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The differences between vehicle mechanics and mechanic's assistants 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 mechanic's assistant. Additionally, a vehicle mechanic has an average salary of $42,628, which is higher than the $41,533 average annual salary of a mechanic's assistant.
The top three skills for a vehicle mechanic include hand tools, electrical systems and diesel engines. The most important skills for a mechanic's assistant are preventative maintenance, hand tools, and OSHA.
| Vehicle Mechanic | Mechanic's Assistant | |
| Yearly salary | $42,628 | $41,533 |
| Hourly rate | $20.49 | $19.97 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 37,592 | 40,249 |
| 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 mechanics assistant job involves assisting mechanics in operating, repairing, and refurbishing vehicles. Primarily, mechanics assistants work on the installation, repair, and replacement of an automobile's mechanical parts. They need to be knowledgeable of the processes and composition of automobiles. Also, they execute the opening and closing tasks in stores. The skillset for this position includes a strong work ethic, diagnostic skills, problem-solving, prior experience, customer service skills, and resourcefulness.
Vehicle mechanics and mechanic's assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Vehicle Mechanic | Mechanic's Assistant | |
| Average salary | $42,628 | $41,533 |
| Salary range | Between $29,000 And $62,000 | Between $27,000 And $63,000 |
| Highest paying City | Adelanto, CA | San Jose, CA |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | New York |
| Best paying company | ASRC Federal | |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Energy |
There are a few differences between a vehicle mechanic and a mechanic's assistant in terms of educational background:
| Vehicle Mechanic | Mechanic's Assistant | |
| 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 mechanic's assistants' demographics:
| Vehicle Mechanic | Mechanic's Assistant | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 91.8% Female, 8.2% | Male, 93.2% Female, 6.8% |
| 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, 7.3% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 20.0% Asian, 2.3% White, 64.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 2% | 2% |