Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines
Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines (SOC 49-3042) earn a median $65,510 a year ($31.50 an hour) in the United States, with 176,600 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is Alaska.
What mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines do
Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines, diagnose, adjust, repair and overhaul mobile equipment with mechanical, hydraulic and pneumatic systems, such as cranes, bulldozers, graders and conveyors, working in construction, logging and mining. They operate and inspect machines or heavy equipment to diagnose defects, read and understand operating manuals, blueprints and technical drawings, and dismantle and reassemble heavy equipment using hoists and hand tools. Damaged or worn parts are repaired or replaced, and subassemblies such as transmissions and crawler heads are adjusted, maintained, repaired or replaced using hand tools, jacks and cranes. They repair, rewire and troubleshoot electrical systems, overhaul machines, and test equipment after repair or assembly to confirm proper performance and compliance with manufacturers' specifications. Titles include bulldozer mechanic, crane technician and construction equipment mechanic. Rail car repairers (49-3043), and bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists (49-3031), are excluded.
Typical entry: O*NET respondents most often report a postsecondary certificate, meaning training completed after high school but short of a degree.
Also called: Brake Mechanic, Bulldozer Mechanic, Caterpillar Mechanic, Clutch Mechanic, Construction Equipment Mechanic.
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $22.51 | $27.39 | $31.50 | $38.11 | $45.41 | $33.29 | 176,600 |
| Annual | $46,820 | $56,970 | $65,510 | $79,270 | $94,460 | $69,240 | ||
Employment per 1,000 jobs and the location quotient are area measures; they appear in the state and metro tables below. To see what a wage in this range leaves after tax, use FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Where mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines earn and work most
Five highest-paying states
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Alaska | Hourly | $28.27 | $31.49 | $39.75 | $50.63 | $52.91 | $41.29 | 1,430 | 4.39 | 3.86 |
| Annual | $58,800 | $65,500 | $82,670 | $105,300 | $110,060 | $85,890 | ||||
| Nevada | Hourly | $28.63 | $32.72 | $38.39 | $44.56 | $47.10 | $38.57 | 2,870 | 1.85 | 1.63 |
| Annual | $59,560 | $68,050 | $79,860 | $92,690 | $97,970 | $80,220 | ||||
| Minnesota | Hourly | $26.18 | $30.32 | $38.16 | $43.51 | $47.45 | $36.96 | 2,890 | 0.98 | 0.86 |
| Annual | $54,450 | $63,060 | $79,370 | $90,500 | $98,690 | $76,880 | ||||
| Hawaii | Hourly | $26.75 | $32.03 | $38.06 | $43.67 | $49.09 | $38.36 | 530 | 0.84 | 0.74 |
| Annual | $55,640 | $66,610 | $79,170 | $90,830 | $102,110 | $79,780 | ||||
| Washington | Hourly | $25.60 | $31.16 | $37.80 | $46.52 | $52.95 | $38.64 | 3,900 | 1.10 | 0.97 |
| Annual | $53,250 | $64,800 | $78,620 | $96,750 | $110,130 | $80,370 | ||||
Five states with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| California | Hourly | $23.02 | $30.69 | $37.76 | $45.49 | $62.17 | $39.58 | 20,080 | 1.10 | 0.97 |
| Annual | $47,880 | $63,830 | $78,550 | $94,620 | $129,310 | $82,320 | ||||
| Texas | Hourly | $21.97 | $24.39 | $29.78 | $36.87 | $42.86 | $31.32 | 20,080 | 1.43 | 1.26 |
| Annual | $45,710 | $50,740 | $61,940 | $76,690 | $89,140 | $65,140 | ||||
| Florida | Hourly | $20.69 | $25.33 | $30.55 | $36.25 | $38.63 | $30.81 | 9,240 | 0.93 | 0.82 |
| Annual | $43,040 | $52,680 | $63,550 | $75,390 | $80,350 | $64,090 | ||||
| Arizona | Hourly | $23.16 | $28.53 | $31.24 | $37.27 | $40.42 | $32.85 | 7,040 | 2.17 | 1.91 |
| Annual | $48,170 | $59,350 | $64,980 | $77,520 | $84,070 | $68,320 | ||||
| Pennsylvania | Hourly | $23.08 | $27.53 | $30.71 | $36.13 | $39.34 | $31.54 | 6,870 | 1.13 | 1.00 |
