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The differences between diesel technicians and auto 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 technician and an auto technician. Additionally, a diesel technician has an average salary of $46,868, which is higher than the $41,435 average annual salary of an auto technician.
The top three skills for a diesel technician include CDL, customer service and preventative maintenance. The most important skills for an auto technician are taking care, preventive maintenance, and customer vehicles.
| Diesel Technician | Auto Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $46,868 | $41,435 |
| Hourly rate | $22.53 | $19.92 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 1% |
| Number of jobs | 128,944 | 131,515 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 2 |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 38% | High School Diploma, 38% |
| Average age | 42 | 40 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
Diesel technicians specialize in repairing and handling the maintenance of vehicles powered by diesel. They are primarily responsible for inspecting cars, conducting tests, and identifying its problems to determine what course of action to take. Aside from repairing engines, diesel technicians may also fix other systems such as brakes, steering, and even lighting. It is essential to discuss the extent of repairs to clients and make them understand the costs involved. Furthermore, it is vital to maintain an accurate record of data at all times.
An auto technician specializes in performing inspections, repairs, and maintenance on different automotive vehicles ranging from small cars to light trucks. Their responsibilities revolve around identifying issues using various diagnostic tools to determine which course of action to take, discussing the extent of repairs to clients, and ordering car parts from suppliers. There are also instances when an auto technician may have the task of maintaining the cleanliness of the workplace, or participate in record-keeping and monitoring the inventory.
Diesel technicians and auto technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Diesel Technician | Auto Technician | |
| Average salary | $46,868 | $41,435 |
| Salary range | Between $33,000 And $65,000 | Between $28,000 And $59,000 |
| Highest paying City | Los Angeles, CA | Sterling, VA |
| Highest paying state | California | Washington |
| Best paying company | Cummins | Deloitte |
| Best paying industry | Utilities | Retail |
There are a few differences between a diesel technician and an auto technician in terms of educational background:
| Diesel Technician | Auto Technician | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 38% | High School Diploma, 38% |
| Most common major | Automotive Technology | Automotive Technology |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between diesel technicians' and auto technicians' demographics:
| Diesel Technician | Auto Technician | |
| Average age | 42 | 40 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 96.4% Female, 3.6% | Male, 95.1% Female, 4.9% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 8.0% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 19.5% Asian, 2.4% White, 64.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1% | Black or African American, 9.7% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 19.5% Asian, 5.0% White, 60.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 2% | 2% |