Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines
Also called: Equipment Mechanic, Heavy Equipment Mechanic, Heavy Equipment Technician, MechanicDiagnose, adjust, repair, or overhaul mobile mechanical, hydraulic, and pneumatic equipment, such as cranes, bulldozers, graders, and conveyors, used in construction, logging, and mining.
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What the data says: AI could halve the time on 4 of its 20 tasks, and jobs are projected to grow 6.7% by 2035. How to think about this →
About this projection
BLS builds AI into its projections where the research supports it: “BLS generally applies adjustments based on this research conservatively, where there is convincing evidence for a change.”
It also notes a limit: “BLS projection methods are not designed to capture extremely rapid technological change.”
On its AI exposure groups, BLS says exposure “does not imply job loss.”
Recent conditions
- In 2024, 1.8% of people in this work were unemployed, against 3.8% across all occupations Census ACS 2024, all workers in the Census group “Heavy vehicle and mobile equipment service technicians and mechanics”
- From Sep 2025 to Aug 2026, 7.8 hires for every 10 job openings in wholesale trade, which employs about 28% of people in this work, against 7.3 across all industries BLS JOLTS
One box per opening, filled for each hire; hires beyond the openings are added in a lighter shade. Higher can mean openings get filled, or that people leave often; lower, that jobs go unfilled, or hiring is slow.7.8 this industry7.3 all industries
Median pay by state BLS OEWS May 2025, state estimates
Tap a state for its figures.
Median pay in every state
| State | Median | Middle half earn | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $63,850 | $55,270 to $75,890 | 4,640 |
| Alaska | $82,670 | $65,500 to $105,300 | 1,430 |
| Arizona | $64,980 | $59,350 to $77,520 | 7,040 |
| Arkansas | $60,530 | $47,820 to $65,680 | 1,190 |
| California | $78,550 | $63,830 to $94,620 | 20,080 |
| Colorado | $71,830 | $60,490 to $86,270 | 4,060 |
| Connecticut | $78,190 | $65,400 to $92,270 | 1,080 |
| Delaware | $67,010 | $55,860 to $80,390 | 540 |
| District of Columbia | $70,780 | $57,740 to $77,480 | 130 |
| Florida | $63,550 | $52,680 to $75,390 | 9,240 |
| Georgia | $60,560 | $50,720 to $72,670 | 6,270 |
| Guam | $45,280 | $39,790 to $56,990 | 280 |
| Hawaii | $79,170 | $66,610 to $90,830 | 530 |
| Idaho | $64,830 | $57,770 to $79,780 | 1,220 |
| Illinois | $71,370 | $55,160 to $80,870 | 3,470 |
| Indiana | $64,200 | $56,550 to $79,440 | 3,130 |
| Iowa | $64,290 | $57,250 to $78,430 | 2,820 |
| Kansas | $60,890 | $51,200 to $72,960 | 1,690 |
| Kentucky | $59,220 | $48,810 to $70,240 | 2,540 |
| Louisiana | $62,260 | $48,990 to $73,540 | 4,270 |
| Maine | $61,280 | $54,330 to $74,060 | 1,490 |
| Maryland | $68,250 | $60,250 to $81,180 | 1,800 |
| Massachusetts | $76,070 | $64,880 to $92,450 | 1,620 |
| Michigan | $66,680 | $58,850 to $78,120 | 3,860 |
| Minnesota | $79,370 | $63,060 to $90,500 | 2,890 |
| Mississippi | $58,180 | $47,000 to $64,470 | 1,690 |
| Missouri | $63,390 | $52,390 to $78,650 | 3,370 |
| Montana | $72,560 | $62,590 to $83,200 | 1,330 |
| Nebraska | $65,150 | $59,810 to $77,260 | 1,490 |
| Nevada | $79,860 | $68,050 to $92,690 | 2,870 |
| New Hampshire | $68,570 | $59,730 to $78,640 | 660 |
| New Jersey | $78,180 | $63,560 to $92,980 | 3,520 |
| New Mexico | $63,630 | $52,010 to $77,470 | 1,470 |
| New York | $66,310 | $59,120 to $79,450 | 4,700 |
| North Carolina | $64,080 | $55,940 to $76,410 | 5,100 |
| North Dakota | $76,030 | $60,960 to $87,750 | 1,720 |
| Ohio | $63,200 | $58,130 to $76,450 | 6,270 |
| Oklahoma | $58,130 | $47,250 to $72,620 | 2,800 |
| Oregon | $74,740 | $61,790 to $82,950 | 2,650 |
| Pennsylvania | $63,870 | $57,270 to $75,150 | 6,870 |
| Puerto Rico | $43,510 | $28,860 to $57,390 | 240 |
| Rhode Island | $68,130 | $60,130 to $84,480 | 260 |
| South Carolina | $59,180 | $48,480 to $65,080 | 2,830 |
| South Dakota | $66,730 | $60,700 to $79,580 | 830 |
| Tennessee | $61,880 | $52,000 to $74,020 | 2,600 |
| Texas | $61,940 | $50,740 to $76,690 | 20,080 |
| Utah | $63,580 | $57,120 to $76,250 | 2,230 |
| Vermont | $64,020 | $58,680 to $74,940 | 350 |
| Virginia | $63,950 | $53,500 to $77,060 | 4,340 |
| Washington | $78,620 | $64,800 to $96,750 | 3,900 |
| West Virginia | $56,810 | $46,350 to $64,910 | 2,110 |
| Wisconsin | $65,450 | $59,310 to $80,270 | 2,090 |
| Wyoming | $73,200 | $57,010 to $83,390 | 1,420 |
Nationally: $65,510. Shades run from the lowest state median to the highest; a territory below that range takes the lightest. How to read this
How AI touches the work
What AI could speed up, task by task, and where people already use it.
