Are you looking for a high-paying diesel mechanic job you love and will pay the bills?
You’ve come to the right place!
Diesel mechanic jobs tend to pay pretty well, but being a diesel mechanic in some industries versus others can pay you more. For instance, as a diesel technician in the agriculture world, you’ll likely make less than in-demand generator mechanics.
I started my career as a mechanic before teaching maintenance classes at a local college, so I’m not only passionate about the industry, but also about helping others realize their potential in the maintenance professions. Today, as a recruiter at Anderson Trucking Service (ATS), I help maintenance professionals make career decisions.
In this article, I’ll break down the industries that pay diesel mechanics well, what they’re paying, and what you can expect from each position.
Keep in mind that pay varies based on experience, region, and certifications.
Locomotive/Railroad Diesel Technicians
Average Salary in the U.S.: Up to $60,00 per year
Locomotive/railroad diesel technicians, also known as locomotive mechanics or railroad diesel mechanics, specialize in maintaining, repairing, and overhauling diesel-powered locomotives and railcars. They rebuild or replace components like turbochargers, pistons, and cylinder heads.
Their work aims to extend the lifespan of locomotives. Locomotive diesel technicians play a vital role in the transportation industry by ensuring freight and passenger trains operate safely and efficiently. Their work supports supply chains.
One of the major cons of this role is that it’s difficult to find this job in many places; you may have to relocate.
Agriculture Diesel Technicians
Average Salary in the U.S.: $60,000 to$75,000 /per year
Agriculture diesel technicians specialize in repairing, maintaining, and servicing diesel-powered equipment used in agriculture. This role is critical for keeping farm machinery running smoothly, which is essential for efficient farming operations.
They work on equipment like tractors, harvesters, and other agricultural machinery. Agricultural diesel technicians perform routine maintenance, diagnose problems, maintain and service equipment, weld and fabricate, and keep good records for compliance purposes.
They also work on complex machinery components, such as hydraulic systems, electrical systems, onboard GPS systems, and pneumatic systems.
This role doesn’t provide consistent work because there's a busy agriculture season before planting and harvesting and then it slows down the rest of the year. You may also have to move to a farming area.
On-Highway Diesel Technicians
Average Salary in the U.S.: $60,00 to $80,000/per year
On-highway diesel technicians, also known as diesel mechanics or diesel service technicians, specialize in maintaining, diagnosing, and repairing diesel-powered vehicles designed for road use. These vehicles typically include semi-trucks, buses, delivery trucks, and other commercial vehicles. Their expertise ensures these vehicles stay reliable, safe, and compliant with transportation regulations.
On-highway diesel mechanics work on transmission systems, brake systems, electrical systems, engines, after-treatment systems, and cooling systems.
On-highway diesel technicians are crucial for the transportation industry. By keeping trucks and buses operational, they support supply chains and ensure goods move efficiently across the country. This role also has the highest number of openings based on the number of semi-trucks on the road. It’s easy to find work.
Construction Diesel Technicians
Average Salary in the U.S.: Up to $100,000 per year
Construction diesel technicians specialize in maintaining, diagnosing, and repairing diesel-powered machinery used in construction and heavy industries. These skilled professionals ensure that essential equipment like bulldozers, excavators, cranes, and loaders remain operational, minimizing downtime on construction sites.
This role is crucial to ensure projects stay on time. These tight deadlines to repair equipment can create added stress and pressure. Additionally, the job frequently involves working in harsh environments, such as outdoor construction sites exposed to extreme weather, dirt, and noise. Not only that, but it’s a seasonal role; you’ll be extremely busy during one part of the year and less busy the rest of the year.
Generator Technicians
Average Salary in the U.S.: Up to $90,00 per year
Generator technicians maintain, repair, and troubleshoot generators to ensure they function efficiently and reliably. These technicians work with both diesel and gas-powered generators, as well as standby power systems used in a wide range of industries, including construction, healthcare, telecommunications, and manufacturing.
Generator technicians play a vital role in ensuring that backup power systems are functional, especially in critical industries where power loss could be catastrophic. Their work supports reliability in business operations (like factories and hospitals) and helps maintain safety and efficiency.
Safety risks are present when working with high-voltage systems or operating machinery in remote or hazardous locations. Lots of travel is required with the role, as most of the technicians cover a chunk of the state. Overnight travel might be required based on the area you’re covering.
Marine Diesel Technicians
Average Salary in the U.S.: Up to 70,500 per year
Marine diesel technicians specialize in maintaining, repairing, and troubleshooting diesel engines and other mechanical systems in boats, ships, and other marine vessels. Their work is essential for ensuring that marine vessels operate efficiently and safely, whether they are used for transportation, fishing, recreational purposes, or commercial operations.
They perform load testing on engines and generators to ensure they can handle expected loads without performance issues and use diagnostic tools to monitor engine performance and identify potential failures.
Being a marine diesel technician requires working in uncomfortable environments, such as engine rooms or on deck in harsh weather. Additionally, the role may require frequent travel or time spent on boats, which can disrupt personal time and lead to periods away from home. You may be gone for months. Additionally, this role requires you to live near a major waterway.
Mobile Diesel Technicians
Average Salary in the U.S.: Up to $95,000 per year
Mobile diesel mechanics are technicians who provide on-site repairs and maintenance services for diesel-powered vehicles and equipment, such as trucks, buses, construction machinery, and agricultural vehicles. Unlike traditional diesel mechanics who work in fixed locations, mobile diesel mechanics travel to various job sites to perform repairs, troubleshooting, and routine maintenance directly where the equipment is located.
Several different industries require the use of mobile diesel technicians. One such industry is agriculture. Agriculture diesel technicians play a key role in minimizing downtime during critical farming periods.
Instead of requiring farmers to tow heavy farming equipment to a shop, mobile diesel technicians travel to farms to repair equipment onsite — sometimes repairing multiple machines throughout the day. Their expertise ensures farmers can rely on their machinery for planting, cultivating, and harvesting, directly impacting productivity and profitability.
Mobile diesel technicians are paid a premium for this role.
On-Highway Diesel Technician Positions at ATS
Pursuing a career as a diesel mechanic offers a wide range of high-paying opportunities across various industries, each with its own unique set of responsibilities and challenges.
Whether you’re working with locomotives, agriculture machinery, or mobile diesel repair, there’s a clear demand for skilled technicians who can keep essential equipment running smoothly. While the roles can be physically demanding and require long hours, the rewards — both financially and in terms of job stability — make it a worthwhile career choice for those passionate about hands-on work and problem-solving.
As you explore these career paths, consider your interests and strengths to find the diesel mechanic role that best aligns with your skills and lifestyle, ensuring a fulfilling and prosperous career.
Here at ATS, we offer a rewarding on-highway diesel mechanic career path for those who are brand-new to the industry or who’ve been a diesel mechanic for years. Through our internship and on-the-job training program, individuals can go from knowing very little about diesel mechanics to becoming experts.
Check out our job opportunities.
