Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines

Agriculture, Food and Natural ResourcesO*NET 49-3042.00United States

Diagnose, adjust, repair, or overhaul mobile mechanical, hydraulic, and pneumatic equipment, such as cranes, bulldozers, graders, and conveyors, used in construction, logging, and mining.

COMING SOON See related ASU learning

Median annual earnings: $64,900
Projected change: +8.3%
Typical education: Certificate
Employment: 187.89K jobs

Explore this career by location

Compare nationwide estimates with state or county job-market data.

Showing United States

State

County

Loading available locations…

Build the skills

ASU learning related to this career

These courses and certificates are connected through catalog career relationships and Lightcast skill tags.

The work

What mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines do

Tasks reported for this occupation, ordered by how often they come up in the role.

Test mechanical products and equipment after repair or assembly to ensure proper performance and compliance with manufacturers' specifications.
Repair and replace damaged or worn parts.
Operate and inspect machines or heavy equipment to diagnose defects.
Read and understand operating manuals, blueprints, and technical drawings.
Dismantle and reassemble heavy equipment using hoists and hand tools.
Repair, rewire, and troubleshoot electrical systems.
Overhaul and test machines or equipment to ensure operating efficiency.
Adjust, maintain, and repair or replace subassemblies, such as transmissions and crawler heads, using hand tools, jacks, and cranes.
Diagnose faults or malfunctions to determine required repairs, using engine diagnostic equipment such as computerized test equipment and calibration devices.
Examine parts for damage or excessive wear, using micrometers and gauges.
Weld or solder broken parts and structural members, using electric or gas welders and soldering tools.
Research, order, and maintain parts inventory for services and repairs.
Schedule maintenance for industrial machines and equipment, and keep equipment service records.
Fit bearings to adjust, repair, or overhaul mobile mechanical, hydraulic, and pneumatic equipment.
Clean, lubricate, and perform other routine maintenance work on equipment and vehicles.
Assemble gear systems, and align frames and gears.
Clean parts by spraying them with grease solvent or immersing them in tanks of solvent.
Adjust and maintain industrial machinery, using control and regulating devices.
Fabricate needed parts or items from sheet metal.
Direct workers who are assembling or disassembling equipment or cleaning parts.

Pay and outlook

What the job pays and where it is heading

Annual earnings range

Reported earnings by percentile, United States

10th percentile: $45,855
25th percentile: $56,114
50th percentile: $64,900
75th percentile: $79,023
90th percentile: $95,440

The gold marker shows the median. Half earn more than $64,900 and half earn less.

Employment outlook

2025 to 2035 projection

+8.3%faster than average

2025187,889 jobs

2035 projected203,545 jobs

15,656 more positions over the decade, before replacement hiring.

Preparation

Education levels

What people currently working in the career hold. These are not entry requirements.

Certificate: 54.6%
High school diploma or less: 32.3%
Some college: 7.9%
Associate degree: 5.3%

Skills

Skills employers ask for

Technical skills appearing most often in job postings for this occupation.

Heavy Equipment
Hydraulics
Lifting Ability
Diesel Engines
Hand Tools
Mechanics
Electrical Systems
Preventive Maintenance
Good Driving Record
Equipment Repair
Machinery
Forklift Truck
Construction
Mechanical Aptitude
Power Tool Operation
Field Service Management
Welding
Diagnostic Tools
HVAC
Safety Standards

How the work gets done

Core competencies

Broad capabilities associated with strong performance in this occupation.

Troubleshooting: Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.
Repairing: Repairing machines or systems using the needed tools.
Equipment Maintenance: Performing routine maintenance on equipment and determining when and what kind of maintenance is needed.
Operations Monitoring: Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
Operation and Control: Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
Quality Control Analysis: Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
Equipment Selection: Determining the kind of tools and equipment needed to do a job.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
Complex Problem Solving: Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
Judgment and Decision Making: Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Active Learning: Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
Time Management: Managing one's own time and the time of others.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Writing: Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Coordination: Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Social Perceptiveness: Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Mathematics: Using mathematics to solve problems.

In the market

Job titles and employers

Recent job postings in United States

Common job titles

01Heavy Equipment Mechanics4,631 postings
02Mechanics2,081 postings
03Heavy Equipment Technicians1,484 postings
04Equipment Mechanics1,366 postings
05Forklift Mechanics941 postings
06Shop Technicians937 postings
07Heavy Equipment Shop Technicians928 postings
08Technicians917 postings
09Heavy Equipment Field Technicians662 postings
10Heavy Duty Mechanics661 postings
11Service Technicians625 postings
12Field Technicians601 postings
13Equipment Technicians584 postings
14Field Mechanics567 postings
15Shop Mechanics526 postings
16Equipment Operators518 postings
17Field Service Mechanics475 postings
18Heavy Equipment Field Mechanics471 postings
19Forklift Operators434 postings
20Diesel Technicians Level a360 postings

Top employers

01Herc Rentals1,107 postings
02Sunbelt Rentals959 postings
03GPAC880 postings
04EquipmentShare810 postings
05Aerotek525 postings
06Waste Management338 postings
07Warren Cat299 postings
08Altec Industries280 postings
09Eastern Lift Truck Company231 postings
10Interstate Waste Services230 postings
11Altec206 postings
12Warren Equipment Company205 postings
13US Foods199 postings
14United Rentals197 postings
15Nutrien196 postings
16Estes Express Lines177 postings
17Hutson175 postings
18Elm Utility Services170 postings
19Empire Renewable Energy167 postings
20Mustang Cat159 postings

Keep looking

Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers

Median pay: $65,331
Employment outlook: −7.4%

Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics

Median pay: $47,853
Employment outlook: +6.6%

Commercial Divers

Median pay: $71,649
Employment outlook: +4.8%

Engine and Other Machine Assemblers

Median pay: $53,678
Employment outlook: −18.4%