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The differences between diesel mechanics and aircraft 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 mechanic, becoming an aircraft mechanic takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, an aircraft mechanic has an average salary of $60,496, which is higher than the $49,842 average annual salary of a diesel mechanic.
The top three skills for a diesel mechanic include CDL, preventative maintenance and DOT. The most important skills for an aircraft mechanic are hand tools, airframe, and FAA.
| Diesel Mechanic | Aircraft Mechanic | |
| Yearly salary | $49,842 | $60,496 |
| Hourly rate | $23.96 | $29.08 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 85,684 | 35,667 |
| Job satisfaction | 5 | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 42% | Associate Degree, 38% |
| Average age | 42 | 40 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 4 |
A diesel mechanic is a skilled technician responsible for the checking, maintenance, and repair of diesel engines. Diesel mechanics duties also include regular inspections of vehicles upon customer's request to ensure the smooth performance of the machine, communicate on any system issue that might cause malfunctions, and provide any replacement to renovate a damaged part of the engine. A diesel mechanic must be highly-knowledgeable on everything related to diesel engines to provide the best, long-term solutions for the customers.
An aircraft mechanic is responsible for regularly checking and maintaining aircraft systems to ensure its safety and stability during operations. Aircraft mechanics should have extensive knowledge of troubleshooting and detecting system malfunctions. They are also required to adhere strictly with the standard protocols and regulations of the company, guaranteeing smooth procedures and efficient solutions. Aircraft mechanics must possess excellent decision-making and critical-thinking skills to perform diagnosis and inspection under minimal supervision. An aircraft mechanic should be able to utilize aviation tools and equipment, document resources, and report findings for safety concerns.
Diesel mechanics and aircraft mechanics have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Diesel Mechanic | Aircraft Mechanic | |
| Average salary | $49,842 | $60,496 |
| Salary range | Between $37,000 And $67,000 | Between $41,000 And $87,000 |
| Highest paying City | Richmond, CA | Newport News, VA |
| Highest paying state | Hawaii | Maryland |
| Best paying company | Hensel Phelps | AECOM |
| Best paying industry | Energy | Government |
There are a few differences between a diesel mechanic and an aircraft mechanic in terms of educational background:
| Diesel Mechanic | Aircraft Mechanic | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 42% | Associate Degree, 38% |
| Most common major | Automotive Technology | Aviation |
| Most common college | - | Purdue University |
Here are the differences between diesel mechanics' and aircraft mechanics' demographics:
| Diesel Mechanic | Aircraft Mechanic | |
| Average age | 42 | 40 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 96.3% Female, 3.7% | Male, 93.1% Female, 6.9% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 8.1% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 18.2% Asian, 2.4% White, 65.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1% | Black or African American, 9.7% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 23.3% Asian, 6.6% White, 54.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% |
| LGBT Percentage | 2% | 2% |