| Annual | $48,000 | $57,270 | $63,870 | $75,150 | $81,820 | $65,610 | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Fairbanks-College, AK | Hourly | $31.35 | $38.72 | $50.00 | $51.96 | $52.43 | $46.28 | 260 | 7.21 | 6.35 |
| Annual | $65,200 | $80,530 | $104,000 | $108,070 | $109,050 | $96,250 | ||||
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | Hourly | $27.48 | $38.10 | $46.15 | $50.72 | $56.26 | $44.37 | 510 | 0.45 | 0.40 |
| Annual | $57,160 | $79,250 | $95,980 | $105,490 | $117,020 | $92,290 | ||||
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | Hourly | $29.13 | $38.03 | $45.87 | $51.08 | $64.99 | $46.33 | 2,370 | 1.00 | 0.88 |
| Annual | $60,590 | $79,100 | $95,410 | $106,240 | $135,180 | $96,370 | ||||
| Kokomo, IN | Hourly | $24.21 | $31.92 | $43.29 | $43.29 | $43.29 | $38.51 | 40 | 1.04 | 0.91 |
| Annual | $50,350 | $66,390 | $90,040 | $90,040 | $90,040 | $80,110 | ||||
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | Hourly | $27.77 | $32.37 | $41.01 | $48.20 | $50.46 | $39.69 | 120 | 1.27 | 1.12 |
| Annual | $57,760 | $67,330 | $85,300 | $100,260 | $104,960 | $82,560 | ||||
Five metropolitan areas with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | Hourly | $23.49 | $32.34 | $38.94 | $62.17 | $63.03 | $43.68 | 6,610 | 1.05 | 0.93 |
| Annual | $48,850 | $67,270 | $81,000 | $129,310 | $131,100 | $90,850 | ||||
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | Hourly | $22.28 | $26.88 | $30.01 | $37.52 | $44.76 | $32.52 | 5,330 | 1.62 | 1.43 |
| Annual | $46,330 | $55,920 | $62,410 | $78,040 | $93,090 | $67,650 | ||||
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | Hourly | $21.32 | $24.22 | $30.22 | $37.17 | $41.29 | $31.31 | 4,620 | 1.14 | 1.01 |
| Annual | $44,340 | $50,380 | $62,860 | $77,310 | $85,880 | $65,130 | ||||
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | Hourly | $23.09 | $28.54 | $30.50 | $37.59 | $40.57 | $32.56 | 4,460 | 1.88 | 1.65 |
| Annual | $48,020 | $59,350 | $63,440 | $78,190 | $84,390 | $67,720 | ||||
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | Hourly | $25.02 | $30.30 | $37.53 | $45.03 | $49.10 | $38.30 | 4,380 | 0.46 | 0.41 |
| Annual | $52,040 | $63,020 | $78,060 | $93,660 | $102,120 | $79,670 | ||||
Top industries employing mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines
Machinery, Equipment, and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers employ 26.5% of mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines nationally (46,810 jobs) at a median $74,130 a year ($35.64 an hour), followed by Rental and Leasing Services (5322, 5323, and 5324 only) (11.7%) and Other Specialty Trade Contractors (8.4%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Machinery, Equipment, and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers NAICS 423800 | 46,810 | 26.5% | $74,130 | $35.64 |
| Rental and Leasing Services (5322, 5323, and 5324 only) NAICS 5320A1 | 20,620 | 11.7% | $61,670 | $29.65 |
| Other Specialty Trade Contractors NAICS 238900 | 14,780 | 8.4% | $62,880 | $30.23 |
| Highway, Street, and Bridge Construction NAICS 237300 | 9,730 | 5.5% | $62,820 | $30.20 |
| Commercial and Industrial Machinery and Equipment (except Automotive and Electronic) Repair and Maintenance NAICS 811300 | 8,750 | 5.0% | $63,950 | $30.74 |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (176,600). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $58,030 for mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines in May 2021 and $65,510 in May 2025, with employment of 145,230 and 176,600.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $58,030 | $27.90 | 145,230 |
| May 2022 | $59,440 | $28.58 | 158,350 |
| May 2023 | $61,900 | $29.76 | 177,280 |
| May 2024 | $63,980 | $30.76 | 180,270 |
| May 2025 | $65,510 | $31.50 | 176,600 |
BLS does not design OEWS as a time series: each release pools three years of samples, and occupational classifications, area definitions and estimation methods change between releases, so a difference between two releases is not a measure of change over time. The figures are shown as published, side by side, and nothing is computed from them. See how often OEWS is updated.
