Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics earn $65,510 nationally at the median. The middle 50% of workers fall between $56,970 and $79,270. Where you land depends on specialization, employer, and experience.
Diagnose, adjust, repair, or overhaul mobile mechanical, hydraulic, and pneumatic equipment, such as cranes, bulldozers, graders, and conveyors, used in construction, logging, and mining.
Also known as:
Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics earn $65,510 nationally, near the national median for college graduates. The middle 50% of earners fall between $56,970 and $79,270. Actual pay varies by employer, specialization, and location.
Near the national median for college graduates.
25th to 75th percentile. Most workers earn within this band.
O*NET data identifies 5 core activities and 5 measurable skills for Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics roles. Use this section to judge whether the day-to-day reality aligns with what you actually want to spend time doing.
Hands-on tasks, physical activity, or working with tools and real materials are central parts of the daily work here.
Success depends on precision and structured processes, where detail-oriented people who work consistently within established systems perform best.
This career demands analytical thinking: researching problems, interpreting data, and applying logical reasoning to find practical solutions.
What the physical and mental conditions of this job actually look like day to day, based on O*NET Work Context data collected from people working in this occupation.
Split between indoor and outdoor or field settings.
Mix of sitting and movement throughout the day.
Moderate pressure. Regular deadlines exist but are generally manageable with experience.
The BLS projects +5.8% employment change for Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics through 2034, roughly in line with the national average of +5%. About 16,500 openings per year keep the field accessible to new entrants.
About as fast as average.
New positions plus replacements for retirees and career-changers.
Total US employment as of BLS May 2024.
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034 and Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2024.
The five states below employ the most Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics professionals nationwide. State-level wages can differ significantly from the $65,510 national median. Research your specific market before committing to a program.
| # | State | Jobs | Median Wage | vs. National |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 21,170 | $78,060 | +19.2% |
| 2 | Texas | 19,850 | $60,920 | -7.0% |
| 3 | Florida | 9,760 | $62,680 | -4.3% |
| 4 | Arizona | 7,840 | $62,880 | -4.0% |
| 5 | Pennsylvania | 7,560 | $62,590 | -4.5% |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024. Employment figures rounded. Read our methodology →
Most Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics positions require a high school diploma or equivalent to qualify. The 2 programs below are the most common academic pathways into this field, ranked by how many graduates they produce each year.
A medium amount of preparation is required, often an associate degree, certificate program, or apprenticeship, plus some related experience.
| # | Program | Graduates/yr | 4yr Median | Colleges |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Heavy/Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies/Technicians | 8,614 | $83,301 | 374 |
| 2 | Agricultural Mechanization | 1,402 | $71,278 | 90 |
Colleges offering the degree programs that lead to this career, ranked by UCD Score. A strong program plus solid outcomes is a good place to begin your search.
| # | College | UCD Score | Net Price | Salary 10yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo San Luis Obispo, CA | 88 | $16,665 | $90,768 |
| 2 | South Georgia Technical College Americus, GA | 86 | $1,164 | $30,364 |
| 3 | Purdue University-Main Campus West Lafayette, IN | 86 | $14,600 | $72,424 |
| 4 | Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Murfreesboro Murfreesboro, TN | 86 | $6,631 | $40,869 |
| 5 | North Carolina State University at Raleigh Raleigh, NC | 85 | $17,303 | $68,758 |
| 6 | New Castle School of Trades New Castle, PA | 85 | $8,361 | $44,814 |
Once you've sized up Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, these tools turn the numbers into a plan. Estimate the real cost of a degree that leads here, weigh the long-term payoff, compare specific colleges side-by-side, and find programs that match your profile.
See if the degree that leads to Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics pays off. Weighs each college's cost against the earnings graduates see.
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The data on Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics shows 3 measurable strengths and 1 real trade-offs. All points are drawn from BLS wage data, employment projections, and IPEDS program completions.
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