Bus and Truck Mechanic and Diesel Engine Specialist Salary in Detroit, MI
Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists in the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI metro area earn a median $63,360 a year — 3% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $50,648 take-home, or $4,221 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median bus and truck mechanic and diesel engine specialist salary in Detroit, MI. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$5,423
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,928
- Medicare (1.45%)$919
- Michigan income tax$2,442
- Take-home pay$50,648
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.25% state
Living in Detroit? City residents also pay Detroit’s city income tax — about $1,521 a year on this salary — which lowers take-home pay to $49,127 ($4,094 a month). Choose “Detroit” 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 Detroit, MI
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $46,840 | $22.52 | $38,076 | $3,173 |
| 25th percentile | $52,690 | $25.33 | $42,528 | $3,544 |
| Median (50th) | $63,360 | $30.46 | $50,648 | $4,221 |
| 75th percentile | $74,230 | $35.69 | $58,147 | $4,846 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $88,810 | $42.70 | $67,784 | $5,649 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Michigan resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $63,360 buys in Detroit, MI
Prices in Detroit, MI are 0.3% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 5% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median bus and truck mechanic and diesel engine specialist's $50,648 take-home pay has the buying power of $50,497 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Bus and Truck Mechanic and Diesel Engine Specialist jobs are about as common in Detroit, MI as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.07).
Best-paying cities for bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists, adjusted for cost of living
Detroit, MI ranks #15 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 |
| 15 | Detroit, MI | $63,360 | $50,648 | $50,497 |
*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 Detroit, MI?
The median bus and truck mechanic and diesel engine specialist salary in the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI metro area is $63,360 a year, or about $30.46 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $52,690 and $74,230.
What is a bus and truck mechanic and diesel engine specialist’s take-home pay in Detroit, MI?
On the median $63,360 salary, a single filer living in Michigan takes home about $50,648 a year ($4,221 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,442 in Michigan taxes in 2026.
Is Detroit, MI a good place to work as a bus and truck mechanic and diesel engine specialist?
Pay here is 3% above the national median of $61,770. Local prices are 0.3% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $50,497 would in a typical U.S. city. Detroit, MI ranks #15 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 Detroit, MI?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Detroit, MI is $1,128 a month ($1,413 for two bedrooms) — 27% 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%.
Related jobs in Detroit, MI
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- Automotive Service Technician and Mechanic — $56,000
- Maintenance and Repair Workers, General — $48,380
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- Tire Repairer and Changer — $37,610