Post job

What does a journeyman/mechanic do?

Updated January 8, 2025
8 min read

A journeyman mechanic is responsible for diagnosing problems on a vehicle's onboard computer system through a variety of methods, including visual and test-driving vehicles. They oversee environmental guidelines, including legal guidelines for workplace safety, hazardous material disposal guidelines, and other regulatory issues. A journeyman mechanic also supervises the work of apprentices, interacts with clients, and maintains their skill through training.

On this page

Journeyman/mechanic responsibilities

Here are examples of responsibilities from real journeyman/mechanic resumes:

  • Maintain and manage shop for parts, supplies and priority in jobs and cleanliness.
  • Used mig, arc, stick, welding.
  • Head of International-TSC OSHA safety.
  • Build and repair ladders, catwalks, and stairways.
  • maintain safety meetings and all PPE safty equipment per osha standerds and company policies.
  • Respond to dispatch calls for various departments including, plumbing, electric, and carpentry.
  • Design, install, and maintain plant piping systems and structures, plumbing and fixtures.
  • Train in service of residential, commercial, and industrial HVAC as well as commercial refrigeration.
  • Perform extensive repairs to car hauler frames and structures using cutting torches and MIG welding equipment.
  • Install emt and rigid electrical conduit
  • Document repairs, modifications and inspections in accordance with FAA requirements on both paper and in an automate maintenance information database.
  • Document repairs, modifications and inspections in accordance with FAA requirements on both paper and in an automate maintenance information database.

Journeyman/mechanic skills and personality traits

We calculated that 9% of Journeyman/Mechanics are proficient in HVAC, Mechanical Troubleshooting, and Preventative Maintenance. They’re also known for soft skills such as Customer-service skills, Detail oriented, and Dexterity.

We break down the percentage of Journeyman/Mechanics that have these skills listed on their resume here:

  • HVAC, 9%

    Diagnose, repair, little install, service, clean, and maintain HVAC equipment all over Tinker AFB

  • Mechanical Troubleshooting, 8%

    Performed mechanical troubleshooting, repair, maintenance, direct involvement with vender sales representatives for purchasing and management of received goods.

  • Preventative Maintenance, 8%

    Experience in supervising fleet personnel by delegating work orders and identifying preventative maintenance to 2nd shift personnel.

  • Hand Tools, 8%

    Fitted, wrapped and attached insulating materials to structures of surfaces, using hand tools and wires, following blueprint specifications.

  • Mechanical Equipment, 7%

    Repaired and maintained Hydroelectric units, as well as, all types of mechanical equipment.

  • Plumbing, 6%

    Perform hotel trouble calls during shift hours such as AC repairs, plumbing, electrical, carpentry & locksmith.

"hvac," "mechanical troubleshooting," and "preventative maintenance" are among the most common skills that journeyman/mechanics use at work. You can find even more journeyman/mechanic responsibilities below, including:

Customer-service skills. The most essential soft skill for a journeyman/mechanic to carry out their responsibilities is customer-service skills. This skill is important for the role because "diesel technicians frequently discuss automotive problems and necessary repairs with their customers." Additionally, a journeyman/mechanic resume shows how their duties depend on customer-service skills: "air brakes, hydraulic brakes, abs, antennas, anything else a customer requests. "

Detail oriented. Many journeyman/mechanic duties rely on detail oriented. "diesel technicians must be aware of small details when inspecting or repairing engines and components, because mechanical and electronic malfunctions are often due to misalignments and other easy-to-miss causes.," so a journeyman/mechanic will need this skill often in their role. This resume example is just one of many ways journeyman/mechanic responsibilities rely on detail oriented: "performed preventative maintenance on trailers mig welding stick welding performed custom fabrication of components created detailed drawings of custom components"

Dexterity. This is an important skill for journeyman/mechanics to perform their duties. For an example of how journeyman/mechanic responsibilities depend on this skill, consider that "mechanics need a steady hand and good hand–eye coordination for many tasks, such as disassembling engine parts, connecting or attaching components, and using hand tools." This excerpt from a resume also shows how vital it is to everyday roles and responsibilities of a journeyman/mechanic: "operate and company certified on 80 ton crane, miscellaneous fork lifts. ".

