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The differences between shop mechanics and fleet 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 fleet mechanic. Additionally, a fleet mechanic has an average salary of $50,065, 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 fleet mechanic are CDL, DOT, and diagnosis.
| Shop Mechanic | Fleet Mechanic | |
| Yearly salary | $47,377 | $50,065 |
| Hourly rate | $22.78 | $24.07 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 100,379 | 90,785 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 41% | Associate Degree, 35% |
| 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 fleet mechanic is responsible for inspecting and maintaining the safety and efficiency of vehicles for various industrial operations and services. Fleet mechanics conduct regular maintenance of the engines, repairing its malfunctioning components, and upgrading its system for optimal performance. They oversee the overall management of fleet operations, keeping an organized record of resolutions for reference to avoid reoccurrence of defects. A fleet mechanic coordinates with the fleet supervisor for necessary replacements of vehicles to avoid delays in operations and prevent potential hazards on the road.
Shop mechanics and fleet mechanics have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Shop Mechanic | Fleet Mechanic | |
| Average salary | $47,377 | $50,065 |
| Salary range | Between $34,000 And $64,000 | Between $37,000 And $66,000 |
| Highest paying City | Oakland, CA | Sacramento, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Wilson Construction | OGE Energy |
| Best paying industry | Government | Construction |
There are a few differences between a shop mechanic and a fleet mechanic in terms of educational background:
| Shop Mechanic | Fleet Mechanic | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 41% | Associate Degree, 35% |
| Most common major | Automotive Technology | Automotive Technology |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between shop mechanics' and fleet mechanics' demographics:
| Shop Mechanic | Fleet Mechanic | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 96.4% Female, 3.6% | Male, 97.9% Female, 2.1% |
| 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, 8.7% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 18.1% Asian, 2.4% White, 64.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 2% | 2% |