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The differences between automotive 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 automotive mechanic and a diesel mechanic. Additionally, a diesel mechanic has an average salary of $49,842, which is higher than the $42,864 average annual salary of an automotive mechanic.
The top three skills for an automotive mechanic include customer service, work ethic and hand tools. The most important skills for a diesel mechanic are CDL, preventative maintenance, and DOT.
| Automotive Mechanic | Diesel Mechanic | |
| Yearly salary | $42,864 | $49,842 |
| Hourly rate | $20.61 | $23.96 |
| Growth rate | 1% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 95,703 | 85,684 |
| Job satisfaction | 5 | 5 |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 38% | High School Diploma, 42% |
| Average age | 40 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
An automotive mechanic is responsible for inspecting the vehicle's engine, identifying defects and inconsistencies, and repairing malfunctioning components through diagnostic tests. Automotive mechanics diagnose problems and inform the customers of troubleshooting procedures and provide cost estimates for maintenance. They may also offer additional services to boost the engine's optimal performance and efficiency, at the same time, to generate more revenues for the business. An automotive mechanic must have excellent knowledge of the automotive industry, especially in responding to the inquiries and concerns of the customers regarding their vehicles and schedule regular repairs as necessary.
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.
Automotive mechanics and diesel mechanics have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Automotive Mechanic | Diesel Mechanic | |
| Average salary | $42,864 | $49,842 |
| Salary range | Between $30,000 And $59,000 | Between $37,000 And $67,000 |
| Highest paying City | Greeley, CO | Richmond, CA |
| Highest paying state | Colorado | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | Eversource Energy | Hensel Phelps |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Energy |
There are a few differences between an automotive mechanic and a diesel mechanic in terms of educational background:
| Automotive Mechanic | Diesel Mechanic | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 38% | High School Diploma, 42% |
| Most common major | Automotive Technology | Automotive Technology |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between automotive mechanics' and diesel mechanics' demographics:
| Automotive 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, 9.7% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 20.1% Asian, 5.0% White, 60.2% 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% |