Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists Salary in Fort Smith, AR-OK
In Fort Smith, AR-OK, bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists earn $51,910 at the median — $24.96 an hour. The range runs from $38K at the entry level to $69K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 85.89), which stretches that salary to about $60,438 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $937/month, or 27.5% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $52K get you in Fort Smith?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Fort Smith’s Regional Price Parity (85.89). 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
Sponsored links — AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Fort Smith, AR-OK
Entry-level bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists (10th percentile) start around $38K. Mid-career wages sit at $52K. Top earners bring in $69K or more, a $30K 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
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | $79K | +30% | 670 |
| Washington | $77K | +27% | 6,880 |
| Alaska | $73K | +21% | 740 |
| Maryland | $72K | +18% | 3,210 |
| California | $71K | +17% | 21,730 |
| Connecticut | $70K | +16% | 2,370 |
| New Jersey | $69K | +13% | 8,360 |
| Massachusetts | $68K | +11% | 4,660 |
| New York | $67K | +10% | 14,320 |
| New Hampshire | $66K | +8% | 860 |
| District of Columbia | $66K | +8% | 90 |
| Nevada | $65K | +7% | 1,860 |
| Rhode Island | $65K | +7% | 400 |
| Minnesota | $64K | +6% | 6,790 |
| North Dakota | $63K | +5% | 1,540 |
| Utah | $63K | +4% | 2,930 |
| Illinois | $63K | +3% | 9,920 |
| Oregon | $63K | +3% | 4,030 |
| Delaware | $62K | +2% | 640 |
| South Dakota | $61K | +1% | 1,130 |
| Indiana | $61K | +1% | 8,730 |
| Vermont | $61K | +0% | 570 |
| Florida | $60K | -0% | 12,570 |
| Pennsylvania | $60K | -0% | 13,560 |
| Georgia | $60K | -1% | 11,470 |
| Wisconsin | $60K | -1% | 7,170 |
| Missouri | $60K | -1% | 6,520 |
| Wyoming | $60K | -1% | 1,030 |
| Maine | $60K | -1% | 1,590 |
| Ohio | $60K | -2% | 14,170 |
| Michigan | $59K | -2% | 8,330 |
| Arizona | $59K | -2% | 5,430 |
| Tennessee | $59K | -3% | 6,640 |
| Iowa | $59K | -3% | 4,270 |
| Idaho | $59K | -3% | 1,720 |
| Kansas | $59K | -3% | 3,770 |
| Virginia | $59K | -3% | 7,870 |
| Nebraska | $58K | -4% | 3,330 |
| Texas | $58K | -5% | 29,730 |
| Montana | $57K | -6% | 1,110 |
| Louisiana | $55K | -10% | 3,050 |
| North Carolina | $53K | -12% | 10,290 |
| Kentucky | $53K | -13% | 3,920 |
| South Carolina | $52K | -14% | 3,260 |
| New Mexico | $52K | -15% | 1,630 |
| Arkansas | $51K | -15% | 4,580 |
| Oklahoma | $51K | -16% | 3,420 |
| Mississippi | $50K | -17% | 3,010 |
| West Virginia | $49K | -19% | 1,110 |
| Alabama | $49K | -19% | 5,650 |
Showing 1–10 of 50 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Fort Smith numbers change.
Related careers in Repair & Maintenance
Frequently asked questions
How much do bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists make in Fort Smith, AR-OK?
The median is $51,910 a year, that works out to about $25 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $38,250, and experienced bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists can clear $68,550. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $52K enough to live in Fort Smith?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,491/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $937/month, which eats 26.8% 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 Fort Smith?
Fort Smith has a Regional Price Parity of 85.89 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists salary is worth about $60,438 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.