What Does it Take to Be a Bus or Truck Mechanic?
Bus or Truck Mechanic Job Description Diagnose, adjust, repair, or overhaul buses and trucks, or maintain and repair any type of diesel engines. Includes mechanics working primarily with automobile or marine diesel engines.
Life as a Bus or Truck Mechanic: What Do They Do?
- Specialize in repairing and maintaining parts of the engine, such as fuel injection systems.
- Disassemble and overhaul internal combustion engines, pumps, generators, transmissions, clutches, and differential units.
- Install or repair accessories.
- Attach test instruments to equipment, and read dials and gauges to diagnose malfunctions.
- Inspect and verify dimensions and clearances of parts to ensure conformance to factory specifications.
- Follow green operational practices involving conservation of water or energy or reduction of solid waste.
Qualities of a Bus or Truck Mechanic
Below is a list of the skills most Bus and Truck Mechanics say are important on the job.
Troubleshooting: Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.
Repairing: Repairing machines or systems using the needed tools.
Operation Monitoring: Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
Operation and Control: Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
Equipment Maintenance: Performing routine maintenance on equipment and determining when and what kind of maintenance is needed.
Types of Bus and Truck Mechanics
- Industrial Truck Mechanic
- Farm Equipment Engine Mechanic
- Farm Implement Engine Mechanic
- Trailer Mechanic
- Tractor Mechanic Apprentice
Bus or Truck Mechanic Employment Estimates
There were about 278,800 jobs for Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists in 2016 (in the United States).
New jobs are being produced at a rate of 9.2% which is lower than average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 25,800 new jobs for Bus and Truck Mechanics by 2026. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 28,200 job openings in this field each year.
The states with the most job growth for Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists are Texas, California, and Florida.
Watch out if you plan on working in District of Columbia, Alaska, or Maine. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
What is the Average Salary of a Bus or Truck Mechanic
The salary for Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists ranges between about $31,200 and $72,180 a year. A Bus or Truck Mechanic median salary is $47,350.
How much do Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists make in each U.S. state?
| State | Annual Mean Salary |
|---|---|
|
Alaska |
$66,280 |
|
District of Columbia |
$60,730 |
|
Massachusetts |
$59,310 |
|
Connecticut |
$58,060 |
|
Hawaii |
$57,490 |
|
Nevada |
$57,250 |
|
California |
$56,830 |
|
Washington |
$55,830 |
|
New Jersey |
$55,500 |
|
New York |
$55,340 |
|
North Dakota |
$54,080 |
|
Wyoming |
$53,380 |
|
Illinois |
$53,290 |
|
Colorado |
$52,350 |
|
New Hampshire |
$52,240 |
|
Maryland |
$51,890 |
|
Minnesota |
$51,480 |
|
Montana |
$51,160 |
|
Oregon |
$51,000 |
|
Rhode Island |
$49,620 |
|
Delaware |
$49,450 |
|
Virginia |
$48,470 |
|
Texas |
$48,450 |
|
Utah |
$48,360 |
|
Wisconsin |
$48,070 |
|
Louisiana |
$47,680 |
|
Pennsylvania |
$46,960 |
|
Ohio |
$46,900 |
|
Vermont |
$46,700 |
|
Arizona |
$46,640 |
|
Florida |
$46,610 |
|
Georgia |
$46,120 |
|
Michigan |
$45,930 |
|
Missouri |
$45,320 |
|
North Carolina |
$45,310 |
|
South Carolina |
$44,910 |
|
Tennessee |
$44,890 |
|
Indiana |
$44,660 |
|
Maine |
$44,530 |
|
Oklahoma |
$44,340 |
|
Kansas |
$44,170 |
|
Alabama |
$43,830 |
|
New Mexico |
$43,520 |
|
South Dakota |
$43,500 |
|
Nebraska |
$43,460 |
|
Kentucky |
$43,340 |
|
Iowa |
$43,000 |
|
Idaho |
$42,770 |
|
Arkansas |
$40,440 |
|
West Virginia |
$39,440 |
|
Mississippi |
$38,700 |
Tools & Technologies Used by Bus and Truck Mechanics
Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Bus and Truck Mechanics:
- Autodesk AutoCAD
- SAP
- Dassault Systemes SOLIDWORKS
- Microsoft Excel
- Dassault Systemes CATIA
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Computer aided design CAD software
How do I Become a Bus or Truck Mechanic?
Education needed to be a Bus or Truck Mechanic:
How Long Does it Take to Become Bus or Truck Mechanic?
Where Bus and Truck Mechanics Work
You May Also Be Interested In…
Career changers with experience as a Bus or Truck Mechanic sometimes find work in one of the following fields:
- Mates- Ship, Boat, and Barge
References
Image Credit: Via Wikimedia Commons
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