Bus and Truck Mechanic and Diesel Engine Specialist Salary in St. Louis, MO
Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area earn a median $62,280 a year — 1% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $50,232 take-home, or $4,186 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median bus and truck mechanic and diesel engine specialist salary in St. Louis, MO. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$5,294
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,861
- Medicare (1.45%)$903
- Missouri income tax$1,990
- Take-home pay$50,232
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.70% state
Living in St. Louis? City residents also pay St. Louis’s Earnings Tax — about $623 a year on this salary — which lowers take-home pay to $49,609 ($4,134 a month). Choose “St. Louis” under City income tax in the calculator. Suburban residents usually don’t pay it.
The St. Louis, MO-IL metro spans Missouri, Illinois. 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 St. Louis, MO
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $46,290 | $22.25 | $38,136 | $3,178 |
| 25th percentile | $51,980 | $24.99 | $42,440 | $3,537 |
| Median (50th) | $62,280 | $29.94 | $50,232 | $4,186 |
| 75th percentile | $72,510 | $34.86 | $57,370 | $4,781 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $85,460 | $41.09 | $65,872 | $5,489 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Missouri resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $62,280 buys in St. Louis, MO
Prices in St. Louis, MO are 4.9% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 21% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median bus and truck mechanic and diesel engine specialist's $50,232 take-home pay has the buying power of $52,827 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 St. Louis, MO as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.04).
Best-paying cities for bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists, adjusted for cost of living
St. Louis, MO ranks #7 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
- Kansas City, MO — $62,570
Frequently asked questions
How much does a bus and truck mechanic and diesel engine specialist make in St. Louis, MO?
The median bus and truck mechanic and diesel engine specialist salary in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area is $62,280 a year, or about $29.94 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $51,980 and $72,510.
What is a bus and truck mechanic and diesel engine specialist’s take-home pay in St. Louis, MO?
On the median $62,280 salary, a single filer living in Missouri takes home about $50,232 a year ($4,186 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,990 in Missouri taxes in 2026.
Is St. Louis, 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 4.9% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $52,827 would in a typical U.S. city. St. Louis, MO ranks #7 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 St. Louis, MO?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in St. Louis, MO is $989 a month ($1,211 for two bedrooms) — 24% 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%.