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SOC 49-3023
Diesel service technicians and mechanics (United States side O*NET-SOC 49-3031.00; titled Diesel Service Technicians and Mechanics by the BLS Occupational Outlook) are personnel who inspect, diagnose, repair and overhaul buses, trucks and other vehicles powered by diesel engines, and maintain and repair various diesel engines, including mechanics who mainly work on automotive or marine diesel engines: using hand tools such as screwdrivers, pliers, wrenches, pressure gauges and precision instruments, and power tools such as pneumatic wrenches, lathes, welding equipment, jacks and lifting gear; checking safety components such as the brake system, steering mechanism and wheel bearings, lifting vehicles and heavy components with hydraulic jacks or lifting gear, adjusting and replacing brake linings, aligning wheels, tightening to the specified torque and reassembling; connecting test instruments to equipment to read gauges and meters in order to diagnose faults, reading codes with diagnostic tools, confirming problems by listening and road testing, dismantling and overhauling internal combustion engines, pumps, generators, transmissions, clutches and differentials, repairing or replacing pistons, bearings, gears and valves, servicing fuel injection systems and emission control devices, carrying out routine servicing such as oil changes, battery checks and lubrication, and disposing of waste oil and reducing solid waste as required by environmental operating rules. United States scope: in the 2025 wage data for this occupation the median annual wage is 61,770 USD (median hourly 29.70 USD), with annual percentiles of 44,530 / 50,540 / 61,770 / 75,470 / 88,740 USD (hourly percentiles 21.41 / 24.30 / 29.70 / 36.29 / 42.66); the O*NET summary page gives 2024 employment of about 319,900 people, growth of 1% to 2% over 2024—2034 (below average) and about 26,500 projected openings, while the BLS Occupational Outlook gives another scope of 316,000 positions in 2025, +4% for 2025—2035 (about average), a net increase of 11,400 and about 24,400 annual average openings; the preparation level is Job Zone Three (medium preparation, SVP 6.0 to below 7.0), usually requiring 1—2 years of training, with apprenticeship opportunities; the interest code is RCI; the work context includes exposure to contaminants 85% every day, using hands to handle or feel objects and tools 80% continuously, wearing common protective or safety equipment 78% every day, face-to-face discussion with individuals and teams 90% every day, and being in an enclosed vehicle or operating enclosed equipment 68% every day. Mainland China scope: diesel vehicle repair is a motor vehicle repair business and automotive repairer activity; the Provisions on the Administration of Motor Vehicle Repair apply filing management to repair operations and require repair businesses to have the corresponding technical personnel, with practitioners following safe production operating procedures; the national occupational skill standard for automotive repairers sets levels from level five/junior worker to level one/senior technician, and in July 2024 the commercial vehicle repair worker job type was further added under the automotive repairer occupation; public statistics have not published occupational-level wages corresponding to this occupation, and this page retains the gap as it stands.
Model impact index for three equally weighted representative core tasks; not a measured share of working time or a job-loss probability. floor((50+0+75)/3+0.5)=42; fermatmind-ai-impact-v1; 2026-10-18.
The work is mainly workshop based, with occasional roadside and route work: exposure to contaminants (dust, gases, odours and so on) 85% every day, exposure to distracting or uncomfortable noise 81% every day, using hands to handle, control or feel objects and tools 80% continuously or almost continuously, wearing common protective or safety equipment 78% every day, indoors but without environmental control 74% every day, being in an enclosed vehicle or operating enclosed equipment 68% every day; face-to-face discussion with individuals and teams 90% every day; the importance of precision or accuracy is considered extremely important by 53%, very high responsibility for the health and safety of other workers 72%, a typical workweek longer than 40 hours 53%, time pressure 40% every day.Requires caution: if you are impatient about looking things up and keeping records, tend to replace parts by feel, or are unwilling to wear protective equipment and find torque and clearance rechecks troublesome, or expect to do only electrical and computer diagnosis and never touch the dirty or heavy work, then the actual workshop experience usually does not match expectations.
Similar names do not mean the same duties: this page is O*NET-SOC 49-3031.00 (titled Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists by O*NET and Diesel Service Technicians and Mechanics by the BLS Occupational Outlook), whose core is the inspection, diagnosis, repair and overhaul of vehicles powered by diesel engines and of diesel engines; adjacent positions have different duties — automotive service technicians and mechanics focus mainly on petrol-engined passenger cars and light vehicles, automotive body and glass repairers handle body structure and glass installation, heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers focus on transport tasks, and industrial machinery mechanics maintain factory production equipment. The specific scope is governed by the job, the manufacturer's technical information and the authorization, and is not inferred from the job title.
