Diesel Technician Pay in 2026

10%, 50%, 75%, and 90% Percentiles in the Top 25 U.S. Cities

Hiring diesel technicians in 2026 isn’t about finding people anymore — it’s about winning a compensation arms race you didn’t ask to be in.

Across the U.S., diesel technician pay has fractured into clear tiers. Employers who rely on “average wages” are losing candidates to competitors who understand percentile-based pay — and move fast.

This guide breaks down what diesel technicians actually earn in the top 25 U.S. cities, using 10th, 50th, 75th, and 90th percentile hourly rates, and explains what each level realistically gets you as an employer.

If you’re struggling to hire, the reason will become obvious in the next few minutes.

Why Percentile Pay Matters More Than “Average Wage”

The “average diesel technician wage” is one of the most misleading numbers in hiring.

Why? Because:

• Top techs are almost never unemployed

• Entry-level techs churn quickly

• Mid-level techs are constantly being poached

Percentiles show who you can actually hire — not who exists on paper.

What Each Percentile Represents

• 10% → Entry-level / limited experience

• 50% (Median) → Solid, working technicians

• 75% → Experienced, selective, productive techs

• 90% → Elite technicians, almost always employed

Diesel Technician Hourly Pay by City (2026)

Note: These are base hourly rates. Top employers often add sign-on bonuses, OT guarantees, tool allowances, shift premiums, and retention incentives.

Dallas–Fort Worth, TX

• 10%: $26–$29/hr

• 50%: $33–$36/hr

• 75%: $38–$41/hr

• 90%: $44–$48/hr

Houston, TX

• 10%: $27–$30/hr

• 50%: $34–$37/hr

• 75%: $39–$42/hr

• 90%: $45–$50/hr

Phoenix, AZ

• 10%: $25–$28/hr

• 50%: $32–$35/hr

• 75%: $37–$40/hr

• 90%: $43–$47/hr

Atlanta, GA

• 10%: $24–$27/hr

• 50%: $31–$34/hr

• 75%: $36–$39/hr

• 90%: $42–$46/hr

Chicago, IL

• 10%: $28–$31/hr

• 50%: $35–$38/hr

• 75%: $40–$44/hr

• 90%: $46–$52/hr

Los Angeles, CA

• 10%: $30–$34/hr

• 50%: $38–$42/hr

• 75%: $44–$48/hr

• 90%: $50–$56/hr

San Diego, CA

• 10%: $29–$33/hr

• 50%: $37–$41/hr

• 75%: $43–$47/hr

• 90%: $49–$55/hr

San Francisco Bay Area, CA

• 10%: $34–$38/hr

• 50%: $42–$46/hr

• 75%: $48–$52/hr

• 90%: $55–$62/hr

Denver, CO

• 10%: $27–$30/hr

• 50%: $34–$37/hr

• 75%: $39–$43/hr

• 90%: $45–$50/hr

Seattle, WA

• 10%: $31–$35/hr

• 50%: $39–$43/hr

• 75%: $45–$49/hr

• 90%: $52–$58/hr

Portland, OR

• 10%: $28–$32/hr

• 50%: $35–$39/hr

• 75%: $41–$45/hr

• 90%: $48–$54/hr

Minneapolis–St. Paul, MN

• 10%: $26–$29/hr

• 50%: $33–$36/hr

• 75%: $38–$41/hr

• 90%: $44–$49/hr

St. Louis, MO

• 10%: $24–$27/hr

• 50%: $31–$34/hr

• 75%: $36–$39/hr

• 90%: $41–$45/hr

Kansas City, MO

• 10%: $24–$27/hr

• 50%: $31–$34/hr

• 75%: $36–$39/hr

• 90%: $41–$45/hr

Nashville, TN

• 10%: $23–$26/hr

• 50%: $30–$33/hr

• 75%: $35–$38/hr

• 90%: $40–$44/hr

Charlotte, NC

• 10%: $23–$26/hr

• 50%: $30–$33/hr

• 75%: $35–$38/hr

• 90%: $40–$44/hr

Tampa, FL

• 10%: $22–$25/hr

• 50%: $29–$32/hr

• 75%: $34–$37/hr

• 90%: $39–$43/hr

Orlando, FL

• 10%: $22–$25/hr

• 50%: $29–$32/hr

• 75%: $34–$37/hr

• 90%: $39–$43/hr

Miami, FL

• 10%: $23–$26/hr

• 50%: $30–$33/hr

• 75%: $35–$38/hr

• 90%: $40–$44/hr

New York City, NY

• 10%: $30–$34/hr

• 50%: $38–$42/hr

• 75%: $44–$48/hr

• 90%: $50–$56/hr

Newark, NJ

• 10%: $29–$33/hr

• 50%: $37–$41/hr

• 75%: $43–$47/hr

• 90%: $49–$54/hr

Boston, MA

• 10%: $29–$33/hr

• 50%: $37–$41/hr

• 75%: $43–$47/hr

• 90%: $49–$54/hr

Columbus, OH

• 10%: $24–$27/hr

• 50%: $31–$34/hr

• 75%: $36–$39/hr

• 90%: $41–$45/hr

Cleveland, OH

• 10%: $24–$27/hr

• 50%: $31–$34/hr

• 75%: $36–$39/hr

• 90%: $41–$45/hr

Indianapolis, IN

• 10%: $24–$27/hr

• 50%: $31–$34/hr

• 75%: $36–$39/hr

• 90%: $41–$45/hr

What This Data Tells Employers (Blunt Truth)

If You’re Paying at the 10–25% Level

• Expect volume, not quality

• High turnover

• Long-term instability

If You’re Paying at the 50% Level

• You’ll interview a lot

• Lose candidates to counteroffers

• Extend time-to-fill dramatically

If You’re Paying at the 75% Level

• Faster hires

• Stronger retention

• Less overtime and rework

If You’re Paying at the 90% Level

• You must recruit passive candidates

• Speed and professionalism matter more than pay alone

Why Diesel Technician Pay Keeps Rising

Three unavoidable realities:

1. Retirements outpacing replacements

2. Fleet, logistics, and infrastructure expansion

3. Technicians know their market value

This is not a temporary spike — it’s a structural shift.

Final Takeaway: Percentiles Win Hires

The diesel technician hiring market no longer rewards employers who aim for “competitive pay.”

It rewards employers who ask:

Which percentile do we want — and how fast can we act?

If you don’t answer that question intentionally, the market will answer it for you — with empty bays and overtime bills.

Hiring Diesel Technicians Right Now?

BDA Recruitment helps employers:

• Benchmark real, local pay

• Target the right percentile

• Recruit working diesel technicians

• Cut time-to-fill without overpaying

If you want to know what it will actually take to hire in your city, we’ll tell you — straight.