Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists Salary
In Indiana, bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists earn $60,610 at the median, or about $29.14 an hour. The range runs from $44K at the entry level to $80K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.81), which stretches that salary to about $66,017 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,144/month, or 28.2% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Indiana. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $61K get you in Indiana?
About bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists
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What this looks like in Indiana
Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists pay in Indiana tracks closely to the national median, $61K locally vs. $62K nationwide, a 2% difference. Rent runs $1,144/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 28.1% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 91.81 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 8% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Indiana
Entry-level bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists (10th percentile) start around $44K. Mid-career wages sit at $61K. Top earners bring in $80K or more, a $36K spread from bottom to top.
Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists salary by metro in Indiana
12 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood | $62K | +2% | 2,850 |
| Fort Wayne | $60K | -1% | 780 |
| Lafayette-West Lafayette | $60K | -1% | 210 |
| Elkhart-Goshen | $60K | -1% | 430 |
| South Bend-Mishawaka | $60K | -1% | 350 |
| Michigan City-La Porte | $59K | -2% | 110 |
| Muncie | $59K | -3% | 100 |
| Evansville | $58K | -5% | 330 |
| Terre Haute | $57K | -5% | 170 |
| Bloomington | $57K | -6% | 80 |
| Kokomo | $57K | -6% | 60 |
| Columbus | $55K | -8% | 80 |
Showing 1–10 of 12 metros
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Indiana 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 Indiana?
Yes — at the median salary of $61K, rent takes 28.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,144/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 Indiana?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists typically earn — is $44K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,650/month. At HUD’s $1,144/month FMR, rent would take 43% 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 Indiana?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $61K locally vs. $62K nationally, a 2% difference.
How does Indiana compare to the national average for bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists?
Indiana pays $61K median vs. the U.S. average of $62K — that’s -2%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 91.81), the purchasing-power equivalent is $66K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists make in Indiana?
The median is $60,610 a year, that works out to about $29 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $44,160, and experienced bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists can clear $79,730. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $61K enough to live in Indiana?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,074/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,144/month, which eats 28.1% 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 Indiana?
Indiana has a Regional Price Parity of 91.81 (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 $66,017 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.