Statewide pay Government data
Diesel mechanics in Illinois earn a statewide median of $64,340 a year, 7% above the typical U.S. metro, ranking #18 of 50 states and DC. About 11,320 people work in the trade statewide.
Statewide pay range
States ranked near Illinois
See all states on the diesel mechanic overview.
Pay by city Government data
BLS publishes diesel mechanic pay for 8 Illinois metros: Bloomington, Champaign, Chicago, Decatur, Kankakee, Peoria, Rockford and Springfield.
| Metro | Median pay | Real pay | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| ChicagoILLINOIS · IL | $65,680 | $63,401 | 8,660 |
| PeoriaILLINOIS · IL | $63,850 | $69,987 | 250 |
| DecaturILLINOIS · IL | $62,790 | $71,012 | 110 |
| ChampaignILLINOIS · IL | $62,180 | $67,074 | 160 |
| SpringfieldILLINOIS · IL | $62,000 | $66,850 | 130 |
| BloomingtonILLINOIS · IL | $61,470 | $65,717 | 130 |
| RockfordILLINOIS · IL | $61,020 | $66,215 | 310 |
| KankakeeILLINOIS · IL | $58,230 | $60,408 | 110 |
Pay: BLS OEWS, May 2025 (metro-level). Real pay: BEA price parities, 2024. How we calculate
Pay outside the cities Government data
BLS also reports pay for Illinois's rural (nonmetropolitan) regions.
BLS OEWS nonmetropolitan areas, May 2025.
The job (national)
Diagnose, adjust, repair, or overhaul buses and trucks, or maintain and repair any type of diesel engines. Includes mechanics working primarily with automobile or marine diesel engines.
Nationally, jobs are projected to grow 3.6% from 2025 to 2035, with about 24,400 openings a year. Typical training: long-term on-the-job training.
Nationally, diesel mechanics have 163 injuries or illnesses serious enough to miss work per 10,000 full-time workers, 1.9× the rate for all jobs (87). The most common cause is being struck by or caught in objects and equipment.
What the work is like Government data
How often diesel mechanics deal with each condition, from surveys of workers in the job.
Getting started usually takes medium preparation (vocational training or an apprenticeship, often 1–2+ years).
O*NET 31.0 Work Context and Job Zones (U.S. Department of Labor), national.
Licensing in Illinois Official source
The main state licensing office in Illinois is the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. Most trades (including general contractors and electricians) are licensed locally; plumbers are licensed by the state health department. It can point you to the right license for diesel mechanics.
Official Illinois licensing site ↗
Requirements for diesel mechanics vary by state and sometimes by city; always confirm with the official agency.
Cities in Illinois
All trades in Illinois.