Bus and Truck Mechanic and Diesel Engine Specialist Salary in Phoenix, AZ
Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists in the Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ metro area earn a median $63,330 a year — 3% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $51,691 take-home, or $4,308 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median bus and truck mechanic and diesel engine specialist salary in Phoenix, AZ. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$5,420
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,926
- Medicare (1.45%)$918
- Arizona income tax$1,375
- Take-home pay$51,691
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 2.50% 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 Phoenix, AZ
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $48,150 | $23.15 | $39,874 | $3,323 |
| 25th percentile | $54,010 | $25.97 | $44,436 | $3,703 |
| Median (50th) | $63,330 | $30.45 | $51,691 | $4,308 |
| 75th percentile | $74,620 | $35.88 | $59,668 | $4,972 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $86,000 | $41.35 | $67,390 | $5,616 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Arizona resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $63,330 buys in Phoenix, AZ
Prices in Phoenix, AZ are 3.3% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.21× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median bus and truck mechanic and diesel engine specialist's $51,691 take-home pay has the buying power of $50,032 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 Phoenix, AZ than nationally (location quotient 0.80), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists, adjusted for cost of living
Phoenix, AZ ranks #18 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 |
| 18 | Phoenix, AZ | $63,330 | $51,691 | $50,032 |
*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 Phoenix, AZ?
The median bus and truck mechanic and diesel engine specialist salary in the Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ metro area is $63,330 a year, or about $30.45 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $54,010 and $74,620.
What is a bus and truck mechanic and diesel engine specialist’s take-home pay in Phoenix, AZ?
On the median $63,330 salary, a single filer living in Arizona takes home about $51,691 a year ($4,308 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,375 in Arizona taxes in 2026.
Is Phoenix, AZ 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 3.3% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $50,032 would in a typical U.S. city. Phoenix, AZ ranks #18 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 Phoenix, AZ?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Phoenix, AZ is $1,583 a month ($1,839 for two bedrooms) — 37% 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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