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The differences between heavy truck mechanics and diesel 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 truck mechanic and a diesel mechanic. Additionally, a diesel mechanic has an average salary of $49,842, which is higher than the $49,777 average annual salary of a heavy truck mechanic.
The top three skills for a heavy truck mechanic include CDL, diagnosis and OSHA. The most important skills for a diesel mechanic are CDL, preventative maintenance, and DOT.
| Heavy Truck Mechanic | Diesel Mechanic | |
| Yearly salary | $49,777 | $49,842 |
| Hourly rate | $23.93 | $23.96 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 83,972 | 85,684 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 5 |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 34% | High School Diploma, 42% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
Heavy truck mechanics repair and maintain trucks. They are responsible for the inspection, diagnosis, and repair of brake systems. They may work on include engines, transmissions, electrical components, or steering systems. Typically, they work for freight companies, truck manufacturers, local government agencies, or repair shops. To be a heavy truck mechanic, they must be physically strong and have the ability to be able to work in noisy environments.
A diesel mechanic is a skilled technician responsible for the checking, maintenance, and repair of diesel engines. Diesel mechanics duties also include regular inspections of vehicles upon customer's request to ensure the smooth performance of the machine, communicate on any system issue that might cause malfunctions, and provide any replacement to renovate a damaged part of the engine. A diesel mechanic must be highly-knowledgeable on everything related to diesel engines to provide the best, long-term solutions for the customers.
Heavy truck mechanics and diesel mechanics have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Heavy Truck Mechanic | Diesel Mechanic | |
| Average salary | $49,777 | $49,842 |
| Salary range | Between $37,000 And $66,000 | Between $37,000 And $67,000 |
| Highest paying City | Anaheim, CA | Richmond, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | Hunter Contracting | Hensel Phelps |
| Best paying industry | Automotive | Energy |
There are a few differences between a heavy truck mechanic and a diesel mechanic in terms of educational background:
| Heavy Truck Mechanic | Diesel Mechanic | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 34% | High School Diploma, 42% |
| Most common major | Automotive Technology | Automotive Technology |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between heavy truck mechanics' and diesel mechanics' demographics:
| Heavy Truck Mechanic | Diesel Mechanic | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 97.6% Female, 2.4% | Male, 96.3% Female, 3.7% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.1% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 12.8% Asian, 2.5% White, 69.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1% | Black or African American, 8.1% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 18.2% Asian, 2.4% White, 65.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 2% | 2% |