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The differences between diesel mechanics and fleet mechanics can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a diesel mechanic and a fleet mechanic. Additionally, a fleet mechanic has an average salary of $50,065, 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 a fleet mechanic are CDL, DOT, and diagnosis.
| Diesel Mechanic | Fleet Mechanic | |
| Yearly salary | $49,842 | $50,065 |
| Hourly rate | $23.96 | $24.07 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 85,684 | 90,785 |
| Job satisfaction | 5 | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 42% | Associate Degree, 35% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
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.
A fleet mechanic is responsible for inspecting and maintaining the safety and efficiency of vehicles for various industrial operations and services. Fleet mechanics conduct regular maintenance of the engines, repairing its malfunctioning components, and upgrading its system for optimal performance. They oversee the overall management of fleet operations, keeping an organized record of resolutions for reference to avoid reoccurrence of defects. A fleet mechanic coordinates with the fleet supervisor for necessary replacements of vehicles to avoid delays in operations and prevent potential hazards on the road.
Diesel mechanics and fleet mechanics have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Diesel Mechanic | Fleet Mechanic | |
| Average salary | $49,842 | $50,065 |
| Salary range | Between $37,000 And $67,000 | Between $37,000 And $66,000 |
| Highest paying City | Richmond, CA | Sacramento, CA |
| Highest paying state | Hawaii | California |
| Best paying company | Hensel Phelps | OGE Energy |
| Best paying industry | Energy | Construction |
There are a few differences between a diesel mechanic and a fleet mechanic in terms of educational background:
| Diesel Mechanic | Fleet Mechanic | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 42% | Associate Degree, 35% |
| Most common major | Automotive Technology | Automotive Technology |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between diesel mechanics' and fleet mechanics' demographics:
| Diesel Mechanic | Fleet Mechanic | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 96.3% Female, 3.7% | Male, 97.9% Female, 2.1% |
| 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, 8.7% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 18.1% Asian, 2.4% White, 64.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 2% | 2% |