Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between heavy equipment mechanics and light wheel mechanics 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 a light wheel mechanic takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a heavy equipment mechanic has an average salary of $49,018, which is higher than the $41,948 average annual salary of a light wheel mechanic.
The top three skills for a heavy equipment mechanic include CDL, hand tools and loaders. The most important skills for a light wheel mechanic are mechanical problems, electrical systems, and equipment systems.
| Heavy Equipment Mechanic | Light Wheel Mechanic | |
| Yearly salary | $49,018 | $41,948 |
| Hourly rate | $23.57 | $20.17 |
| Growth rate | 8% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 98,464 | 90,297 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 39% | High School Diploma, 41% |
| Average age | 44 | 42 |
| 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.
A light wheel mechanic is responsible for maintaining the optimal performance and efficiency of light-wheeled vehicles used for industrial operations, especially in a military setting. Light wheel mechanics inspect the condition of the vehicle's engine, perform preventive maintenance, replace defective components, assemble upgrade systems based on schematics and blueprints, and create resolution reports for reference. They must have excellent knowledge of the auto-mechanic industry to determine faults and identify repairs, avoiding delays, complications, and hazards during operations.
Heavy equipment mechanics and light wheel mechanics have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Heavy Equipment Mechanic | Light Wheel Mechanic | |
| Average salary | $49,018 | $41,948 |
| Salary range | Between $36,000 And $65,000 | Between $25,000 And $67,000 |
| Highest paying City | Oakland, CA | - |
| Highest paying state | Vermont | - |
| Best paying company | BNSF Railway | - |
| Best paying industry | Transportation | - |
There are a few differences between a heavy equipment mechanic and a light wheel mechanic in terms of educational background:
| Heavy Equipment Mechanic | Light Wheel Mechanic | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 39% | High School Diploma, 41% |
| Most common major | Automotive Technology | Automotive Technology |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between heavy equipment mechanics' and light wheel mechanics' demographics:
| Heavy Equipment Mechanic | Light Wheel Mechanic | |
| Average age | 44 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 96.6% Female, 3.4% | Male, 87.4% Female, 12.6% |
| 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, 9.0% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 17.4% Asian, 2.5% White, 65.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 1% | 2% |