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The differences between heavy duty mechanics and field 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 heavy duty mechanic and a field mechanic. Additionally, a heavy duty mechanic has an average salary of $49,563, which is higher than the $46,395 average annual salary of a field mechanic.
The top three skills for a heavy duty mechanic include CDL, hand tools and preventive maintenance. The most important skills for a field mechanic are CDL, construction equipment, and cranes.
| Heavy Duty Mechanic | Field Mechanic | |
| Yearly salary | $49,563 | $46,395 |
| Hourly rate | $23.83 | $22.31 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 51,609 | 135,482 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 39% | High School Diploma, 36% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
Heavy-duty mechanics are skilled employees who are responsible for providing repairs and maintenance of mobile heavy-duty construction equipment. These mechanics must perform inspections on equipment such as bulldozers, cranes, and other heavy construction equipment to detect faults and malfunctions to ensure proper performance. They must test the repaired equipment to ensure that the repair works meet the specifications of the manufacturers. Heavy-duty mechanics must also provide a safe working environment and take special precautions to protect themselves against work-related injuries.
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.
Heavy duty mechanics and field mechanics have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Heavy Duty Mechanic | Field Mechanic | |
| Average salary | $49,563 | $46,395 |
| Salary range | Between $36,000 And $66,000 | Between $33,000 And $63,000 |
| Highest paying City | Seattle, WA | - |
| Highest paying state | Washington | - |
| Best paying company | Granite Construction | - |
| Best paying industry | Construction | - |
There are a few differences between a heavy duty mechanic and a field mechanic in terms of educational background:
| Heavy Duty Mechanic | Field Mechanic | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 39% | High School Diploma, 36% |
| Most common major | Automotive Technology | Automotive Technology |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between heavy duty mechanics' and field mechanics' demographics:
| Heavy Duty Mechanic | Field Mechanic | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 95.8% Female, 4.2% | Male, 97.3% Female, 2.7% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 7.7% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 19.2% Asian, 2.4% White, 64.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1% | Black 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% |
| LGBT Percentage | 2% | 2% |