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The differences between diesel technicians and service technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become a diesel technician, becoming a service technician takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, a diesel technician has an average salary of $46,868, which is higher than the $40,379 average annual salary of a service technician.
The top three skills for a diesel technician include CDL, customer service and preventative maintenance. The most important skills for a service technician are plumbing, customer service, and preventative maintenance.
| Diesel Technician | Service Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $46,868 | $40,379 |
| Hourly rate | $22.53 | $19.41 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 8% |
| Number of jobs | 128,944 | 254,533 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 38% | Associate Degree, 29% |
| Average age | 42 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 12 |
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.
Service technicians are assigned in the field to address the concerns of their clients. Service technicians are responsible for the installation, maintenance, or repair of different units or items related to their company's products or services. They should be familiar with their company's products so that they can properly install, maintain, or repair them. They conduct diagnostics and analysis to assess the condition of the unit they are servicing and properly address problems. They also do routine maintenance check-ups. Service technicians are expected to be trustworthy, have good analytical skills, and have good decision-making skills.
Diesel technicians and service technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Diesel Technician | Service Technician | |
| Average salary | $46,868 | $40,379 |
| Salary range | Between $33,000 And $65,000 | Between $28,000 And $57,000 |
| Highest paying City | Los Angeles, CA | Richmond, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | Cummins | IBM |
| Best paying industry | Utilities | Technology |
There are a few differences between a diesel technician and a service technician in terms of educational background:
| Diesel Technician | Service Technician | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 38% | Associate Degree, 29% |
| Most common major | Automotive Technology | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between diesel technicians' and service technicians' demographics:
| Diesel Technician | Service Technician | |
| Average age | 42 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 96.4% Female, 3.6% | Male, 89.2% Female, 10.8% |
| 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, 5.1% Unknown, 3.8% Hispanic or Latino, 15.8% Asian, 1.7% White, 72.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% |
| LGBT Percentage | 2% | 1% |