Diesel service technicians and mechanics (United States O*NET-SOC 49-3031.00; titled Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists by O*NET and Diesel Service Technicians and Mechanics by the BLS Occupational Outlook): inspect, diagnose, adjust, repair or overhaul buses, trucks and other vehicles powered by diesel engines, and maintain and repair various diesel engines, including mechanics who mainly work on automotive or marine diesel engines. Typical work includes using hand tools (screwdrivers, pliers, wrenches, pressure gauges and precision instruments) and power tools (pneumatic wrenches, lathes, welding equipment, jacks and lifting gear), checking safety components such as the brake system, steering mechanism and wheel bearings, lifting vehicles and heavy components with hydraulic jacks or lifting gear, adjusting and replacing brake linings, aligning wheels and reassembling at the specified torque, connecting test instruments to equipment to read gauges and meters in order to diagnose faults, reading codes with diagnostic tools and confirming by listening and road testing, dismantling and overhauling internal combustion engines, pumps, generators, transmissions, clutches and differentials, repairing or replacing pistons, bearings, gears and valves, servicing fuel injection systems and emission control devices, carrying out routine servicing such as oil changes, battery checks and lubrication, and disposing of waste oil and reducing solid waste as required by environmental rules. The work routinely involves oil, dust, noise and confined spaces, and protective equipment must be used according to safety procedures.
Career direction comparison
The six rows below compare this occupation with adjacent positions item by item across core work and outputs, key differences and basis for choice. The comparison follows the actual duties and authorization of the position and is not inferred from the job title.
| Career direction | Core work and outputs | Key differences | What is a better fit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Automotive service technicians and mechanics | Servicing petrol-engined passenger cars and light vehicles: diagnosing engine and onboard electronic control faults, servicing brake, steering, suspension, air conditioning and electrical systems, carrying out oil changes and maintenance, and completing quick service and routine repairs to standard labour times. | The objects and assemblies differ: this occupation focuses on diesel engines and the assemblies and hydraulic and pneumatic circuits of heavy vehicles such as buses and trucks, with assembly overhauls and high-pressure fuel system work being common; automotive service technicians deal more with passenger car electronic controls and standardized servicing, with a lower share of body and chassis work. Both require code reading and measurement, but the manual systems, tools and safety requirements differ. |
The impact of AI on occupations
The BLS has an occupational description mentioning computer diagnostics; the 6 United States recruitment keywords for 2025: Office / Excel 1% each, Word / SAP under 1%, AutoCAD / SolidWorks NA rather than 0; the denominator is all unique job postings associated with this occupational code, not a usage rate or AI adoption rate. The BLS describes computer diagnostics, and ordinary diagnostic software cannot be equated with generative AI. The editor suggests verifying the function and manual and the measurement basis of a specific tool first, and only then considering assisting records and queries. There is no generative AI adoption, efficiency gain or substitution rate for this occupation in this round, so it cannot be written that faster diagnosis or stricter records have already happened, nor that replacement can never occur. AI Impact Score 42% is an editorial estimate. Model impact index for three equally weighted representative core tasks; not a measured share of working time or a job-loss probability. floor((50+0+75)/3+0.5)=42; fermatmind-ai-impact-v1; 2026-10-18.The three tasks, ratings and sources are listed in the FermatMind method source record on this page.
FermatMind AI Impact Score estimation method v1
FermatMind / 费马测试 · 2026-10-18
Mainland China salary reference
United States 49-3031 itself and the Chinese occupation and job type are verified separately and are not a one-to-one mapping
Automotive repairer 4-12-01-01, with the commercial vehicle repair worker job type added in 2024; skill assessment is not filing
Insufficient evidence: no single-occupation wage distribution for Chinese diesel repair or representative recruitment sample was obtained in this round. NBS2025 residential services, repair and other services non-private 70226 and private 52059 yuan annual average, with actual transport units separately at 133981 and 73133; urban legal entities with 5 or more people, multiple occupations, non-private not limited to state-owned enterprises, excluding sole traders and freelance workers, matching only the unit industry background rather than the wage, median or quote for this occupation.
Insufficient evidence: no single-occupation wage distribution for Chinese diesel repair or representative recruitment sample was obtained in this round. NBS2025 residential services, repair and other services non-private 70226 and private 52059 yuan annual average, with actual transport units separately at 133981 and 73133; urban legal entities with 5 or more people, multiple occupations, non-private not limited to state-owned enterprises, excluding sole traders and freelance workers, matching only the unit industry background rather than the wage, median or quote for this occupation.The occupational wage gap is retained; the matching industry annual average only supplements the background, and repair charges, enterprise filing, employee remuneration and skill assessment are kept separate.
