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COL-adjusted ranking

Best Cities for Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialistss by Take-Home Pay

The cities that pay Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialistss the most on paper aren't usually the best deals once rent and prices are factored in. Savannah ranks first with a COL-adjusted equivalent of $81,788/year, better purchasing power than Urban Honolulu's higher nominal pay of $83,980. The table below uses BLS OEWS May 2024 salary data and BEA Regional Price Parities.

Highest nominal pay

#1 Urban Honolulu$83,980
#2 Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard$82,500
#3 San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara$82,450

Best purchasing power

#1 Savannah$81,788
#2 Duluth$80,613
#3 Decatur$79,914

Top 25 metros by purchasing power

Ranked by COL-adjusted salary. Metros with fewer than 100 employed bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialistss excluded.

Rank
Metro
Nominal
COL-adj.
#1
Savannah
26% rent burden
$77,870
$81,788
#2
Duluth
21% rent burden
$71,560
$80,613
#3
Decatur
18% rent burden
$70,660
$79,914
#4
$82,500
$78,118
#5
Urban Honolulu
38% rent burden
$83,980
$75,685
#6
Mount Vernon-Anacortes
27% rent burden
$77,270
$75,430
#7
Bellingham
28% rent burden
$77,720
$75,215
#8
$82,450
$74,669
#9
Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater
31% rent burden
$77,100
$74,371
#10
Longview-Kelso
24% rent burden
$71,560
$73,357
#11
Grand Forks
21% rent burden
$63,400
$73,159
#12
$80,850
$72,753
#13
Minot
19% rent burden
$63,050
$72,446
#14
Morristown
22% rent burden
$62,310
$72,151
#15
Reno
31% rent burden
$72,530
$71,805
#16
St. Cloud
23% rent burden
$62,120
$70,889
#17
Modesto
29% rent burden
$73,790
$70,877
#18
$72,690
$70,745
#19
Redding
27% rent burden
$71,010
$70,530
#20
El Centro
24% rent burden
$66,820
$70,211
#21
Bismarck
22% rent burden
$63,900
$70,204
#22
Fargo
21% rent burden
$63,640
$70,034
#23
Rapid City
26% rent burden
$62,440
$70,031
#24
La Crosse-Onalaska
22% rent burden
$64,220
$69,979
#25
$80,820
$69,907

COL-adjusted = nominal salary divided by (BEA RPP divided by 100). Rent burden = annual 2BR FMR as % of nominal salary. Sources: BLS OEWS May 2024, BEA Regional Price Parities, HUD Fair Market Rents.

Common questions

What does "COL-adjusted pay" mean for Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialistss?

COL-adjusted pay divides the BLS median salary by the BEA Regional Price Parity index (100 = national average). A salary of $83,980 in a city with RPP 120 has the same purchasing power as $69,983 at national average prices.

Why doesn't New York or San Francisco top this list?

Both cities pay above-average salaries, but rent and everyday costs eat most of that premium. A bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists in New York might earn 30% more but pay 60-80% more in rent. The net result is often less purchasing power than mid-cost metros.

How is purchasing power calculated?

Purchasing power equals nominal median salary divided by (BEA RPP divided by 100). BEA's Regional Price Parities measure relative price levels across metro areas, updated annually from the National Income and Product Accounts.

What's the most affordable metro for Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialistss?

Decatur has one of the lowest rent burdens for Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialistss in this dataset. HUD FMR for a 2-bedroom is $1,063/month, with a median salary of $70,660.

Where do Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialistss get paid the most in nominal terms?

Urban Honolulu pays the highest nominal median salary at $83,980/year, per BLS OEWS May 2024. But check the COL-adjusted column before accepting any relocation offer.

National salary breakdown for Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine SpecialistssView →How to become a bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialistsGuide →Compare two cities side by sideCompare →