Installation, maintenance and repair
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.
Median pay
$65,510
Growth to 2035
+7%
faster than average
Openings a year
15,000
Time to qualify*
12 months
* From a bachelor's degree in an unrelated field.
Pay
Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines
Getting in
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- On-the-job training
- Long-term on-the-job training
- Prior experience
- None
Calculate your switch to mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines
What the work is like
Dealing with the public
Unpleasant or angry people
Time pressure
Cost of a mistake
Freedom to make decisions
Repeating the same tasks
Time sitting
Time standing
Outdoors in all weather
Hazardous conditions
Exposure to disease
Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines: 50% usually work over 40 hours a week
Core 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.
Also called: Construction Equipment Mechanic · Equipment Mechanic · Equipment Technician · Field Mechanic · Field Service Technician · Field Technician · Heavy Equipment Mechanic · Heavy Equipment Technician
Outlook and AI
Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines held 180,300 jobs in 2025. BLS projects 192,500 by 2035 (+7%, faster than average; all jobs: +3.5%).
Compare with
- Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines vs. Industrial machinery mechanic
- Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines vs. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists
- Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines vs. Maintenance workers, machinery
- Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines vs. Rail car repairer
- Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines vs. Electric motor, power tool, and related repairers
- Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines vs. Engine and other machine assemblers
- Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines vs. Farm equipment mechanics and service technicians
- Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines vs. Hoist and winch operators
- Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines vs. Millwright
- Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines vs. Crane and tower operators