United States salary reference
United States wage scope: OEWS May 2025 wage data show a median annual wage for this occupation (O*NET-SOC 49-3031.00) of 61,770 USD and a median hourly wage of 29.70 USD; the annual percentiles are 44,530 / 50,540 / 61,770 / 75,470 / 88,740 USD and the hourly percentiles are 21.41 / 24.30 / 29.70 / 36.29 / 42.66 USD, and percentiles are statistical positions rather than entry-level salaries.
| Wage position | Annual wage reference | Conversion boundaries for annual income | How to understand this position |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lower wage position | 44530 USD/year; 21.41 USD/hour (2025 10th percentile) | An official annual statistical value, not an individual annual take-home figure | Low and high percentiles are statistical positions, not starting salary, skill or years of service lines; the national distribution does not prove causation between specialism, number of certifications, region or shift and the percentiles. The BLS description that certification may lead to higher wages is not a quantitative guarantee; the specific contract and regional wages are verified separately. |
Career fit guide
Direct answer: whether it suits you depends mainly on three things — whether you are willing to troubleshoot item by item against the manual and measured values rather than replacing parts by feel, whether you accept working conditions with oil, noise and confined spaces, and whether you are willing to be responsible for reassembling safety components and for records. Personality assessment can serve as a reference for self-understanding but cannot replace actual experience in these three areas.Seventh group of signals: pace and conditions — most work is full time, some posts exceed 40 hours per week, time pressure accounts for 40% every day, and breakdown repair may require overtime; if you cannot accept such working conditions and pace, you should reassess even if your interest is in machinery.
Worth experiencing further： The object of a fit judgment is the work itself, not a personality label. Every day this occupation involves troubleshooting faults item by item against the manual and measured values, hands-on dismantling and assembly in oily and noisy environments, responsibility for reassembling safety components, and writing the process into records that others can review. First consider whether you are willing to do these tasks and can accept such conditions, and then see whether the personality description fits.
Verify the real conditions first： Fifth group of signals: the way you learn — the technology of this occupation comes from manuals, fault codes and dismantling findings, and continuous learning of new models, new fuel and exhaust systems and electrical and alternative fuel systems is needed; one training course is not enough to remain competent over the long term.
Work pressure, risks and occupational boundaries
Direct answer: the main risks of this occupation fall into four categories — the reassembly quality of safety components, personal safety in lifting, high-pressure and electrical work, compliance requirements for emission-related work, and the income and reputational risk arising from parts and labour time disputes. These risks can all be managed by working to specification, using qualified parts, keeping records and continuous learning, rather than by experience and luck.
The risks are editorial scenarios; the actual O*NET context frequencies are not injury rates, and Articles 29—33 of the motor vehicle repair provisions cover quality, archives and defined responsibility items. No real unit shutdown and recovery system or accident rate was obtained; the voluntary NIST framework is not repair safety authorization.
Typical scenarios：After replacing brake linings or wheel bearings, reassembling without following the torque specification, or delivering without the remeasurement and road test confirmation.
Main positions：Workers · quality inspectors · customers
Getting started, certificates and career development
The entry path on this page is based on verifiable preparation levels and entry requirements and is divided into three stages: first build safe work and basic servicing capability, then move into diagnosis and assembly repair, and finally develop a specialism or mentoring and team management capability. Each stage uses delivering a verifiable result under supervision as the basis for advancement, rather than automatic advancement by years of service.
Career outlook and transitions to related occupations
In the current United States for 49-3031 itself: about 316000 positions in 2025 and about 327400 in 2035, growth of 4% over 2025—2035 with a net increase of 11400, and 24400 annual average openings including growth and replacement. O*NET and BLS currently share the same projection period, so the older 2024—2034 figures must not be called another current scope; openings are not net new positions or individual opportunities.The editor verifies the real positions and contracts and time series of the target region; there is no comparable material in this round on remote positions having less competition or self-employment income fluctuating more, and individual cases are not used as a long-term trend.
United States · Diesel service technicians and mechanics (O*NET-SOC 49-3031.00)
Growth of 4%, a net increase of 11400; about 327400 positions in 2035
Overall change in employment
A typical day unfolds by work order: after receiving the vehicle, confirm the fault symptoms and operating conditions with the customer or service adviser, read fault codes and instrument values, use test instruments, listening and road testing to rule items out and measure pressure, temperature, clearance and voltage; after confirming the cause, dismantle and inspect, replace or repair, reassemble to the manufacturer's specification and recheck torques and clearances, service the fuel injection and emission control devices, carry out routine servicing such as oil changes and lubrication, and finally verify by road test and complete the work order and replaced parts records. The work is mainly in the workshop, with occasional repairs at the roadside or at a work site.
Choose a real task from this page for a small practice project or a conversation with someone in the field. Use the planning guides to set a date, an output and feedback questions before deciding whether to continue.
