So you like to get down and dirty, huh? We're talking strictly about anything with a diesel engine, so get your mind out of the gutter! A diesel mechanic is trained specifically to inspect, repair and overhaul any diesel-run vehicle.
The job can be noisy as some of the machines you'll be working with will be loud. Mostly you'll just be working full-time, but don't be surprised if you end up working overtime or a night shift. If you don't mind getting a little grease on your hands, then you'll fit right in. Of course, after you're certified or have attended a training program.
There is more than meets the eye when it comes to being a diesel mechanic. For example, did you know that they make an average of $21.13 an hour? That's $43,943 a year!
Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow 5% and produce 13,800 job opportunities across the U.S.
There are certain skills that many diesel mechanics have in order to accomplish their responsibilities. By taking a look through resumes, we were able to narrow down the most common skills for a person in this position. We discovered that a lot of resumes listed customer-service skills, detail oriented and dexterity.
When it comes to the most important skills required to be a diesel mechanic, we found that a lot of resumes listed 20.8% of diesel mechanics included cdl, while 12.2% of resumes included preventive maintenance, and 11.8% of resumes included dot. Hard skills like these are helpful to have when it comes to performing essential job responsibilities.
When it comes to searching for a job, many search for a key term or phrase. Instead, it might be more helpful to search by industry, as you might be missing jobs that you never thought about in industries that you didn't even think offered positions related to the diesel mechanic job title. But what industry to start with? Most diesel mechanics actually find jobs in the transportation and retail industries.
If you're interested in becoming a diesel mechanic, one of the first things to consider is how much education you need. We've determined that 6.4% of diesel mechanics have a bachelor's degree. In terms of higher education levels, we found that 0.8% of diesel mechanics have master's degrees. Even though some diesel mechanics have a college degree, it's possible to become one with only a high school degree or GED.
Choosing the right major is always an important step when researching how to become a diesel mechanic. When we researched the most common majors for a diesel mechanic, we found that they most commonly earn high school diploma degrees or associate degree degrees. Other degrees that we often see on diesel mechanic resumes include diploma degrees or bachelor's degree degrees.
You may find that experience in other jobs will help you become a diesel mechanic. In fact, many diesel mechanic jobs require experience in a role such as mechanic. Meanwhile, many diesel mechanics also have previous career experience in roles such as diesel technician or technician.