Vehicle and Mobile Equipment Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers

How to become a Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanic

Official title: Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines

Also called: Construction Equipment Mechanic, Equipment Mechanic, Equipment Technician, Field Mechanic, Field Service Technician, Field Technician, Heavy Equipment Mechanic, Heavy Equipment Technician, Mechanic, Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanic

Diagnose, adjust, repair, or overhaul mobile mechanical, hydraulic, and pneumatic equipment, such as cranes, bulldozers, graders, and conveyors, used in construction, logging, and mining.

Main tasks

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.

How to become one

Most heavy vehicle and mobile equipment service technicians have a high school diploma or equivalent. Because vehicle and equipment technology is increasingly sophisticated and computerized, some employers prefer to hire service technicians who have completed a training program at a postsecondary institution.

Typical education to start: High school diploma or equivalent

Read the full guide from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Ways in

Apprenticeship: Construction Equipment Mechanic.
Apprenticeship: Logging-Equipment Mechanic.
Apprenticeship: Mechanic, Endless Track Veh.

Pay · Outlook · AI and this job

Median pay: $65,510 a year The middle half earn $56,970 to $79,270.
About 180,300 people work in this job now, and about 192,500 are projected by 2035. (+6.7%)
People use generative AI for relatively little of this work so far. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as low.

Questions people ask

How do I become a Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanic?

How much does a Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanic earn in the US?

Median full-time pay is $65,510 a year (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). The middle half earn $56,970 to $79,270.

Is a Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanic a growing career in the US?

Yes. Employment is projected to grow 7% by 2035, from about 180,300 to about 192,500 people (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Do you need a degree to become a Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanic?

Usually not. Only 5% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Ways in include: Construction Equipment Mechanic.

Will AI change the work of a Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanic?

People use generative AI for relatively little of this work so far. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as low.

Sources

Microsoft Research: Working with AI: AI applicability by occupation (2025-12-22 (built on O*NET 29.0)), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Employment Projections (2025-35 (released 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook (2025-35 edition (published 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS); photographs excluded, retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03

Updated 2026-10-03

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.