Jobs Similar to Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists
Also called: Diesel Mechanics
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians, Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics and Motorboat Mechanics and Service Technicians.
Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists: $61,770 median pay · usual preparation: Training or associate.
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
The 20 most similar careers
| # | Career | Similarity | Median pay (vs. Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists) | Usual preparation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aircraft Mechanics and Service TechniciansSame group | 83% | $79,870+29% | Training or associate |
| 2 | Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesSame group | 82% | $65,510+6% | Training or associate |
| 3 | Motorboat Mechanics and Service TechniciansSame group | 82% | $57,550−7% | Training or associate |
| 4 | Wind Turbine Service Technicians | 81% | $64,120+4% | Training or associate |
| 5 | Outdoor Power Equipment and Other Small Engine MechanicsSame group | 81% | $47,880−22% | High school |
| 6 | Hydroelectric Plant Technicians | 81% | $102,040Broader BLS group · not compared | Training or associate |
| 7 | Industrial Machinery Mechanics | 81% | $64,520+4% | Training or associate |
| 8 | Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers | 80% | $109,910+78% | Training or associate |
| 9 | Signal and Track Switch Repairers | 80% | $92,460+50% | Training or associate |
| 10 | Electric Motor, Power Tool, and Related Repairers | 80% | $56,210−9% | Training or associate |
| 11 | Automotive Service Technicians and MechanicsSame group | 80% | $50,620−18% | Training or associate |
| 12 | Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door | 80% | $74,340+20% | Training or associate |
| 13 | Maintenance Workers, Machinery | 80% | $60,850−1% | Training or associate |
| 14 | Medical Equipment Repairers | 79% | $61,6600% | Training or associate |
| 15 | Motorcycle MechanicsSame group | 79% | $48,580−21% | Training or associate |
| 16 | Ship Engineers | 79% | $109,530+77% | Training or associate |
| 17 | Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay | 79% | $103,020+67% | Training or associate |
| 18 | Rail Car RepairersSame group | 79% | $67,530+9% | High school |
| 19 | Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment | 79% | $74,090+20% | Training or associate |
| 20 | Recreational Vehicle Service TechniciansSame group | 78% | $52,000−16% | High school |
- 1Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians
83% similar · $79,870 (+29%) · Training or associate · Same group
- 2Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines
82% similar · $65,510 (+6%) · Training or associate · Same group
- 3Motorboat Mechanics and Service Technicians
82% similar · $57,550 (−7%) · Training or associate · Same group
- 4Wind Turbine Service Technicians
81% similar · $64,120 (+4%) · Training or associate
- 5Outdoor Power Equipment and Other Small Engine Mechanics
81% similar · $47,880 (−22%) · High school · Same group
- 6Hydroelectric Plant Technicians
81% similar · $102,040 (broader group) · Training or associate
- 7Industrial Machinery Mechanics
81% similar · $64,520 (+4%) · Training or associate
- 8Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers
80% similar · $109,910 (+78%) · Training or associate
- 9Signal and Track Switch Repairers
80% similar · $92,460 (+50%) · Training or associate
- 10Electric Motor, Power Tool, and Related Repairers
80% similar · $56,210 (−9%) · Training or associate
- 11Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics
80% similar · $50,620 (−18%) · Training or associate · Same group
- 12Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door
80% similar · $74,340 (+20%) · Training or associate
- 13Maintenance Workers, Machinery
80% similar · $60,850 (−1%) · Training or associate
- 14Medical Equipment Repairers
79% similar · $61,660 (0%) · Training or associate
- 15Motorcycle Mechanics
79% similar · $48,580 (−21%) · Training or associate · Same group
- 16Ship Engineers
79% similar · $109,530 (+77%) · Training or associate
- 17Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay
79% similar · $103,020 (+67%) · Training or associate
- 18Rail Car Repairers
79% similar · $67,530 (+9%) · High school · Same group
- 19Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment
79% similar · $74,090 (+20%) · Training or associate
- 20Recreational Vehicle Service Technicians
78% similar · $52,000 (−16%) · High school · Same group
Similarity: weighted correlation of O*NET 31.0 transferable skills (35%), knowledge (25%), work activities (15%) and interests (15%). Pay and schooling do not change it. Pay change compares BLS May 2025 national medians; careers with only a broader BLS group wage are not compared. “Same group”: the same BLS occupation group (SOC minor group). Methodology
Similar jobs that pay more
Only careers that usually need no more preparation than bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists.
- Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers80% similar · $109,910 (+78%)
- Ship Engineers79% similar · $109,530 (+77%)
- Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay79% similar · $103,020 (+67%)
- Signal and Track Switch Repairers80% similar · $92,460 (+50%)
- Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians83% similar · $79,870 (+29%)
- Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door80% similar · $74,340 (+20%)
Similar jobs that need less preparation
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs for former bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists →
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
- Hydroelectric Plant Technicians (81)
- Industrial Machinery Mechanics (81)
- Wind Turbine Service Technicians (81)
- Electric Motor, Power Tool, and Related Repairers (80)
- Maintenance Workers, Machinery (80)
- Medical Equipment Repairers (79)
- Transportation Vehicle, Equipment and Systems Inspectors, Except Aviation (79)
- Maintenance and Repair Workers, General (78)
- Automotive Engineering Technicians (77)
- Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door (76)
Questions about jobs like bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists
What jobs are most similar to bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians (83% similar), Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics (82% similar), Motorboat Mechanics and Service Technicians (82% similar), Wind Turbine Service Technicians (81% similar) and Outdoor Power Equipment and Other Small Engine Mechanics (81% similar).
Which jobs like bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists pay more?
Among the 20 most similar careers, Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers ($109,910, +78%; usually training or an associate degree), Ship Engineers ($109,530, +77%; usually training or an associate degree) and Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay ($103,020, +67%; usually training or an associate degree) have the highest BLS median pay compared with bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists ($61,770). Without more preparation than bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists usually need: Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers, Ship Engineers and Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay.
How is the similarity percentage worked out?
We compare how important each transferable skill, knowledge area, work activity and interest area is in both jobs (O*NET 31.0 ratings) with a weighted correlation. 100% would mean the same profile. Unlike our career-change matches, pay and extra schooling do not lower the similarity on this page.