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The differences between diesel technicians and diesel 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 technician and a diesel mechanic. Additionally, a diesel mechanic has an average salary of $49,842, which is higher than the $46,868 average annual salary of a diesel technician.
The top three skills for a diesel technician include CDL, customer service and preventative maintenance. The most important skills for a diesel mechanic are CDL, preventative maintenance, and DOT.
| Diesel Technician | Diesel Mechanic | |
| Yearly salary | $46,868 | $49,842 |
| Hourly rate | $22.53 | $23.96 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 128,944 | 85,684 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 5 |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 38% | High School Diploma, 42% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| 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.
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.
Diesel technicians and diesel mechanics have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Diesel Technician | Diesel Mechanic | |
| Average salary | $46,868 | $49,842 |
| Salary range | Between $33,000 And $65,000 | Between $37,000 And $67,000 |
| Highest paying City | Los Angeles, CA | Richmond, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | Cummins | Hensel Phelps |
| Best paying industry | Utilities | Energy |
There are a few differences between a diesel technician and a diesel mechanic in terms of educational background:
| Diesel Technician | Diesel Mechanic | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 38% | High School Diploma, 42% |
| Most common major | Automotive Technology | Automotive Technology |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between diesel technicians' and diesel mechanics' demographics:
| Diesel Technician | Diesel Mechanic | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 96.4% Female, 3.6% | Male, 96.3% Female, 3.7% |
| 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, 8.1% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 18.2% Asian, 2.4% White, 65.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 2% | 2% |