Diesel Mechanic Apprenticeship in Virginia

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.

VA Median Salary
$58,530/yr
-3% vs. national
National Median
$60,640/yr
VA Employment
7,870
Diesel Mechanics employed
VA Sponsors
4
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 Virginia: Quick Facts

What apprenticeship means here

A registered diesel mechanic apprenticeship in Virginia 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.

Virginia pay vs. national

Median diesel mechanic wages in Virginia are $58,530/year, -3% below the national median of $60,640. Wages scale with experience — journey-level workers earn substantially more than apprentices.

Where to find programs

Virginia has 4 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 — Virginia-specific outlook can vary from national figures.

Virginia Wage Spread

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

10th pct
$41,170
Median
$58,530
90th pct
$78,930
Middle 50% of workers earn $48,220$64,910

Current Diesel Mechanic Apprenticeship Openings in Virginia

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

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

Organization City County
American Trucking Associations, Inc. (ATA)/FASTPORT Arlington Alexandria City
Wicked Diesel Bedford Bedford County
Volvo Group Trucks Operations Dublin Pulaski County
HII Fleet Support Group LLC Virginia Beach Virginia Beach City
Search apprenticeship.gov for current Diesel Mechanic openings

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

Diesel Mechanic Apprenticeship in Virginia

With 4 trade-specific sponsors in our directory, Virginia's Diesel Mechanic apprenticeship landscape is limited. Candidates should also consider nearby states or contact national union offices for referrals.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average Diesel Mechanic salary in Virginia?
The BLS reports a median wage of $58,530/yr for Diesel Mechanics in Virginia (May 2024 data). Experience, union membership, and specialization all affect where you fall in the range.
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.
What's the difference between a Diesel Mechanic apprenticeship and 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 Virginia?
Contact one of the 4 Diesel Mechanic-adjacent registered sponsors in Virginia (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 Virginia, a first-year Diesel Mechanic apprentice might earn around $29,265/yr (roughly half the $58,530 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 Virginia →
Or see all 337 programs nationwide.

Diesel Mechanic in Other States

Other Apprenticeships in Virginia

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