Bus and Truck Mechanic and Diesel Engine Specialist Salary in Los Angeles, CA
Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area earn a median $77,380 a year — 25% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $59,283 take-home, or $4,940 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median bus and truck mechanic and diesel engine specialist salary in Los Angeles, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$8,194
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,798
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,122
- California income tax$2,978
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$1,006
- Take-home pay$59,283
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 8.00% state
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 Los Angeles, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $48,550 | $23.34 | $39,596 | $3,300 |
| 25th percentile | $62,160 | $29.88 | $49,538 | $4,128 |
| Median (50th) | $77,380 | $37.20 | $59,283 | $4,940 |
| 75th percentile | $85,280 | $41.00 | $64,014 | $5,335 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $95,760 | $46.04 | $70,276 | $5,856 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $77,380 buys in Los Angeles, CA
Prices in Los Angeles, CA are 13.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.70× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median bus and truck mechanic and diesel engine specialist's $59,283 take-home pay has the buying power of $52,201 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 less concentrated in Los Angeles, CA than nationally (location quotient 0.56), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists, adjusted for cost of living
Los Angeles, CA ranks #10 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 |
| 10 | Los Angeles, CA | $77,380 | $59,283 | $52,201 |
*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 California
- Riverside, CA — $71,300
Frequently asked questions
How much does a bus and truck mechanic and diesel engine specialist make in Los Angeles, CA?
The median bus and truck mechanic and diesel engine specialist salary in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area is $77,380 a year, or about $37.20 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $62,160 and $85,280.
What is a bus and truck mechanic and diesel engine specialist’s take-home pay in Los Angeles, CA?
On the median $77,380 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $59,283 a year ($4,940 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $3,984 in California taxes in 2026.
Is Los Angeles, CA a good place to work as a bus and truck mechanic and diesel engine specialist?
Pay here is 25% above the national median of $61,770. Local prices are 13.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $52,201 would in a typical U.S. city. Los Angeles, CA ranks #10 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 Los Angeles, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Los Angeles, CA is $2,245 a month ($2,755 for two bedrooms) — 45% 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%.
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