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The differences between shop mechanics and heavy equipment mechanics can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become a shop mechanic, becoming a heavy equipment mechanic takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a heavy equipment mechanic has an average salary of $49,018, 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 heavy equipment mechanic are CDL, hand tools, and loaders.
| Shop Mechanic | Heavy Equipment Mechanic | |
| Yearly salary | $47,377 | $49,018 |
| Hourly rate | $22.78 | $23.57 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 8% |
| Number of jobs | 100,379 | 98,464 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 41% | High School Diploma, 39% |
| Average age | 42 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 4 |
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 heavy equipment mechanic is responsible for operating the heavy machinery used in the production of various industries, inspecting inconsistencies, running diagnostic tests, and replacing defective components to ensure its operational safety and efficiency. Heavy equipment mechanics also upgrade engine systems to boost optimal performance, analyze damage costs, and repair equipment parts with the assistance of other mechanical staff. They work closely with the management, create maintenance reports, and suggesting resolutions to avoid delays in production and customer service.
Shop mechanics and heavy equipment mechanics have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Shop Mechanic | Heavy Equipment Mechanic | |
| Average salary | $47,377 | $49,018 |
| Salary range | Between $34,000 And $64,000 | Between $36,000 And $65,000 |
| Highest paying City | Oakland, CA | Oakland, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Vermont |
| Best paying company | Wilson Construction | BNSF Railway |
| Best paying industry | Government | Transportation |
There are a few differences between a shop mechanic and a heavy equipment mechanic in terms of educational background:
| Shop Mechanic | Heavy Equipment Mechanic | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 41% | High School Diploma, 39% |
| Most common major | Automotive Technology | Automotive Technology |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between shop mechanics' and heavy equipment mechanics' demographics:
| Shop Mechanic | Heavy Equipment Mechanic | |
| Average age | 42 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 96.4% Female, 3.6% | Male, 96.6% Female, 3.4% |
| 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, 5.2% Unknown, 3.8% Hispanic or Latino, 16.3% Asian, 1.7% White, 72.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% |
| LGBT Percentage | 2% | 1% |