Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists Salary
In New Jersey, bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists earn $72,340 at the median, or about $34.78 an hour. The range runs from $49K at the entry level to $94K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 99.34), that's roughly $72,821 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $2,067/month, about 43.8% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across New Jersey. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $72K get you in New Jersey?
About bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in New Jersey
New Jersey sits well above the national pay line for bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists, local pay runs about 17% higher than the U.S. median of $62K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $2,067/month, which is 43.7% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 99.34) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. The pay premium is real, but so are the offsets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, New Jersey
Entry-level bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists (10th percentile) start around $49K. Mid-career wages sit at $72K. Top earners bring in $94K or more, a $45K spread from bottom to top.
Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists salary by metro in New Jersey
3 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trenton-Princeton | $69K | -4% | 280 |
| Atlantic City-Hammonton | $67K | -7% | 280 |
| Vineland | $65K | -10% | 150 |
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 New Jersey numbers change.
Related careers in Repair & Maintenance
Frequently asked questions
Can a bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialist afford a 2BR apartment alone in New Jersey?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $72K, rent takes 43.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,067/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,400/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 New Jersey?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists typically earn — is $49K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,948/month. At HUD’s $2,067/month FMR, rent would take 70% 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 New Jersey?
Local pay is 17% above the national median — $72K here vs. $62K nationally.
How does New Jersey compare to the national average for bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists?
New Jersey pays $72K median vs. the U.S. average of $62K — that’s +17%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 99.34), the purchasing-power equivalent is $73K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists make in New Jersey?
The median is $72,340 a year, that works out to about $35 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $49,140, and experienced bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists can clear $94,150. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $72K enough to live in New Jersey?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,731/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,067/month, which eats 43.7% 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 New Jersey?
New Jersey has a Regional Price Parity of 99.34 (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 $72,821 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.