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The differences between shop mechanics and light wheel 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 light wheel mechanic. Additionally, a shop mechanic has an average salary of $47,377, which is higher than the $41,948 average annual salary of a light wheel mechanic.
The top three skills for a shop mechanic include hand tools, preventative maintenance and hydraulic systems. The most important skills for a light wheel mechanic are mechanical problems, electrical systems, and equipment systems.
| Shop Mechanic | Light Wheel Mechanic | |
| Yearly salary | $47,377 | $41,948 |
| Hourly rate | $22.78 | $20.17 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 100,379 | 90,297 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 41% | High School Diploma, 41% |
| 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 light wheel mechanic is responsible for maintaining the optimal performance and efficiency of light-wheeled vehicles used for industrial operations, especially in a military setting. Light wheel mechanics inspect the condition of the vehicle's engine, perform preventive maintenance, replace defective components, assemble upgrade systems based on schematics and blueprints, and create resolution reports for reference. They must have excellent knowledge of the auto-mechanic industry to determine faults and identify repairs, avoiding delays, complications, and hazards during operations.
Shop mechanics and light wheel mechanics have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Shop Mechanic | Light Wheel Mechanic | |
| Average salary | $47,377 | $41,948 |
| Salary range | Between $34,000 And $64,000 | Between $25,000 And $67,000 |
| Highest paying City | Oakland, CA | - |
| Highest paying state | California | - |
| Best paying company | Wilson Construction | - |
| Best paying industry | Government | - |
There are a few differences between a shop mechanic and a light wheel mechanic in terms of educational background:
| Shop Mechanic | Light Wheel Mechanic | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 41% | High School Diploma, 41% |
| Most common major | Automotive Technology | Automotive Technology |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between shop mechanics' and light wheel mechanics' demographics:
| Shop Mechanic | Light Wheel Mechanic | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 96.4% Female, 3.6% | Male, 87.4% Female, 12.6% |
| 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, 9.0% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 17.4% Asian, 2.5% White, 65.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 2% | 2% |