Is Chicago a strong pay market for Diesel Mechanics?

At a $65,680 median, Chicago is $3,910 (6%) above the national median. The U.S. median is $61,770. Jobeezy shows you which local employers actually pay at the top of that band before you apply.

How can I earn more as a Diesel Mechanic in Chicago?

Target employers paying toward the $83,900 (75th-percentile) mark and anchor your negotiation to the BLS band. Jobeezy fit-scores Diesel Mechanic openings in Chicago and auto-applies, so you reach more high-paying employers fast.

How many Diesel Mechanics work in Chicago?

BLS estimates roughly 8,660 diesel mechanic jobs across Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN (May 2025 metro employment — a count of jobs, not of salaries reported).

Diesel Mechanic Salary in Chicago, IL (2026)

Median in Chicago: $65,680/year — $3,910 (6%) above the national median. Typical range: $58,080–$83,900.

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BLS OEWS May 2025 · Chicago, IL metro · refreshed 2026-08-25 · Reviewed by Dalton Metzler · U.S. Diesel Mechanic salary overview

The median Diesel Mechanic salary in Chicago, IL is $65,680/year ($3,910 (6%) above the national median), with a typical range of $58,080–$83,900. Data from BLS + Jobeezy ghost-filter (2026).

Salary stats
Metric	Value	Source
Median	$65,680/year	BLS OEWS May 2025
25th-75th pct	$58,080–$83,900	BLS OEWS May 2025
Metro employment	~8,660	BLS OEWS May 2025

### Key facts: Diesel Mechanic pay in Chicago, IL BLS OEWS May 2025 wage data for Diesel Mechanics in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro. - Median Diesel Mechanic pay in Chicago, IL: $65,680/year (BLS OEWS May 2025). - That is $3,910 (6%) above the national median (U.S. median $61,770). - 25th-75th percentile band: $58,080–$83,900. - BLS estimated metro employment: ~8,660 jobs.

Diesel Mechanic pay distribution in Chicago, IL

25th Pct (Chicago) $58,080 $27.92/hr

Median (Chicago) $65,680 $31.58/hr

75th Pct (Chicago) $83,900 $40.34/hr

National median: $61,770/yr. Chicago is $3,910 (6%) above the national median.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 — Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area (SOC 49-3031, Diesel Mechanic).

What diesel mechanic pay in Chicago really looks like

Chicago pays above the national market for diesel mechanics. The local median of $65,680 a year is $3,910 (6%) over the U.S. median of $61,770 — a premium worth anchoring to when you negotiate. An offer benchmarked to nationwide averages will read low here, so it is worth citing the local BLS figure directly rather than the U.S. number.

The local range is moderate — $58,080 at the 25th percentile to $83,900 at the 75th (BLS). Half of Chicago Diesel Mechanics earn inside that band, so it is a realistic target window: an offer near $83,900 is genuinely strong for the metro, while anything under $58,080 is worth pushing back on with the BLS figures in hand.

This is a substantial local market: BLS estimates roughly 8,660 diesel mechanic jobs across the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area (a count of metro employment, not a survey of reported salaries). A deep employer base is good news for pay — it means more openings to compare side by side, more turnover creating vacancies, and more leverage to hold out for an employer at the top of the local range instead of settling for the first offer that lands.

Right now, Jobeezy is tracking 24 open diesel mechanic jobs in Chicago against the BLS $65,680 benchmark — the live listings and the employers hiring are below, so you can see which openings actually clear the metro median before you apply.

Put it together and the picture for Chicago is concrete: a metro median of $65,680 with most diesel mechanics landing between $58,080 and $83,900. The practical move is to aim for the upper half of that band. Jobeezy fit-scores local diesel mechanic openings, surfaces the employers posting toward $83,900, and applies for you — so your time goes to the jobs that clear the Chicago median, not the ones that sit under it.

Diesel Mechanic pay by hour, week, month & year in Chicago

Period	Typical Pay
Per hour	$31.58
Per week (40 hrs)	$1,263
Per month	$5,473
Per year	$65,680

How we know this — Chicago sources

Wage figures for Diesel Mechanic in Chicago, IL are the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS May 2025 estimate for the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area (MSA code 16980) (SOC 49-3031), released 2026-08-25. Suppressed cells are shown as an em dash, never a zero.

Reviewed by Dalton Metzler · Jobeezy Compensation Data

Grow your diesel mechanic pay in Chicago

Advancing your pay in Chicago comes down to experience, credentials, and how you negotiate. We keep that guidance on the national Diesel Mechanic guide so it stays current in one place:

Compare Diesel Mechanic pay in nearby metros

Beyond Diesel Mechanic · same Chicago BLS dataset

Other roles hiring in Chicago, IL alongside diesel mechanics, drawn from the same BLS OEWS May 2025 dataset:

See all IL jobs → IL salary overview →

Diesel Mechanic pay in Chicago, IL — common questions

How much does a Diesel Mechanic make in Chicago, IL?: The median Diesel Mechanic salary in Chicago, IL is $65,680/year ($3,910 (6%) above the national median), with a typical range of $58,080–$83,900 (25th–75th percentile). Figures are BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-08-25.
Is Chicago a strong pay market for Diesel Mechanics?: At a $65,680 median, Chicago is $3,910 (6%) above the national median. The U.S. median is $61,770. Jobeezy shows you which local employers actually pay at the top of that band before you apply.
How can I earn more as a Diesel Mechanic in Chicago?: Target employers paying toward the $83,900 (75th-percentile) mark and anchor your negotiation to the BLS band. Jobeezy fit-scores Diesel Mechanic openings in Chicago and auto-applies, so you reach more high-paying employers fast.
How many Diesel Mechanics work in Chicago?: BLS estimates roughly 8,660 diesel mechanic jobs across Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN (May 2025 metro employment — a count of jobs, not of salaries reported).