Explore national salary, projected growth, education requirements, and career opportunities across the United States.
A concise view of this occupation’s national scale, compensation, and projected demand.
National median annual wage for this occupation.
Estimated jobs currently supported nationwide.
Projected employment change through 2034.
Estimated openings created each year.
The typical education, prior experience, and on-the-job training associated with entry into this career.
High school diploma or equivalent
None
Long-term on-the-job training
These are the highest-rated capabilities associated with success in this occupation. Scores are derived from occupational skill analysis and are measured on a 100-point scale.
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Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines, work in a field that combines hands-on mechanical expertise with problem solving and attention to detail. With national employment of 189,000 and projected growth of 5.8%, this occupation offers a sizeable and growing job base. The national median annual salary of $63,980 reflects solid earning potential, and several states and metro areas offer notably higher typical pay. The role rewards fine motor skills, physical strength and stamina, and strong mechanical ability, supported by mathematics, science, and analytical thinking. Opportunities exist across multiple regions, with especially strong CareerGPS opportunity scores in parts of California, Massachusetts, New York, Colorado, and Washington, as well as several large metro areas. For individuals who enjoy working with tools and machinery, making decisions to solve technical problems, and managing projects from start to finish, this path can provide a stable and engaging career. Similar career options include other installation, maintenance, and repair roles and specialized mechanics occupations.
This occupation offers a national median annual salary of $63,980, providing a solid earnings foundation. Pay varies significantly by location, creating opportunities for higher income in certain states and metro areas. Among states, Washington and California stand out with median salaries of $78,620 and $78,550, respectively, while Massachusetts and Colorado also offer higher median pay, at $76,070 and $71,830. New York’s median salary of $66,310 sits modestly above the national figure. At the metro level, salary potential can be even stronger. San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA, shows a median salary of $95,980, and San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA, reports $95,410. The New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ, metro area offers $78,060, while Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH, and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV, provide median salaries of $76,770 and $71,540. Overall, workers willing to target higher-paying regions may see substantially increased earnings.
Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines, currently account for 189,000 jobs nationwide, indicating a sizable employment base. Projected employment growth of 5.8% suggests continued demand for these skills over the coming years. This growth is supported by an estimated 16,000 annual openings, which reflect a combination of new positions and turnover in existing roles. The consistent 5.8% growth rate listed for top states and metro areas highlights a broadly similar outlook across different regions, rather than growth being concentrated in just a few locations. For job seekers, this means that opportunities are not limited to one specific part of the country. The combination of a large national workforce, measurable projected growth, and thousands of openings each year indicates a labor market where qualified candidates can explore opportunities in multiple regions and settings within this occupation.
Location can play a major role in both opportunity and earnings for mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines. Among states, California leads with an opportunity score of 67.38, a median salary of $78,550, and employment of 20,080, making it a high-opportunity and high-employment state. Massachusetts and New York also show strong opportunity scores (65.87 and 65.78), with median salaries of $76,070 and $66,310 and smaller, but meaningful, employment bases. Colorado and Washington round out the top states, both combining higher median pay with solid opportunity scores. At the metro level, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA, and New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ, post the highest opportunity scores (77.42 and 77.27). San Jose and San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA, offer the highest listed median salaries, both around the mid-$90,000 range. Meanwhile, large metros like New York, Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, and Boston-Cambridge-Newton pair strong opportunity scores with substantial employment, giving candidates multiple strong geographic options.
The typical education requirement for mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines, is a high school diploma or equivalent. This creates an accessible entry point for individuals interested in mechanically focused work without needing an advanced degree. Success in this career, however, relies on a strong skills profile. Fine motor skills, mechanical aptitude, and physical strength and stamina are central to the hands-on nature of the work. Mathematics and science support the ability to understand measurements, systems, and technical information. Problem solving and decision making, along with critical and analytical thinking, are important for diagnosing issues and choosing effective solutions. Being detail oriented helps ensure accuracy and safety, while project management skills assist in organizing tasks and timelines. Creativity and innovation can contribute to finding better approaches to technical challenges. Together, this combination of education and skills forms a solid foundation for building and advancing a career in this field.
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