Bus and Truck Mechanic and Diesel Engine Specialist Salary in Kansas City, MO
Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists in the Kansas City, MO-KS metro area earn a median $62,570 a year — 1% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $50,452 take-home, or $4,204 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median bus and truck mechanic and diesel engine specialist salary in Kansas City, MO. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$5,328
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,879
- Medicare (1.45%)$907
- Missouri income tax$2,003
- Take-home pay$50,452
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.70% state
Living in Kansas City, MO? City residents also pay Kansas City, MO’s Earnings Tax — about $626 a year on this salary — which lowers take-home pay to $49,826 ($4,152 a month). Choose “Kansas City, MO” under City income tax in the calculator. Suburban residents usually don’t pay it.
The Kansas City, MO-KS metro spans Missouri, Kansas. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
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 Kansas City, MO
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $46,170 | $22.20 | $38,045 | $3,170 |
| 25th percentile | $51,080 | $24.56 | $41,759 | $3,480 |
| Median (50th) | $62,570 | $30.08 | $50,452 | $4,204 |
| 75th percentile | $75,520 | $36.31 | $59,346 | $4,946 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $86,650 | $41.66 | $66,653 | $5,554 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Missouri resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $62,570 buys in Kansas City, MO
Prices in Kansas City, MO are 7.5% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 13% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median bus and truck mechanic and diesel engine specialist's $50,452 take-home pay has the buying power of $54,517 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Kansas City, MO has 1.4× 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
Kansas City, MO ranks #3 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.
Bus and Truck Mechanic and Diesel Engine Specialist salaries elsewhere in Missouri
- St. Louis, MO — $62,280
Frequently asked questions
How much does a bus and truck mechanic and diesel engine specialist make in Kansas City, MO?
The median bus and truck mechanic and diesel engine specialist salary in the Kansas City, MO-KS metro area is $62,570 a year, or about $30.08 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $51,080 and $75,520.
What is a bus and truck mechanic and diesel engine specialist’s take-home pay in Kansas City, MO?
On the median $62,570 salary, a single filer living in Missouri takes home about $50,452 a year ($4,204 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,003 in Missouri taxes in 2026.
Is Kansas City, MO 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 7.5% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $54,517 would in a typical U.S. city. Kansas City, MO ranks #3 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 Kansas City, MO?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Kansas City, MO is $1,193 a month ($1,355 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%.