Mechanical skills. For certain journeyman/mechanic responsibilities to be completed, the job requires competence in "mechanical skills." The day-to-day duties of a journeyman/mechanic rely on this skill, as "diesel technicians must be familiar with engine components and systems and know how they interact with each other." For example, this snippet was taken directly from a resume about how this skill applies to what journeyman/mechanics do: "insure proper mechanical operation of pot line and support equipment including ecl/pnh cranes with multiple functions. "

Organizational skills. Another crucial skill for a journeyman/mechanic to carry out their responsibilities is "organizational skills." A big part of what journeyman/mechanics relies on this skill, since "diesel technicians must keep workspaces clean and organized in order to maintain safety and accountability for parts." How this skill relates to journeyman/mechanic duties can be seen in an example from a journeyman/mechanic resume snippet: "utilized the technical manuals 10,20 at organizational level. "

Physical strength. While "physical strength" is last on this skills list, don't underestimate its importance to journeyman/mechanic responsibilities. Much of what a journeyman/mechanic does relies on this skill, seeing as "diesel technicians often lift heavy parts and tools, such as exhaust system components and pneumatic wrenches." Here is a resume example of how this skill is used in the everyday duties of journeyman/mechanics: "passed the osha regulations exam as well as physical fitness exam"

See the full list of journeyman/mechanic skills

Choose from 10+ customizable journeyman/mechanic resume templates

Build a professional journeyman/mechanic resume in minutes. Our AI resume writing assistant will guide you through every step of the process, and you can choose from 10+ resume templates to create your journeyman/mechanic resume.
Journeyman/Mechanic Resume
Journeyman/Mechanic Resume
Journeyman/Mechanic Resume
Journeyman/Mechanic Resume
Journeyman/Mechanic Resume
Journeyman/Mechanic Resume
Journeyman/Mechanic Resume
Journeyman/Mechanic Resume
Journeyman/Mechanic Resume
Journeyman/Mechanic Resume
Journeyman/Mechanic Resume
Journeyman/Mechanic Resume
Journeyman/Mechanic Resume
Journeyman/Mechanic Resume
Journeyman/Mechanic Resume
Journeyman/Mechanic Resume

Compare different journeyman/mechanics

Journeyman/mechanic vs. Diesel technician

Diesel technicians specialize in repairing and handling the maintenance of vehicles powered by diesel. They are primarily responsible for inspecting cars, conducting tests, and identifying its problems to determine what course of action to take. Aside from repairing engines, diesel technicians may also fix other systems such as brakes, steering, and even lighting. It is essential to discuss the extent of repairs to clients and make them understand the costs involved. Furthermore, it is vital to maintain an accurate record of data at all times.

We looked at the average journeyman/mechanic salary and compared it with the wages of a diesel technician. Generally speaking, diesel technicians are paid $5,574 lower than journeyman/mechanics per year.While the two careers have a salary gap, they share some of the same responsibilities. Employees in both journeyman/mechanic and diesel technician positions are skilled in hvac, preventative maintenance, and hand tools.

There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, journeyman/mechanic responsibilities require skills like "mechanical troubleshooting," "mechanical equipment," "plumbing," and "ladders." Meanwhile a typical diesel technician has skills in areas such as "customer service," "diagnosis," "dot," and "defective equipment." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.

