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Diesel mechanics in Montana: what they earn
Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists in Montana earned a median $59,990 a year in May 2025, $28.84 an hour. 1,230 people held the job, 2.4 for every 1,000 jobs in the state. That median is 3% below the national figure of $61,770, and Montana ranks 32 of 51 by pay for this trade.
The full wage spread in Montana
| Point | Hourly | Annual | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $21.58 | $44,880 | A tenth of the workforce earns less than this. |
| 25th percentile | $24.83 | $51,650 | A quarter earn less. |
| Median | $28.84 | $59,990 | Half earn less, half earn more. |
| 75th percentile | $34.22 | $71,180 | A quarter earn more. |
| 90th percentile | $37.35 | $77,700 | A tenth earn more than this. |
| Mean | $29.30 | $60,940 | The average. Pulled up by the top earners. |
Annual figures are the hourly rate times 2,080 hours, BLS's full-time year. Overtime is inside the survey's earnings but not separated out.
Pay by metro area in Montana
Billings, MT employs the most diesel mechanics of the 5 metro areas based in Montana that BLS publishes, 380, at a median $61,210 a year. The best-paid is Helena, MT at $64,110.
| Metro | Employed | Median annual | 10th pct | 90th pct |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Billings, MT | 380 | $61,210 | $48,600 | $78,520 |
| Missoula, MT | 140 | $61,380 | $45,970 | $75,620 |
| Bozeman, MT | 120 | $63,910 | $51,010 | $81,960 |
| Great Falls, MT | 70 | $55,420 | $42,050 | $75,100 |
| Helena, MT | 60 | $64,110 | $52,040 | $80,510 |
Metropolitan statistical areas as BLS publishes them in the same May 2025 estimates. A metro that crosses a state line is listed only under its primary state, so part of a neighboring state's metro can sit outside this table. Areas outside any metro are not shown.
Montana against its neighbors on the pay ladder
| # | State | Median annual | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 29 | Indiana | $60,610 | 8,840 |
| 30 | Florida | $60,490 | 14,900 |
| 31 | Ohio | $60,470 | 14,240 |
| 32 | Montana | $59,990 | 1,230 |
| 33 | Iowa | $59,680 | 4,140 |
| 34 | Kansas | $59,460 | 3,300 |
| 35 | Vermont | $59,390 | 550 |
The complete ranking is on the Diesel mechanics page.
Against the national figure
| Figure | Montana | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Median annual | $59,990 | $61,770 |
| Median hourly | $28.84 | $29.70 |
| 10th percentile, annual | $44,880 | $44,530 |
| 90th percentile, annual | $77,700 | $88,740 |
| Employed | 1,230 | 289,960 |
Other trades in Montana
Electricians ($76,760) · Plumbers and pipefitters ($79,960) · HVAC technicians ($60,850) · Welders ($55,610) · Truck drivers (CDL) ($58,870) · Lineworkers (power-line installers) ($110,320) · Elevator installers ($90,370) · Ironworkers ($67,390) · Sheet metal workers ($61,420) · Carpenters ($58,820) · Brickmasons and blockmasons ($56,030) · Auto service technicians ($58,740) · Heavy equipment operators ($61,580) · Machinists ($60,920)
See all 15 ranked by pay in Montana.
No state licensing records are sourced here for diesel mechanics. The steps into the trade are on the Diesel mechanics page. Numbers on this page are the May 2025 BLS estimates; see how the numbers are built.