Salary and Outlook

According to the US Department of Labor, there are 152,600 people employed as mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines in the United States. The median annual salary is $58,030. Entry level employees earn approximately $37,290 per year and senior employees earn approximately $78,420 per year.

Estimates do not include other potential benefits such as health insurance, overtime pay, or retirement benefits that may be offered by employers.

Job Duties

• Repair and replace damaged or worn parts.
• Test mechanical products and equipment after repair or assembly to ensure proper performance and compliance with manufacturers' specifications.
• 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.
• 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.
• Repair, rewire, and troubleshoot electrical systems.
• 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.
• Fit bearings to adjust, repair, or overhaul mobile mechanical, hydraulic, and pneumatic equipment.
• Schedule maintenance for industrial machines and equipment, and keep equipment service records.
• 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.
• 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.

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