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The differences between diesel mechanics and technicians 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 technician. Additionally, a diesel mechanic has an average salary of $49,842, which is higher than the $38,045 average annual salary of a technician.
The top three skills for a diesel mechanic include CDL, preventative maintenance and DOT. The most important skills for a technician are patients, customer service, and patient care.
| Diesel Mechanic | Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $49,842 | $38,045 |
| Hourly rate | $23.96 | $18.29 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 1% |
| Number of jobs | 85,684 | 596,842 |
| Job satisfaction | 5 | 2 |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 42% | Bachelor's Degree, 32% |
| Average age | 42 | 40 |
| 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.
Technicians are skilled professionals who primarily work with technology in different industries. They are knowledgeable about the technical aspects of the various items they work with. They are usually working with electricity or with technological advancements. Technicians may be assigned to do the construction of equipment or materials related to their field of study. They may also be assigned to conduct diagnostics and other maintenance activities to ensure that the equipment works properly. Technicians may also be required to conduct basic repairs in case of problems. It is important that technicians have good analytical skills and decision-making skills.
Diesel mechanics and technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Diesel Mechanic | Technician | |
| Average salary | $49,842 | $38,045 |
| Salary range | Between $37,000 And $67,000 | Between $24,000 And $58,000 |
| Highest paying City | Richmond, CA | San Jose, CA |
| Highest paying state | Hawaii | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | Hensel Phelps | Microsoft |
| Best paying industry | Energy | Telecommunication |
There are a few differences between a diesel mechanic and a technician in terms of educational background:
| Diesel Mechanic | Technician | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 42% | Bachelor's Degree, 32% |
| Most common major | Automotive Technology | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between diesel mechanics' and technicians' demographics:
| Diesel Mechanic | Technician | |
| Average age | 42 | 40 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 96.3% Female, 3.7% | Male, 75.2% Female, 24.8% |
| 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, 9.4% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 19.4% Asian, 4.9% White, 61.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 2% | 2% |