AI could halve the time on 4 of its 20 tasks
| AI rating | Its main tasks | Share of Claude conversations May 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Not much | Repair and replace damaged or worn parts. | Not published |
| Not much | Test mechanical products and equipment after repair or assembly to ensure proper performance and compliance with manufacturers' specifications. | Not published |
| Not much | Operate and inspect machines or heavy equipment to diagnose defects. | Not published |
| AI + software | Read and understand operating manuals, blueprints, and technical drawings. | under 0.01% |
| Not much | Adjust, maintain, and repair or replace subassemblies, such as transmissions and crawler heads, using hand tools, jacks, and cranes. | Not published |
| Not much | Repair, rewire, and troubleshoot electrical systems. | Not published |
See all 20 tasks
| Not much | Overhaul and test machines or equipment to ensure operating efficiency. | Not published |
| Not much | Dismantle and reassemble heavy equipment using hoists and hand tools. | Not published |
| AI + software | Diagnose faults or malfunctions to determine required repairs, using engine diagnostic equipment such as computerized test equipment and calibration devices. | under 0.01% |
| Not much | Examine parts for damage or excessive wear, using micrometers and gauges. | Not published |
| Not much | Clean, lubricate, and perform other routine maintenance work on equipment and vehicles. | Not published |
| Not much | Fit bearings to adjust, repair, or overhaul mobile mechanical, hydraulic, and pneumatic equipment. | Not published |
| Not much | Weld or solder broken parts and structural members, using electric or gas welders and soldering tools. | Not published |
| Not much | Clean parts by spraying them with grease solvent or immersing them in tanks of solvent. | Not published |
| Not much | Assemble gear systems, and align frames and gears. | Not published |
| Not much | Adjust and maintain industrial machinery, using control and regulating devices. | Not published |
| AI alone | Schedule maintenance for industrial machines and equipment, and keep equipment service records. | Not published |
| Not much | Fabricate needed parts or items from sheet metal. | Not published |
| Not much | Research, order, and maintain parts inventory for services and repairs. | Not published |
| AI + software | Direct workers who are assembling or disassembling equipment or cleaning parts. | Not published |
Ordered by how important O*NET's respondents rate each task (1 to 5) times the share who say it is part of their job. The ordering is ours. 2 of the 20 have a published share of Claude conversations; “not published” means too few conversations for Anthropic to publish a figure.
Where people already use AI
The tasks above say what AI could speed up. This shows what people are using it for. Its 20 tasks fall under 23 work activities that many occupations share, and Microsoft counted how often each one came up in 200,000 conversations with its Copilot assistant in 2024.
- #8 Read documents or materials to inform work processes
- #36 Purchase goods or services
- #42 Diagnose system or equipment problems
| Work activity | This occupation's tasks under it | People asked AI for help in 10,000 conversations |
AI did it for them in 10,000 conversations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Repair tools or equipment | |||
| Maintain tools or equipment | |||
| Adjust equipment to ensure adequate performance | |||
| Clean tools, equipment, facilities, or work areas | |||
| Assemble equipment or components | |||
| Read documents or materials to inform work processes | |||
| Purchase goods or services | |||
| Diagnose system or equipment problems |
Show all 23 activities
| Test performance of equipment or systems | |||
| Connect components or supply lines to equipment or tools | |||
| Schedule operational activities | |||
| Inspect completed work or finished products | |||
| Maintain operational records | |||
| Disassemble equipment | |||
| Position materials or components for assembly | |||
| Repair electrical or electronic equipment | |||
| Operate transportation equipment or vehicles | |||
| Inspect commercial, industrial, or production systems or equipment | |||
| Fabricate devices or components | |||
| Inspect vehicles | |||
| Supervise personnel activities | |||
| Replenish inventories of materials, equipment, or products | |||
| Join parts using soldering, welding, or brazing techniques |
How people in this work use Claude
What people in this work made with Claude % of conversations
- An explanation or answer35%
- Advice or a recommendation20%
- An analysis or summary10%
- A document or report7%
- A plan or strategy4%
How they worked with Claude
39% of these conversations were about work. Anthropic Economic Index, May 2026.
