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The differences between vehicle mechanics and fleet 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 vehicle mechanic and a fleet mechanic. Additionally, a fleet mechanic has an average salary of $50,065, which is higher than the $42,628 average annual salary of a vehicle mechanic.
The top three skills for a vehicle mechanic include hand tools, electrical systems and diesel engines. The most important skills for a fleet mechanic are CDL, DOT, and diagnosis.
| Vehicle Mechanic | Fleet Mechanic | |
| Yearly salary | $42,628 | $50,065 |
| Hourly rate | $20.49 | $24.07 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 37,592 | 90,785 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 42% | Associate Degree, 35% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
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.
A fleet mechanic is responsible for inspecting and maintaining the safety and efficiency of vehicles for various industrial operations and services. Fleet mechanics conduct regular maintenance of the engines, repairing its malfunctioning components, and upgrading its system for optimal performance. They oversee the overall management of fleet operations, keeping an organized record of resolutions for reference to avoid reoccurrence of defects. A fleet mechanic coordinates with the fleet supervisor for necessary replacements of vehicles to avoid delays in operations and prevent potential hazards on the road.
Vehicle mechanics and fleet mechanics have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Vehicle Mechanic | Fleet Mechanic | |
| Average salary | $42,628 | $50,065 |
| Salary range | Between $29,000 And $62,000 | Between $37,000 And $66,000 |
| Highest paying City | Adelanto, CA | Sacramento, CA |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | California |
| Best paying company | OGE Energy | |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Construction |
There are a few differences between a vehicle mechanic and a fleet mechanic in terms of educational background:
| Vehicle Mechanic | Fleet Mechanic | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 42% | Associate Degree, 35% |
| Most common major | Automotive Technology | Automotive Technology |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between vehicle mechanics' and fleet mechanics' demographics:
| Vehicle Mechanic | Fleet Mechanic | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 91.8% Female, 8.2% | Male, 97.9% Female, 2.1% |
| Race ratio | 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% | Black or African American, 8.7% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 18.1% Asian, 2.4% White, 64.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 2% | 2% |