Diesel mechanics as a career has been gaining momentum recently, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics has also reported that diesel mechanics are the most demanded technicians, with a job growth of 4% by the year 2031.
If you are someone who is interested in working with machinery and diesel engines, you should consider pursuing a career as a diesel mechanic.
But what is a diesel mechanic, and what does a diesel mechanic do?
Diesel technicians are mechanics that focus on services related to automobiles functioning on diesel engines.
Their duties are to inspect, maintain, and repair vehicles that are diesel-powered, and their tasks range from changing oils and tires to replacing entire diesel engines.
If you are interested in pursuing this rewarding career, you may be wondering how much a diesel mechanic typically makes in Florida.
So how much does a Diesel Mechanic in Florida earn?
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that the average annual wage of a Diesel Mechanic in Florida is $52,160 or $25.08 per hour.
So it is evident that the salary offered for diesel mechanics in Florida is nearly the same as the national average, and we will discuss later why Florida is an ideal state to work as a diesel mechanic.
Read on to find out the comparison between the salaries offered in the state of Florida to that of other states and cities within Florida and how you can bag a higher-than-average starting salary as a beginner Diesel mechanic in Florida.
Diesel Mechanic Salary in Other States Compared to Florida
When it comes to salaries, you must have heard how the figures differ within each state. This shows that even for diesel mechanics, the job location is an important influencing factor in deciding how much salary you can earn where you live and work.
First, let us compare the salaries offered in Florida with other higher-paying states for diesel mechanics:
- Florida- $52,160 per year or $25.08 per hour
- California- $61,040 per year or $29.35 per hour (Diesel Mechanic Salary California)
- New York- $60,290 per year or $28.99 per hour
- Washington- $63,760 per year or $30.65 per hour
- Massachusetts- $62,500 per year or $30.05 per hour
- Alaska- $62,350 per year or $29.98 per hour
Now let us compare the salaries offered in Florida to that of other lower-paying states for diesel mechanics:
- Florida- $52,160 per year or $25.08 per hour
- Ohio- $49,430 per year or $23.76 per hour
- Arkansas- $43,710 per year or $21.02 per hour
- Idaho- $48,530 per year or $23.33 per hour
- Indiana- $48,920 per year or $23.52 per hour
- North Carolina- $49,100 per year or $23.61 per hour
These figures can help you decide if you want to move to Florida to pursue your career as a Diesel Mechanic.
If you do still wish to one of the higher-paying states, you should keep in mind the additional costs that you may have to bear, such as the costs of living, moving costs, and other daily expenses.
Salary in Other States
Diesel Mechanic Salary in Different Cities Within Florida
As mentioned before, the salaries offered for any profession differs greatly according to the job location. This is also true for different cities within a specific state. Let us delve deeper into a comparison between the salaries offered for diesel mechanics within different major cities in Florida-
- Miami- $63,248 annually or $29.25 hourly
- Orlando- $56,368 annually or $26.07 hourly
- Tampa- $57,925 annually or $26.79 hourly
- Tallahassee- $63,923 annually or $29.56 hourly
- Jacksonville- $57,790 annually or $26.72 hourly
- Florida City- $58,301 annually or $26.96 hourly
- Naples- $65,196 annually or $30.15 hourly
- Destin- $53,930 annually or $24.94 hourly
- St. Petersburg- $56,688 annually or $26.22 hourly
It is also important to note that the preceding figures have been pulled from indeed.com, a job board website. Hence, these figures might change and might vary.
How To Get Paid Higher than Average as a Novice Diesel Mechanic?
As in most professions, the starting salary for a diesel mechanic can be expected to be on the lower end. However, as you grow into your career and gain the relevant skills and experience, you can expect to earn higher.
Despite that, there are some novice diesel mechanics that end up getting paid higher than average salaries. You can become one of them by gaining the right skills and education that employers highly prefer. Add these skills to your resume, and you are bound to increase your chances of getting paid a higher-than-average salary, even if you’re just starting out. Here is how:
Choose online training programs to complete your training
One of the main prerequisites for becoming a diesel mechanic is to complete your diesel mechanic training after you have earned your high school diploma or a GED.
Even though there are other ways available to get your training, choosing an online training program is the best-recommended method.
This is due to the various pros that an online training program has over its alternatives, such as:
- It helps you to complete your training much faster (in a minimum of 6 months), and helps you become a certified diesel mechanic faster
- It allows you to learn at your own pace and time schedule and at the comfort of your own home
- It costs significantly less than its alternatives, helping you avoid the burden of undertaking a student debt
- Offers externship opportunities once you complete the course
Get Certified
After you are done with your educational requirements, you have to clear the Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) certification exams, which is the golden standard for earning your diesel mechanic certifications.
You have to earn the G1 ASE certification, for starters, which will make you eligible to apply for diesel mechanic roles, as employers highly prefer candidates with ASE certifications.
There are several other ASE certifications that you can continue to clear as you grow into your career and gain additional skills.
Gain additional skills for your resume
As a diesel mechanic, apart from theoretical and practical knowledge, there are several other skills you will need to gain to become a valuable employee.
For instance, once you enter the workforce and start to grow as an experienced diesel mechanic with additional responsibilities, you will need to gain management and communication skills, among others, to help you climb up the ladder.
You can also choose to be a specialized diesel mechanic, such as a mobile diesel mechanic, marine diesel mechanic, or heavy duty diesel mechanic.
Make sure you mention your skills in your diesel mechanic resume.
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