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The differences between vehicle 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 vehicle mechanic and a light wheel mechanic. Additionally, a vehicle mechanic has an average salary of $42,628, which is higher than the $41,948 average annual salary of a light wheel mechanic.
The top three skills for a vehicle mechanic include hand tools, electrical systems and diesel engines. The most important skills for a light wheel mechanic are mechanical problems, electrical systems, and equipment systems.
| Vehicle Mechanic | Light Wheel Mechanic | |
| Yearly salary | $42,628 | $41,948 |
| Hourly rate | $20.49 | $20.17 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 37,592 | 90,297 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 42% | High School Diploma, 41% |
| 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 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.
Vehicle mechanics and light wheel mechanics have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Vehicle Mechanic | Light Wheel Mechanic | |
| Average salary | $42,628 | $41,948 |
| Salary range | Between $29,000 And $62,000 | Between $25,000 And $67,000 |
| Highest paying City | Adelanto, CA | - |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | - |
| Best paying company | - | |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | - |
There are a few differences between a vehicle mechanic and a light wheel mechanic in terms of educational background:
| Vehicle Mechanic | Light Wheel Mechanic | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 42% | High School Diploma, 41% |
| Most common major | Automotive Technology | Automotive Technology |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between vehicle mechanics' and light wheel mechanics' demographics:
| Vehicle Mechanic | Light Wheel Mechanic | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 91.8% Female, 8.2% | Male, 87.4% Female, 12.6% |
| 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, 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% |