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The differences between diesel mechanics and plumbers 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 plumber takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a plumber has an average salary of $55,337, 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 plumber are plumbing, hand tools, and plumbers.
| Diesel Mechanic | Plumber | |
| Yearly salary | $49,842 | $55,337 |
| Hourly rate | $23.96 | $26.60 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 85,684 | 12,307 |
| Job satisfaction | 5 | 4.4 |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 42% | High School Diploma, 53% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| 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.
Plumbers specialize in assembling, detecting issues, maintaining, and repairing pipes and systems that can either involve water or gas distribution in a home or establishment, ensuring that they function efficiently. Additionally, Plumbers can also install various materials such as kitchen or bathroom sinks, toilets, appliances, and more. Among the tasks may revolve around training other plumbers or coordinating with other workers involved on a project, clearing obstructions and handling waste disposal, informing clients about the costs and process of repairs, and building rapport with them.
Diesel mechanics and plumbers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Diesel Mechanic | Plumber | |
| Average salary | $49,842 | $55,337 |
| Salary range | Between $37,000 And $67,000 | Between $36,000 And $84,000 |
| Highest paying City | Richmond, CA | Seattle, WA |
| Highest paying state | Hawaii | Oregon |
| Best paying company | Hensel Phelps | Kern Community College District |
| Best paying industry | Energy | Finance |
There are a few differences between a diesel mechanic and a plumber in terms of educational background:
| Diesel Mechanic | Plumber | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 42% | High School Diploma, 53% |
| Most common major | Automotive Technology | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between diesel mechanics' and plumbers' demographics:
| Diesel Mechanic | Plumber | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 96.3% Female, 3.7% | Male, 96.5% Female, 3.5% |
| 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, 9.5% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 20.2% Asian, 1.9% White, 63.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 2% | 2% |