Prevailing Wage for Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists
Prevailing wage rates for Bus Mechanic and Diesel Mechanic roles are set by the DOL using regional Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. Whether your offer covers a Diesel Technician position or a Fleet Mechanic role, DOL assigns four experience-based wage levels, and the floor for each level shifts considerably depending on the city where the work is performed.
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Entry-level diesel mechanics with limited hands-on experience, typically performing routine maintenance and repairs under direct supervision. Most candidates at this level hold vocational or technical training credentials and have fewer than two years of independent diagnostic work.
The most common filing level for sponsored Bus Mechanic positions. Candidates have a few years of independent repair experience, handle standard diagnostics without close supervision, and demonstrate working knowledge of diesel engine systems across multiple vehicle types.
Experienced mechanics who regularly handle complex, multi-system diagnostics and mentor junior technicians. Candidates at this level typically bring five or more years of hands-on diesel engine experience and take ownership of difficult or unfamiliar repair scenarios.
Senior or lead-level professionals responsible for overseeing shop operations, setting repair standards, or managing fleets. These candidates bring deep expertise across diesel and alternative-fuel systems and may hold specialized certifications or supervisory responsibilities.
Prevailing Wage for Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists by OES area
Each shape is a DOL OES area, the unit prevailing wage is published for.
What’s an OES area?
The Department of Labor publishes prevailing wages for geographic zones called OES areas. Every U.S. county belongs to exactly one, and the wage floor applies across the whole area. A worker in Oakland gets the San Francisco metro wage, not a separate Oakland wage.
Top 10 cities · Level 1
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See which U.S. employers are actively hiring for Bus Mechanic and sponsoring H-1B, OPT, and green card visas at or above the prevailing wage.
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Check whether fleet size affects your level
Employers operating large municipal or commercial fleets often file at Level 2 or Level 3 because the variety and volume of vehicles demand broader diagnostic skill. If your role covers mixed-fleet service across heavy trucks and buses, confirm the filing level reflects that scope.
Watch for title aliasing across SOC codes
Roles titled General Repair Mechanic or Heavy Equipment Technician are sometimes filed under a different SOC code with a lower prevailing wage floor. If your offer letter uses a generic title, verify the employer's LCA matches SOC 49-3031 specifically.
Understand why Pacific Coast wages diverge sharply
San Jose, Seattle, and San Francisco metro wages for diesel mechanics significantly exceed the national median due to regional cost of living and union density in public transit fleets. An offer in these metros filed at the national median may fall short of the local prevailing wage floor.
Search sponsored diesel mechanic employers on Migrate Mate
Migrate Mate shows which employers have sponsored Bus Mechanic and Diesel Technician roles in the past, along with their sponsorship counts by visa type. Use this to identify fleet operators and transit agencies with a documented history of H-1B or green card filings for this occupation.
Jobs for Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists are hiring across the US. Find yours.
Find Jobs for Bus MechanicPrevailing Wage by Reported Job Title
DOL classifies these titles under SOC 49-3031.00 alongside Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.
Bus Mechanic Prevailing Wage
Bus Mechanic Prevailing Wage
Bus Mechanic positions fall under SOC 49-3031.00 (Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Diesel Mechanic Prevailing Wage
Diesel Mechanic Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Diesel Mechanic for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 49-3031.00 (Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Diesel Technician (Diesel Tech) Prevailing Wage
Diesel Technician (Diesel Tech) Prevailing Wage
Diesel Technician (Diesel Tech) is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 49-3031.00 (Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Fleet Mechanic Prevailing Wage
Fleet Mechanic Prevailing Wage
Fleet Mechanic positions fall under SOC 49-3031.00 (Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
General Repair Mechanic Prevailing Wage
General Repair Mechanic Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a General Repair Mechanic for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 49-3031.00 (Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Heavy Truck Mechanic Prevailing Wage
Heavy Truck Mechanic Prevailing Wage
Heavy Truck Mechanic is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 49-3031.00 (Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Service Technician Prevailing Wage
Service Technician Prevailing Wage
Service Technician positions fall under SOC 49-3031.00 (Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Trailer Mechanic Prevailing Wage
Trailer Mechanic Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Trailer Mechanic for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 49-3031.00 (Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Transit Mechanic Prevailing Wage
Transit Mechanic Prevailing Wage
Transit Mechanic is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 49-3031.00 (Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Truck Mechanic Prevailing Wage
Truck Mechanic Prevailing Wage
Truck Mechanic positions fall under SOC 49-3031.00 (Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the DOL set the prevailing wage for a Bus Mechanic position?
DOL uses Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics across metro areas nationwide. For each area, DOL calculates four wage levels based on the distribution of reported wages for SOC 49-3031. An employer filing a Labor Condition Application for a sponsored Bus Mechanic must pay at least the prevailing wage corresponding to the level that matches the position's duties and required experience.
What do the four wage levels mean, and how do I know which one applies to my offer?
DOL assigns levels based on experience, supervision, and complexity of work. Level 1 covers entry-level mechanics under close supervision. Level 2 applies to qualified technicians working independently on standard repairs, and is the most common level for sponsored diesel mechanic roles. Level 3 reflects experienced mechanics handling complex diagnostics, while Level 4 covers senior or lead technicians with supervisory duties. Review the job description and compare it to DOL's level definitions to identify the appropriate floor for your offer.
Why does the prevailing wage for the same Diesel Mechanic role vary so much by city?
DOL calculates prevailing wages from regional OES surveys, so each metro area produces its own wage distribution for SOC 49-3031. Markets with high union density in public transit, elevated cost of living, or strong demand from large commercial fleets, such as the Seattle and San Francisco metro areas, produce significantly higher floors. Under the worksite-on-LCA rule, the wage that applies is the one for the metro where the mechanic actually performs the work, not the employer's headquarters location.
What happens if an employer offers a salary below the prevailing wage for a sponsored position?
An employer cannot certify a Labor Condition Application if the offered wage falls below the DOL prevailing wage for the applicable level and worksite. USCIS will not approve the underlying visa petition if the LCA is not properly certified. If a shortfall is discovered after filing, OFLC can investigate, and the employer may face back-wage liability and debarment from future sponsorship. You should confirm the offer meets the floor for your level and location before the LCA is filed.
How can I find and verify the prevailing wage for a Bus Mechanic role in a specific U.S. city?
Use the OFLC Wage Search tool, which lets you look up current DOL prevailing wages by SOC code, wage level, and metropolitan area. Enter SOC 49-3031 and the metro where the job is located to see all four level wages. For a broader occupational profile and alternate job titles that map to this SOC, O*NET is a useful companion resource. If you want to see which employers have sponsored this role in a given city, Migrate Mate filters sponsored job listings by role and location.
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