Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between diesel technicians and light wheel 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 light wheel mechanic. Additionally, a diesel technician has an average salary of $46,868, which is higher than the $41,948 average annual salary of a light wheel mechanic.
The top three skills for a diesel technician include CDL, customer service and preventative maintenance. The most important skills for a light wheel mechanic are mechanical problems, electrical systems, and equipment systems.
| Diesel Technician | Light Wheel Mechanic | |
| Yearly salary | $46,868 | $41,948 |
| Hourly rate | $22.53 | $20.17 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 128,944 | 90,297 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 38% | High School Diploma, 41% |
| 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 light wheel mechanic is responsible for maintaining the optimal performance and efficiency of light-wheeled vehicles used for industrial operations, especially in a military setting. Light wheel mechanics inspect the condition of the vehicle's engine, perform preventive maintenance, replace defective components, assemble upgrade systems based on schematics and blueprints, and create resolution reports for reference. They must have excellent knowledge of the auto-mechanic industry to determine faults and identify repairs, avoiding delays, complications, and hazards during operations.
Diesel technicians and light wheel mechanics have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Diesel Technician | Light Wheel Mechanic | |
| Average salary | $46,868 | $41,948 |
| Salary range | Between $33,000 And $65,000 | Between $25,000 And $67,000 |
| Highest paying City | Los Angeles, CA | - |
| Highest paying state | California | - |
| Best paying company | Cummins | - |
| Best paying industry | Utilities | - |
There are a few differences between a diesel technician and a light wheel mechanic in terms of educational background:
| Diesel Technician | Light Wheel Mechanic | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 38% | High School Diploma, 41% |
| Most common major | Automotive Technology | Automotive Technology |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between diesel technicians' and light wheel mechanics' demographics:
| Diesel Technician | Light Wheel Mechanic | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 96.4% Female, 3.6% | Male, 87.4% Female, 12.6% |
| 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, 9.0% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 17.4% Asian, 2.5% White, 65.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 2% | 2% |