Electrician vs Diesel Tech
Side-by-side salary, job growth, and training comparison for 2026
Electrician
$62,350
National Median Salary
Total Jobs818,700
Annual Openings79,900
Training4-5 yr apprenticeship
Diesel Tech
$54,690
National Median Salary
Total Jobs300,000
Annual Openings28,100
Training1-2 yr certificate
Metric
Electrician
Diesel Tech
Median Salary National, BLS 2023 | $62,350* | $54,690 |
Total Jobs Current employment | 818,700* | 300,000 |
Annual Job Openings New + replacement | 79,900* | 28,100 |
Training Time | 4-5 yr apprenticeship | 1-2 yr certificate |
* indicates higher/better value. Source: BLS OES 2023.
Top States for Electricians
Illinois$95,340
New York$91,870
Hawaii$87,530
Oregon$84,210
Alaska$82,990
Top States for Diesel Techs
Alaska$79,870
Washington$74,320
Connecticut$71,450
Wyoming$70,120
California$68,790