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Field mechanic vs field service technician

The differences between field mechanics and field 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 field mechanic, becoming a field service technician takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, a field service technician has an average salary of $54,339, which is higher than the $46,395 average annual salary of a field mechanic.

The top three skills for a field mechanic include CDL, construction equipment and cranes. The most important skills for a field service technician are customer service, preventative maintenance, and customer satisfaction.

Field mechanic vs field service technician overview

Field MechanicField Service Technician
Yearly salary$46,395$54,339
Hourly rate$22.31$26.12
Growth rate4%8%
Number of jobs135,482167,298
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 36%Associate Degree, 40%
Average age4244
Years of experience212

What does a field mechanic do?

The primary job of a field mechanic is to manage on-site installation, maintenance, test, and repair tasks. Field mechanics diagnose technical problems or errors and identify the appropriate solutions. They deliver heavy equipment, facility maintenance, and load and unload equipment. They work on transmissions, electrical systems, hydraulics, engines, and welding repairs. Their duties involve service truck maintenance to keep service truck inventory. Also, they maintain enough materials and supplies on a service truck for common repairs.

What does a field service technician do?

Field service technicians are skilled professionals who manage the technical needs of their clients outside the company's physical office space. They are usually on the field to visit their clients and check up on clients' equipment. Field service technicians are dispatched to provide technical support. They oversee installations, repairs, or maintenance activities. They ensure that all the work needed is done well. They also conduct diagnostic activities and troubleshooting. Field service technicians also supervise any updating or changes needed to be done in their clients' offices. They are expected to have good analytical skills, communication skills, and highly technical skills.

Field mechanic vs field service technician salary

Field mechanics and field service technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.

Field MechanicField Service Technician
Average salary$46,395$54,339
Salary rangeBetween $33,000 And $63,000Between $35,000 And $82,000
Highest paying City-San Francisco, CA
Highest paying state-California
Best paying company-Google
Best paying industry-Finance

Differences between field mechanic and field service technician education

There are a few differences between a field mechanic and a field service technician in terms of educational background:

Field MechanicField Service Technician
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 36%Associate Degree, 40%
Most common majorAutomotive TechnologyElectrical Engineering
Most common college--

Field mechanic vs field service technician demographics

Here are the differences between field mechanics' and field service technicians' demographics:

Field MechanicField Service Technician
Average age4244
Gender ratioMale, 97.3% Female, 2.7%Male, 92.3% Female, 7.7%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 7.8% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 19.4% Asian, 2.4% White, 64.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1%Black or African American, 4.8% Unknown, 3.8% Hispanic or Latino, 16.8% Asian, 1.7% White, 72.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%
LGBT Percentage2%1%

Differences between field mechanic and field service technician duties and responsibilities

Field mechanic example responsibilities.

  • Have visited various locations and have accomplished field preventive maintenance on compressors.
  • Dismantle and re-assemble equipment, using hoists and handtools.
  • Supervise mechanics in the diagnosis and repair of technical difficulties, installation and in mechanical failures of military equipment.
  • Construct and assemble sub- assemblies and assemble components including shafts, pulley, bearings, gearboxes and conveyor components.
  • Repair and maintain the tar kettles and up keep of all compressors, and push behind blowers.
  • Perform all levels of repair and maintenance for school buses, vans, pickups, trailers, mowers and snow blowers.
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Field service technician example responsibilities.

  • Manage onsite supporting contractors to achieve customers end result to satisfaction.
  • Lead initiatives to decrease manufacturing downtime and increase QA process inspection.
  • Manage a team of 12 field engineers and 130 MRI systems in NYC.
  • Collaborate to achieve a Citrix solution for the IADC shop floor and implement the current server farm.
  • Manage and administer network security, LAN, WLAN, desktops, servers, applications, and databases.
  • Manage and service access control technology to include Honeywell's StarII and TEMA, and PCSC MicroLPM and IQ series controllers.
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Field mechanic vs field service technician skills

Common field mechanic skills
  • CDL, 13%
  • Construction Equipment, 10%
  • Cranes, 7%
  • Hydraulic Systems, 6%
  • Hand Tools, 5%
  • Asphalt, 4%
Common field service technician skills
  • Customer Service, 19%
  • Preventative Maintenance, 8%
  • Customer Satisfaction, 6%
  • Technical Support, 5%
  • Hand Tools, 4%
  • Test Equipment, 3%

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