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The differences between heavy equipment mechanics and auto technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a heavy equipment mechanic, becoming an auto technician takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a heavy equipment mechanic has an average salary of $49,018, which is higher than the $41,435 average annual salary of an auto technician.
The top three skills for a heavy equipment mechanic include CDL, hand tools and loaders. The most important skills for an auto technician are taking care, preventive maintenance, and customer vehicles.
| Heavy Equipment Mechanic | Auto Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $49,018 | $41,435 |
| Hourly rate | $23.57 | $19.92 |
| Growth rate | 8% | 1% |
| Number of jobs | 98,464 | 131,515 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 2 |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 39% | High School Diploma, 38% |
| Average age | 44 | 40 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 2 |
A heavy equipment mechanic is responsible for operating the heavy machinery used in the production of various industries, inspecting inconsistencies, running diagnostic tests, and replacing defective components to ensure its operational safety and efficiency. Heavy equipment mechanics also upgrade engine systems to boost optimal performance, analyze damage costs, and repair equipment parts with the assistance of other mechanical staff. They work closely with the management, create maintenance reports, and suggesting resolutions to avoid delays in production and customer service.
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.
Heavy equipment mechanics and auto technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Heavy Equipment Mechanic | Auto Technician | |
| Average salary | $49,018 | $41,435 |
| Salary range | Between $36,000 And $65,000 | Between $28,000 And $59,000 |
| Highest paying City | Oakland, CA | Sterling, VA |
| Highest paying state | Vermont | Washington |
| Best paying company | BNSF Railway | Deloitte |
| Best paying industry | Transportation | Retail |
There are a few differences between a heavy equipment mechanic and an auto technician in terms of educational background:
| Heavy Equipment Mechanic | Auto Technician | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 39% | High School Diploma, 38% |
| Most common major | Automotive Technology | Automotive Technology |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between heavy equipment mechanics' and auto technicians' demographics:
| Heavy Equipment Mechanic | Auto Technician | |
| Average age | 44 | 40 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 96.6% Female, 3.4% | Male, 95.1% Female, 4.9% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 5.2% Unknown, 3.8% Hispanic or Latino, 16.3% Asian, 1.7% White, 72.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% | Black or African American, 9.7% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 19.5% Asian, 5.0% White, 60.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 1% | 2% |