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The differences between heavy equipment mechanics and trailer 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 trailer mechanic takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a heavy equipment mechanic has an average salary of $49,018, which is higher than the $42,569 average annual salary of a trailer mechanic.
The top three skills for a heavy equipment mechanic include CDL, hand tools and loaders. The most important skills for a trailer mechanic are CDL, hand tools, and work ethic.
| Heavy Equipment Mechanic | Trailer Mechanic | |
| Yearly salary | $49,018 | $42,569 |
| Hourly rate | $23.57 | $20.47 |
| Growth rate | 8% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 98,464 | 86,057 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 39% | High School Diploma, 52% |
| 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 trailer mechanic specializes in providing repair services on large vehicles such as trailers, semi-trucks, and tractors. Their responsibilities revolve around liaising with clients to identify their needs, inspecting machinery and electrical systems, diagnosing issues, conducting fixes and replacements, and explaining the extent of damage or repairs to clients. There are also instances where they must devise testing strategies, ensuring compliance with the government's policies. Furthermore, a trailer mechanic must maintain regular maintenance checks on vehicles to ensure the safety of operators and the efficiency of workflow.
Heavy equipment mechanics and trailer mechanics have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Heavy Equipment Mechanic | Trailer Mechanic | |
| Average salary | $49,018 | $42,569 |
| Salary range | Between $36,000 And $65,000 | Between $32,000 And $55,000 |
| Highest paying City | Oakland, CA | Billerica, MA |
| Highest paying state | Vermont | Massachusetts |
| Best paying company | BNSF Railway | Dayton Freight |
| Best paying industry | Transportation | Transportation |
There are a few differences between a heavy equipment mechanic and a trailer mechanic in terms of educational background:
| Heavy Equipment Mechanic | Trailer Mechanic | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 39% | High School Diploma, 52% |
| Most common major | Automotive Technology | Automotive Technology |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between heavy equipment mechanics' and trailer mechanics' demographics:
| Heavy Equipment Mechanic | Trailer Mechanic | |
| Average age | 44 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 96.6% Female, 3.4% | Male, 98.0% Female, 2.0% |
| 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, 17.3% Asian, 2.5% White, 65.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 1% | 2% |