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The differences between caterpillar mechanics and shop technicians 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 shop technician. Additionally, a caterpillar mechanic has an average salary of $44,577, which is higher than the $36,798 average annual salary of a shop technician.
The top three skills for a caterpillar mechanic include loaders, and . The most important skills for a shop technician are preventative maintenance, routine maintenance, and diagnosis.
| Caterpillar Mechanic | Shop Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $44,577 | $36,798 |
| Hourly rate | $21.43 | $17.69 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 34,082 | 150,349 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 50% | High School Diploma, 30% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
Caterpillar mechanics and shop technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Caterpillar Mechanic | Shop Technician | |
| Average salary | $44,577 | $36,798 |
| Salary range | Between $27,000 And $72,000 | Between $25,000 And $53,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | San Leandro, CA |
| Highest paying state | - | Alaska |
| Best paying company | - | Los Alamos National Laboratory |
| Best paying industry | - | Energy |
There are a few differences between a caterpillar mechanic and a shop technician in terms of educational background:
| Caterpillar Mechanic | Shop Technician | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 50% | High School Diploma, 30% |
| Most common major | Mechanical Engineering Technology | Automotive Technology |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between caterpillar mechanics' and shop technicians' demographics:
| Caterpillar Mechanic | Shop Technician | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 100.0% Female, 0.0% | Male, 91.9% Female, 8.1% |
| 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, 8.0% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 18.2% Asian, 2.4% White, 65.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 2% | 2% |