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The differences between automotive mechanics and light wheel 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 light wheel mechanic. Additionally, an automotive mechanic has an average salary of $42,864, which is higher than the $41,948 average annual salary of a light wheel mechanic.
The top three skills for an automotive mechanic include customer service, work ethic and hand tools. The most important skills for a light wheel mechanic are mechanical problems, electrical systems, and equipment systems.
| Automotive Mechanic | Light Wheel Mechanic | |
| Yearly salary | $42,864 | $41,948 |
| Hourly rate | $20.61 | $20.17 |
| Growth rate | 1% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 95,703 | 90,297 |
| Job satisfaction | 5 | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 38% | High School Diploma, 41% |
| 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 light wheel mechanic is responsible for maintaining the optimal performance and efficiency of light-wheeled vehicles used for industrial operations, especially in a military setting. Light wheel mechanics inspect the condition of the vehicle's engine, perform preventive maintenance, replace defective components, assemble upgrade systems based on schematics and blueprints, and create resolution reports for reference. They must have excellent knowledge of the auto-mechanic industry to determine faults and identify repairs, avoiding delays, complications, and hazards during operations.
Automotive mechanics and light wheel mechanics have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Automotive Mechanic | Light Wheel Mechanic | |
| Average salary | $42,864 | $41,948 |
| Salary range | Between $30,000 And $59,000 | Between $25,000 And $67,000 |
| Highest paying City | Greeley, CO | - |
| Highest paying state | Colorado | - |
| Best paying company | Eversource Energy | - |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | - |
There are a few differences between an automotive mechanic and a light wheel mechanic in terms of educational background:
| Automotive Mechanic | Light Wheel Mechanic | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 38% | High School Diploma, 41% |
| Most common major | Automotive Technology | Automotive Technology |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between automotive mechanics' and light wheel mechanics' demographics:
| Automotive Mechanic | Light Wheel Mechanic | |
| Average age | 40 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 96.4% Female, 3.6% | Male, 87.4% Female, 12.6% |
| 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, 9.0% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 17.4% Asian, 2.5% White, 65.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 2% | 2% |