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The differences between light wheel mechanics and industrial 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 light wheel mechanic and an industrial mechanic. Additionally, an industrial mechanic has an average salary of $53,333, which is higher than the $41,948 average annual salary of a light wheel mechanic.
The top three skills for a light wheel mechanic include mechanical problems, electrical systems and equipment systems. The most important skills for an industrial mechanic are industrial maintenance, hand tools, and PLC.
| Light Wheel Mechanic | Industrial Mechanic | |
| Yearly salary | $41,948 | $53,333 |
| Hourly rate | $20.17 | $25.64 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 14% |
| Number of jobs | 90,297 | 158,560 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 41% | Associate Degree, 35% |
| Average age | 42 | 48 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
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.
An industrial mechanic maintains and repairs equipment and any other industrial types of machinery in a factory. Industrial mechanics manage the operation of machinery like production machinery, packaging equipment, and conveying systems. They need to use protective equipment like safety glasses and hardhats as well as follow safety precautions during operations. It is their responsibility to make sure that all industrial machines function well through preventive maintenance service and troubleshooting.
Light wheel mechanics and industrial mechanics have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Light Wheel Mechanic | Industrial Mechanic | |
| Average salary | $41,948 | $53,333 |
| Salary range | Between $25,000 And $67,000 | Between $39,000 And $72,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | Fremont, CA |
| Highest paying state | - | West Virginia |
| Best paying company | - | California Resources |
| Best paying industry | - | Transportation |
There are a few differences between a light wheel mechanic and an industrial mechanic in terms of educational background:
| Light Wheel Mechanic | Industrial Mechanic | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 41% | Associate Degree, 35% |
| Most common major | Automotive Technology | Industrial Technology |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between light wheel mechanics' and industrial mechanics' demographics:
| Light Wheel Mechanic | Industrial Mechanic | |
| Average age | 42 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 87.4% Female, 12.6% | Male, 96.6% Female, 3.4% |
| Race ratio | 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% | Black or African American, 7.7% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 18.0% Asian, 3.3% White, 65.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9% |
| LGBT Percentage | 2% | 2% |