Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists Salary
In Virginia, bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists earn $61,090 at the median, or about $29.37 an hour. The range runs from $45K at the entry level to $79K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 94.79), which stretches that salary to about $64,448 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,646/month, about 41% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Virginia. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $61K get you in Virginia?
About bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists
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What this looks like in Virginia
Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists pay in Virginia tracks closely to the national median, $61K locally vs. $62K nationwide, a 1% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,646/month, which is 41% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 94.79 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 5% 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, Virginia
Entry-level bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists (10th percentile) start around $45K. Mid-career wages sit at $61K. Top earners bring in $79K or more, a $34K spread from bottom to top.
Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists salary by metro in Virginia
8 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Staunton-Stuarts Draft | $62K | +2% | 160 |
| Charlottesville | $62K | +2% | 130 |
| Richmond | $61K | +0% | 1,400 |
| Harrisonburg | $60K | -1% | 250 |
| Winchester | $60K | -1% | 190 |
| Lynchburg | $60K | -3% | 370 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk | $59K | -3% | 1,360 |
| Roanoke | $58K | -5% | 420 |
Compare to other states
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Virginia 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 Virginia?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $61K, rent takes 41% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,646/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,200/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 Virginia?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists typically earn — is $45K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,715/month. At HUD’s $1,646/month FMR, rent would take 61% 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 Virginia?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $61K locally vs. $62K nationally, a 1% difference.
How does Virginia compare to the national average for bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists?
Virginia pays $61K median vs. the U.S. average of $62K — that’s -1%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 94.79), the purchasing-power equivalent is $64K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists make in Virginia?
The median is $61,090 a year, that works out to about $29 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $45,250, and experienced bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists can clear $79,150. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $61K enough to live in Virginia?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,011/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,646/month, which eats 41% 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 Virginia?
Virginia has a Regional Price Parity of 94.79 (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 $64,448 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.