Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between light wheel mechanics and truck 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 a truck mechanic. Additionally, a truck mechanic has an average salary of $50,169, 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 a truck mechanic are CDL, customer service, and electrical systems.
| Light Wheel Mechanic | Truck Mechanic | |
| Yearly salary | $41,948 | $50,169 |
| Hourly rate | $20.17 | $24.12 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 90,297 | 80,942 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 41% | High School Diploma, 37% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| 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.
Also known as diesel services technicians, truck mechanics perform various heavy-duty truck tasks. The technicians work on large vehicles, tractor-trailers, and buses. It is their duty to inspect, make diagnoses, and repair the brake systems and other electrical components. They conduct routine maintenance work, which aims for longevity and functionality. It is also important for them to have skills in communication, organization, computer system, and administrative tasks.
Light wheel mechanics and truck mechanics have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Light Wheel Mechanic | Truck Mechanic | |
| Average salary | $41,948 | $50,169 |
| Salary range | Between $25,000 And $67,000 | Between $37,000 And $67,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | Newark, NJ |
| Highest paying state | - | Nevada |
| Best paying company | - | Allan A. Myers |
| Best paying industry | - | Energy |
There are a few differences between a light wheel mechanic and a truck mechanic in terms of educational background:
| Light Wheel Mechanic | Truck Mechanic | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 41% | High School Diploma, 37% |
| Most common major | Automotive Technology | Automotive Technology |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between light wheel mechanics' and truck mechanics' demographics:
| Light Wheel Mechanic | Truck Mechanic | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 87.4% Female, 12.6% | Male, 97.3% Female, 2.7% |
| 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, 9.1% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 16.2% Asian, 2.5% White, 66.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 2% | 2% |