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Construction & Infrastructure
Bechtel, Kiewit, Granite Construction
Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines
These mechanics keep bulldozers, loaders, graders, and other off-road machines working by finding faults, replacing worn parts, and testing the repair before the equipment goes back to work. The job stands out because the machines are large, expensive, and often tied to urgent work schedules, so the tradeoff is solid hands-on work and decent pay in exchange for dirt, physical strain, and problem-solving under pressure.
Also known as Heavy Equipment MechanicMobile Heavy Equipment TechnicianConstruction Equipment MechanicField Service MechanicEquipment Repair Technician
Median Salary
$63,980
Mean $67,580
U.S. Workforce
~180K
16.5K openings per year
10-Year Growth
+5.8%
188.7K to 199.6K
Entry Education
High school diploma or equivalent
+ None experience
What This Role Looks Like in Practice
Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines sits in the Trades category. In practical terms, this role combines day-to-day execution, cross-team coordination, and consistent decision-making under real business constraints.
U.S. employment is currently about ~180K workers, with a median annual pay of $63,980 and roughly 16.5K openings each year. Based on BLS projections, total employment is expected to grow from 188.7 K in 2024 to 199.6K in 2034.
Most hiring paths start with Post-secondary certificate in heavy equipment or diesel technology, and employers typically expect none of related experience. Many careers in this track begin around Mechanic Helper and can progress toward Shop or Field Service Supervisor. High-value skills usually include Repairing, Troubleshooting, and Equipment Maintenance, paired with soft skills such as Problem Solving, Attention to Detail, and Communication.
Core Responsibilities
- Start up heavy machines, listen for unusual sounds, watch for warning signs, and trace the source of the problem.
- Take apart broken assemblies, replace worn components, and put major systems like transmissions and gear units back together.
- Build or shape replacement parts when the right piece is not available off the shelf.
- Test the equipment after repairs to make sure it runs correctly and meets the manufacturer’s standards.
Keep exploring: more Trades careers or browse all job titles.
A Day in the Life
01 Start up heavy machines, listen for unusual sounds, watch for warning signs, and trace the source of the problem.
02 Take apart broken assemblies, replace worn components, and put major systems like transmissions and gear units back together.
03 Build or shape replacement parts when the right piece is not available off the shelf.
04 Test the equipment after repairs to make sure it runs correctly and meets the manufacturer’s standards.
05 Clean parts and move heavy components with jacks, cranes, and other lifting tools during repairs.
06 Keep service notes, follow repair manuals, and work with other mechanics or helpers during larger jobs.
Industries That Hire
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Equipment Rental & Leasing
United Rentals, Sunbelt Rentals, Herc Rentals
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Mining & Quarrying
Rio Tinto, Freeport-McMoRan, BHP
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Agriculture & Forestry Equipment
John Deere, CNH Industrial, Kubota
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Waste Management & Recycling
Waste Management, Republic Services, Veolia
Pros and Cons
Advantages
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Pay is solid for a job that typically starts with a high school diploma or certificate, with a median annual wage of $63,980 and a mean of $67,580.
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There are 16.5K projected annual openings, so experienced mechanics can usually find steady demand.
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You work on real machines and see a direct result when a broken vehicle or piece of equipment gets back to work.
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The skills transfer across construction, rental fleets, mining, agriculture, and public works, which can make it easier to switch industries.
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There is a clear path to higher pay if you move into lead mechanic, field service, or supervisory work.
Challenges
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The work is physical, dirty, and often uncomfortable because you are handling heavy parts, grease, solvents, and large machinery.
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BLS expects long-term on-the-job training, so it can take years before you are fully trusted to diagnose and fix problems on your own.
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Growth is only 5.8% from 2024 to 2034, which is steady but not fast enough to create a lot of rapid upward movement.
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The job can be tied to construction, mining, and fleet budgets, so slowdowns in those industries can mean fewer hours or less overtime.
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The career ceiling can be modest unless you move into supervision or specialty service work, since much of the pay is tied to hands-on repair hours.
Career Progression
Mechanic Helper
0-2 years
$34K-$45K
Entry workers clean parts, fetch tools, help move components, and learn how to follow repair procedures safely.
Apprentice Heavy Equipment Mechanic
2-5 years
$46K-$59K
Apprentices begin handling supervised repairs, basic diagnostics, and part replacement on their own.
Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanic THIS ROLE
5-9 years
$60K-$75K
At this level, mechanics diagnose breakdowns, rebuild assemblies, and work more independently in the shop or on-site.
Senior or Lead Mechanic
9-15 years
$76K-$91K
Senior mechanics handle the hardest repairs, check other people’s work, and often train newer staff.
Shop or Field Service Supervisor
15+ years
$92K-$115K
Supervisors manage schedules, quality checks, and customer or fleet priorities instead of doing only hands-on repair work.
Education Paths
Post-secondary certificate in heavy equipment or diesel technology
The most common path, held by 54.58% of workers in O*NET data, usually focuses on equipment repair, hydraulics, and shop safety.
High school diploma or GED plus employer training
A common entry route, used by 29.63% of workers, often followed by long-term on-the-job training with a dealership, contractor, or rental company.
Associate's degree in industrial maintenance or heavy equipment technology
A smaller route, used by 5.28% of workers, and it can help candidates move faster into diagnostics and more advanced repair work.
Apprenticeship or manufacturer certification
A realistic alternative for people who want to learn through long-term on-the-job training and earn credentials from equipment makers or trade organizations.
Key Skills
Technical
Repairing 82%
Troubleshooting 82%
Equipment Maintenance 80%
Hydraulic Systems, Jacks, Hoists & Cranes 78%
Operations Monitoring 75%
Diagnostic Manuals, Scan Tools & Multimeters 74%
Operation and Control 72%
Welding, Cutting & Fabrication Tools 70%
Equipment Selection 68%
Quality Control Analysis 68%
Critical Thinking 65%
Soft Skills
Problem SolvingAttention to DetailCommunicationTeamworkPhysical StaminaTime Management Job Outlook and Trends
+5.8%
Projected growth (2024-2034)
16.5K
Annual job openings
Employment is projected to rise from 188.7K to 199.6 K over the next decade, representing 5.8% growth. Around 16.5 K openings per year include both newly created roles and replacement hiring from turnover.
Remote availability is currently Rare. Demand remains strongest where employers need practical domain knowledge plus modern workflow and data skills.