Decision center: the work of diesel service technicians and mechanics is to turn a vehicle's symptoms into a reviewable chain of handling — first asking questions and reading fault codes and instrument values, then confirming the cause of the fault against the manufacturer's service manual and measured values, then disassembling and inspecting, replacing or repairing, reassembling to specification and rechecking, and finally road testing to verify and leaving the process as a work order and records. The focus of judgment is not whether you look like a mechanic, but whether every step along the chain of questioning and initial inspection — measurement and diagnosis — disassembly and repair — reassembly and verification — recording and delivery has a basis and is traceable, so that both colleagues and customers can review it.Inputs that must be verified: the fault symptoms and operating conditions described by the customer or dispatcher, fault codes and instrument readings, the manufacturer's service technical information and labour time allowances, the specifications, torques and clearances of safety components, whether parts are genuine and traceable, and the safety procedures for lifting and for electrical, welding and high-pressure fuel system work. What must not be done: do not replace assemblies by feel, do not dismantle safety components before the cause of the fault is confirmed, do not use counterfeit or substandard parts, do not temporarily replace emission control devices or disable the onboard emission diagnostic system to get a vehicle through an emission inspection, do not omit torque and clearance rechecks and road test verification, and do not write records of measured values and replaced parts that differ from reality.
Worth trying first: you are willing to troubleshoot step by step according to the manual and safety procedures rather than taking things apart first and thinking later, can stay patient and careful amid oil, noise and confined spaces, can accept the protective requirements of lifting, electrical, welding and high-pressure fuel system work, can record measured values and replaced parts truthfully, and would rather check safety components (brakes, steering, wheel bearings) one extra time.Fit judgments should be made in combination with whether troubleshooting can be done item by item against the manual and measured values, tolerance for working amid oil, noise and confined spaces, the importance attached to rechecking safety components and torque and clearances, and whether documentation is still kept under time pressure, and should not be replaced by a self-assessment of having good hands or working fast; these all need to be confirmed in supervised actual work and training.
Low-risk verification: use a fictional vehicle fault description and three sets of measurement data (such as fuel pressure, cylinder pressure and brake lining thickness) to complete an exercise in listing the information that needs verification, writing out the troubleshooting order according to the manual, giving conclusions and the components to be replaced or rechecked, and writing a work order record; this only verifies whether you are willing to check item by item against the manual and data and to document it. The exercise uses fictional material, does not dismantle any real vehicle and does not carry out any real lifting, electrical, welding or fuel system work, and does not equal completed training, repair authorization or industry certification.All paper exercises on this page use fictional material; real lifting, dismantling and assembly, electrical and welding work, high-pressure fuel system and emission-related repairs must be carried out by personnel with the corresponding capability and authorization, in compliance with safety procedures and the manufacturer's technical requirements and with local rules on repair operations and work practices. Individuals must not carry out such work without protection or authorization, and this page does not constitute safety, compliance or legal advice.
The work of diesel service technicians and mechanics can be divided into three linked but independent work areas. The first is questioning and diagnosis: confirming the real fault symptoms and operating conditions with the customer or dispatcher, determining the cause of the fault with test instruments, diagnostic tools, listening and road testing, reading fault codes and measuring parameters such as pressure, temperature, clearance and voltage, deciding whether adjustment, replacement or an assembly overhaul is needed, and confirming the condition of safety components. The second is dismantling and overhaul: lifting vehicles and heavy components with jacks and lifting gear, dismantling and overhauling internal combustion engines, pumps, generators, transmissions, clutches and differentials, repairing or replacing pistons, bearings, gears and valves, servicing and adjusting fuel injection systems, emission control devices, brakes, steering and suspension, and reassembling to specification and rechecking torques and clearances. The third is maintenance and delivery: carrying out routine servicing such as oil changes and battery and lubrication checks, taking exhaust and emission-related measurements and adjustments, disposing of waste oil and reducing solid waste as required by environmental rules, recording work orders and replaced parts, and performing road test and delivery confirmation. The three work areas proceed according to safety procedures and the manufacturer's technical information, and the pace is determined by the workshop schedule and the customer's need for the vehicle.
Fault code and measurement records, diagnostic conclusions and recommended handling options
The object of this occupation's work is the technical condition of vehicles and diesel-powered equipment: the fault symptoms described by the customer, fault codes and instrument readings, oil and wear traces, disassembly findings and gauge readings, and the cause of the fault confirmed by measured values; the outputs are work orders and repair records, test data and replaced parts lists, road test and delivery confirmation, and waste oil and solid waste disposal records; the basis for judgment is the manufacturer's service technical information and labour time allowances, safety operating procedures and quality control requirements, not personal experience or job title. This table compares the occupation on this page with adjacent positions item by item across seven dimensions: core purpose, main objects and basis, core process, main outputs, responsible parties, collaboration and supervision, and boundaries of the conclusion: the occupation on this page (O*NET-SOC 49-3031.00) centres on the inspection, diagnosis, repair and overhaul of vehicles powered by diesel engines and of various diesel engines; automotive service technicians and mechanics focus on petrol-engined passenger cars and light vehicles; automotive body and glass repairers are responsible for body structure and glass installation; heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers focus on transport tasks and carry out daily vehicle checks; industrial machinery mechanics maintain factory production equipment. The comparison must verify item by item against job duties, the manufacturer's technical information and work authorization, and cannot be exchanged by job title.
Questioning and diagnosis: confirm the fault symptoms and operating conditions with the customer or dispatcher, read fault codes and instrument values, rule items out with test instruments, listening and road testing, confirm the cause of the fault against the manufacturer's service technical information and give a handling plan.
