Life As a Bus or Truck Mechanic
Job Description & Duties 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.
Daily Life Of a Bus or Truck Mechanic
- Inspect brake systems, steering mechanisms, wheel bearings, and other important parts to ensure that they are in proper operating condition.
- Rebuild gas or diesel engines.
- Repair or adjust seats, doors, or windows.
- Adjust and reline brakes, align wheels, tighten bolts and screws, and reassemble equipment.
- Specialize in repairing and maintaining parts of the engine, such as fuel injection systems.
- Maintain or repair vehicles with alternative fuel systems, including biodiesel, hybrid, or compressed natural gas vehicles.
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What Every Bus or Truck Mechanic Should Know
These are the skills Bus and Truck Mechanics say are the most useful in their careers:
Repairing: Repairing machines or systems using the needed tools.
Troubleshooting: Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.
Operation and Control: Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
Operation Monitoring: Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Quality Control Analysis: Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
Related Job Titles for this Occupation:
- Marine Diesel Mechanic
- Overhauler, Bus, Truck
- Mechanic
- Locomotive Mechanic
- Service Technician
What Kind of Bus or Truck Mechanic Job Opportunities Are There?
In 2016, there was an estimated number of 278,800 jobs in the United States for Bus or Truck Mechanic. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 9.3% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 25,800 new jobs for Bus or Truck Mechanic by 2026. There will be an estimated 28,200 positions for Bus or Truck Mechanic per year.
The states with the most job growth for Bus or Truck Mechanic are Utah, North Dakota, and Nevada. Watch out if you plan on working in Alaska, Maine, or Maryland. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Bus or Truck Mechanic Average Salary
Bus and Truck Mechanics make between $31,200 and $72,180 a year.
Bus and Truck Mechanics who work in Alaska, District of Columbia, or Hawaii, make the highest salaries.
How much do Bus and Truck Mechanics make in different U.S. states?
| State | Annual Mean Salary |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $43,830 |
| Alaska | $66,280 |
| Arizona | $46,640 |
| Arkansas | $40,440 |
| California | $56,830 |
| Colorado | $52,350 |
| Connecticut | $58,060 |
| Delaware | $49,450 |
| District of Columbia | $60,730 |
| Florida | $46,610 |
| Georgia | $46,120 |
| Hawaii | $57,490 |
| Idaho | $42,770 |
| Illinois | $53,290 |
| Indiana | $44,660 |
| Iowa | $43,000 |
| Kansas | $44,170 |
| Kentucky | $43,340 |
| Louisiana | $47,680 |
| Maine | $44,530 |
| Maryland | $51,890 |
| Massachusetts | $59,310 |
| Michigan | $45,930 |
| Minnesota | $51,480 |
| Mississippi | $38,700 |
| Missouri | $45,320 |
| Montana | $51,160 |
| Nebraska | $43,460 |
| Nevada | $57,250 |
| New Hampshire | $52,240 |
| New Jersey | $55,500 |
| New Mexico | $43,520 |
| New York | $55,340 |
| North Carolina | $45,310 |
| North Dakota | $54,080 |
| Ohio | $46,900 |
| Oklahoma | $44,340 |
| Oregon | $51,000 |
| Pennsylvania | $46,960 |
| Rhode Island | $49,620 |
| South Carolina | $44,910 |
| South Dakota | $43,500 |
| Tennessee | $44,890 |
| Texas | $48,450 |
| Utah | $48,360 |
| Vermont | $46,700 |
| Virginia | $48,470 |
| Washington | $55,830 |
| West Virginia | $39,440 |
| Wisconsin | $48,070 |
| Wyoming | $53,380 |
Tools & Technologies Used by Bus and Truck Mechanics
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Bus and Truck Mechanics may use on a daily basis:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Word processing software
- SAP
- Autodesk AutoCAD
- Database software
- Computer aided design CAD software
- Scheduling software
- Dassault Systemes CATIA
- Dassault Systemes SOLIDWORKS
- Inventory tracking software
- Computer aided manufacturing CAM software
- Computerized maintenance management system software CMMS
Becoming a Bus or Truck Mechanic
What education is needed to be a Bus or Truck Mechanic?
How many years of work experience do I need?
Who Employs Bus and Truck Mechanics?
The table below shows the approximate number of Bus and Truck Mechanics employed by various industries.
Other Jobs You May be Interested In
Those who work as a Bus or Truck Mechanic sometimes switch careers to one of these choices:
References:
Image Credit: Airman 1st Class Nigel Sandridge via Public domain
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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