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Crane mechanic vs forklift technician

The differences between crane mechanics and forklift technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a crane mechanic and a forklift technician. Additionally, a crane mechanic has an average salary of $45,278, which is higher than the $43,589 average annual salary of a forklift technician.

The top three skills for a crane mechanic include cranes, certifications and hand tools. The most important skills for a forklift technician are troubleshoot, preventative maintenance, and safety procedures.

Crane mechanic vs forklift technician overview

Crane MechanicForklift Technician
Yearly salary$45,278$43,589
Hourly rate$21.77$20.96
Growth rate8%8%
Number of jobs34,847179,388
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 47%High School Diploma, 36%
Average age4444
Years of experience44

Crane mechanic vs forklift technician salary

Crane mechanics and forklift technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.

Crane MechanicForklift Technician
Average salary$45,278$43,589
Salary rangeBetween $29,000 And $70,000Between $31,000 And $60,000
Highest paying City--
Highest paying state--
Best paying company--
Best paying industry--

Differences between crane mechanic and forklift technician education

There are a few differences between a crane mechanic and a forklift technician in terms of educational background:

Crane MechanicForklift Technician
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 47%High School Diploma, 36%
Most common majorAutomotive TechnologyAutomotive Technology
Most common college--

Crane mechanic vs forklift technician demographics

Here are the differences between crane mechanics' and forklift technicians' demographics:

Crane MechanicForklift Technician
Average age4444
Gender ratioMale, 98.8% Female, 1.2%Male, 95.6% Female, 4.4%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 4.9% Unknown, 3.8% Hispanic or Latino, 17.0% Asian, 1.7% White, 71.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%Black or African American, 4.8% Unknown, 3.8% Hispanic or Latino, 16.6% Asian, 1.7% White, 72.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%
LGBT Percentage1%1%

Differences between crane mechanic and forklift technician duties and responsibilities

Crane mechanic example responsibilities.

  • Obtain license for booms, slab scissors, rough terrain forklifts, and warehouse forklifts.
  • Perform work in compliance with SHEA, ANSI, OSHA, and other applicable codes and regulations.
  • Interact with customers to ensure that annual/ quarterly inspections are complete on time in compliance with OSHA regulations.
  • Unschedule emergency repairs and breakdowns of cranes and relate equipment to facilitate minimal production delay.
  • Supervise mechanics in the diagnosis and repair of technical difficulties, installation and in mechanical failures of military equipment.
  • Conduct and solve several complicate troubleshooting problems involving a potential uncontrol dropped crane boom.
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Forklift technician example responsibilities.

  • Organize and preform OSHA inspections for overhead hoists.
  • Pick outbound orders using AS400 RF system using FIFO.
  • Load and unload trucks by hand with Forklift/double forks.
  • Employ wide variety of hand and power tools including hoists, drills, precision measuring instruments and electrical testing devices.
  • Perform on-site field maintenance, quarterly calibrations, and major repairs to heavy machinery such as cranes, man-lifts and forklifts.
  • Position lifting device under, over, or around load pallets and secure materials or products for transport to designate area.
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Crane mechanic vs forklift technician skills

Common crane mechanic skills
  • Cranes, 34%
  • Certifications, 13%
  • Hand Tools, 13%
  • Boom Truck, 8%
  • Routine Maintenance, 4%
  • OSHA, 3%
Common forklift technician skills
  • Troubleshoot, 70%
  • Preventative Maintenance, 3%
  • Safety Procedures, 3%
  • Hand Tools, 3%
  • General Repairs, 2%
  • OSHA, 2%

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