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The differences between truck mechanics and auto body technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a truck mechanic has an average salary of $50,169, which is higher than the $39,232 average annual salary of an auto body technician.
The top three skills for a truck mechanic include CDL, customer service and electrical systems. The most important skills for an auto body technician are spray guns, customer service, and collision repair.
| Truck Mechanic | Auto Body Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $50,169 | $39,232 |
| Hourly rate | $24.12 | $18.86 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 80,942 | 17,467 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 2 |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 37% | High School Diploma, 45% |
| Average age | 42 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 2 | - |
Also known as diesel services technicians, truck mechanics perform various heavy-duty truck tasks. The technicians work on large vehicles, tractor-trailers, and buses. It is their duty to inspect, make diagnoses, and repair the brake systems and other electrical components. They conduct routine maintenance work, which aims for longevity and functionality. It is also important for them to have skills in communication, organization, computer system, and administrative tasks.
An auto body technician is responsible for assessing vehicle damage and conducting repairs after evaluating the cost estimates. Auto body technicians' duties include replacing auto parts, which caused malfunctions, determining the extent of damage, and testing the engine performance to ensure that it is safe for use after the appropriate modifications. Auto body technicians must also adhere to the client's specifications, especially on upgrading features and installing systems that would improve the engine's performance.
Truck mechanics and auto body technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Truck Mechanic | Auto Body Technician | |
| Average salary | $50,169 | $39,232 |
| Salary range | Between $37,000 And $67,000 | Between $27,000 And $55,000 |
| Highest paying City | Newark, NJ | Sacramento, CA |
| Highest paying state | Nevada | California |
| Best paying company | Allan A. Myers | W&W |
| Best paying industry | Energy | - |
There are a few differences between a truck mechanic and an auto body technician in terms of educational background:
| Truck Mechanic | Auto Body Technician | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 37% | High School Diploma, 45% |
| Most common major | Automotive Technology | Automotive Technology |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between truck mechanics' and auto body technicians' demographics:
| Truck Mechanic | Auto Body Technician | |
| Average age | 42 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 97.3% Female, 2.7% | Male, 95.2% Female, 4.8% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.1% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 16.2% Asian, 2.5% White, 66.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1% | Black or African American, 7.1% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 19.6% Asian, 1.7% White, 66.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% |
| LGBT Percentage | 2% | 4% |