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Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines
Diagnose, adjust, repair, or overhaul mobile mechanical, hydraulic, and pneumatic equipment, such as cranes, bulldozers, graders, and conveyors, used in construction, logging, and mining.
Other titles employers use
Construction Equipment Mechanic · Equipment Mechanic · Equipment Technician · Field Mechanic · Field Service Technician · Field Technician · Heavy Equipment Mechanic · Heavy Equipment Technician
Inside the work
What you would actually do.
6 responsibilities that define the role, before job titles and workplaces change the details.
- 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.
Who it suits
Would this work hold your attention?
This career often appeals to people drawn to practical, organizing and analytical work.
- Practical
- Building, repairing, using tools, or working outdoors
- Organizing
- Creating order, checking details, and keeping work accurate
- Analytical
- Investigating questions, testing ideas, and solving problems
Skills and strengths
What you would get good at.
Compare the skills the work relies on, the subjects behind it, and the abilities that make it easier to learn.
Core skills
- Troubleshooting
- Repairing
- Equipment Maintenance
- Operations Monitoring
- Operation and Control
- Equipment Selection
Subjects to know
- Mechanical
- Customer and Personal Service
- Mathematics
- Computers and Electronics
- Public Safety and Security
Useful strengths
- Manual Dexterity
- Control Precision
- Finger Dexterity
- Extent Flexibility
- Near Vision
Working day
Picture yourself doing it.
These measures show how much of the day involves people, movement, conversation, and hands-on work.
| Measure | Out of 5 | What that means here |
|---|---|---|
| Close to other people | 2.9 | Largely your own space |
| On your feet | 4.2 | Standing or moving for most of it |
| Talking face to face | 4.7 | Continuous — the job is conversations |
| Working with your hands | 4.7 | Handling tools, instruments or materials |
Preparation
How people prepare for this work.
Employers usually ask for a high school diploma. Other routes may also lead into the field.
- A certificate or some college 63%
- High school or less 32%
- A two-year degree 5%
Tools of the work
Technology you may use.
- Spreadsheet software
- Office suite software
- Electronic mail software
- Word processing software
- Data base user interface and query software
- Materials requirements planning logistics and supply chain software
- Facilities management software
Opportunity near you
See where this work is growing.
Choose a state to compare the size of the field, annual openings, and expected hiring change.
- People doing this work
- 25,250
- Job openings each year
- 2,320
- Expected hiring change, 2022–2032
- 19.4%
Compare every available state
| State | People doing it | Job openings each year | Expected change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | 25,250 | 2,320 | 19.4% |
| California | 24,200 | 2,110 | 9.0% |
| Florida | 8,950 | 810 | 16.8% |
| Arizona | 8,860 | 790 | 13.6% |
| Pennsylvania | 7,780 | 650 | 1.7% |
| Ohio | 5,980 | 510 | 5.7% |
| Washington | 5,480 | 530 | 9.2% |
| Georgia | 5,360 | 480 | 13.8% |
| North Carolina | 5,170 | 470 | 16.2% |
| Alabama | 5,100 | 450 | 9.7% |
| Virginia | 5,080 | 430 | 5.4% |
| Illinois | 4,180 | 370 | 13.0% |
| Colorado | 4,100 | 360 | 10.8% |
| Michigan | 4,070 | 350 | 4.9% |
| Indiana | 3,980 | 340 | 6.4% |
| Missouri | 3,740 | 320 | 7.2% |
| New York | 3,470 | 10 | 2.4% |
| Iowa | 3,280 | 290 | 10.1% |
| Louisiana | 3,270 | 280 | 6.5% |
| Tennessee | 3,200 | 300 | 22.6% |
| Wisconsin | 3,170 | 290 | 16.5% |
| South Carolina | 3,030 | 270 | 11.4% |
| Minnesota | 2,870 | 260 | 14.3% |
| Utah | 2,860 | 270 | 23.8% |
| Oklahoma | 2,840 | 240 | 7.2% |
| Oregon | 2,840 | 250 | 14.5% |
| Nevada | 2,830 | 270 | 24.1% |
| Kentucky | 2,650 | 230 | 6.4% |
| New Jersey | 2,610 | 230 | 6.5% |
| Maryland | 2,340 | 200 | 6.8% |
| Kansas | 2,080 | 180 | 6.7% |
| Mississippi | 2,060 | 180 | 10.2% |
| North Dakota | 2,060 | 190 | 17.0% |
| West Virginia | 2,010 | 160 | −2.9% |
| Wyoming | 1,790 | 160 | 16.2% |
| Idaho | 1,710 | 160 | 24.8% |
| Montana | 1,580 | 150 | 21.5% |
| New Mexico | 1,430 | 130 | 10.9% |
| Maine | 1,420 | 120 | 1.4% |
| Arkansas | 1,350 | 120 | 9.8% |
| Nebraska | 1,270 | 120 | 14.4% |
| Alaska | 1,080 | 100 | 13.7% |
| Massachusetts | 920 | 80 | 5.7% |
| South Dakota | 900 | 80 | 16.9% |
| Connecticut | 730 | 70 | 15.9% |
| New Hampshire | 660 | 60 | 11.9% |
| Delaware | 450 | 40 | 7.1% |
| Puerto Rico | 350 | 30 | 12.9% |
| Vermont | 250 | 20 | 4.2% |
| Guam | 180 | 20 | — |
| Rhode Island | 170 | 20 | 6.3% |
| District of Columbia | 80 | 10 | 14.3% |
| Virgin Islands | 40 | 0 | — |
Career to college
Build a path toward this work.
Start with a related major, then compare colleges where students complete that field.
Where to study
Colleges with strong activity in these fields.
Start with program size, admission, and likely cost. Open a college for the full picture.
Iowa State University
- Degrees each year
- 45
- Admit rate
- 89%
- Annual cost after aid
- $15,000
Program entryOpen major
Open college CACalifornia Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo
- Degrees each year
- 31
- Admit rate
- 30%
- Annual cost after aid
- $10,000
Program entryDirect to major
Open college NCNorth Carolina State University at Raleigh
- Degrees each year
- 27
- Admit rate
- 40%
- Annual cost after aid
- $13,000
Program entryDirect to major
Open college MOUniversity of Missouri-Columbia
- Degrees each year
- 20
- Admit rate
- 77%
- Annual cost after aid
- $14,000
Program entryOpen major
Open college SDSouth Dakota State University
- Degrees each year
- 17
- Admit rate
- 99%
- Annual cost after aid
- $18,000
Program entryOpen major
Open college TXSam Houston State University
- Degrees each year
- 17
- Admit rate
- 85%
- Annual cost after aid
- $16,000
Program entryOpen major
Open college INPurdue University-Main Campus
- Degrees each year
- 17
- Admit rate
- 50%
- Annual cost after aid
- $9,000
Program entryFirst-year program admission
Open college KSKansas State University
- Degrees each year
- 16
- Admit rate
- 79%
- Annual cost after aid
- $15,000
Program entryOpen major
Open college