How to read this
Work activities come from O*NET, which links every task to the broader activities it involves. Microsoft's figures are for the activity across everyone who used Copilot, not for mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines specifically. Copilot is a general chat assistant; dedicated coding tools are not included, so programming help is under-counted here. Activities are listed by how many of this occupation's tasks fall under them.
The task ratings say whether AI could halve the time a task takes: on its own (“AI alone”), or with software built on it (“AI + software”). They were made by people in 2023 (Eloundou et al.). Claude's share is the task's share of all Claude.ai conversations in May 2026; Anthropic doesn't publish a task with too few conversations. None of these add up to the BLS exposure group, which combines five research measures.
More in the Guide: task ratings · task order · work activities · Copilot figures · Claude
High exposure doesn't mean fewer jobs
BLS projects most occupations in its two most exposed groups to grow: 141 of 206 rated Very high and 165 of 206 rated High. Each dot is one of the 831 occupations BLS rates.
Career moves into and out of this occupation
From moves between occupations found in online resumes, 2002–2016. Career changes only: a first job after school isn't a move.
Where people moved next
of 8,162 moves out
- 1 Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers Moderate +3.8% 7%
- 2 Maintenance and Repair Workers, General Low +4.2% 7%
- 3 First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers High +4.1% 4%
- 4 Managers, All Other (2010 group) an older group BLS has since split; no exposure group today 4%
- 5 Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics Moderate +5.0% 4%
Where people moved in from
of 8,154 moves in
- 1 Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics Moderate +5.0% 7%
- 2 Maintenance and Repair Workers, General Low +4.2% 6%
- 3 Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers Moderate +3.8% 5%
- 4 Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists Low +3.6% 4%
- 5 Industrial Machinery Mechanics Moderate +17.8% 4%
Resumes over-represent younger, white-collar job-seekers and moves into management. Schubert, Stansbury and Taska (resume data).
Education and training for the occupation
O*NET survey of workers in this occupation
- 3% less than high school
- 30% high school
- 55% postsecondary certificate
- 8% some college
- 5% associate's
O*NET 31.0 survey of workers in this occupation · 51 people answered.
Census survey (American Community Survey)
- 11% less than high school
- 47% high school
- 22% some college
- 15% associate's
- 4% bachelor's
- 1% master's
Census ACS 2024, all workers in the Census group “Heavy vehicle and mobile equipment service technicians and mechanics” · 1,538 people surveyed.
Why the two can differ
O*NET asks about 20 people in each occupation, which makes its shares uncertain, but it reports the exact occupation and counts certificates. The Census survey reaches thousands, but it groups some occupations together and counts degrees only. More in the Guide
Median pay by highest degree full-time, year-round · Census ACS 2024, all workers in the Census group “Heavy vehicle and mobile equipment service technicians and mechanics”
2 programs: Agricultural Mechanics and Equipment/Machine Technology/Technician and Heavy Equipment Maintenance Technology/Technician.
Jobs that require a credential BLS Occupational Requirements Survey 2023
85.6% this occupation
45.3% all occupations
| By kind | This occupation | All occupations |
|---|---|---|
| a license | 26.3% | 19.1% |
| a certification | 3.3% | 5.8% |
| an educational certificate | not published |
Share of jobs whose employer requires it. BLS doesn't say which credential. How to read this
Look up certifications, training and licenses U.S. Department of Labor
- Certification Finder ↗ certifications CareerOneStop lists for this occupation
- Training Finder ↗ schools and programs, nationwide; narrow the place there
- License Finder ↗ licenses by state
- Apprenticeship Finder ↗ DOL lists 4 registered apprenticeships in this occupation. Apprenticeship.gov can't be linked to one occupation, so search for “Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines” there.
These open in a new tab and send only the occupation's public code. More in the Guide
BLS AI exposure categories (Aug 2026) · BLS Employment Projections 2025–35 · O*NET 31.0 · Task ratings: Eloundou et al., Science (2024) · Microsoft "Working with AI" v1.1 · Anthropic Economic Index (2026-06-26) · Schubert, Stansbury and Taska · NCES CIP–SOC · Census ACS 2024 · BLS JOLTS
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