Dismantling and inspection: lift and support safely with jacks and lifting gear, dismantle the engine and assemblies in the order given by the manual, inspect and measure component wear and fitting clearances, and repair or replace components such as pistons, bearings, gears and valves.
Fuel and emissions: service and adjust the fuel injection system and emission control devices, and measure exhaust and emission-related parameters according to procedure; a vehicle must not be got through inspection by temporarily replacing emission control devices or disabling the onboard emission diagnostic system.
Safety components and chassis: check safety components such as the brake system, steering mechanism and wheel bearings, adjust and replace brake linings, align wheels and suspension, and reassemble and recheck at the specified torque and clearance.
Routine maintenance and environmental protection: carry out routine servicing such as oil changes, battery checks and lubricating equipment machinery, and dispose of waste oil and oily waste and reduce solid waste according to environmental operating requirements.
Recording and delivery: complete work orders and repair records, stating the cause of the fault, the handling method, replaced parts and measured values and the items still requiring observation, and hand over to the customer or service adviser after road test verification.
Editorial check on common misconceptions: repair skills, training and business filing are verified separately, and wages are not inferred from quotes circulating online. Motor vehicle repair operators in China file with the county-level transport authority of their location after registration, filing is free of charge, and the scope and category follow the business items. Article 12 requires at least 1 person each for the technical lead, quality inspection and reception and for each type of repair personnel in categories one and two; category three comprehensive minor repairs, engine, body, electrical and automatic transmission repair also require a technical lead and quality inspection, and this cannot be omitted. Quality inspection personnel must hold a compatible driving licence, so the driving threshold is not uniform for all repair workers; enterprise filing does not replace individual skills or position authority. The 2018 automotive repairer standard sets levels five to one and general education of junior high school; level five requires 1 accumulated year in this occupation or a specified related occupation or completion of an apprenticeship, and level four has different branches such as 4 years after the level five certificate, 6 accumulated years, or a qualification from a specified school major, with theory and skills and the applicable comprehensive review each passing at 60, and technicians and senior technicians undergoing a comprehensive review. The 2024 official annex adds the commercial vehicle repair worker job type under 4-12-01-01; the old standard's registration branches are not passed off as the current assessment notice for the new job type, and fees, actual duration and subsidies were not verified in this round.
| If you want a relatively gentler entry threshold and a more standardized working environment and vehicle types, you can start in the automotive service technician direction; if you are willing to build up in the diesel and heavy vehicle direction, the technical depth of this occupation is more pronounced. When transferring, diesel fuel and emission systems, assembly overhaul techniques and heavy vehicle safety procedures should be built up. |
| Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers | Drive heavy and tractor-trailer vehicles to complete freight tasks: check the vehicle and cargo securing before departure, transport according to route and time limits, record and handle anomalies en route, and complete handover and documents as required on arrival. | The focus of responsibility differs: drivers are responsible for transport safety and on-route handling, and daily checks and fault identification are part of their duties, but dismantling, assembly overhauls and emission-related repairs are not within a driver's scope of work; this occupation is responsible for repair quality and the reassembly of safety components but does not take on transport tasks or driving responsibility en route. | If you prefer driving and the pace of transport, you can choose the driver direction and obtain the corresponding driving qualification as required; if you prefer fault analysis and hands-on repair, this occupation is closer. The two work closely together in a fleet, and understanding each other's work helps in judging whether a vehicle can be repaired and whether it needs to be taken out of service. |
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| Industrial machinery mechanics | This table compares diesel service technicians and mechanics with six adjacent positions row by row across core work and outputs, key differences, and basis for choice. The principle for choosing adjacent positions is that they are easily confused on a real work site, or have a job rotation or transfer relationship with this occupation. The purpose of the comparison is not to rank them but to explain their respective duty boundaries and scopes of authorization, and to avoid exchanging them by job title. | The objects and basis differ: industrial machinery mechanics maintain factory production equipment and lines, arranging preventive maintenance and breakdown repair according to equipment maintenance procedures and the production rhythm; this occupation follows the manufacturer's vehicle service technical information and road transport and vehicle safety requirements, and its objects are vehicles powered by diesel engines and diesel engines, involving vehicle-specific steps such as lifting and road testing. | If you are interested in the general principles of mechanical structure, transmission and hydraulics and want fewer vehicle emission and road test steps, you can consider the industrial machinery maintenance direction; if you want to go deeper in vehicles and engines specifically, this occupation is more suitable. The two share basic knowledge of hydraulics, bearings and gears. |
