Diesel Tech vs Industrial Mechanic
Side-by-side salary, job growth, and training comparison for 2026
Diesel Tech
$54,690
National Median Salary
Total Jobs300,000
Annual Openings28,100
Training1-2 yr certificate
Industrial Mechanic
$60,750
National Median Salary
Total Jobs574,500
Annual Openings54,000
Training4 yr apprenticeship
Metric
Diesel Tech
Industrial Mechanic
Median Salary National, BLS 2023 | $54,690 | $60,750* |
Total Jobs Current employment | 300,000 | 574,500* |
Annual Job Openings New + replacement | 28,100 | 54,000* |
Training Time | 1-2 yr certificate | 4 yr apprenticeship |
* indicates higher/better value. Source: BLS OES 2023.
Top States for Diesel Techs
Alaska$79,870
Washington$74,320
Connecticut$71,450
Wyoming$70,120
California$68,790
Top States for Industrial Mechanics
Alaska$87,230
Washington$83,450
Connecticut$80,120
Oregon$78,340
Michigan$76,890