Farm equipment mechanics and service technicians: Salary, career path, job outlook, education and more
Farm equipment mechanics and service technicians service and repair farm equipment, such as tractors and harvesters. They also work on smaller consumer-grade lawn and garden tractors. Most work for dealer repair shops, where farmers increasingly send their equipment for maintenance.
- Education Required
- Most heavy vehicle and mobile equipment service technicians have a high school diploma or equivalent. High school courses in automotive repair, electronics, physics, and welding provide a strong foundation for a service technicians career. However, high school graduates often need further training to become fully qualified.
- Training Required
- Entry-level workers with no formal background in heavy vehicle repair often receive a few months of on-the-job training before they begin performing routine service tasks and making minor repairs. Trainees advance to more complex work as they show competence, and they usually become fully qualified after 3 to 4 years of work.
- Job Outlook
-
The projected percent change in employment from 2016 to 2026: 8% (As fast as average)
(The average growth rate for all occupations is 7 percent.) - Licenses/Certifications
- Some manufacturers offer certification in specific repair methods or equipment. Although not required, certification can demonstrate a service technicians competence and usually commands higher pay.
- Median pay: How much do Heavy Vehicle and Mobile Equipment Service Technicians make?
- $47,690 Annual Salary
- $22.93 per hour
Careers for Heavy Vehicle and Mobile Equipment Service Technicians
- Agricultural equipment mechanics
- Bulldozer mechanics
- Combine mechanics
- Construction equipment mechanics
- Construction equipment technicians
- Dairy equipment mechanics
- Dairy equipment repairers
- Dragline mechanics
- Farm equipment mechanics
- Forklift mechanics
- Forklift technicians
- Freight car repairers
- Harvester mechanics
- Irrigation equipment mechanics
- Mechanics and repairers
- Milking machine mechanics
- Mine car mechanics
- Mobile heavy equipment mechanics
- Mobile heavy equipment mechanics and service technicians
- Rail car maintenance mechanics
- Rail car mechanics
- Rail car repairers
- Service technicians, mobile heavy equipment
- Streetcar repairers
- Subway car repairers
- Tank car reconditioners
- Technicians and technologists
- Tractor mechanics
- Trolley car mechanics
- Trolley car overhaulers