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| Millwrights (equipment installation and maintenance mechanics) | The comparison should rest on three things: first, the work object (vehicles powered by diesel engines and various diesel engines, or petrol passenger cars, body structure, transport tasks or factory equipment); second, the basis and authorization (the respective application of the manufacturer's service technical information and safety operating procedures, road transport rules, and equipment maintenance procedures); third, outputs and responsibility (who is responsible for repair quality and the reassembly of safety components, and who is responsible for transport safety or equipment operation). Where the three are inconsistent, the actual duties of the position and the authorisation documents of the institution concerned should prevail. | The focus of work differs: millwrights focus on equipment installation, alignment, truing and dismantling and moving, and the precision requirement shows in installation and alignment rather than fault diagnosis; this occupation has fault diagnosis, dismantling and assembly and overhaul as its daily core, with the reassembly of safety components and road test verification being its key steps. | If you prefer installation and alignment precision and the on-site layout of complete equipment sets, you can look at the millwright direction; if you would rather face vehicle faults and repair judgments every day, this occupation is more suitable. The common foundation is the use of measuring tools, tightening torque specifications and safe working habits. |
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| Rail car repairers | The basis for choice can follow three clues: if the interest is in fault diagnosis and overhaul of diesel engines, transmissions and hydraulic systems, this occupation is the closest; if you would rather deal with standardized quick service on passenger cars and onboard electronic controls, automotive service technicians and mechanics are more suitable; if you prefer equipment structure and installation precision, millwrights and industrial machinery mechanics are closer; if you want to take on transport and on-route handling responsibility on the operating side, heavy truck driver is another path. What needs to be built up when transferring is knowledge of the objects, safety procedures and the scope of authorization, not just tool proficiency. | The operating systems differ: rail car repairers work according to railway maintenance procedures and graded repair schedules, constrained by train operation organization and track work safety, and their pace is determined by the train timetable and maintenance windows; this occupation deals with road vehicles and diesel engines, its work is driven by the work order schedule and the customer's need for the vehicle, and road test verification is possible. | If you want to enter the rail transit industry and develop within a repair schedule system, you can consider the rail car maintenance direction; if you prefer diesel engine and assembly repair on road transport vehicles, this occupation is closer. Knowledge of brake systems and bearing fits is transferable between the two. |
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| Tire repairers and changers | Boundaries and sources: the differences listed in this table are based on the O*NET occupational profiles and work context data, the BLS Occupational Outlook descriptions of positions and preparation levels, and the scope of application of the mainland China Provisions on the Administration of Motor Vehicle Repair and the national occupational skill standard for automotive repairers. The qualification and authorization requirements of adjacent positions cannot substitute for one another; this page does not infer income levels or hiring conditions from job titles. | The scope of work differs: tire repairers and changers are responsible for special tasks such as mounting and demounting tires, patching and replacement, dynamic balancing and four-wheel alignment inspection and adjustment, and their scope is relatively focused; this occupation treats tire and wheel work as one link, with the main body being the diagnosis and overhaul of assemblies such as the engine, fuel and emissions, transmission, and brakes and steering. | If you want to get started quickly and focus on tire and wheel special tasks, you can start in the tire repair direction; if you want to build broader assembly diagnosis and overhaul capability, this occupation has more depth. Manual mounting and demounting and safe lifting are the shared foundation of both. |
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Conclusion: the irreplaceable part of this occupation lies in the diagnosis, dismantling and assembly and overhaul capability for diesel engines and heavy vehicle assemblies, and in command of the procedures for reassembling safety components and for emission-related work; positions with similar names differ in objects, basis and responsibility, and these three points should be verified first when comparing across positions.
If you want to compare this occupation with adjacent positions further, first write one sentence for each of the three columns objects — basis — outputs and responsibility, and then check whether this table is consistent.
Editorial ratings use the existing occupational responsibilities and AI task analysis on this page. They are not adoption rates, measured effects, job-disappearance or personal-unemployment probabilities, or official scores from Stanford or another external institution. No measured time weights or future robot deployment are assumed.
The relationship of AI and automation to this occupation needs to be viewed in three layers: first, technical capability — what diagnostic software, telematics and fault prediction tools can do; second, actual adoption — how much repair businesses and fleets really use them under cost, liability and compliance constraints; third, position outcomes — after adoption, is it a change in task structure, a change in skill requirements, or a change in the number of positions. Mixing the three layers together produces the two inaccurate claims that the job is bound to be replaced or that there is no impact at all.
The 6 United States recruitment keywords for 2025: Office / Excel 1% each, Word / SAP under 1%, AutoCAD / SolidWorks NA rather than 0; the denominator is all unique job postings associated with this occupational code, not a usage rate or AI adoption rate. The BLS describes computer diagnostics, and ordinary diagnostic software cannot be equated with generative AI. The ILO study summary was not verified for an ISCO narrow-occupation score corresponding to 49-3031; the voluntary NIST risk framework is not a repair procedure or legal authorization.
