Career Trends: Heavy Vehicle and Mobile Equipment Service Technicians

Heavy vehicle and mobile equipment service technicians inspect, maintain, and repair vehicles and machinery used in construction, farming, rail transportation, and other industries.

Service technicians usually work indoors in noisy repair shops. They often lift heavy parts and tools, handle greasy and dirty equipment, and stand or lie in uncomfortable positions. Most service technicians work full time, and many work evenings and weekends.

Most heavy vehicle and mobile equipment service technicians have a high school diploma or equivalent. Because vehicle and equipment technology is increasingly sophisticated and computerized, some employers prefer to hire service technicians who have completed a formal training program at a postsecondary institution.

Employment of heavy vehicle and mobile equipment service technicians is projected to grow 5 percent from 2014 to 2024, about as fast as the average for all occupations. Job opportunities for qualified jobseekers should be good.

This occupation supported 176,299 jobs in 2012 and 186,500 jobs in 2014, reflecting an increase of 5.8%. In 2012, this occupation was projected to increase by 9.2% in 2022 to 192,500 jobs. As of 2014, to keep pace with prediction, the expected number of jobs was 179,500, compared with an observed value of 186,500, 3.9% higher than expected. This indicates current employment trends are better than the 2012 trend within this occupation. In 2014, this occupation was projected to increase by 5.7% in 2024 to 196,500 jobs. Linear extrapolation of the 2012 projection for 2022 results in an expected number of 195,700 jobs for 2024, 0.4% lower than the 2014 projection for 2024. This indicates expectations for future employment trends are about on track with the 2012 trend within this occupation.