Narrow down a movement fault
You watch an excavator that is moving poorly and run computer diagnostic tests to narrow down the fault.
Career profile
Heavy Equipment Mechanic
Heavy equipment mechanics keep bulldozers and excavators running by fixing mechanical, hydraulic and electrical systems.
How a machine behaves tells you where the trouble starts. You take it apart, and afterward you test whether the fix really worked.
A day in the life
Measure wear and swap a bearing
Measure how worn a part is with a gauge first, then replace the damaged bearing or other part.
Lift heavy assemblies out
Take the equipment apart with hand tools and hoist heavy assemblies out to reach what needs fixing.
Prove the repair and log it
Test the machine's performance against the manual's specs, then log the job in its service record.
Quick facts
High school + workplace training
United States · 2025
$65,510 a year
United States · May 2025
6.7% projected growth
United States · 2025–2035
Quick orientation
Preparation, pay & outlook
Preparation
High school + workplace trainingA diploma or equivalent is typical entry preparation; learning the repairs takes substantial on-the-job training.
Pay
$65,510 a yearNational median in May 2025, equivalent to $31.50 an hour.
Outlook
6.7% projected growthEmployment is projected to grow nationally from 2025 to 2035.
Fit, tradeoffs & changing tools
You might like this if…
- You enjoy finding why something stopped working.
- You like careful hands-on work and checking measurements.
Things to weigh
- Heavy, greasy parts and awkward working positions can make the day physically tiring.
- Some jobs include evenings, weekends, and overtime.
Where AI may help
On connected Cat equipment, technicians can run diagnostic tests remotely and prepare parts before traveling to the machine.
What people still lead
You interpret the fault information, decide what repair is needed, and carry out the physical work.
What we can’t predict yet
How much troubleshooting can move off-site will depend on the machine’s connection and whether its data can explain the fault.
Pay in context
Earnings
Use the national median as a reference when comparing an offer.
The middle of the pay distribution
The median was $65,510 a year, or $31.50 an hour. Half earned more and half less; this is not a starting rate.
Openings over the decade
About 15,000 openings are projected annually, on average, during 2025–2035. These are projected opportunities across the country, not vacancies available today.
How widely pay varies
The lowest-paid 10% earned $46,820 a year or less, while the highest-paid 10% earned $94,460 or more. These describe the wage spread, not starting pay and a promised later salary.
Compare rental-fleet and dealer-shop pay
For experienced mechanics, advertised pay includes $29–$36 an hour repairing a construction rental fleet in Chichester, New Hampshire, and $33–$40 in a dealership shop in Longview, Washington. These are local examples, not industry averages: location, experience, and qualifications differ, so they do not show that one setting always pays more.
Getting started
Start as a trainee
- What the route involves
- Enter with a high school diploma or equivalent and learn repairs alongside experienced technicians.
- What it can lead to
- Build competence for routine service, then more complex repairs.
- What to check
- Some employers prefer applicants who have completed technical school.
Combine college with a dealer internship
- What the route involves
- In ThinkBIG’s heavy-equipment track, alternate college classes with a paid Cat dealer internship.
- What it can lead to
- Earn an Associate of Applied Science degree and practical experience preparing for dealer technician work.
- What to check
- You need a high school diploma or equivalent and must apply through the college and sponsoring dealer. Requirements vary; budget for tuition, supplies, and housing.
Look for a route that gives you practice on heavy equipment.
After entry
Career paths
This starts where the entry routes leave off: early work, growing capability, and advancement or specialization.
Get established
Become dependable at routine service and minor repairs.
Handle harder faults
Use manufacturer training to learn particular machines and components.
Move into field service
With experience, specialize in repairing machines at worksites.
Where you can work
Repair shop
Work indoors around noisy repairs and heavy components.
- Indoors
- Physical demands
- Safety-sensitive
Construction or mining worksite
Travel in a truck stocked with tools and parts. Outdoor repairs avoid transporting large machines to a shop.
- Outdoors
- Field work
- Travel
- Physical demands
- Safety-sensitive
Try it
See whether the job clicks before you commit to the path.
Find a labeled excavator diagram. Trace how a hydraulic cylinder moves the boom, then write two questions you would ask if the boom stopped moving. Notice whether following the connections makes you curious.
Stay safe: Keep this a paper exercise; do not operate equipment or loosen hydraulic fittings.
Sources
- O*NET OnLine. 49-3042.00 — Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines. Accessed 2026-10-02.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Occupational projections and worker characteristics. Accessed 2026-10-02.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Heavy Vehicle and Mobile Equipment Service Technicians. Accessed 2026-10-02.
- Caterpillar. ThinkBIG: Go Beyond the Classroom. Accessed 2026-10-02.
- Caterpillar. Cat Remote Troubleshooting. Accessed 2026-10-02.
- O*NET OnLine. National Wages: 49-3042.00 — Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines. Accessed 2026-10-02.
- Milton Rents / Milton CAT. Diesel Mechanic/Heavy Equipment — Chichester, New Hampshire, job 2026-6496. Accessed 2026-10-02.
- Peterson Cat via Caterpillar Dealer Technician Jobs. Shop Technician — Longview, Washington. Accessed 2026-10-02.