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The differences between diesel mechanics and vehicle 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 vehicle mechanic. Additionally, a diesel mechanic has an average salary of $49,842, which is higher than the $42,628 average annual salary of a vehicle mechanic.
The top three skills for a diesel mechanic include CDL, preventative maintenance and DOT. The most important skills for a vehicle mechanic are hand tools, electrical systems, and diesel engines.
| Diesel Mechanic | Vehicle Mechanic | |
| Yearly salary | $49,842 | $42,628 |
| Hourly rate | $23.96 | $20.49 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 85,684 | 37,592 |
| Job satisfaction | 5 | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 42% | High School Diploma, 42% |
| 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 vehicle mechanic is responsible for the maintenance of the vehicle's engine, running diagnostic tests, and performing repairs for any inconsistencies to ensure the vehicle's reliability and efficiency upon use. Vehicle mechanics coordinate with clients with their specifications and special requests, such as installing upgraded components to improve the engine's optimal performance. They create an organized report of vehicle assessments, as well as forecasting expenses to discuss with the clients, especially on meeting their budget goals.
Diesel mechanics and vehicle mechanics have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Diesel Mechanic | Vehicle Mechanic | |
| Average salary | $49,842 | $42,628 |
| Salary range | Between $37,000 And $67,000 | Between $29,000 And $62,000 |
| Highest paying City | Richmond, CA | Adelanto, CA |
| Highest paying state | Hawaii | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Hensel Phelps | |
| Best paying industry | Energy | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between a diesel mechanic and a vehicle mechanic in terms of educational background:
| Diesel Mechanic | Vehicle Mechanic | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 42% | High School Diploma, 42% |
| Most common major | Automotive Technology | Automotive Technology |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between diesel mechanics' and vehicle mechanics' demographics:
| Diesel Mechanic | Vehicle Mechanic | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 96.3% Female, 3.7% | Male, 91.8% Female, 8.2% |
| 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, 8.2% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 18.0% Asian, 2.4% White, 65.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 2% | 2% |