Every state, by median wage
51 states and DC publish a row for this occupation. A linked state has its own page with the within-state metro table and comparison; the others appear here only.
| Rank | State | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska profile | $39.75 | $82,670 | $58,800 | $110,060 | 1,430 | 4.39 | 3.86 |
| 2 | Nevada profile | $38.39 | $79,860 | $59,560 | $97,970 | 2,870 | 1.85 | 1.63 |
| 3 | Minnesota profile | $38.16 | $79,370 | $54,450 | $98,690 | 2,890 | 0.98 | 0.86 |
| 4 | Hawaii profile | $38.06 | $79,170 | $55,640 | $102,110 | 530 | 0.84 | 0.74 |
| 5 | Washington profile | $37.80 | $78,620 | $53,250 | $110,130 | 3,900 | 1.10 | 0.97 |
| 6 | California profile | $37.76 | $78,550 | $47,880 | $129,310 | 20,080 | 1.10 | 0.97 |
| 7 | Connecticut profile | $37.59 | $78,190 | $54,420 | $98,540 | 1,080 | 0.63 | 0.56 |
| 8 | New Jersey profile | $37.59 | $78,180 | $52,040 | $99,680 | 3,520 | 0.82 | 0.72 |
| 9 | Massachusetts profile | $36.57 | $76,070 | $59,730 | $108,670 | 1,620 | 0.45 | 0.39 |
| 10 | North Dakota profile | $36.55 | $76,030 | $52,000 | $101,830 | 1,720 | 4.02 | 3.54 |
| 11 | Oregon profile | $35.93 | $74,740 | $55,420 | $96,070 | 2,650 | 1.35 | 1.19 |
| 12 | Wyoming profile | $35.19 | $73,200 | $46,890 | $104,320 | 1,420 | 5.04 | 4.44 |
| 13 | Montana profile | $34.88 | $72,560 | $57,550 | $91,120 | 1,330 | 2.61 | 2.30 |
| 14 | Colorado profile | $34.53 | $71,830 | $49,960 | $98,850 | 4,060 | 1.41 | 1.24 |
| 15 | Illinois profile | $34.31 | $71,370 | $42,990 | $94,290 | 3,470 | 0.57 | 0.50 |
| 16 | District of Columbia profile | $34.03 | $70,780 | $52,340 | $100,210 | 130 | 0.19 | 0.17 |
| 17 | New Hampshire profile | $32.96 | $68,570 | $49,030 | $92,590 | 660 | 0.97 | 0.85 |
| 18 | Maryland profile | $32.81 | $68,250 | $50,640 | $93,950 | 1,800 | 0.65 | 0.57 |
| 19 | Rhode Island profile | $32.76 | $68,130 | $51,920 | $96,170 | 260 | 0.52 | 0.46 |
| 20 | Delaware profile | $32.22 | $67,010 | $47,900 | $85,140 | 540 | 1.11 | 0.98 |
| 21 | South Dakota profile | $32.08 | $66,730 | $54,080 | $83,260 | 830 | 1.82 | 1.61 |
| 22 | Michigan profile | $32.06 | $66,680 | $49,320 | $90,500 | 3,860 | 0.88 | 0.77 |
| 23 | New York profile | $31.88 | $66,310 | $49,910 | $101,210 | 4,700 | 0.49 | 0.43 |
| 24 | Wisconsin profile | $31.46 | $65,450 | $48,660 | $89,260 | 2,090 | 0.71 | 0.63 |
| 25 | Nebraska profile | $31.32 | $65,150 | $42,290 | $97,030 | 1,490 | 1.46 | 1.28 |
| 26 | Arizona profile | $31.24 | $64,980 | $48,170 | $84,070 | 7,040 | 2.17 | 1.91 |
| 27 | Idaho profile | $31.17 | $64,830 | $46,610 | $99,330 | 1,220 | 1.42 | 1.25 |
| 28 | Iowa profile | $30.91 | $64,290 | $47,880 | $85,070 | 2,820 | 1.81 | 1.59 |
| 29 | Indiana profile | $30.86 | $64,200 | $47,390 | $98,200 | 3,130 | 0.98 | 0.86 |
| 30 | North Carolina profile | $30.81 | $64,080 | $47,140 | $87,660 | 5,100 | 1.03 | 0.91 |
| 31 | Vermont profile | $30.78 | $64,020 | $48,520 | $89,490 | 350 | 1.14 | 1.00 |
| 32 | Virginia profile | $30.74 | $63,950 | $45,540 | $82,940 | 4,340 | 1.06 | 0.93 |
| 33 | Pennsylvania profile | $30.71 | $63,870 | $48,000 | $81,820 | 6,870 | 1.13 | 1.00 |
| 34 | Alabama profile | $30.70 | $63,850 | $46,350 | $79,100 | 4,640 | 2.20 | 1.93 |
