What does an equipment mechanic do?

An equipment mechanic specializes in inspecting and repairing mechanical systems, ensuring quality and efficiency. They typically respond to issues and concerns, identify client needs, conduct inspections, and perform corrective measures and repairs as needed. An equipment mechanic may also liaise with clients, explaining to them the extent of repairs and provide cost-estimates. Furthermore, it is essential to perform regular maintenance checks to ensure its efficiency and safety of operators, all while building positive relationships with customers to strengthen the client base.
Equipment mechanic responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real equipment mechanic resumes:
- Maintain and manage shop for parts, supplies and priority in jobs and cleanliness.
- Repair electrical equipment, hydraulic systems and mobile maintenance cranes.
- Complete all paperwork in conformance with state, federal, and OSHA guidelines.
- Work on various vehicles from bulldozers to container handlers to generators to to small trailers.
- Work with hoisting and jacking equipment, power tools, measuring instruments, gauges and meters.
- Possess highly technical expertise of hoisting and jacking equipment, power tools, instruments, gauges and meters.
- Enforce shop and OSHA safety policies and provide training schedules to keep maintenance personnel proficient in their individual skills.
- Tune and repair engines, replace and repair damaged body parts, hydraulic arms or shovels, and grader blades.
- Work as mechanic apprentice for company's equipment rental fleet, including excavators, loaders, bulldozers, and mobile crushers.
- Upgrade HVAC control system from pneumatic to a direct digital control system for better control and monitoring of the work environment.
- Perform troubleshooting, repair and rebuilding of various caterpillar equipment and engines ranging from engines to mining equipment and marine applications.
- Maintain and repair Volvo front-end loaders
- Replace and repair Detroit and caterpillar engines and relate parts for military equipment.
- Operate and maintain forklifts, generators MRAP, numerous military vehicles and tractor-trailer combinations.
- Perform all aspects of building maintenance including performing daily inspections of overhead cranes and freight elevator.
Equipment mechanic skills and personality traits
We calculated that 9% of Equipment Mechanics are proficient in Hand Tools, Preventive Maintenance, and CDL. They’re also known for soft skills such as Dexterity, Mechanical skills, and Organizational skills.
We break down the percentage of Equipment Mechanics that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Hand Tools, 9%
Constructed foundation for machines, using hand tools and building materials, such as wood, cement, and steel.
- Preventive Maintenance, 6%
Performed and managed scheduled preventive maintenance, minor and major repairs communicating closely with departments to limit equipment downtime.
- CDL, 6%
Obtained CDL for working and Driving DOT rated Equipment.
- Electrical Systems, 6%
Operated, maintained, repaired and tested automotive electrical systems for aircraft maintenance.
- Ladders, 5%
Carry springs to tops of doors, using ladders or scaffolding, and attach springs to tracks to install spring systems.
- Cranes, 4%
Performed all aspects of building maintenance including performing daily inspections of overhead cranes and freight elevator.
Common skills that an equipment mechanic uses to do their job include "hand tools," "preventive maintenance," and "cdl." You can find details on the most important equipment mechanic responsibilities below.
Dexterity. One of the key soft skills for an equipment mechanic to have is dexterity. You can see how this relates to what equipment mechanics do because "heavy vehicle and mobile equipment service technicians must perform many tasks, such as disassembling engine parts, connecting or attaching components, and using hand tools, with a steady hand and good hand-eye coordination." Additionally, an equipment mechanic resume shows how equipment mechanics use dexterity: "diagnose, maintain, and repair equipment, vehicles, & fleet of 50+ forklift trucks with both electric and i.c.e. "
Mechanical skills. Another soft skill that's essential for fulfilling equipment mechanic duties is mechanical skills. The role rewards competence in this skill because "heavy vehicle and mobile equipment service technicians must be familiar with engine components and systems and know how they interact with each other." According to an equipment mechanic resume, here's how equipment mechanics can utilize mechanical skills in their job responsibilities: "ensured operation of machinery and mechanical equipment by completing preventive maintenance requirements in an explosive environment. "
Organizational skills. equipment mechanics are also known for organizational skills, which are critical to their duties. You can see how this skill relates to equipment mechanic responsibilities, because "heavy vehicle and mobile equipment service technicians must maintain accurate service records and parts inventories." An equipment mechanic resume example shows how organizational skills is used in the workplace: "utilized the technical manuals 10,20 at organizational level. "
Physical strength. equipment mechanic responsibilities often require "physical strength." The duties that rely on this skill are shown by the fact that "heavy vehicle and mobile equipment service technicians must be able to lift and move heavy equipment, tools, and parts without risking injury." This resume example shows what equipment mechanics do with physical strength on a typical day: "required to maintain class a license and dot physical according to federal regulations. "
Troubleshooting skills. A commonly-found skill in equipment mechanic job descriptions, "troubleshooting skills" is essential to what equipment mechanics do. Equipment mechanic responsibilities rely on this skill because "heavy vehicle and mobile equipment service technicians must be familiar with diagnostic equipment to find the source of malfunctions." You can also see how equipment mechanic duties rely on troubleshooting skills in this resume example: "performed weekly preventive maintenance and electrical and hydraulic troubleshooting and repair. "
The three companies that hire the most equipment mechanics are:
- Altec76 equipment mechanics jobs
- Menzies Aviation11 equipment mechanics jobs
- Hawthorne Cat8 equipment mechanics jobs
Choose from 10+ customizable equipment mechanic resume templates
Build a professional equipment mechanic resume in minutes. Our AI resume writing assistant will guide you through every step of the process, and you can choose from 10+ resume templates to create your equipment mechanic resume.Compare different equipment mechanics
Equipment mechanic vs. Automotive service technician
Automotive service technicians, often called service technicians, have a duty to inspect, maintain, and repair cars and even light trucks. It is their job as automotive service technicians to find problems, often by computerized diagnostic equipment. They do test parts and systems to guarantee that they work properly and follow checklists to ensure that every critical part is examined. Performing basic care and maintenance is also part of their main tasks, including changing oil, rotating tires, and checking fluid levels.
