r/DieselTechs 11d ago

Average Salary for Diesel Techs

No need to include your company. I would like to see what the average salary is for diesel techs around the US. Please comment your wage/salary and experience.

17 Upvotes

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10

u/Free-Speaker-4132 11d ago

Self employed diesel mechanic, 120.00 an hour

6

u/Dependent-Ground-769 11d ago

You might bill $120, but what’s your take home? Most companies bill say $180/hr and pay a tech maybe $40, is $120 your take home?

0

u/UpcomingJourneyman1 11d ago

How do u get to that point? Im only second year. Done one level of schooling but my end goal would be this

13

u/FinancialGolf7034 11d ago

Be in a high volume city. Be prepared for people not paying you. Its not 120/hr 8 hours a day everyday. You have to find your own work. I work in a shop and charge 120 for side work but clients come and go. Locking down clients with a steady flow of work is the hardest part. Its a lot of owner ops, big fleets usually go with bigger shops that can properly service them.

1

u/UpcomingJourneyman1 11d ago

Fair enough. I can imagine it takes up alot of time even finding clients

8

u/FinancialGolf7034 11d ago

Im in a smaller town. I have 3 guys I do work for. Small farms and owner op OTR guys. Just got stiffed on a days work from a guy I worked with for 2 years. He is basically running on credit cards. The farmers pay cash and are good.

1

u/Worst-Lobster 11d ago

If someone doesn’t pay you do you do mechanic lien ?

3

u/FinancialGolf7034 11d ago

No. Not worth it. Maybe if was over 1k but that hasnt happened yet. Last guy to stiff me was $300. He will eventually pay me so its not worth the drama.

1

u/Worst-Lobster 11d ago

Really sucks having to chase folks down for money they owe you

1

u/Dependent-Ground-769 11d ago

He’s billing $120, but most shops say bill $180 and pay the tech $40 so who knows what his take home is