Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists Salary
In Arecibo, PR, bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists earn $43,920 at the median, or about $21.11 an hour. The range runs from $23K at the entry level to $90K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 100), that's roughly $43,920 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $510/month, or 16.9% of estimated take-home pay.
Where the paycheck goes
What $44K actually covers in Arecibo, month by month
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Arecibo’s Regional Price Parity (100). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists
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What this looks like in Arecibo
Pay for bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists in Arecibo runs about 29% below the U.S. median of $62K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $510/month, 16.4% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost of living (RPP 100) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Lower pay, lower costs, Arecibo can be a reasonable trade-off for bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists in metros near Arecibo, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas | $40K | $40K |
| Mayaguez | $41K | $41K |
| Ponce | $46K | $46K |
| Aguadilla | $31K | $31K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Arecibo, PR
Entry-level bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists (10th percentile) start around $23K. Mid-career wages sit at $44K. Top earners bring in $90K or more, a $66K spread from bottom to top.
Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | $80K | +30% | 690 |
| Washington | $78K | +26% | 7,410 |
| Alaska | $76K | +22% | 860 |
| Maryland | $75K | +21% | 3,030 |
| California | $74K | +20% | 20,940 |
| Massachusetts | $73K | +19% | 4,870 |
| New Jersey | $72K | +17% | 8,160 |
| New Hampshire | $71K | +16% | 1,040 |
| Colorado | $70K | +14% | 4,600 |
| New York | $70K | +13% | 13,230 |
| Nevada | $68K | +11% | 1,990 |
| Connecticut | $67K | +9% | 2,860 |
| Rhode Island | $67K | +9% | 350 |
| Minnesota | $67K | +8% | 7,300 |
| North Dakota | $66K | +7% | 1,790 |
| District of Columbia | $65K | +6% | 110 |
| Utah | $64K | +4% | 2,690 |
| Illinois | $64K | +4% | 11,320 |
| Oregon | $64K | +4% | 3,770 |
| Delaware | $64K | +3% | 670 |
| Wisconsin | $62K | +1% | 6,750 |
| Pennsylvania | $62K | -0% | 12,630 |
| Arizona | $62K | -0% | 5,140 |
| Wyoming | $62K | -0% | 1,100 |
| Michigan | $61K | -1% | 9,020 |
| Georgia | $61K | -1% | 10,910 |
| Virginia | $61K | -1% | 8,070 |
| Maine | $61K | -1% | 1,380 |
| Indiana | $61K | -2% | 8,840 |
| Florida | $60K | -2% | 14,900 |
| Ohio | $60K | -2% | 14,240 |
| Montana | $60K | -3% | 1,230 |
| Iowa | $60K | -3% | 4,140 |
| Kansas | $59K | -4% | 3,300 |
| Vermont | $59K | -4% | 550 |
| Missouri | $59K | -4% | 6,780 |
| South Carolina | $59K | -4% | 3,360 |
| Idaho | $59K | -4% | 1,930 |
| Tennessee | $59K | -4% | 5,720 |
| Nebraska | $59K | -4% | 2,720 |
| Texas | $59K | -5% | 29,870 |
| Louisiana | $59K | -5% | 3,270 |
| South Dakota | $58K | -6% | 1,340 |
| North Carolina | $57K | -7% | 11,070 |
| New Mexico | $56K | -9% | 1,740 |
| Kentucky | $55K | -10% | 3,890 |
| Oklahoma | $55K | -10% | 3,970 |
| Mississippi | $54K | -12% | 3,140 |
| Arkansas | $52K | -15% | 4,090 |
| Alabama | $50K | -18% | 6,130 |
| West Virginia | $47K | -25% | 1,040 |
Showing 1–10 of 51 (all 50 states + DC)
Track bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists salary changes
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Quick answers
The stuff people actually ask about this job
Can a bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Arecibo?
Yes — at the median salary of $44K, rent takes 16.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $510/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists in Arecibo?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists typically earn — is $23K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,737/month. At HUD’s $510/month FMR, rent would take 29% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialist a high-paying job in Arecibo?
Local pay runs 29% below the national median — $44K here vs. $62K nationally.
How does Arecibo compare to the national average for bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists?
Arecibo pays $44K median vs. the U.S. average of $62K — that’s -29%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 100), the purchasing-power equivalent is $44K — below the national median.
How much do bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists make in Arecibo, PR?
The median is $43,920 a year, that works out to about $21 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $23,490, and experienced bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists can clear $89,550. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $44K enough to live in Arecibo?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,111/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $510/month, which eats 16.4% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists salary go in Arecibo?
Arecibo has a Regional Price Parity of 100 (100 is the national average). That's right at the national average. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists salary is worth about $43,920 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.