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Diesel mechanic schools in California
California has 19 accredited campuses awarding diesel tech credentials. If you finish and work as a diesel technician in California, expect to start around $47,180–$60,110 and reach a median of $73,950 with experience; the top quarter earn $84,740 or more (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025, California). Graduates of these California programs — every graduate, whatever job they took — earned a median of $36,731 in their first year, against $37,506 nationally; that is the figure used to rank campuses below.
What bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists earn in California
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025; 20,940 employed in California. National median: $61,770.
Campuses in California, ranked by what their graduates earned
Cities: AlamedaBarstowFresnoGlendoraImperialLivermoreLong BeachLos AngelesOrovilleRancho CucamongaReddingSacramentoSan DiegoSan MarcosSanta AnaSanta RosaStocktonVentura
| Campus | City | Type | Grads / yr | Earnings, yr 1 | Program debt | Completion | Cost / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Diego Miramar College | San Diego | Public community college | 8 | $39,009 | not reported | 49% | not reported |
| Universal Technical Institute of California Inc | Rancho Cucamonga | for-profit career college | 125 | $36,955 | $13,132 | 72% | $31,689 |
| Universal Technical Institute-Southern California | Long Beach | for-profit career college | 102 | $36,955 | $13,132 | 63% | $33,041 |
| Los Angeles Trade Technical College | Los Angeles | Public technical college | 27 | $36,508 | not reported | 35% | not reported |
| Universal Technical Institute of Northern California Inc | Sacramento | for-profit career college | 142 | $33,646 | $13,448 | 65% | $34,337 |
| Citrus College | Glendora | Public community college | 35 | not reported | not reported | 41% | not reported |
| American River College | Sacramento | Public community college | 29 | not reported | not reported | 37% | not reported |
| Ventura College | Ventura | Public community college | 28 | not reported | not reported | 39% | not reported |
| Santa Ana College | Santa Ana | Public college | 14 | not reported | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Palomar College | San Marcos | Public community college | 10 | not reported | not reported | 38% | not reported |
| Santa Rosa Junior College | Santa Rosa | Public community college | 10 | not reported | not reported | 37% | not reported |
| San Joaquin Delta College | Stockton | Public community college | 9 | not reported | not reported | 35% | not reported |
| Barstow Community College | Barstow | Public community college | 8 | not reported | not reported | 39% | not reported |
| Butte College | Oroville | Public community college | 6 | not reported | not reported | 45% | not reported |
| Shasta College | Redding | Public college | 6 | not reported | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Imperial Valley College | Imperial | Public community college | 5 | not reported | not reported | 45% | not reported |
| College of Alameda | Alameda | Public community college | 2 | not reported | not reported | 33% | not reported |
| Las Positas College | Livermore | Public community college | 2 | not reported | not reported | 53% | not reported |
| Fresno City College | Fresno | Public community college | 1 | not reported | not reported | not reported | not reported |
Earnings are median wages and self-employment income reported to the IRS (W-2 and Schedule SE) for graduates who received federal aid and were working and not enrolled, measured in the calendar year after finishing. They are pay only: health insurance, retirement contributions and other benefits are not included.
Ranked by median earnings of this program's graduates one year after completion (College Scorecard field-of-study, Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) 2022-23 Completions survey; College Scorecard June 2026; Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs (DAPIP), September 2026); campuses without a reported figure follow, by credentials awarded. "Program debt" is the median federal loan debt for graduates of this program at this campus. Completion is the campus-wide 150%-of-time rate. "Not reported" means the federal file suppresses the value for privacy.