Caterpillar mechanic vs mechanic driver

The differences between caterpillar mechanics and mechanic drivers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a caterpillar mechanic and a mechanic driver. Additionally, a mechanic driver has an average salary of $47,243, which is higher than the $44,577 average annual salary of a caterpillar mechanic.

The top three skills for a caterpillar mechanic include loaders, and . The most important skills for a mechanic driver are tractor trailer, CDL, and dump truck.

Caterpillar mechanic vs mechanic driver overview

	Caterpillar Mechanic	Mechanic Driver
Yearly salary	$44,577	$47,243
Hourly rate	$21.43	$22.71
Growth rate	4%	4%
Number of jobs	34,082	116,538
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 50%	High School Diploma, 45%
Average age	42	42
Years of experience	2	2

Caterpillar mechanic vs mechanic driver salary

Caterpillar mechanics and mechanic drivers have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Caterpillar Mechanic	Mechanic Driver
Average salary	$44,577	$47,243
Salary range	Between $27,000 And $72,000	Between $34,000 And $64,000
Highest paying City	-	-
Highest paying state	-	-
Best paying company	-	-
Best paying industry	-	-

Differences between caterpillar mechanic and mechanic driver education

There are a few differences between a caterpillar mechanic and a mechanic driver in terms of educational background:

	Caterpillar Mechanic	Mechanic Driver
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 50%	High School Diploma, 45%
Most common major	Mechanical Engineering Technology	Automotive Technology
Most common college	-	-

Caterpillar mechanic vs mechanic driver demographics

Here are the differences between caterpillar mechanics' and mechanic drivers' demographics:

	Caterpillar Mechanic	Mechanic Driver
Average age	42	42
Gender ratio	Male, 100.0% Female, 0.0%	Male, 96.9% Female, 3.1%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 5.5% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 13.8% Asian, 2.1% White, 72.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0%	Black or African American, 9.2% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 15.8% Asian, 2.5% White, 66.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1%
LGBT Percentage	2%	2%

Differences between caterpillar mechanic and mechanic driver duties and responsibilities

Caterpillar mechanic example responsibilities.

Wheel loaders : 992G , 992K , 966G , 966H.
Document repairs, modifications and inspections in accordance with FAA requirements on both paper and in an automate maintenance information database.
Lead floor operator as well as lead crane operator
Experience in replacement of small parts such as door hinges, mirrors, and serpentine belts on MRAP.

Mechanic driver example responsibilities.

Maintain and manage shop for parts, supplies and priority in jobs and cleanliness.
DOT inspections, replacing brakes, tires, king pins shackle pins.
Repair and replace damage or worn parts and troubleshoot problems.
Metal fabrication and MIG welding to restore serviceability of equipment.
Document repairs, modifications and inspections in accordance with FAA requirements on both paper and in an automate maintenance information database.
Document repairs, modifications and inspections in accordance with FAA requirements on both paper and in an automate maintenance information database.

Caterpillar mechanic vs mechanic driver skills

Common caterpillar mechanic skills

Loaders, 100%

Common mechanic driver skills

Tractor Trailer, 18%
CDL, 8%
Dump Truck, 8%
Preventative Maintenance, 8%
DOT, 7%
Safety Equipment, 7%

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Caterpillar Mechanic
Caterpillar Mechanic vs Mechanic Driver

Updated January 8, 2025

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