Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists Salary
In South Dakota, bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists earn $58,120 at the median, or about $27.94 an hour. The range runs from $46K at the entry level to $79K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.89), which stretches that salary to about $64,657 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,017/month, or 25.2% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across South Dakota. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $58K get you in South Dakota?
About bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists
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What this looks like in South Dakota
Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists pay in South Dakota tracks closely to the national median, $58K locally vs. $62K nationwide, a 6% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,017/month, 25% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 89.89 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 10% 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, South Dakota
Entry-level bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists (10th percentile) start around $46K. Mid-career wages sit at $58K. Top earners bring in $79K or more, a $33K spread from bottom to top.
Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists salary by metro in South Dakota
2 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rapid City | $63K | +8% | 160 |
| Sioux Falls | $62K | +6% | 620 |
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 South Dakota 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 South Dakota?
Yes — at the median salary of $58K, rent takes 25% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,017/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 South Dakota?
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 $2,730/month. At HUD’s $1,017/month FMR, rent would take 37% 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 South Dakota?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $58K locally vs. $62K nationally, a 6% difference.
How does South Dakota compare to the national average for bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists?
South Dakota pays $58K median vs. the U.S. average of $62K — that’s -6%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.89), the purchasing-power equivalent is $65K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists make in South Dakota?
The median is $58,120 a year, that works out to about $28 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $45,500, and experienced bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists can clear $78,810. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $58K enough to live in South Dakota?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,062/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,017/month, which eats 25% 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 South Dakota?
South Dakota has a Regional Price Parity of 89.89 (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 $64,657 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.