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The differences between master automotive technicians and light wheel 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 light wheel mechanic. Additionally, a master automotive technician has an average salary of $66,289, which is higher than the $41,948 average annual salary of a light wheel mechanic.
The top three skills for a master automotive technician include diagnosis, electrical systems and ASE. The most important skills for a light wheel mechanic are mechanical problems, electrical systems, and equipment systems.
| Master Automotive Technician | Light Wheel Mechanic | |
| Yearly salary | $66,289 | $41,948 |
| Hourly rate | $31.87 | $20.17 |
| Growth rate | 1% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 124,843 | 90,297 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 39% | High School Diploma, 41% |
| 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 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.
Master automotive technicians and light wheel mechanics have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Master Automotive Technician | Light Wheel Mechanic | |
| Average salary | $66,289 | $41,948 |
| Salary range | Between $40,000 And $107,000 | Between $25,000 And $67,000 |
| Highest paying City | Austin, TX | - |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | - |
| Best paying company | Medical Billing | - |
| Best paying industry | Retail | - |
There are a few differences between a master automotive technician and a light wheel mechanic in terms of educational background:
| Master Automotive Technician | Light Wheel Mechanic | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 39% | High School Diploma, 41% |
| Most common major | Automotive Technology | Automotive Technology |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between master automotive technicians' and light wheel mechanics' demographics:
| Master Automotive Technician | Light Wheel Mechanic | |
| Average age | 40 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 95.9% Female, 4.1% | Male, 87.4% Female, 12.6% |
| 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, 9.0% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 17.4% Asian, 2.5% White, 65.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 2% | 2% |