What Does a Heavy Equipment Mechanic Do?
When a tractor breaks down at planting time, the mechanic can be the deciding factor in whether a field goes in on schedule or whether the crew sits idle for days waiting on parts. Heavy equipment mechanics work as members of a maintenance crew, keeping loaders, dozers, tractors and mowers running for contractors, farms, public works departments and university research farms.
Also known as: Equipment Mechanic, Farm Equipment Mechanic
Other Job Titles for This Work
Workers in this occupation report titles such as Construction Equipment Mechanic, Equipment Mechanic, Equipment Technician, Field Mechanic, Field Service Technician, Field Technician, Heavy Equipment Technician, Mechanic.
Heavy Equipment Mechanic Duties and Responsibilities
The primary responsibilities of a heavy equipment mechanic include:
- Diagnose hydraulic, electrical and drivetrain faults on loaders, backhoes, tractors and mowers.
- Read fault codes with diagnostic laptops running software such as Cat ET or John Deere Service ADVISOR.
- Rebuild hydraulic cylinders, pumps and valves, and replace worn hoses and fittings.
- Change oil, filters and fluids on a schedule set by each machine's hours of use.
- Weld and fabricate brackets, bucket edges and guards to repair cracked or bent parts.
- Replace tracks, undercarriage parts, tires and brakes on crawlers and wheeled machines.
- Drive the service truck to job sites and fields to repair machines where they broke down.
- Inspect equipment before busy seasons such as planting, harvest and snow removal.
- Keep service records, order parts and track warranty claims with dealers.
- Operate repaired machines to confirm the fix before returning them to crews.
Required Skills and Qualifications
To succeed as a heavy equipment mechanic, you will need the following skills and qualifications:
- Hydraulic and electrical troubleshooting
- Diagnostic software such as Cat ET or John Deere Service ADVISOR
- MIG and stick welding
- Reading schematics and service manuals
- Your own set of hand tools, which many shops expect
- Commercial driver's license (CDL), which some employers require
- Problem solving in mud, cold and tight spaces
- Strength for heavy parts and long shifts at harvest
Education and Training
Although a high school diploma and long training on the job are the standard route, a diesel or heavy equipment program at a technical college can shorten the climb. Dealer training programs may also help. Bear in mind that shops are more likely to hire a mechanic who already owns a basic set of tools.
Salary and Job Outlook
Typical pay: $56,970 - $79,270 per year, with a median of $65,510.
The range covers the middle half of earners nationwide. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines.
BLS projects employment of mobile heavy equipment mechanics to grow about 7 percent from 2025 to 2035. The same projections show about 15,000 openings a year, spread across contractors, equipment dealers, farms and public agencies. Demand should hold for several reasons, including road and bridge work; farm machinery, such as combines and tractors packed with electronics; and aging fleets that need constant repair.
Outlook source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2025 to 2035, Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines.
Heavy Equipment Mechanic Pay Range
| Earners | Annual pay |
|---|---|
| Bottom 10% earn less than | $46,820 |
| Bottom 25% earn less than | $56,970 |
| Median (half earn more, half less) | $65,510 |
| Top 25% earn more than | $79,270 |
| Top 10% earn more than | $94,460 |
Highest-Paying States for Heavy Equipment Mechanics
The states with the highest median pay for this occupation are Alaska ($82,670), Nevada ($79,860), Minnesota ($79,370), Hawaii ($79,170), Washington ($78,620). Pay is lowest in Mississippi ($58,180), Oklahoma ($58,130), West Virginia ($56,810).
Median pay in all 51 states with BLS data
| State | Median annual pay |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $63,850 |
| Alaska | $82,670 |
| Arizona | $64,980 |
| Arkansas | $60,530 |
| California | $78,550 |
| Colorado | $71,830 |
| Connecticut | $78,190 |
| Delaware | $67,010 |
| District of Columbia | $70,780 |
| Florida | $63,550 |
| Georgia | $60,560 |
| Hawaii | $79,170 |
| Idaho | $64,830 |
| Illinois | $71,370 |
| Indiana | $64,200 |
| Iowa | $64,290 |
| Kansas | $60,890 |
| Kentucky | $59,220 |
| Louisiana | $62,260 |
| Maine | $61,280 |
| Maryland | $68,250 |
| Massachusetts | $76,070 |
| Michigan | $66,680 |
| Minnesota | $79,370 |
| Mississippi | $58,180 |
| Missouri | $63,390 |
| Montana | $72,560 |
| Nebraska | $65,150 |
| Nevada | $79,860 |
| New Hampshire | $68,570 |
| New Jersey | $78,180 |
| New Mexico | $63,630 |
| New York | $66,310 |
| North Carolina | $64,080 |
| North Dakota | $76,030 |
| Ohio | $63,200 |
| Oklahoma | $58,130 |
| Oregon | $74,740 |
| Pennsylvania | $63,870 |
| Rhode Island | $68,130 |
| South Carolina | $59,180 |
| South Dakota | $66,730 |
| Tennessee | $61,880 |
| Texas | $61,940 |
| Utah | $63,580 |
| Vermont | $64,020 |
| Virginia | $63,950 |
| Washington | $78,620 |
| West Virginia | $56,810 |
| Wisconsin | $65,450 |
| Wyoming | $73,200 |
What the Work Is Like
O*NET surveys people who work as mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines about their daily conditions. Of those surveyed:
- 100% wear safety gear such as gloves, safety glasses or a hard hat every day
- 92% say being exact and accurate is very or extremely important
- 90% use their hands on tools, objects or controls for more than half the day
- 89% say teamwork is very or extremely important in their job
- 85% spend more than half the workday on their feet
- 73% bend or twist for more than half the day
- 71% work around hazardous equipment every day
Education Workers Say the Job Needs
| Education level | Share of workers |
|---|---|
| Post-secondary certificate | 55% |
| High school diploma or GED | 30% |
| Some college | 8% |
| Associate's degree | 5% |
Tools and Software Heavy Equipment Mechanics Use
Tools and equipment
Software
Is This Job a Good Fit for You?
People who do well in this job tend to enjoy hands-on work with tools, machines or the outdoors as well as organized work with data, records and clear procedures.
Skills O*NET rates most important: Troubleshooting, Repairing, Equipment Maintenance, Operations Monitoring, Operation and Control, Equipment Selection.
Knowledge areas used most: Mechanical, Customer and Personal Service, Mathematics, Computers and Electronics, Public Safety and Security.
Preparation: O*NET places this occupation in Job Zone 3 of 5, which means medium preparation.
Related Careers
These jobs use similar skills, according to O*NET's related-occupation data:
Applying for a Heavy Equipment Mechanic Job
- Job application letter sample
- How to write the skills section of a resume
- How to describe your work experience
- Job interview tips
- Interview thank-you note
The Job Explorer never charges candidates any money. If someone asks you to pay to apply for a heavy equipment mechanic job or to get hired, treat it as a warning sign.
Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2025 to 2035.
- O*NET 30.1 Database, occupation 49-3042.00 (Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines). View on O*NET OnLine.
This page includes information from the O*NET 30.1 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. The Job Explorer has modified some of the information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed or tested these changes.