Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists Salary
In North Carolina, bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists earn $57,490 at the median, or about $27.64 an hour. The range runs from $40K at the entry level to $76K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 92.66), which stretches that salary to about $62,044 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,284/month, about 33.4% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across North Carolina. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $57K get you in North Carolina?
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 North Carolina
Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists pay in North Carolina tracks closely to the national median, $57K locally vs. $62K nationwide, a 7% difference. Rent runs $1,284/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 33.8% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 92.66 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% 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, North Carolina
Entry-level bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists (10th percentile) start around $40K. Mid-career wages sit at $57K. Top earners bring in $76K or more, a $36K spread from bottom to top.
Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists salary by metro in North Carolina
15 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Burlington | $61K | +6% | 180 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill | $61K | +5% | 370 |
| Raleigh-Cary | $60K | +5% | 1,070 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia | $60K | +5% | 3,350 |
| Greensboro-High Point | $58K | +1% | 970 |
| Winston-Salem | $58K | +1% | 580 |
| Asheville | $57K | -1% | 320 |
| Rocky Mount | $56K | -3% | 130 |
| Pinehurst-Southern Pines | $56K | -3% | 40 |
| Fayetteville | $56K | -3% | 270 |
| Wilmington | $56K | -3% | 360 |
| Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton | $54K | -5% | 410 |
| Goldsboro | $54K | -6% | 80 |
| Jacksonville | $53K | -8% | 100 |
| Greenville | $50K | -13% | 160 |
Showing 1–10 of 15 metros
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 North Carolina 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 North Carolina?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $57K, rent takes 33.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,284/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,100/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 North Carolina?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists typically earn — is $40K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,393/month. At HUD’s $1,284/month FMR, rent would take 54% 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 North Carolina?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $57K locally vs. $62K nationally, a 7% difference.
How does North Carolina compare to the national average for bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists?
North Carolina pays $57K median vs. the U.S. average of $62K — that’s -7%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 92.66), the purchasing-power equivalent is $62K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists make in North Carolina?
The median is $57,490 a year, that works out to about $28 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $39,890, and experienced bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists can clear $76,240. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $57K enough to live in North Carolina?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,804/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,284/month, which eats 33.8% 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 North Carolina?
North Carolina has a Regional Price Parity of 92.66 (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 $62,044 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.