A mechanic's hands work on the valve springs of an engine

Diesel mechanic training by state

442 diesel mechanic programs in 42 states and 1 territory, with costs, results and funding that can make them free

299 schools offer these programs, and each state on this page approved its programs for workforce funding. Compare the states below, then open one to see each program with its price and how past students did.

Diesel mechanics inspect and repair buses and trucks and maintain diesel engines of every kind. Community colleges and technical schools offer certificates and degrees in diesel repair, employers may require or prefer certification, and some jobs need a commercial driver's license to test-drive trucks and buses.¹

Compare diesel mechanic training by state: cost, pay and results

Diesel mechanic training by state
State	Programs	Most cost	Earned a year, estimated	Working 6 months later	Finished
Alabama	6	$8,420 to $11,826	Not reported	Not reported	44%
Alaska	3	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
Arizona	6	$6,214 to $21,986	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
Arkansas	15	$2,080 to $6,649	about $25,500	63%	61%
California	9	$1,794 to $12,514	about $42,500	51%	90%
Colorado	10	$5,294 to $25,850	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
Delaware	1	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
Florida	19	$2,448 to $4,787	about $37,600	78%	79%
Georgia	15	$3,060 to $6,284	about $33,100	71%	33%
Idaho	4	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
Illinois	22	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
Indiana	2	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
Iowa	8	$9,609 to $15,089	about $43,200	84%	48%
Kansas	3	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
Kentucky	9	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
Louisiana	9	$7,789 to $9,878	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
Maine	4	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
Maryland	4	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
Michigan	7	$6,986 to $21,010	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
Minnesota	16	$5,919 to $12,486	about $45,400	77%	73%
Mississippi	12	$5,350 to $7,850	about $40,500	85%	100%
Missouri	23	$6,489 to $15,246	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
Montana	2	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
Nebraska	11	$4,118 to $8,353	about $42,300	77%	54%
Nevada	3	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
New Jersey	2	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
New Mexico	2	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
North Carolina	8	$2,795 to $5,493	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
North Dakota	1	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
Ohio	11	$6,861 to $27,954	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
Oklahoma	12	$2,084 to $11,826	about $41,400	Not reported	83%
Oregon	4	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
Pennsylvania	15	$8,423 to $26,343	Not reported	Not reported	80%
Puerto Rico	1	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
South Dakota	5	$16,073 to $18,304	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
Tennessee	14	$6,590 to $6,865	about $37,300	84%	71%
Texas	65	$5,124 to $11,610	about $36,700	77%	59%
Utah	11	$3,528 to $7,610	about $29,300	Not reported	70%
Virginia	10	$1,790 to $11,231	Not reported	Not reported	94%
Washington	31	$5,699 to $11,630	about $39,600	69%	85%
West Virginia	2	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
Wisconsin	20	$5,260 to $10,130	about $46,900	81%	81%
Wyoming	5	$3,504 to $8,783	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported

Each figure is the middle program in that state. Yearly earnings are the reported quarter times four, an estimate. Only programs approved for workforce funding are counted; other schools may offer diesel mechanic training too. Source: US Department of Labor, program year 2024 (July 2024 to June 2025).How these figures are made

Is there free diesel mechanic training in the US?

WIOA funding can pay for diesel mechanic training in the US

Every program on this page is approved for WIOA funding: public workforce funding under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act. It can pay for training for eligible adults, people who lost their job and young people.²People on public assistance, with a low income or lacking basic skills come first, and veterans have priority.³Your state or local area may limit how much WIOA pays and for how long. If a program costs more, a Pell Grant, a scholarship or severance pay can cover the rest.⁴

Ask at an American Job Center

Eligibility rules apply, and services vary from state to state. Your local American Job Center can tell you whether you qualify. The Department of Labor's page links to the center finder, or call 1-877-US-2JOBS (1-877-872-5627).⁵

Or pay for diesel mechanic training yourself

Without funding, prices differ by state: most diesel mechanic programs cost $1,794 to $12,514 in California and $16,073 to $18,304 in South Dakota. Each state's page lists every program with its price.

Does WIOA pay for job training? Who qualifies and how to apply

Where the diesel mechanic program numbers by state come from

Which diesel mechanic programs are counted?

Programs each state approved for WIOA funding (public workforce funding under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act), from the US Department of Labor's file for program year 2024 (July 2024 to June 2025), covering programs approved as of June 30, 2025. Each state keeps its approved programs on an eligible training provider list (ETPL).⁵ Schools that never applied for approval are missing.

What the figures for each state mean

Each figure is the middle program among those that report it: half did better, half did worse. Prices are what most programs cost if you pay yourself (the middle half). Earnings are for the second quarter after students left, times four. Where too few programs report a figure, the table says "Not reported".

Sources for the facts about diesel mechanic training

Show the 5 sourcesHide the sources