Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists Salary
In Georgia, bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists earn $61,370 at the median, or about $29.5 an hour. The range runs from $46K at the entry level to $85K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.89), which stretches that salary to about $66,786 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,434/month, about 35.6% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Georgia. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $61K get you in Georgia?
About bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists
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What this looks like in Georgia
Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists pay in Georgia tracks closely to the national median, $61K locally vs. $62K nationwide, a 1% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,434/month, which is 35.5% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 91.89 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 8% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Georgia
Entry-level bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists (10th percentile) start around $46K. Mid-career wages sit at $61K. Top earners bring in $85K or more, a $39K spread from bottom to top.
Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists salary by metro in Georgia
13 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Savannah | $73K | +19% | 1,260 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell | $62K | +1% | 5,940 |
| Albany | $60K | -2% | 130 |
| Macon-Bibb County | $59K | -3% | 160 |
| Dalton | $59K | -4% | 280 |
| Gainesville | $57K | -7% | 250 |
| Augusta-Richmond County | $57K | -7% | 310 |
| Valdosta | $54K | -11% | 90 |
| Brunswick-St. Simons | $54K | -13% | 90 |
| Rome | $52K | -15% | 80 |
| Athens-Clarke County | $51K | -17% | 100 |
| Columbus | $50K | -18% | 160 |
| Warner Robins | $50K | -18% | 190 |
Showing 1–10 of 13 metros
Compare to other states
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Georgia numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Georgia?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $61K, rent takes 35.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,434/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,200/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists in Georgia?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists typically earn — is $46K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,753/month. At HUD’s $1,434/month FMR, rent would take 52% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialist a high-paying job in Georgia?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $61K locally vs. $62K nationally, a 1% difference.
How does Georgia compare to the national average for bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists?
Georgia pays $61K median vs. the U.S. average of $62K — that’s -1%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 91.89), the purchasing-power equivalent is $67K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists make in Georgia?
The median is $61,370 a year, that works out to about $30 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $45,890, and experienced bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists can clear $85,260. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $61K enough to live in Georgia?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,036/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,434/month, which eats 35.5% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists salary go in Georgia?
Georgia has a Regional Price Parity of 91.89 (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 $66,786 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.