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The differences between diesel mechanics and trailer 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 trailer mechanic. Additionally, a diesel mechanic has an average salary of $49,842, which is higher than the $42,569 average annual salary of a trailer mechanic.
The top three skills for a diesel mechanic include CDL, preventative maintenance and DOT. The most important skills for a trailer mechanic are CDL, hand tools, and work ethic.
| Diesel Mechanic | Trailer Mechanic | |
| Yearly salary | $49,842 | $42,569 |
| Hourly rate | $23.96 | $20.47 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 85,684 | 86,057 |
| Job satisfaction | 5 | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 42% | High School Diploma, 52% |
| 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 trailer mechanic specializes in providing repair services on large vehicles such as trailers, semi-trucks, and tractors. Their responsibilities revolve around liaising with clients to identify their needs, inspecting machinery and electrical systems, diagnosing issues, conducting fixes and replacements, and explaining the extent of damage or repairs to clients. There are also instances where they must devise testing strategies, ensuring compliance with the government's policies. Furthermore, a trailer mechanic must maintain regular maintenance checks on vehicles to ensure the safety of operators and the efficiency of workflow.
Diesel mechanics and trailer mechanics have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Diesel Mechanic | Trailer Mechanic | |
| Average salary | $49,842 | $42,569 |
| Salary range | Between $37,000 And $67,000 | Between $32,000 And $55,000 |
| Highest paying City | Richmond, CA | Billerica, MA |
| Highest paying state | Hawaii | Massachusetts |
| Best paying company | Hensel Phelps | Dayton Freight |
| Best paying industry | Energy | Transportation |
There are a few differences between a diesel mechanic and a trailer mechanic in terms of educational background:
| Diesel Mechanic | Trailer Mechanic | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 42% | High School Diploma, 52% |
| Most common major | Automotive Technology | Automotive Technology |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between diesel mechanics' and trailer mechanics' demographics:
| Diesel Mechanic | Trailer Mechanic | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 96.3% Female, 3.7% | Male, 98.0% Female, 2.0% |
| 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, 9.0% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 17.3% Asian, 2.5% White, 65.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 2% | 2% |