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The differences between automotive mechanics and industrial 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 an industrial mechanic. Additionally, an industrial mechanic has an average salary of $53,333, 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 an industrial mechanic are industrial maintenance, hand tools, and PLC.
| Automotive Mechanic | Industrial Mechanic | |
| Yearly salary | $42,864 | $53,333 |
| Hourly rate | $20.61 | $25.64 |
| Growth rate | 1% | 14% |
| Number of jobs | 95,703 | 158,560 |
| Job satisfaction | 5 | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 38% | Associate Degree, 35% |
| Average age | 40 | 48 |
| 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.
An industrial mechanic maintains and repairs equipment and any other industrial types of machinery in a factory. Industrial mechanics manage the operation of machinery like production machinery, packaging equipment, and conveying systems. They need to use protective equipment like safety glasses and hardhats as well as follow safety precautions during operations. It is their responsibility to make sure that all industrial machines function well through preventive maintenance service and troubleshooting.
Automotive mechanics and industrial mechanics have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Automotive Mechanic | Industrial Mechanic | |
| Average salary | $42,864 | $53,333 |
| Salary range | Between $30,000 And $59,000 | Between $39,000 And $72,000 |
| Highest paying City | Greeley, CO | Fremont, CA |
| Highest paying state | Colorado | West Virginia |
| Best paying company | Eversource Energy | California Resources |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Transportation |
There are a few differences between an automotive mechanic and an industrial mechanic in terms of educational background:
| Automotive Mechanic | Industrial Mechanic | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 38% | Associate Degree, 35% |
| Most common major | Automotive Technology | Industrial Technology |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between automotive mechanics' and industrial mechanics' demographics:
| Automotive Mechanic | Industrial Mechanic | |
| Average age | 40 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 96.4% Female, 3.6% | Male, 96.6% Female, 3.4% |
| 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, 7.7% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 18.0% Asian, 3.3% White, 65.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9% |
| LGBT Percentage | 2% | 2% |