Diesel Mechanic Apprenticeship in Michigan

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.

MI Median Salary
$59,270/yr
-2% vs. national
National Median
$60,640/yr
MI Employment
8,330
Diesel Mechanics employed
MI Sponsors
1
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 Michigan: Quick Facts

What apprenticeship means here

A registered diesel mechanic apprenticeship in Michigan 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.

Michigan pay vs. national

Median diesel mechanic wages in Michigan are $59,270/year, -2% below the national median of $60,640. Wages scale with experience — journey-level workers earn substantially more than apprentices.

Where to find programs

Michigan has 1 registered apprenticeship sponsor 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 — Michigan-specific outlook can vary from national figures.

Michigan Wage Spread

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

10th pct
$42,540
Median
$59,270
90th pct
$77,970
Middle 50% of workers earn $49,100$64,280

Current Diesel Mechanic Apprenticeship Openings in Michigan

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

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

Organization City County
Detroit Diesel Detroit Wayne County
Search apprenticeship.gov for current Diesel Mechanic openings

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

Diesel Mechanic Apprenticeship in Michigan

The 1 Diesel Mechanic-related registered sponsor in Michigan 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

How much do Diesel Mechanics make in Michigan?
Diesel Mechanics in Michigan earn a median salary of $59,270/yr according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2024). This is below the national median of $60,640 for the trade.
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.
How do I find a Diesel Mechanic apprenticeship in Michigan?
Contact one of the 1 Diesel Mechanic-adjacent registered sponsor in Michigan (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 Michigan, a first-year Diesel Mechanic apprentice might earn around $29,635/yr (roughly half the $59,270 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 Michigan →
Or see all 337 programs nationwide.

Diesel Mechanic in Other States

Other Apprenticeships in Michigan

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