Diesel engine mechanic vs senior mechanic

The differences between diesel engine mechanics and senior mechanics can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become a diesel engine mechanic, becoming a senior mechanic takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a senior mechanic has an average salary of $51,569, which is higher than the $49,463 average annual salary of a diesel engine mechanic.

The top three skills for a diesel engine mechanic include troubleshoot, hand tools and cranes. The most important skills for a senior mechanic are hand tools, preventive maintenance, and HVAC.

Diesel engine mechanic vs senior mechanic overview

	Diesel Engine Mechanic	Senior Mechanic
Yearly salary	$49,463	$51,569
Hourly rate	$23.78	$24.79
Growth rate	4%	5%
Number of jobs	87,152	85,706
Job satisfaction	4	-
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 38%	Associate Degree, 31%
Average age	42	49
Years of experience	2	4

Diesel engine mechanic vs senior mechanic salary

Diesel engine mechanics and senior mechanics have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Diesel Engine Mechanic	Senior Mechanic
Average salary	$49,463	$51,569
Salary range	Between $36,000 And $66,000	Between $37,000 And $70,000
Highest paying City	-	Roseville, CA
Highest paying state	-	Alaska
Best paying company	-	Orange County Sanitation District
Best paying industry	-	Energy

Differences between diesel engine mechanic and senior mechanic education

There are a few differences between a diesel engine mechanic and a senior mechanic in terms of educational background:

	Diesel Engine Mechanic	Senior Mechanic
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 38%	Associate Degree, 31%
Most common major	Automotive Technology	Automotive Technology
Most common college	-	SUNY College of Technology at Alfred

Diesel engine mechanic vs senior mechanic demographics

Here are the differences between diesel engine mechanics' and senior mechanics' demographics:

	Diesel Engine Mechanic	Senior Mechanic
Average age	42	49
Gender ratio	Male, 93.5% Female, 6.5%	Male, 96.0% Female, 4.0%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 8.2% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 18.6% Asian, 2.4% White, 64.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1%	Black or African American, 8.2% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 15.6% Asian, 2.1% White, 68.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2%
LGBT Percentage	2%	4%

Differences between diesel engine mechanic and senior mechanic duties and responsibilities

Diesel engine mechanic example 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.

Senior mechanic example responsibilities.

Create and manage preventive and predictive routes using Maximo CMMS database.
Perform technical inspections on vehicle armor, corrective maintenance, and services (PMCS )
Test coolant conditions, inspects wires and repair if damage, replace wire harness, troubleshoot faulty electrical components.
Support GMP manufacturing and team with QA.
Replace electrical switches, lights and outlets.
Use table top grinders and tools for assembly.

Diesel engine mechanic vs senior mechanic skills

Common diesel engine mechanic skills

Troubleshoot, 14%
Hand Tools, 14%
Cranes, 9%
Diagnosis, 7%
Safety Procedures, 6%
Safety Devices, 5%

Common senior mechanic skills

Hand Tools, 10%
Preventive Maintenance, 7%
HVAC, 6%
Plumbing, 5%
Diesel Engines, 5%
Shop Safety, 4%

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Diesel Engine Mechanic vs Senior Mechanic

Updated January 8, 2025

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