Diesel Mechanic Apprenticeship in Alabama

Wages, programs & career outlook

Diesel mechanics service the engines that power commercial trucks, buses, construction equipment, and farm machinery. The work ranges from routine fleet maintenance to diagnosing electronic engine faults on rigs that can't sit idle long.

AL Median Salary
$49,060/yr
-19% vs. national
National Median
$60,640/yr
AL Employment
5,650
Diesel Mechanics employed
AL Sponsors
9
Registered programs
Training Term
4.0 yrs
Time-Based
Job Growth
2.4%
2024–2034 projected
Annual Openings
26,500
Nationally, per yr

Diesel Mechanic Apprenticeship in Alabama: Quick Facts

What apprenticeship means here

A registered diesel mechanic apprenticeship in Alabama combines paid on-the-job training with classroom instruction. Programs typically run 4.0 years and follow a time-based structure. You earn wages from day one — apprentices are employees, not students.

Alabama pay vs. national

Median diesel mechanic wages in Alabama are $49,060/year, -19% below the national median of $60,640. Wages scale with experience — journey-level workers earn substantially more than apprentices.

Where to find programs

Alabama has 9 registered apprenticeship sponsors for diesel mechanic listed in the U.S. Department of Labor's apprenticeship.gov directory. The sponsor list further down includes joint labor-management programs (JATCs), individual employers, and contractor associations.

Job-market outlook

The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 2.4% job growth for diesel mechanics nationally between 2024 and 2034, with approximately 26,500 annual openings each year (replacement plus growth combined). Apprenticeship demand tends to track local construction and infrastructure spending — Alabama-specific outlook can vary from national figures.

Alabama Wage Spread

Annual wages for Diesel Mechanics in Alabama across all experience levels.

10th pct
$37,030
Median
$49,060
90th pct
$76,150
Middle 50% of workers earn $45,060$59,700

Current Diesel Mechanic Apprenticeship Openings in Alabama

No diesel mechanic apprenticeship openings are currently listed on apprenticeship.gov for Alabama. The sponsors listed below accept applications on a rolling basis — contact them directly. Consider setting up an alert on apprenticeship.gov to be notified when new listings are posted.

Listings aggregated from apprenticeship.gov (US Dept. of Labor). Data refreshed daily.

Diesel Mechanic Apprenticeship Sponsors in Alabama

9 diesel mechanic-related registered sponsors identified in the DOL ApprenticeshipUSA directory for Alabama. Directory lists sponsor names only — contact each organization directly to confirm current diesel mechanic apprenticeship openings.

Organization City County
AMX (Alabama Motor Express, Inc.) Ashford Houston County
TriGreen Equipment Athens Limestone County
BOYD BROTHERS TRANSPORTATION CO.-FASTPORT Birmingham
Fitzgerald Peterbilt of Birmingham Birmingham Jefferson County
Southland International Trucks, INC. Southland Transportation Group Birmingham Jefferson County
McElroy Truck Lines Cuba Sumter County
Four Star Freightliner Dothan Houston County
Four Star Freightliner Montgomery
RE Garrison Trucking, Inc. Vinemont Cullman County
Search apprenticeship.gov for current Diesel Mechanic openings

Filter by occupation code 49-3031 and state AL for the most relevant results.

Diesel Mechanic Apprenticeship in Alabama

Alabama has only 9 Diesel Mechanic-adjacent registered sponsors in our directory — program slots may be competitive and early applications give the best shot at placement. Direct outreach to union halls in the state's largest cities often matters more than formal application windows.

Frequently Asked Questions

What do Diesel Mechanics earn in Alabama?
The median annual wage for Diesel Mechanics in Alabama is $49,060 as of May 2024. Wages range from $37,030 at the 10th percentile to $76,150 at the 90th percentile.
What is the length of a Diesel Mechanic apprenticeship program?
A typical Diesel Mechanic apprenticeship lasts approximately 4 years (8,000 hours of on-the-job training). The program combines paid work experience with related classroom instruction.
What's the difference between a Diesel Mechanic apprenticeship and trade school?
Apprenticeships offer paid training with no tuition, while trade school requires upfront costs but may be shorter. Many Diesel Mechanics combine both — starting with trade school basics before entering an apprenticeship.
Where can I apply for a Diesel Mechanic apprenticeship in Alabama?
Contact one of the 9 Diesel Mechanic-adjacent registered sponsors in Alabama (listed below), or search apprenticeship.gov for current openings. Local union halls, community colleges, and the state apprenticeship agency are good first stops.
How much do Diesel Mechanic apprentices earn?
Apprentices are paid employees from the start. In Alabama, a first-year Diesel Mechanic apprentice might earn around $24,530/yr (roughly half the $49,060 journeyman median), with scheduled raises throughout the 4-year program.

Prefer Trade School Instead?

Apprenticeships pay from day one, but the classroom-first path may fit better for some. Diesel Mechanics also train through trade school programs — shorter timeline, more upfront cost.

Compare 337 Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies programs nationwide →
Too few Alabama-based programs to compare locally — see the national list and filter.

Diesel Mechanic in Other States

Other Apprenticeships in Alabama

Data: Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS May 2024, DOL RAPIDS Registered Apprenticeship database, ApprenticeshipUSA Sponsor Directory.