| 35 | New Mexico profile | $30.59 | $63,630 | $44,760 | $89,320 | 1,470 | 1.69 | 1.49 |
| 36 | Utah profile | $30.57 | $63,580 | $47,030 | $95,010 | 2,230 | 1.28 | 1.13 |
| 37 | Florida profile | $30.55 | $63,550 | $43,040 | $80,350 | 9,240 | 0.93 | 0.82 |
| 38 | Missouri profile | $30.48 | $63,390 | $45,930 | $88,380 | 3,370 | 1.15 | 1.01 |
| 39 | Ohio profile | $30.39 | $63,200 | $49,080 | $83,020 | 6,270 | 1.13 | 0.99 |
| 40 | Louisiana profile | $29.93 | $62,260 | $39,390 | $80,800 | 4,270 | 2.21 | 1.94 |
| 41 | Texas profile | $29.78 | $61,940 | $45,710 | $89,140 | 20,080 | 1.43 | 1.26 |
| 42 | Tennessee profile | $29.75 | $61,880 | $47,100 | $80,850 | 2,600 | 0.79 | 0.70 |
| 43 | Maine profile | $29.46 | $61,280 | $49,920 | $85,510 | 1,490 | 2.33 | 2.05 |
| 44 | Kansas profile | $29.28 | $60,890 | $45,880 | $80,750 | 1,690 | 1.18 | 1.04 |
| 45 | Georgia profile | $29.12 | $60,560 | $44,640 | $80,380 | 6,270 | 1.28 | 1.13 |
| 46 | Arkansas profile | $29.10 | $60,530 | $42,790 | $77,000 | 1,190 | 0.91 | 0.80 |
| 47 | Kentucky profile | $28.47 | $59,220 | $37,950 | $79,090 | 2,540 | 1.27 | 1.12 |
| 48 | South Carolina profile | $28.45 | $59,180 | $43,540 | $76,560 | 2,830 | 1.23 | 1.08 |
| 49 | Mississippi profile | $27.97 | $58,180 | $39,520 | $76,830 | 1,690 | 1.45 | 1.28 |
| 50 | Oklahoma profile | $27.95 | $58,130 | $37,950 | $79,670 | 2,800 | 1.64 | 1.44 |
| 51 | West Virginia profile | $27.31 | $56,810 | $39,330 | $80,490 | 2,110 | 3.01 | 2.65 |
Related occupations
Occupations in the same SOC broad group (49-3040), with their national median annual wage.
Part of Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations. Compare any area in the wage explorer.
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS 49-3042 Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.
- Top industries: nat4d_M2025_dl.xlsx in oesm25in4.zip (BLS OEWS May 2025, national, 4-digit NAICS, cross-ownership). Employment is the industry's rounded total for this occupation; industries whose employment BLS withheld (**) are not ranked.
- Published medians: national_M2021_dl.xlsx to national_M2024_dl.xlsx in oesm21nat.zip to oesm24nat.zip (BLS OEWS May 2021 to May 2024, national, cross-industry, all ownerships) and the May 2025 spine. Each release is shown as published; nothing is computed between them.
Sources
- BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018, definition of 49-3042, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 49-3042.00, National Center for O*NET Development, USDOL/ETA (CC BY 4.0).
- OEWS May 2025 national industry-specific estimates, 4-digit NAICS (oesm25in4.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2021 national estimates (oesm21nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2022 national estimates (oesm22nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2023 national estimates (oesm23nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2024 national estimates (oesm24nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2025 national estimates (oesm25nat.zip), the site's data spine, US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
Includes information from O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Description written 2026-10-17 in our own words from the sources above.