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The differences between diesel mechanics and heavy equipment 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 a heavy equipment mechanic takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a diesel mechanic has an average salary of $49,842, which is higher than the $49,018 average annual salary of a heavy equipment mechanic.
The top three skills for a diesel mechanic include CDL, preventative maintenance and DOT. The most important skills for a heavy equipment mechanic are CDL, hand tools, and loaders.
| Diesel Mechanic | Heavy Equipment Mechanic | |
| Yearly salary | $49,842 | $49,018 |
| Hourly rate | $23.96 | $23.57 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 8% |
| Number of jobs | 85,684 | 98,464 |
| Job satisfaction | 5 | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 42% | High School Diploma, 39% |
| Average age | 42 | 44 |
| 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.
A heavy equipment mechanic is responsible for operating the heavy machinery used in the production of various industries, inspecting inconsistencies, running diagnostic tests, and replacing defective components to ensure its operational safety and efficiency. Heavy equipment mechanics also upgrade engine systems to boost optimal performance, analyze damage costs, and repair equipment parts with the assistance of other mechanical staff. They work closely with the management, create maintenance reports, and suggesting resolutions to avoid delays in production and customer service.
Diesel mechanics and heavy equipment mechanics have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Diesel Mechanic | Heavy Equipment Mechanic | |
| Average salary | $49,842 | $49,018 |
| Salary range | Between $37,000 And $67,000 | Between $36,000 And $65,000 |
| Highest paying City | Richmond, CA | Oakland, CA |
| Highest paying state | Hawaii | Vermont |
| Best paying company | Hensel Phelps | BNSF Railway |
| Best paying industry | Energy | Transportation |
There are a few differences between a diesel mechanic and a heavy equipment mechanic in terms of educational background:
| Diesel Mechanic | Heavy Equipment Mechanic | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 42% | High School Diploma, 39% |
| Most common major | Automotive Technology | Automotive Technology |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between diesel mechanics' and heavy equipment mechanics' demographics:
| Diesel Mechanic | Heavy Equipment Mechanic | |
| Average age | 42 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 96.3% Female, 3.7% | Male, 96.6% Female, 3.4% |
| 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, 5.2% Unknown, 3.8% Hispanic or Latino, 16.3% Asian, 1.7% White, 72.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% |
| LGBT Percentage | 2% | 1% |