Bus and Truck Mechanic and Diesel Engine Specialist Salary in Riverside, CA
Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA metro area earn a median $71,300 a year — 15% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $55,571 take-home, or $4,631 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median bus and truck mechanic and diesel engine specialist salary in Riverside, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$6,856
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,421
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,034
- California income tax$2,492
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$927
- Take-home pay$55,571
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 Riverside, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $46,890 | $22.54 | $38,382 | $3,198 |
| 25th percentile | $57,970 | $27.87 | $46,478 | $3,873 |
| Median (50th) | $71,300 | $34.28 | $55,571 | $4,631 |
| 75th percentile | $78,210 | $37.60 | $59,789 | $4,982 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $89,570 | $43.06 | $66,578 | $5,548 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $71,300 buys in Riverside, CA
Prices in Riverside, CA are 6.4% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.29× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median bus and truck mechanic and diesel engine specialist's $55,571 take-home pay has the buying power of $52,208 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 Riverside, CA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.06).
Best-paying cities for bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists, adjusted for cost of living
Riverside, CA ranks #9 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 |
| 9 | Riverside, CA | $71,300 | $55,571 | $52,208 |
*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
- Los Angeles, CA — $77,380
Frequently asked questions
How much does a bus and truck mechanic and diesel engine specialist make in Riverside, CA?
The median bus and truck mechanic and diesel engine specialist salary in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA metro area is $71,300 a year, or about $34.28 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $57,970 and $78,210.
What is a bus and truck mechanic and diesel engine specialist’s take-home pay in Riverside, CA?
On the median $71,300 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $55,571 a year ($4,631 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $3,419 in California taxes in 2026.
Is Riverside, CA a good place to work as a bus and truck mechanic and diesel engine specialist?
Pay here is 15% above the national median of $61,770. Local prices are 6.4% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $52,208 would in a typical U.S. city. Riverside, CA ranks #9 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 Riverside, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Riverside, CA is $1,777 a month ($2,201 for two bedrooms) — 38% 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 Riverside, CA
- First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers — $88,690
- Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines — $76,040
- Industrial Machinery Mechanic — $73,200
- Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers — $64,300
- Automotive Service Technician and Mechanic — $64,210
- Maintenance and Repair Workers, General — $53,560
- Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers, All Other — $48,670