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The differences between vehicle mechanics and trailer 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 trailer mechanic. Additionally, a vehicle mechanic has an average salary of $42,628, which is higher than the $42,569 average annual salary of a trailer mechanic.
The top three skills for a vehicle mechanic include hand tools, electrical systems and diesel engines. The most important skills for a trailer mechanic are CDL, hand tools, and work ethic.
| Vehicle Mechanic | Trailer Mechanic | |
| Yearly salary | $42,628 | $42,569 |
| Hourly rate | $20.49 | $20.47 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 37,592 | 86,057 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 42% | High School Diploma, 52% |
| 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 trailer mechanic specializes in providing repair services on large vehicles such as trailers, semi-trucks, and tractors. Their responsibilities revolve around liaising with clients to identify their needs, inspecting machinery and electrical systems, diagnosing issues, conducting fixes and replacements, and explaining the extent of damage or repairs to clients. There are also instances where they must devise testing strategies, ensuring compliance with the government's policies. Furthermore, a trailer mechanic must maintain regular maintenance checks on vehicles to ensure the safety of operators and the efficiency of workflow.
Vehicle mechanics and trailer mechanics have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Vehicle Mechanic | Trailer Mechanic | |
| Average salary | $42,628 | $42,569 |
| Salary range | Between $29,000 And $62,000 | Between $32,000 And $55,000 |
| Highest paying City | Adelanto, CA | Billerica, MA |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | Massachusetts |
| Best paying company | Dayton Freight | |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Transportation |
There are a few differences between a vehicle mechanic and a trailer mechanic in terms of educational background:
| Vehicle Mechanic | Trailer Mechanic | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 42% | High School Diploma, 52% |
| Most common major | Automotive Technology | Automotive Technology |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between vehicle mechanics' and trailer mechanics' demographics:
| Vehicle Mechanic | Trailer Mechanic | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 91.8% Female, 8.2% | Male, 98.0% Female, 2.0% |
| 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, 17.3% Asian, 2.5% White, 65.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 2% | 2% |