Verifiable tasks, recruitment technology terms, BLS projections and risk governance references for this round; specific generative AI capability and actual adoption, and wage or layoff causation, were not verified, so it cannot be claimed that an adoption direction is proven or that positions will not decline.
| Work directions | Tasks | Current changes | Human control points |
|---|---|---|---|
| Technology enhancement | Use test instruments and diagnostic equipment to read fault codes, parameters and waveforms, and combine listening and road testing to locate the cause of the fault | Editorial scenario: if the function of a diagnostic tool has been verified, it may assist with code reading and parameter organization; this is not a verified generative AI function or speed gain | Verify measured values and dismantling findings before concluding, and determinations involving safety components and emissions must be confirmed by a person |
| Essentially unchanged | Use hand and power tools to dismantle and overhaul engines, pumps, generators, transmissions, clutches and differentials | Editorial scenario: if applicable data and a verified model exist, inspection scheduling may be assisted; there is no evidence on predictive maintenance products or effects in this round | The dismantling order, torque and clearance specifications and reassembly recheck are carried out by people according to the manual |
| Partly changed | Carry out routine servicing such as oil changes, battery checks and lubricating equipment | Physical dismantling and measurement are currently in the task list; automation substitution capability was not verified, so it cannot be permanently judged hard to replace | Whether the service items were really completed and whether oils and filters were replaced to specification is confirmed by a person |
| Driven by regulation | Service and adjust the fuel injection system and emission control devices, and measure exhaust and emission-related parameters | Verify the specific testing according to current regulations, vehicle model and manufacturer technical information; there is no measured test in this round of tools updating in step with regulations | Do not temporarily replace emission control devices or disable the onboard emission diagnostic system to pass an inspection |
| Assisted testing | Check safety components such as the brake system, steering mechanism and wheel bearings | Some checks can be assisted by equipment readings | Replacement and reassembly are carried out to specification with rechecks, and conclusions on safety components must not be replaced by a tool |
| Digitised | Complete work orders and repair records and maintain parts traceability information | Provisions already set requirements for electronic repair files and system interfaces; this is an institutional requirement, not a paper-to-structured adoption rate or AI effect | Editorial suggestion: operators truthfully verify their own repair records against the physical work; quality inspection and the signing of completion certificates of conformity are carried out by personnel specified by applicable regulations and unit rules. The signing party under Article 32 in China is the repair quality inspection personnel, and operational record responsibility is not equated with all signing responsibility. |
| Assisted communication | Confirm the fault symptoms, costs and delivery time with the customer or service adviser | Editorial scenario: authorized and applicable historical work orders can assist explanations; the functions or prevalence of knowledge base products were not verified | The final explanation and commitment on costs and options are confirmed by the service staff with the customer |
The five rows below state what the evidence used in this section can and cannot support. Each row is used only within the scope of application of its source, and conclusions are not merged across sources.
The BLS description notes that many repair settings use computer diagnostics, which is not a measured test of generative AI adoption. Editorial scenario: assistance can only be discussed when a specific tool has been verified to have code reading, retrieval or ordering capability; the functions of specific products, adoption rates, faster diagnosis or better records, and job causation were not verified in this round.
What AI mainly changesEditorial conditional scenario: if a specific tool has verified code reading, retrieval or ordering functions, it can assist in proposing hypotheses; product functions were not verified in this round.
Still the responsibility of peopleA ranking is only a hypothesis to be verified; the cause of the fault must be confirmed by the measurements and dismantling specified in the manual.
What AI mainly changesThe 6 United States recruitment keywords for 2025: Office / Excel 1% each, Word / SAP under 1%, AutoCAD / SolidWorks NA rather than 0; the denominator is all unique job postings associated with this occupational code, not a usage rate or AI adoption rate. The BLS describes computer diagnostics, and ordinary diagnostic software cannot be equated with generative AI. No generative AI adoption proportion for repair businesses or fleets was obtained, and no claim is made about how most enterprises use it.
Still the responsibility of peopleWhether to adopt depends on cost, liability and compliance constraints, and the degree of adoption differs markedly between enterprises and regions.
What AI mainly changesIn the current United States for 49-3031 itself: about 316000 positions in 2025 and about 327400 in 2035, growth of 4% over 2025—2035 with a net increase of 11400, and 24400 annual average openings including growth and replacement. O*NET and BLS currently share the same projection period, so the older 2024—2034 figures must not be called another current scope; openings are not net new positions or individual opportunities. No causal material on position outcomes caused by generative AI adoption was obtained in this round, and it is not claimed that all public evidence shows no decline.
Still the responsibility of peopleThe number of positions also depends on freight volume, public transport budgets and vehicle ownership, and cannot be attributed to a single technology.
Human responsibility statement: diagnostic conclusions, dismantling and inspection judgments, the replacement and reassembly of safety components, whether emission-related work conforms to procedure, and the signing of repair records must still be borne by personnel with the corresponding capability and authorization. Tools can provide leads, ordering and data documentation, but do not bear responsibility for repair quality, nor can they replace the safety procedures for lifting, electrical, welding and high-pressure fuel system work.
Confirm the operating conditions, when the fault occurs and previous repair records with the customer or dispatcher, forming a verifiable initial description.
