Track mechanic vs special equipment operator

The differences between track mechanics and special equipment operators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a track mechanic has an average salary of $170,731, which is higher than the $44,694 average annual salary of a special equipment operator.

The top three skills for a track mechanic include track vehicles, diesel engines and electrical systems. The most important skills for a special equipment operator are loaders, CDL, and production lines.

Track mechanic vs special equipment operator overview

	Track Mechanic	Special Equipment Operator
Yearly salary	$170,731	$44,694
Hourly rate	$82.08	$21.49
Growth rate	4%	5%
Number of jobs	34,390	54,350
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 53%	High School Diploma, 34%
Average age	49	44
Years of experience	4	-

Track mechanic vs special equipment operator salary

Track mechanics and special equipment operators have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Track Mechanic	Special Equipment Operator
Average salary	$170,731	$44,694
Salary range	Between $88,000 And $328,000	Between $34,000 And $58,000
Highest paying City	-	Goodyear, AZ
Highest paying state	-	Alaska
Best paying company	-	Arkansas Electric Cooperative
Best paying industry	-	-

Differences between track mechanic and special equipment operator education

There are a few differences between a track mechanic and a special equipment operator in terms of educational background:

	Track Mechanic	Special Equipment Operator
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 53%	High School Diploma, 34%
Most common major	General Studies	Business
Most common college	-	-

Track mechanic vs special equipment operator demographics

Here are the differences between track mechanics' and special equipment operators' demographics:

	Track Mechanic	Special Equipment Operator
Average age	49	44
Gender ratio	Male, 91.4% Female, 8.6%	Male, 87.2% Female, 12.8%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 8.2% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 15.7% Asian, 2.1% White, 68.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2%	Black or African American, 17.4% Unknown, 3.7% Hispanic or Latino, 25.5% Asian, 1.0% White, 50.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.8%
LGBT Percentage	4%	10%

Differences between track mechanic and special equipment operator duties and responsibilities

Track mechanic example responsibilities.

Conduct PMCS and perform sustainment maintenance in accordance with COSIS standards.
Dismantle and reassemble heavy track vehicle components using hoists and hand tools.
Inspect and troubleshoot track vehicle automotive systems, wheel vehicles and classify equipment.
Practice preventive maintenance with electrical and mechanical equipment to assure combat readiness.
Document repairs, modifications and inspections in accordance with FAA requirements on both paper and in an automate maintenance information database.
Inspect MHE systems, subsystems and components.

Special equipment operator example responsibilities.

Obtain CDL to drive large trucks.
Use a RF computer attach on fork truck.
Return any leftover material to previous location and relocate in system with RF scanner.
Follow all power equipment rules and regulation including any regulatory agency policies to include OSHA.
Analyze past occurrences to apply preventative maintenance.

Track mechanic vs special equipment operator skills

Common track mechanic skills

Track Vehicles, 31%
Diesel Engines, 11%
Electrical Systems, 10%
Field Maintenance, 6%
Combat, 5%
Technical Manuals, 5%

Common special equipment operator skills

Loaders, 51%
CDL, 25%
Production Lines, 9%
RF, 8%
DOT, 4%
Clamp Truck, 2%

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Track Mechanic
Track Mechanic vs Special Equipment Operator

Updated January 8, 2025

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