There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, equipment mechanic responsibilities require skills like "preventive maintenance," "cdl," "electrical systems," and "ladders." Meanwhile a typical automotive service technician has skills in areas such as "dexterity," "manual dexterity," "customer satisfaction," and "ase." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.
Automotive service technicians tend to make the most money working in the health care industry, where they earn an average salary of $38,929. In contrast, equipment mechanics make the biggest average salary, $54,089, in the transportation industry.The education levels that automotive service technicians earn slightly differ from equipment mechanics. In particular, automotive service technicians are 0.4% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than an equipment mechanic. Additionally, they're 0.1% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Equipment mechanic vs. Mechanic helper
The job of a mechanic helper is to support lead mechanics and perform a variety of duties and responsibilities. You will be assisting in the maintenance of cars, such as changing tires and oils, replacing brakes, and diagnosing vehicle issues. In addition, you will be responsible for logging labor costs and inventory use and take vehicles for test drives. Other duties include replacing belts and hoses, assisting the lead mechanic in major projects, and repairing and maintaining cars.
In addition to the difference in salary, there are some other key differences worth noting. For example, equipment mechanic responsibilities are more likely to require skills like "cdl," "ladders," "cranes," and "equipment maintenance." Meanwhile, a mechanic helper has duties that require skills in areas such as "work ethic," "strong work ethic," "safety equipment," and "safety procedures." These differences highlight just how different the day-to-day in each role looks.
On average, mechanic helpers earn a lower salary than equipment mechanics. Some industries support higher salaries in each profession. Interestingly enough, mechanic helpers earn the most pay in the professional industry with an average salary of $36,229. Whereas equipment mechanics have higher pay in the transportation industry, with an average salary of $54,089.In general, mechanic helpers achieve similar levels of education than equipment mechanics. They're 1.2% less likely to obtain a Master's Degree while being 0.1% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Equipment mechanic vs. Industrial maintenance mechanic
An industrial maintenance mechanic is responsible for ensuring the efficiency and optimal performance of industrial equipment and machinery to support operations and prevent operational delays. Industrial maintenance mechanics perform regular maintenance for the equipment, inspecting the components for any malfunctions, and conduct immediate repairs as needed. They also write resolution reports for reference and recommend supplies and resources to avoid the reoccurrence of system problems and downtimes. An industrial maintenance mechanic must have excellent organizational and analytical skills to measure and calibrate instruments properly and identify inconsistencies.
The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, equipment mechanics are more likely to have skills like "cdl," "customer service," "diesel engines," and "ground support equipment." But a industrial maintenance mechanic is more likely to have skills like "production machines," "lockout tagout," "calipers," and "conveyor belts."
Industrial maintenance mechanics earn the highest salary when working in the construction industry, where they receive an average salary of $52,513. Comparatively, equipment mechanics have the highest earning potential in the transportation industry, with an average salary of $54,089.Most industrial maintenance mechanics achieve a similar degree level compared to equipment mechanics. For example, they're 0.2% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.2% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Equipment mechanic vs. Auto technician
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.
Even though a few skill sets overlap between equipment mechanics and auto technicians, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, an equipment mechanic might have more use for skills like "cdl," "electrical systems," "ladders," and "cranes." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of auto technicians require skills like "taking care," "customer vehicles," "work ethic," and "diagnosis. "
The retail industry tends to pay the highest salaries for auto technicians, with average annual pay of $38,823. Comparatively, the highest equipment mechanic annual salary comes from the transportation industry.In general, auto technicians hold similar degree levels compared to equipment mechanics. Auto technicians are 0.1% less likely to earn their Master's Degree and 0.0% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Types of equipment mechanic
Updated January 8, 2025











