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The differences between shop mechanics 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 shop mechanic and a diesel mechanic. Additionally, a diesel mechanic has an average salary of $49,842, which is higher than the $47,377 average annual salary of a shop mechanic.
The top three skills for a shop mechanic include hand tools, preventative maintenance and hydraulic systems. The most important skills for a diesel mechanic are CDL, preventative maintenance, and DOT.
| Shop Mechanic | Diesel Mechanic | |
| Yearly salary | $47,377 | $49,842 |
| Hourly rate | $22.78 | $23.96 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 100,379 | 85,684 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 5 |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 41% | High School Diploma, 42% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
A shop mechanic is responsible for maintaining and repairing defective machinery and vehicles. Shop mechanics identify the disrupted components by inspecting and running diagnostic tests and informing the owner of the necessary procedures they need to take. They discuss the costs and expenses, the materials to be used, and the duration to fix the machine upon analyzing its complexity. A shop mechanic monitors the shop inventory, assemble parts, and upgrade engines and machinery for optimal performance.
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.
Shop mechanics and diesel mechanics have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Shop Mechanic | Diesel Mechanic | |
| Average salary | $47,377 | $49,842 |
| Salary range | Between $34,000 And $64,000 | Between $37,000 And $67,000 |
| Highest paying City | Oakland, CA | Richmond, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | Wilson Construction | Hensel Phelps |
| Best paying industry | Government | Energy |
There are a few differences between a shop mechanic and a diesel mechanic in terms of educational background:
| Shop Mechanic | Diesel Mechanic | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 41% | High School Diploma, 42% |
| Most common major | Automotive Technology | Automotive Technology |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between shop mechanics' and diesel mechanics' demographics:
| Shop Mechanic | Diesel Mechanic | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 96.4% Female, 3.6% | Male, 96.3% Female, 3.7% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 7.9% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 19.5% Asian, 2.4% White, 64.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1% | 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% |