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What is a diesel engine mechanic and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
3 min read
There is more than meets the eye when it comes to being a diesel engine mechanic. For example, did you know that they make an average of $23.78 an hour? That's $49,463 a year! Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow 4% and produce 12,600 job opportunities across the U.S.
ScoreDiesel Engine MechanicUS Average
Salary
3.9

Avg. Salary $49,463

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
6.3

Growth rate 4%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
10.0
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 1.06%

Asian 2.40%

Black or African American 8.24%

Hispanic or Latino 18.63%

Unknown 4.99%

White 64.67%

Gender

female 6.52%

male 93.48%

Age - 42
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 42
Stress level
6.3

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity level
5.8

Complexity level is intermediate

7 - challenging

Work life balance
6.3

Work life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

Diesel engine mechanic career paths

Key steps to become a diesel engine mechanic

  1. Explore diesel engine mechanic education requirements

    Most common diesel engine mechanic degrees

    High School Diploma

    38.1 %

    Associate

    22.2 %

    Bachelor's

    19.8 %
  2. Start to develop specific diesel engine mechanic skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Troubleshoot13.74%
    Hand Tools13.63%
    Cranes8.60%
    Diagnosis7.08%
    Safety Procedures5.59%
  3. Complete relevant diesel engine mechanic training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 1-2 years on post-employment, on-the-job training. New diesel engine mechanics learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a diesel engine mechanic based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real diesel engine mechanic resumes.
  4. Research diesel engine mechanic duties and responsibilities

    • Document repairs, modifications and inspections in accordance with FAA requirements on both paper and in an automate maintenance information database.
    • Perform complete overhauls on transmissions, steering units, repair or remove and replace in diesel trucks and marine environments.
  5. Prepare your diesel engine mechanic resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your diesel engine mechanic resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a diesel engine mechanic resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose from 10+ customizable diesel engine mechanic resume templates

    Build a professional diesel engine mechanic resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your diesel engine mechanic resume.
    Diesel Engine Mechanic Resume
    Diesel Engine Mechanic Resume
    Diesel Engine Mechanic Resume
    Diesel Engine Mechanic Resume
    Diesel Engine Mechanic Resume
    Diesel Engine Mechanic Resume
    Diesel Engine Mechanic Resume
    Diesel Engine Mechanic Resume
    Diesel Engine Mechanic Resume
  6. Apply for diesel engine mechanic jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a diesel engine mechanic job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How did you land your first diesel engine mechanic job

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Are you a diesel engine mechanic?

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Average diesel engine mechanic salary

The average diesel engine mechanic salary in the United States is $49,463 per year or $24 per hour. Diesel engine mechanic salaries range between $36,000 and $66,000 per year.

Average diesel engine mechanic salary
$49,463 Yearly
$23.78 hourly

What am I worth?

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How do diesel engine mechanics rate their job?

4/5

Out of 1 Diesel Engine Mechanic reviews, 100% were positive.

5 stars

4 stars

3 stars

2 stars

1 star

Based on 1 ratings

Work/life balance
3.0
Overall rating
4.0
Pay / salary
4.0
Career growth
3.0

Diesel engine mechanic reviews

profile
4.0
A zippia user wrote a review on Feb 2024
Pros

Hard work but good pay (105,000) last year

Cons

Dealing with management and unqualified coworkers


profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Jul 2022
Pros

Hands on /weld/electric/mech/plumbing……

Cons

People looking over me when they can’t do the jobs


profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Mar 2022
Pros

Satisfaction of fixing, repairing broken vehicles and challenge of finding problems and correcting them properly.

Cons

Electrical problems are my least favorite.


Working as a diesel engine mechanic? Share your experience anonymously.
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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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