Bus and Truck Mechanic and Diesel Engine Specialist Salary in Chicago, IL
Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median $65,680 a year — 6% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $51,848 take-home, or $4,321 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median bus and truck mechanic and diesel engine specialist salary in Chicago, IL. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$5,702
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,072
- Medicare (1.45%)$952
- Illinois income tax$3,106
- Take-home pay$51,848
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.95% state
The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro spans Illinois, Indiana. 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 Chicago, IL
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $45,830 | $22.03 | $36,881 | $3,073 |
| 25th percentile | $58,080 | $27.92 | $46,117 | $3,843 |
| Median (50th) | $65,680 | $31.58 | $51,848 | $4,321 |
| 75th percentile | $83,900 | $40.34 | $63,845 | $5,320 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $98,660 | $47.43 | $73,498 | $6,125 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Illinois resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $65,680 buys in Chicago, IL
Prices in Chicago, IL are 3.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.12× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median bus and truck mechanic and diesel engine specialist's $51,848 take-home pay has the buying power of $50,048 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 Chicago, IL as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.03).
Best-paying cities for bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists, adjusted for cost of living
Chicago, IL ranks #17 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 |
| 17 | Chicago, IL | $65,680 | $51,848 | $50,048 |
*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 Chicago, IL?
The median bus and truck mechanic and diesel engine specialist salary in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $65,680 a year, or about $31.58 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $58,080 and $83,900.
What is a bus and truck mechanic and diesel engine specialist’s take-home pay in Chicago, IL?
On the median $65,680 salary, a single filer living in Illinois takes home about $51,848 a year ($4,321 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $3,106 in Illinois taxes in 2026.
Is Chicago, IL a good place to work as a bus and truck mechanic and diesel engine specialist?
Pay here is 6% above the national median of $61,770. Local prices are 3.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $50,048 would in a typical U.S. city. Chicago, IL ranks #17 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 Chicago, IL?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Chicago, IL is $1,534 a month ($1,743 for two bedrooms) — 36% 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 Chicago, IL
- First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers — $85,420
- Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers — $77,960
- Industrial Machinery Mechanic — $75,800
- Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines — $74,090
- Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers — $69,820
- Maintenance and Repair Workers, General — $58,020
- Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers, All Other — $56,900
- Automotive Service Technician and Mechanic — $55,320
- Automotive Body and Related Repairer — $52,040
- Computer, Automated Teller, and Office Machine Repairers — $45,710
- Tire Repairer and Changer — $38,720