.7% |
| 75th | $84,740 | +37.2% |
| 90th | $96,730 | +56.6% |
| Mean | $72,690 | +17.7% |
Highest-paying metro areas in California
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose | $88,980 | 720 | |
| 2 | San Francisco | $82,100 | 1,730 | |
| 3 | Napa | $78,070 | 60 | |
| 4 | Los Angeles | $77,380 | 6,520 | |
| 5 | Modesto | $76,640 | 420 | |
| 6 | Santa Cruz | $75,670 | 90 | |
| 7 | Vallejo | $75,500 | 200 | |
| 8 | San Diego | $75,070 | 1,430 | |
| 9 | Oxnard | $74,730 | 350 | |
| 10 | San Luis Obispo | $74,620 | 120 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in California run 10.7% above the national average, so the median of $73,950 buys what $66,802 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 8.1% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$73,950as reported by BLSLocal price level
110.7US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$66,802US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $73,950 a year, 19.7% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $47,180 to $96,730 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 20,940 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 5th of 51 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is San Jose, at $88,980.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists in California?
The median annual wage is $73,950, or $35.55 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $61,770, so pay in California is 19.7% higher. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in California earns more than $96,730 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $47,180 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in San Jose, at $88,980 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 20,940 jobs in this occupation in California. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
Explore related data