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The differences between auto mechanics and diesel mechanics can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both an auto mechanic and a diesel mechanic. Additionally, a diesel mechanic has an average salary of $49,842, which is higher than the $41,683 average annual salary of an auto mechanic.
The top three skills for an auto mechanic include customer vehicles, customer service and diagnosis. The most important skills for a diesel mechanic are CDL, preventative maintenance, and DOT.
| Auto Mechanic | Diesel Mechanic | |
| Yearly salary | $41,683 | $49,842 |
| Hourly rate | $20.04 | $23.96 |
| Growth rate | 1% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 95,553 | 85,684 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 5 |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 47% | High School Diploma, 42% |
| Average age | 40 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
An auto mechanic's role is to repair and maintain automotive vehicles, ensuring that they function efficiently and safely. They are primarily responsible for discussing issues with clients, inspecting vehicles to identify the root of problems, performing test drives, and conducting corrective measures. Sometimes this is done in collaboration with other mechanics to ensure accuracy and speed. They can also replace oil, brakes, and even other fluids. Moreover, an auto mechanic must inform the extent of repairs to clients, letting them know which parts need replacement or fixes.
A diesel mechanic is a skilled technician responsible for the checking, maintenance, and repair of diesel engines. Diesel mechanics duties also include regular inspections of vehicles upon customer's request to ensure the smooth performance of the machine, communicate on any system issue that might cause malfunctions, and provide any replacement to renovate a damaged part of the engine. A diesel mechanic must be highly-knowledgeable on everything related to diesel engines to provide the best, long-term solutions for the customers.
Auto mechanics and diesel mechanics have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Auto Mechanic | Diesel Mechanic | |
| Average salary | $41,683 | $49,842 |
| Salary range | Between $29,000 And $59,000 | Between $37,000 And $67,000 |
| Highest paying City | Boston, MA | Richmond, CA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | City of Detroit | Hensel Phelps |
| Best paying industry | Government | Energy |
There are a few differences between an auto mechanic and a diesel mechanic in terms of educational background:
| Auto Mechanic | Diesel Mechanic | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 47% | High School Diploma, 42% |
| Most common major | Automotive Technology | Automotive Technology |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between auto mechanics' and diesel mechanics' demographics:
| Auto Mechanic | Diesel Mechanic | |
| Average age | 40 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 96.4% Female, 3.6% | Male, 96.3% Female, 3.7% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.9% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 19.6% Asian, 5.0% White, 60.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% | Black or African American, 8.1% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 18.2% Asian, 2.4% White, 65.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 2% | 2% |