Bus and Truck Mechanic and Diesel Engine Specialist Salary in Columbus, OH
Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists in the Columbus, OH metro area earn a median $62,190 a year — 1% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $51,222 take-home, or $4,268 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median bus and truck mechanic and diesel engine specialist salary in Columbus, OH. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$5,283
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,856
- Medicare (1.45%)$902
- Ohio income tax$928
- Take-home pay$51,222
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 2.75% state
Living in Columbus? City residents also pay Columbus’s city income tax — about $1,555 a year on this salary — which lowers take-home pay to $49,667 ($4,139 a month). Choose “Columbus” under City income tax in the calculator. Suburban residents usually don’t pay it.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Bus and Truck Mechanic and Diesel Engine Specialist pay by experience in Columbus, OH
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $46,680 | $22.44 | $39,186 | $3,266 |
| 25th percentile | $51,750 | $24.88 | $43,120 | $3,593 |
| Median (50th) | $62,190 | $29.90 | $51,222 | $4,268 |
| 75th percentile | $73,370 | $35.27 | $59,210 | $4,934 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $80,350 | $38.63 | $63,929 | $5,327 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Ohio resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $62,190 buys in Columbus, OH
Prices in Columbus, OH are 4.5% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 12% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median bus and truck mechanic and diesel engine specialist's $51,222 take-home pay has the buying power of $53,653 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Columbus, OH has 1.3× the national concentration of bus and truck mechanic and diesel engine specialist jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists, adjusted for cost of living
Columbus, OH ranks #6 of 21 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $82,330 | $66,749 | $60,062 |
| 2 | Minneapolis, MN | $73,730 | $57,209 | $54,577 |
| 3 | Kansas City, MO | $62,570 | $50,452 | $54,517 |
| 4 | Denver, CO | $72,800 | $57,550 | $54,404 |
| 5 | Boston, MA | $75,770 | $58,566 | $54,094 |
| 6 | Columbus, OH | $62,190 | $51,222 | $53,653 |
| 7 | St. Louis, MO | $62,280 | $50,232 | $52,827 |
| 8 | Indianapolis, IN | $61,710 | $49,973 | $52,221 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 21 metros →
About the job: bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists
Diagnose, adjust, repair, or overhaul buses and trucks, or maintain and repair any type of diesel engines.
- Typical education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Long-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +3.6% (about average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a bus and truck mechanic and diesel engine specialist make in Columbus, OH?
The median bus and truck mechanic and diesel engine specialist salary in the Columbus, OH metro area is $62,190 a year, or about $29.90 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $51,750 and $73,370.
What is a bus and truck mechanic and diesel engine specialist’s take-home pay in Columbus, OH?
On the median $62,190 salary, a single filer living in Ohio takes home about $51,222 a year ($4,268 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $928 in Ohio taxes in 2026.
Is Columbus, OH a good place to work as a bus and truck mechanic and diesel engine specialist?
Pay here is 1% above the national median of $61,770. Local prices are 4.5% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $53,653 would in a typical U.S. city. Columbus, OH ranks #6 of 21 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a bus and truck mechanic and diesel engine specialist afford rent in Columbus, OH?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Columbus, OH is $1,179 a month ($1,416 for two bedrooms) — 28% of a median bus and truck mechanic and diesel engine specialist’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.