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What Diesel Service Technicians and Mechanics Earn

June 30, 2014 by admin 8 Comments

Diesel engines have long been used in trucks and buses as well as in cars. Diesel acceptance among US car consumers has been mixed with too many people still remembering the poorly designed GM engines of the 1970s and 1980s that were notorious for failing.

These days, car manufacturers are producing diesel engines that are not simply powerful and fuel efficient, but are clean burning. Servicing this growing contingent of diesel-powered cars are diesel service technicians and mechanics. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) has some interesting data to share about these professionals and their chosen field.

Audi A6
An Audi 3.0-liter turbo-diesel V-6 engine.

Job Summary

Bus and truck mechanics as well as diesel engine specialists are tasked with diagnosing, adjusting, repairing and overhauling bus and truck engines. They may also work with automotive and marine engines.

These individuals are also known as fleet mechanics, service technicians, transit mechanics and diesel technicians. Their work may encompass the entire vehicle and include maintenance and repairs to brake systems, steering, wheels, suspension systems, transmissions and engines. These professionals use diagnostic tools and a variety of hand tools to get their work done.

Important skills required for the position include repair and troubleshooting capabilities, critical thinking, quality control analysis and decision making. Mechanics must know how to operate related tools and equipment, and be able to work well with others.

Average Pay for Diesel Service Technicians

Approximately 250,000 people were employed as diesel service technicians and mechanics in 2012 according to the BLS. Federal pay data is as of 2013.

The median wage for these professionals came in at $42,370 in 2013. Those in the 10th percentile earned $27,300 per year on average while those in the 25th percentile made $34,000 per year. Technicians in the 50th percentile made $42,700 per year. Those in the 75th and 90th percentile earned $53,600 and $63,800 pear year on average respectively.

Average Pay, State Data

As with most any field, salaries can vary widely across the country. The BLS provides ample state data with that information also current as of 2013.

Coming in with top pay among all states for diesel service technicians pay was Hawaii with an average annual wage of $61,200. Alaska followed at $58,100. Wyoming at $54,500, Nevada at $53,900 and New Jersey at $53,800 rounded out the top five states, each with average wages more than $10,000 above the national average.

On the bottom of the pay spectrum was West Virginia with a average annual salary of $32,300 per year. Following West Virginia, Arkansas came in at $34,100, Mississippi at $34,500, Oklahoma at $36,600 and Nebraska at $36,700.

Training and Education

The BLS notes that most employers of diesel service technicians and mechanics expert job candidates to have at least a high school diploma or its equivalent. While in high school, students should take courses in automotive repair, electronics and mathematics.

To handle diesel repair, many employers look for people with extensive experience, including graduates of vocational programs or community colleges. Hands-on training that includes handling basic parts to engine deconstruction is usually preferred. Certification from the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence can be advantageous and may be required especially by better paying employers.

Job Outlook

The BLS has forecast an 8 to 14 percent increase in the number of related jobs through 2022 or about as fast of an increase as most other occupations. Some 75,100 job openings have been projected.

Much of the increase in job openings will come by handling the nation’s growing truck fleet. Tougher federal emissions requirements mean that some older trucks will need to be retrofitted. Even so, the durable nature of these engines also means that demand for new people may be limited.

Candidates should also keep a close eye on the passenger vehicle market too. GM, Ford and Chrysler have long used diesel engines in their pickup trucks, but all three are also following their European competitors by introducing diesels to other models including sedans and SUVs. These new models will be needing servicing at some point, quite possibility fueling interest for a new crop of talented technicians.


Additional Salary Articles

The Average Salary of Automotive Body Technicians

The Average Salary of Automotive Engineering Technicians

The Average Salary of Automotive Glass Installers and Repairers

The Average Salary of Automotive Engineers

The Average Salary of Automotive Service Technicians

Filed Under: Automotive Career Tagged With: BLS, CAR REPAIR, CAREERS, DIESEL ENGINES, DIESEL MECHANICS, DIESEL SERVICE TECHNICIANS, JOB OUTLOOK, SALARIES

The Average Salary of Automotive Engineering Technicians

September 1, 2012 by admin 5 Comments

Information updated June 2014.

By Charles K. Green

What automotive engineering technicians earn.

Automotive engineering technicians work with engineers, examining proposed vehicle designs and changes, and conducting tests. Such tests are performed to gauge an automotive component or system, to measure its performance, efficiency and durability. These professionals are part of the broader mechanical engineering technician field as categorized by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, with slower than average job growth anticipated through 2020.

Job Duties

By performing manual and automated tests of automotive systems and components, automotive engineering technicians can make improvements based on observation and accumulated data. Technicians must document their findings; determine the causes of malfunctions or defects; install, maintain and test equipment; and follow oral and written instructions.

multimeterTechnicians are responsible for calibrating test equipment, documenting results and making use of tools such as multimeters, oscilloscopes, signal generators and welding machinery to do their work. These professionals must be comfortable in working with spreadsheet, CAD and scientific software.

Education

A STEM background — science, technology, engineering and mathematics — is essential for the automotive engineering technician job candidate. While a two-year degree may offer sufficient experience for some jobs, a four-year degree may be required for some positions.

The BLS notes that such students may start out at a vocational-technical school or a community college, taking algebra, trigonometry and science courses including core liberal arts courses. Classroom and laboratory components are part of the training curriculum, which will look at various parts of a car including its electrical system, brake and suspension systems, electronics and telecommunications, engines and transmissions, safety systems, the manufacturing process and quality control.

Average Salary of Automotive Engineering Technicians

As of 2013, the average hourly wage for an automotive engineering technician was $25.19. Annually, these technicians earn $52,390, for a higher rate than what drafters, environmental engineering technicians, industrial engineering technicians and machinists make.

Technicians in the 10th percentile earned $33,700 or less per year while those in the 25th percentile averaged $41,600 per year. The median salary was $52,400 per year. Those in the 75th percentile earned $65,600 per year and technicians in the top 10 percent averaged $77,200 or more per year.

Salaries for automotive engineering technicians varied across the country. The highest average salaries were found in Alaska where the median wage was $65,500 per year as 2013. New Mexico at $62,500, Maine at $60,600, New Jersey at $59,400 and Colorado at $59,000 per year followed.

On the other end of the pay spectrum salaries were lowest in South Dakota, averaging $38,400 per year. Other states with below average salaries included Oregon at $43,300, Arkansas at $44,200, West Virginia at $45,000 and Oklahoma coming in at $45,100.

Top Industries

Most automotive engineering technicians work in the manufacturing sector. These professionals may find themselves employed by an automotive parts supply company or a car manufacturer such as the Ford Motor Company, General Motors, Toyota, Hyundai or Mercedes-Benz. Others may find themselves employed in the professional, scientific and technical services sector.

Considerations

The BLS is forecasting slow growth for automotive engineering technicians through 2022. For those professionals seeking improved job security, further training and certification as an automotive engineer may prove advantageous.

Resources

ONet OnLine: Summary Report for: 17-3027.01 – Automotive Engineering Technicians

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Mechanical Engineering Technicians

Additional Salary Articles

The Average Salary of Automotive Service Technicians

The Average Salary of Automotive Engineers

The Average Salary of Automotive Glass Installers and Repairers

What Diesel Service Technicians and Mechanics Earn

The Average Salary of Automotive Body Technicians

Photo courtesy of André Karwath.

Filed Under: Automotive Career Tagged With: AUTOMOTIVE ENGINEERING TECHNICIANS, BLS, GENERATORS, MULTIMETERS, OSCILLOSCOPES, PAY, SALARY, TEST EQUIPMENT

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