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The differences between diesel technicians and lube 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 a lube technician. Additionally, a diesel technician has an average salary of $46,868, which is higher than the $29,959 average annual salary of a lube technician.
The top three skills for a diesel technician include CDL, customer service and preventative maintenance. The most important skills for a lube technician are work ethic, customer service, and hand tools.
| Diesel Technician | Lube Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $46,868 | $29,959 |
| Hourly rate | $22.53 | $14.40 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 1% |
| Number of jobs | 128,944 | 131,008 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4.5 |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 38% | High School Diploma, 53% |
| 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.
A Lube Technician specializes in automotive repairs and maintenance, focusing on lubricating particular engine parts. However, Lube Technicians can also conduct necessary inspection and maintenance of vehicles, change oil or filter, replace parts such as engines and batteries, and perform tire changes or inflation. A Lube Technician usually works as a member of a team or company, so it is essential to have efficient communication, coordination, attention to detail, and build rapport with clients to establish a client-base.
Diesel technicians and lube technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Diesel Technician | Lube Technician | |
| Average salary | $46,868 | $29,959 |
| Salary range | Between $33,000 And $65,000 | Between $23,000 And $37,000 |
| Highest paying City | Los Angeles, CA | Denver, CO |
| Highest paying state | California | Washington |
| Best paying company | Cummins | Martin Marietta |
| Best paying industry | Utilities | Retail |
There are a few differences between a diesel technician and a lube technician in terms of educational background:
| Diesel Technician | Lube Technician | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 38% | High School Diploma, 53% |
| Most common major | Automotive Technology | Automotive Technology |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between diesel technicians' and lube technicians' demographics:
| Diesel Technician | Lube Technician | |
| Average age | 42 | 40 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 96.4% Female, 3.6% | Male, 93.7% Female, 6.3% |
| 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, 9.3% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 20.4% Asian, 5.4% White, 59.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 2% | 2% |