Kentucky Median
$55,480
per year
Hourly Rate
$26.67
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
-10% vs US median
US median $61,770
State Rank
#46 of 51
3,890 employed here
How much do Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists make in Kentucky?
Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists in Kentucky take home a median of $55,480 annually — roughly $26.67 an hour — which runs 10% below the national median of $61,770.
Within Kentucky, entry-level pay starts around $38,250 while the top 10% make $80,500 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $46,560 and $63,740 a year.
Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists salary range in Kentucky
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $38,250 | $18.39 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $46,560 | $22.38 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $55,480 | $26.67 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $63,740 | $30.64 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $80,500 | $38.70 |
|
How Kentucky compares
Kentucky ranks 46th out of 51 states and territories for Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists pay. The top 5 best-paying states:
Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists salary in other states
Hawaii $80,080Washington $77,900Alaska $75,580Maryland $74,790California $73,950Massachusetts $73,270New Jersey $72,340New Hampshire $71,390Colorado $70,480New York $70,100Nevada $68,410Connecticut $67,300Rhode Island $67,270Minnesota $66,840North Dakota $66,110District of Columbia $65,200Utah $64,350Illinois $64,340Oregon $63,970Delaware $63,590Wisconsin $62,450Pennsylvania $61,740Arizona $61,680Wyoming $61,580Michigan $61,420Georgia $61,370Virginia $61,090Maine $60,850Indiana $60,610Florida $60,490Ohio $60,470Montana $59,990Iowa $59,680Kansas $59,460Vermont $59,390Missouri $59,360South Carolina $59,330Idaho $59,230Tennessee $59,190Nebraska $59,140Texas $58,810Louisiana $58,680South Dakota $58,120North Carolina $57,490New Mexico $55,910Oklahoma $55,340Mississippi $54,360Arkansas $52,330Alabama $50,470West Virginia $46,610
Working as Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists in Kentucky
Nationally, about 290,000 people work as Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists in the United States. A high school diploma is typically enough, with most skills learned on the job.
Considering a move? Compare Kentucky pay ($55,480) against the highest-paying state above, and weigh the difference against housing and everyday costs — a smaller paycheck in a cheaper state can stretch further.
Frequently asked questions
How much do Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists make in Kentucky?
The median Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists salary in Kentucky is $55,480 per year, or about $26.67 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $38,250 at the entry level to $80,500 for the top 10% of earners.
How does Kentucky pay compare to the national average?
Kentucky pays Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists about 10% less than the national median of $61,770. Kentucky ranks 46th out of 51 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is Kentucky a good state for Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists?
Pay runs below the national median here, at $55,480 a year. About 3,890 Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists are employed in Kentucky. A lower cost of living can offset the smaller paycheck, so compare take-home value, not just salary.
What are the highest-paying jobs in Kentucky?
The highest-paying occupations in Kentucky include Cardiologist ($558,180), Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers ($350,950), Anesthesiologist ($347,960), based on median annual pay in official BLS state estimates.
← See the national Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists salary report
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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). State figures are official BLS state-level wage estimates. Where BLS suppresses a state percentile, it is scaled from the official national distribution. Individual pay varies by employer, metro area, and experience.