Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists Salary in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC
In Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC, bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists earn $53,490 at the median — $25.72 an hour. The range runs from $41K at the entry level to $73K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 97.94), that's roughly $54,615 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,713/month — about 48.7% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $53K get you in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk’s Regional Price Parity (97.94). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC
Entry-level bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists (10th percentile) start around $41K. Mid-career wages sit at $53K. Top earners bring in $73K or more, a $32K spread from bottom to top.
Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | $79K | +30% | 670 |
| Washington | $77K | +27% | 6,880 |
| Alaska | $73K | +21% | 740 |
| Maryland | $72K | +18% | 3,210 |
| California | $71K | +17% | 21,730 |
| Connecticut | $70K | +16% | 2,370 |
| New Jersey | $69K | +13% | 8,360 |
| Massachusetts | $68K | +11% | 4,660 |
| New York | $67K | +10% | 14,320 |
| New Hampshire | $66K | +8% | 860 |
| District of Columbia | $66K | +8% | 90 |
| Nevada | $65K | +7% | 1,860 |
| Rhode Island | $65K | +7% | 400 |
| Minnesota | $64K | +6% | 6,790 |
| North Dakota | $63K | +5% | 1,540 |
| Utah | $63K | +4% | 2,930 |
| Illinois | $63K | +3% | 9,920 |
| Oregon | $63K | +3% | 4,030 |
| Delaware | $62K | +2% | 640 |
| South Dakota | $61K | +1% | 1,130 |
| Indiana | $61K | +1% | 8,730 |
| Vermont | $61K | +0% | 570 |
| Florida | $60K | -0% | 12,570 |
| Pennsylvania | $60K | -0% | 13,560 |
| Georgia | $60K | -1% | 11,470 |
| Wisconsin | $60K | -1% | 7,170 |
| Missouri | $60K | -1% | 6,520 |
| Wyoming | $60K | -1% | 1,030 |
| Maine | $60K | -1% | 1,590 |
| Ohio | $60K | -2% | 14,170 |
| Michigan | $59K | -2% | 8,330 |
| Arizona | $59K | -2% | 5,430 |
| Tennessee | $59K | -3% | 6,640 |
| Iowa | $59K | -3% | 4,270 |
| Idaho | $59K | -3% | 1,720 |
| Kansas | $59K | -3% | 3,770 |
| Virginia | $59K | -3% | 7,870 |
| Nebraska | $58K | -4% | 3,330 |
| Texas | $58K | -5% | 29,730 |
| Montana | $57K | -6% | 1,110 |
| Louisiana | $55K | -10% | 3,050 |
| North Carolina | $53K | -12% | 10,290 |
| Kentucky | $53K | -13% | 3,920 |
| South Carolina | $52K | -14% | 3,260 |
| New Mexico | $52K | -15% | 1,630 |
| Arkansas | $51K | -15% | 4,580 |
| Oklahoma | $51K | -16% | 3,420 |
| Mississippi | $50K | -17% | 3,010 |
| West Virginia | $49K | -19% | 1,110 |
| Alabama | $49K | -19% | 5,650 |
Showing 1–10 of 50 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
How much do bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists make in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC?
The median is $53,490 a year, that works out to about $26 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $40,910, and experienced bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists can clear $73,150. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $53K enough to live in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,538/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,713/month, which eats 48.4% 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 Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk?
Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk has a Regional Price Parity of 97.94 (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 $54,615 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.