Installation, Maintenance & Repair
Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines
Also called: Construction Equipment Mechanic, Equipment Mechanic, Equipment Technician, Field Mechanic
US median pay
$65,510
per year, 2025
Job growth 2025–35
+6.7%
faster than average
Openings a year (US)
15,000
180,300 employed
Typical entry education
High school diploma or equivalent
Preparation 3/5 · Medium preparation
What this job is
Diagnose, adjust, repair, or overhaul mobile mechanical, hydraulic, and pneumatic equipment, such as cranes, bulldozers, graders, and conveyors, used in construction, logging, and mining.
What they do day to day
- 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.
- 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.
Skills and knowledge that matter most
Skills
- Troubleshooting4.1/5
- Repairing4.1/5
- Equipment Maintenance4.0/5
- Operations Monitoring3.8/5
- Operation and Control3.6/5
- Quality Control Analysis3.4/5
- Equipment Selection3.4/5
- Judgment and Decision Making3.1/5
Knowledge
- Mechanical4.8/5
- Customer and Personal Service3.3/5
- Mathematics3.3/5
- Computers and Electronics3.1/5
- Public Safety and Security3.0/5
- Building and Construction3.0/5
Importance rated by people working in the job (1 = not important, 5 = extremely important).
Education and preparation
Preparation level 3 of 5 — Medium preparation. Usually vocational training, an associate's degree or an apprenticeship.
Typical entry education (BLS): High school diploma or equivalent.
Highest education of people in this job:
- Post-secondary certificate55%
- High school diploma30%
Who this job suits
Mostly Realistic
Hands-on work with tools, machines, plants or animals
Conventional
Organising data, details and procedures
Investigative
Ideas, research and solving problems
Based on the Holland (RIASEC) interest profile for this occupation.