Diesel technicians earn the highest salaries when working in the utilities industry, with an average yearly salary of $49,875. On the other hand, journeyman/mechanics are paid more in the utilities industry with an average salary of $64,298.The education levels that diesel technicians earn slightly differ from journeyman/mechanics. In particular, diesel technicians are 0.5% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than a journeyman/mechanic. Additionally, they're 0.1% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Journeyman/mechanic vs. Mechanic's assistant

A mechanics assistant job involves assisting mechanics in operating, repairing, and refurbishing vehicles. Primarily, mechanics assistants work on the installation, repair, and replacement of an automobile's mechanical parts. They need to be knowledgeable of the processes and composition of automobiles. Also, they execute the opening and closing tasks in stores. The skillset for this position includes a strong work ethic, diagnostic skills, problem-solving, prior experience, customer service skills, and resourcefulness.

On average, mechanic's assistants earn a $10,909 lower salary than journeyman/mechanics a year.While the salary may differ for these jobs, they share a few skills needed to perform their duties. Based on resume data, both journeyman/mechanics and mechanic's assistants have skills such as "hvac," "mechanical troubleshooting," and "preventative maintenance. "

In addition to the difference in salary, there are some other key differences worth noting. For example, journeyman/mechanic responsibilities are more likely to require skills like "plumbing," "ladders," "cdl," and "safety regulations." Meanwhile, a mechanic's assistant has duties that require skills in areas such as "safety equipment," "maintenance services," "vehicle maintenance," and "tune ups." These differences highlight just how different the day-to-day in each role looks.

Mechanic's assistants earn a lower average salary than journeyman/mechanics. But mechanic's assistants earn the highest pay in the energy industry, with an average salary of $53,930. Additionally, journeyman/mechanics earn the highest salaries in the utilities with average pay of $64,298 annually.mechanic's assistants earn similar levels of education than journeyman/mechanics in general. They're 0.7% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.1% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Journeyman/mechanic vs. Shop technician

Shop Technicians are skilled workers assigned to a retail store. Their main activities depend on the nature of the business their company is in. Usually, Shop Technicians work with machines in the shop. They conduct repair and maintenance work for machines that have long been in the shop. They are also in charge of installing and building new machines as well. Shop Technicians are assigned to manage records of such machines or s other mechanical items in the store. This is part of the administrative activities they may do for the shop.

An average shop technician eans a lower salary compared to the average salary of journeyman/mechanics. The difference in salaries amounts to shop technicians earning a $15,644 lower average salary than journeyman/mechanics.By looking over several journeyman/mechanics and shop technicians resumes, we found that both roles require similar skills in their day-to-day duties, such as "hvac," "preventative maintenance," and "hand tools." But beyond that, the careers look very different.

Some important key differences between the two careers include a few of the skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of each. Some examples from journeyman/mechanic resumes include skills like "mechanical troubleshooting," "mechanical equipment," "plumbing," and "ladders," whereas a shop technician is more likely to list skills in "diagnosis," "customer service," "dot," and "equipment maintenance. "

Shop technicians earn the highest salary when working in the energy industry, where they receive an average salary of $45,857. Comparatively, journeyman/mechanics have the highest earning potential in the utilities industry, with an average salary of $64,298.Most shop technicians achieve a similar degree level compared to journeyman/mechanics. For example, they're 1.4% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.1% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Journeyman/mechanic vs. Light wheel mechanic

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.

Light wheel mechanics tend to earn a lower pay than journeyman/mechanics by an average of $10,494 per year.While their salaries may vary, journeyman/mechanics and light wheel mechanics both use similar skills to perform their duties. Resumes from both professions include skills like "water pumps," "brake systems," and "routine maintenance. "While some skills are required in each professionacirc;euro;trade;s responsibilities, there are some differences to note. "hvac," "mechanical troubleshooting," "preventative maintenance," and "hand tools" are skills that commonly show up on journeyman/mechanic resumes. On the other hand, light wheel mechanics use skills like equipment systems, mos, track vehicles, and ait on their resumes.light wheel mechanics reach similar levels of education compared to journeyman/mechanics, in general. The difference is that they're 1.5% more likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.1% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Types of journeyman/mechanic

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

Browse installation, maintenance and repair jobs