Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists Salary
In Mississippi, bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists earn $54,360 at the median, or about $26.14 an hour. The range runs from $37K at the entry level to $82K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.9), which stretches that salary to about $61,147 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,077/month, about 30.2% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Mississippi. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $54K get you in Mississippi?
About bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists
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What this looks like in Mississippi
Pay for bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists in Mississippi runs about 12% below the U.S. median of $62K. Rent runs $1,077/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 29.9% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 88.9 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 11% 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, Mississippi
Entry-level bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists (10th percentile) start around $37K. Mid-career wages sit at $54K. Top earners bring in $82K or more, a $45K spread from bottom to top.
Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists salary by metro in Mississippi
3 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jackson | $59K | +9% | 840 |
| Hattiesburg | $58K | +7% | 170 |
| Gulfport-Biloxi | $57K | +5% | 300 |
Compare to other states
Track bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Mississippi 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 Mississippi?
Yes — at the median salary of $54K, rent takes 29.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,077/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 Mississippi?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists typically earn — is $37K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,243/month. At HUD’s $1,077/month FMR, rent would take 48% 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 Mississippi?
Local pay runs 12% below the national median — $54K here vs. $62K nationally. Cost of living is 11% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Mississippi compare to the national average for bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists?
Mississippi pays $54K median vs. the U.S. average of $62K — that’s -12%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.9), the purchasing-power equivalent is $61K — below the national median.
How much do bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists make in Mississippi?
The median is $54,360 a year, that works out to about $26 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $37,390, and experienced bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists can clear $82,020. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $54K enough to live in Mississippi?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,597/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,077/month, which eats 29.9% 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 Mississippi?
Mississippi has a Regional Price Parity of 88.9 (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 $61,147 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.