Diesel Mechanic Apprenticeship in Arkansas

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.

AR Median Salary
$51,300/yr
-15% vs. national
National Median
$60,640/yr
AR Employment
4,580
Diesel Mechanics employed
AR Sponsors
3
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 Arkansas: Quick Facts

What apprenticeship means here

A registered diesel mechanic apprenticeship in Arkansas 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.

Arkansas pay vs. national

Median diesel mechanic wages in Arkansas are $51,300/year, -15% below the national median of $60,640. Wages scale with experience — journey-level workers earn substantially more than apprentices.

Where to find programs

Arkansas has 3 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 — Arkansas-specific outlook can vary from national figures.

Arkansas Wage Spread

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

10th pct
$37,580
Median
$51,300
90th pct
$71,850
Middle 50% of workers earn $44,870$61,770

Current Diesel Mechanic Apprenticeship Openings in Arkansas

No diesel mechanic apprenticeship openings are currently listed on apprenticeship.gov for Arkansas. 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 Arkansas

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

Organization City County
Legacy Equipment - John Deere Paragould Greene County
USA Truck, Inc Van Buren Crawford County
The Trucking Alliance/FASTPORT West Fork Polk County
Search apprenticeship.gov for current Diesel Mechanic openings

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

Diesel Mechanic Apprenticeship in Arkansas

The 3 Diesel Mechanic-related registered sponsors in Arkansas mean apprenticeship programs exist but aren't abundant. Building relationships with local contractors and trade unions is often more effective than waiting for formal application windows.

Frequently Asked Questions

What do Diesel Mechanics earn in Arkansas?
The median annual wage for Diesel Mechanics in Arkansas is $51,300 as of May 2024. Wages range from $37,580 at the 10th percentile to $71,850 at the 90th percentile.
How long is a Diesel Mechanic apprenticeship?
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.
Should I do a Diesel Mechanic apprenticeship or go to trade school?
The key difference: apprenticeships pay you during training while trade schools charge tuition. Many employers prefer apprenticeship-trained Diesel Mechanics, but trade school can give you a head start on the classroom requirements.
Where can I apply for a Diesel Mechanic apprenticeship in Arkansas?
Our directory surfaces 3 Diesel Mechanic-related registered sponsors in Arkansas. Start with your local trade union hall, joint apprenticeship committee (JAC), or state apprenticeship agency. You can also search apprenticeship.gov by occupation and ZIP.
Do Diesel Mechanic apprentices get paid during training?
Apprentices are paid employees from the start. In Arkansas, a first-year Diesel Mechanic apprentice might earn around $25,650/yr (roughly half the $51,300 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 Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies programs in Arkansas →
Or see all 337 programs nationwide.

Diesel Mechanic in Other States

Other Apprenticeships in Arkansas

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