Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists vs Millwrights: $62K vs $66K Median Pay

Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists vs Millwrights: what changes?

Consider Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists if you want to diagnose, adjust, repair, or overhaul buses and trucks, or maintain and repair any type of diesel engines. Consider Millwrights if you would rather install, dismantle, or move machinery and heavy equipment according to layout plans, blueprints, or other drawings. Both list high school diploma or equivalent; compare training and prior experience separately.

Try this next: Compare three local entry-level postings for Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists and Millwrights. List the duties, credentials, prior experience, and paid training each employer actually asks for. Try a supervised class or sample project from each field before choosing a program.

BLS 2025 wages and 2025–2035 projections. National medians are not starting offers. Occupation size is not a count of vacancies. View the BLS data.

Compare the practical differences

Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists

National median pay (2025): $61,770
Route into the job: High school diploma or equivalent; More than 12 months of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing
Prior related experience: No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.
Training and licensing: More than 12 months of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing.
Work to investigate: Use handtools, such as screwdrivers, pliers, wrenches, pressure gauges, or precision instruments, as well as power tools, such as pneumatic wrenches, lathes, welding equipment, or jacks and hoists.
Annual openings (2025–2035): 24,400

Know before you choose

The work can involve real occupational hazards. Training, protective equipment, and routine safety discipline matter every day.

See the full Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists brief

Millwrights

National median pay (2025): $65,700
Route into the job: High school diploma or equivalent; Apprenticeship combines paid work and instruction; duration is not reported here. Check the full program and licensing requirements
Prior related experience: No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.
Training and licensing: Apprenticeship combines paid work and instruction; duration is not reported here. Check the full program and licensing requirements.
Work to investigate: Replace defective parts of machine, or adjust clearances and alignment of moving parts.
Annual openings (2025–2035): 3,200

Know before you choose

The usual entry route includes an apprenticeship. Interest in the subject is not a substitute for supervised, paid training.

See the full Millwrights brief

How the national numbers differ

Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists has the edge on annual openings

Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists is at 24,400 annual openings, compared with 3,200 annual openings for Millwrights.

Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists has the edge on projected growth

Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists is at 3.6% projected growth, compared with 0.9% projected growth for Millwrights.

Typical preparation differs.

Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists: High school diploma or equivalent; More than 12 months of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing Millwrights: High school diploma or equivalent; Apprenticeship combines paid work and instruction; duration is not reported here. Check the full program and licensing requirements Preparation categories do not establish admission difficulty, calendar time, tuition, time without earnings, or licensing difficulty.

Millwrights has the edge on median pay

Millwrights is at $65,700, compared with $61,770 for Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists.

61.2/ 100

Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists

50.2/ 100

Millwrights

Each available metric is ranked from 0 to 100 against the careers on ChooseField. The weighted average uses this profile: pay 30%, growth 25%, openings 30%, preparation level 15%. Missing values are not scored as zero; their weights are redistributed across available metrics. Occupation size has zero weight: employment is not accessible vacancies. Preparation categories do not measure admission difficulty or years without earnings. The score summarizes national measures; local opportunities and personal fit still need separate consideration.

Detailed evidence

Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists vs Millwrights

Dimension	Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists	Millwrights
Median pay (2025)	$61,770	$65,700
Pay percentile	50.8 percentile	57.5 percentile
Projected growth (2025–2035)	3.6%	0.9%
Annual openings (2025–2035)	24,400	3,200
2025 employment	316,000	40,700
How you qualify	High school diploma or equivalent; More than 12 months of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing	High school diploma or equivalent; Apprenticeship combines paid work and instruction; duration is not reported here. Check the full program and licensing requirements
O*NET preparation group	Job Zone 3	Job Zone 2
Related work experience	No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.	No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.
On-the-job training	More than 12 months of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing.	Apprenticeship combines paid work and instruction; duration is not reported here. Check the full program and licensing requirements.

The table reports national benchmarks and reviewed work descriptions. It does not rate personal suitability, job security, or physical safety.

Read Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists brief Read Millwrights brief

Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists vs Millwrights: what changes?

The facts most likely to affect your decision

Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists

Millwrights

How the national numbers differ

Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists has the edge on annual openings

Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists has the edge on projected growth

Typical preparation differs.

Millwrights has the edge on median pay

Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists vs Millwrights

Try another comparison

Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists vs Automotive Body and Related Repairers

Millwrights vs Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines