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The differences between mechanic helpers and vehicle 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 mechanic helper and a vehicle mechanic. Additionally, a vehicle mechanic has an average salary of $42,628, which is higher than the $31,892 average annual salary of a mechanic helper.
The top three skills for a mechanic helper include hand tools, work ethic and preventive maintenance. The most important skills for a vehicle mechanic are hand tools, electrical systems, and diesel engines.
| Mechanic Helper | Vehicle Mechanic | |
| Yearly salary | $31,892 | $42,628 |
| Hourly rate | $15.33 | $20.49 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 48,546 | 37,592 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 53% | High School Diploma, 42% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
The job of a mechanic helper is to support lead mechanics and perform a variety of duties and responsibilities. You will be assisting in the maintenance of cars, such as changing tires and oils, replacing brakes, and diagnosing vehicle issues. In addition, you will be responsible for logging labor costs and inventory use and take vehicles for test drives. Other duties include replacing belts and hoses, assisting the lead mechanic in major projects, and repairing and maintaining cars.
A vehicle mechanic is responsible for the maintenance of the vehicle's engine, running diagnostic tests, and performing repairs for any inconsistencies to ensure the vehicle's reliability and efficiency upon use. Vehicle mechanics coordinate with clients with their specifications and special requests, such as installing upgraded components to improve the engine's optimal performance. They create an organized report of vehicle assessments, as well as forecasting expenses to discuss with the clients, especially on meeting their budget goals.
Mechanic helpers and vehicle mechanics have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Mechanic Helper | Vehicle Mechanic | |
| Average salary | $31,892 | $42,628 |
| Salary range | Between $24,000 And $41,000 | Between $29,000 And $62,000 |
| Highest paying City | Sacramento, CA | Adelanto, CA |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Sierra Pacific Industries | |
| Best paying industry | Professional | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between a mechanic helper and a vehicle mechanic in terms of educational background:
| Mechanic Helper | Vehicle Mechanic | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 53% | High School Diploma, 42% |
| Most common major | Automotive Technology | Automotive Technology |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between mechanic helpers' and vehicle mechanics' demographics:
| Mechanic Helper | Vehicle Mechanic | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 94.4% Female, 5.6% | Male, 91.8% Female, 8.2% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 7.3% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 20.2% Asian, 2.3% White, 64.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1% | Black or African American, 8.2% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 18.0% Asian, 2.4% White, 65.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 2% | 2% |