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The differences between service mechanics 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 service mechanic and a vehicle mechanic. Additionally, a service mechanic has an average salary of $47,240, which is higher than the $42,628 average annual salary of a vehicle mechanic.
The top three skills for a service mechanic include customer service, preventative maintenance and hydraulic systems. The most important skills for a vehicle mechanic are hand tools, electrical systems, and diesel engines.
| Service Mechanic | Vehicle Mechanic | |
| Yearly salary | $47,240 | $42,628 |
| Hourly rate | $22.71 | $20.49 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 116,383 | 37,592 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 36% | High School Diploma, 42% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
A service mechanic, or often known as a service technician, is an individual who inspects, maintains, and repairs cars and light trucks. Service mechanics must identify the vehicle's problems by using computerized diagnostic equipment and test parts and systems to ensure that they work properly. They must perform basic vehicular care and maintenance such as changing oil, checking fluid levels, and rotating tires. Service mechanics should also explain automotive problems to customers and perform repairs according to the manufacturer ad customer specifications.
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.
Service mechanics and vehicle mechanics have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Service Mechanic | Vehicle Mechanic | |
| Average salary | $47,240 | $42,628 |
| Salary range | Between $33,000 And $66,000 | Between $29,000 And $62,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Jose, CA | Adelanto, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Sandia National Labs | |
| Best paying industry | Energy | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between a service mechanic and a vehicle mechanic in terms of educational background:
| Service Mechanic | Vehicle Mechanic | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 36% | High School Diploma, 42% |
| Most common major | Automotive Technology | Automotive Technology |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between service mechanics' and vehicle mechanics' demographics:
| Service Mechanic | Vehicle Mechanic | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 96.8% Female, 3.2% | Male, 91.8% Female, 8.2% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 7.9% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 18.7% Asian, 2.4% White, 65.0% 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% |