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The differences between shop 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 shop mechanic and a vehicle mechanic. Additionally, a shop mechanic has an average salary of $47,377, which is higher than the $42,628 average annual salary of a vehicle mechanic.
The top three skills for a shop mechanic include hand tools, preventative maintenance and hydraulic systems. The most important skills for a vehicle mechanic are hand tools, electrical systems, and diesel engines.
| Shop Mechanic | Vehicle Mechanic | |
| Yearly salary | $47,377 | $42,628 |
| Hourly rate | $22.78 | $20.49 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 100,379 | 37,592 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| 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 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.
Shop mechanics and vehicle mechanics have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Shop Mechanic | Vehicle Mechanic | |
| Average salary | $47,377 | $42,628 |
| Salary range | Between $34,000 And $64,000 | Between $29,000 And $62,000 |
| Highest paying City | Oakland, CA | Adelanto, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Wilson Construction | |
| Best paying industry | Government | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between a shop mechanic and a vehicle mechanic in terms of educational background:
| Shop Mechanic | Vehicle 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 vehicle mechanics' demographics:
| Shop Mechanic | Vehicle Mechanic | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 96.4% Female, 3.6% | Male, 91.8% Female, 8.2% |
| 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, 8.2% 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% |