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The differences between master automotive technicians 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 master automotive technician and a diesel mechanic. Additionally, a master automotive technician has an average salary of $66,289, which is higher than the $49,842 average annual salary of a diesel mechanic.
The top three skills for a master automotive technician include diagnosis, electrical systems and ASE. The most important skills for a diesel mechanic are CDL, preventative maintenance, and DOT.
| Master Automotive Technician | Diesel Mechanic | |
| Yearly salary | $66,289 | $49,842 |
| Hourly rate | $31.87 | $23.96 |
| Growth rate | 1% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 124,843 | 85,684 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 5 |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 39% | High School Diploma, 42% |
| Average age | 40 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
A master automotive technician is an expert in auto repair work. This position is also known as an automotive master mechanic, and the primary qualification for this position is a certification from an automotive service institute. Their job duties include overseeing and signing off on repairs done by the other mechanics, taking automobile components apart, inspecting parts of the automobile, making repairs where necessary, reviewing work orders, and communicating with both the clients and the management. Sometimes, they specialize in particular areas.
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.
Master automotive technicians and diesel mechanics have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Master Automotive Technician | Diesel Mechanic | |
| Average salary | $66,289 | $49,842 |
| Salary range | Between $40,000 And $107,000 | Between $37,000 And $67,000 |
| Highest paying City | Austin, TX | Richmond, CA |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | Medical Billing | Hensel Phelps |
| Best paying industry | Retail | Energy |
There are a few differences between a master automotive technician and a diesel mechanic in terms of educational background:
| Master Automotive Technician | Diesel Mechanic | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 39% | High School Diploma, 42% |
| Most common major | Automotive Technology | Automotive Technology |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between master automotive technicians' and diesel mechanics' demographics:
| Master Automotive Technician | Diesel Mechanic | |
| Average age | 40 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 95.9% Female, 4.1% | Male, 96.3% Female, 3.7% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 10.0% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 18.7% Asian, 5.1% White, 61.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% | 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% |