Read fault codes, parameters and waveforms, and measure and record values such as pressure, temperature, clearance and voltage.
Dismantle and inspect in the order given by the manual, and use the specifications set out in the manual to decide whether to adjust, repair or replace.
For safety components such as brakes, steering and wheel bearings, and for emission-related work, review according to procedure and keep the basis.
Write the cause of the fault, the handling method, replaced parts and items still requiring observation into the work order, and deliver after road test verification.
May replace parts that are not faulty, with the problem recurring and increasing the customer's cost.
How it is controlled:List tool output as a hypothesis to be verified, keep measurement and dismantling records, and require re-diagnosis for recurring faults.
Repair conclusions become distorted, and where safety components are involved this may affect driving safety and the determination of liability.
How it is controlled:State the verification status and basis in external documents; conclusions involving safety components and emissions are reviewed by personnel with the right conditions.
Cross-enterprise flows involving vehicle identification and owner information may raise ownership and privacy issues.
How it is controlled:Agree the scope of data use and the retention period; do not export or repurpose platform and fleet data without authorization.
Without manual measurement and physical judgment, faults that tools cannot cover cannot be handled.
How it is controlled:Keep manual measurement and dismantling training in supervised work; treat tools as a learning aid.
Lifting and support, electrical isolation, welding protection and high-pressure fuel depressurisation are omitted, creating personal and equipment risk.
How it is controlled:Follow safety procedures and keep records; there is a right to pause and report upward when pressed to rush.
First build the fundamentals of measurement, torque and safe work through supervised servicing and dismantling tasks, and then treat diagnostic tools as an aid to understanding faults; being able to use software should not be treated as sufficient evidence of readiness to enter the field.
Focus learning on the parts tools cover poorly: physical dismantling and inspection in confined spaces, judging abnormal noise and vibration, reassembly rechecks of safety components, and specialist directions such as fuel injection and high-voltage electrical work.
Clarify the verification responsibility and record requirements for tool output, specify the review steps for work involving safety and emissions, and set aside budget and time for training and protective equipment.
In the interview, proactively ask about the diagnostic and fleet management systems used, the recording process and the safety system; this information explains the actual work better than the job title.
In the current United States for 49-3031 itself: about 316000 positions in 2025 and about 327400 in 2035, growth of 4% over 2025—2035 with a net increase of 11400, and 24400 annual average openings including growth and replacement. O*NET and BLS currently share the same projection period, so the older 2024—2034 figures must not be called another current scope; openings are not net new positions or individual opportunities. The BLS explanation of freight demand, older vehicles and less electric vehicle repair is not generative AI causation; AI position outcomes were not verified in this round.
Sources:O*NET OnLine: Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists (49-3031.00) occupational profileOriginal material ↗
The 6 United States recruitment keywords for 2025: Office / Excel 1% each, Word / SAP under 1%, AutoCAD / SolidWorks NA rather than 0; the denominator is all unique job postings associated with this occupational code, not a usage rate or AI adoption rate. The BLS describes computer diagnostics, and ordinary diagnostic software cannot be equated with generative AI. What is verifiable is the description of computer diagnostics; similar cases, predictive reminders, automatic scheduling and efficiency gains are product-specific scenarios to be verified and are not proven to have already changed by technology terms.
Sources:O*NET OnLine: Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists related technology entries (49-3031.00)Original material ↗
The editor suggests not treating a cause ranking directly as a fault conclusion, and verifying according to manufacturer technical information and measurements. The voluntary NIST framework is only a governance reference; safe work, applicable inspections and signing in China follow the motor vehicle repair provisions, and not all items are mandated to go through the same quality inspection process.
Sources:O*NET OnLine: Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists detailed information (49-3031.00)Original material ↗
Advice for different groups: for those considering entering the field, first build the fundamentals of measurement, dismantling and assembly and safe work, and treat diagnostic tools as a learning aid rather than a substitute for capability; for those already working, focus on the areas where tools are weak — actual dismantling and inspection in confined spaces, on-site judgment of abnormal noise and vibration, and the reassembly and recheck of safety components; for employers, clarify the verification responsibility and record requirements for tool output and avoid writing tool suggestions directly into repair conclusions.
Sources:O*NET OnLine: Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists detailed information (49-3031.00)Original material ↗
Three points need attention: first, diagnostic and repair records may contain vehicle identification and owner information, so the scope of use and retention period should be agreed when they flow between enterprises; second, telematics and fleet management platform data are often held jointly by the platform and the fleet, and individuals should not export or repurpose it without authorization; third, when tool output is written into external documents, its source and verification status should be stated to avoid writing probabilistic judgments as definite conclusions.
Sources:O*NET OnLine: Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists national wages (May 2025 wage data, 49-3031.00)Original material ↗
Alternative fuel system maintenance and repair is an O*NET core task, but a task list is not an adoption time series. The BLS says less electric vehicle repair may reduce demand, which cannot guarantee that all diesel skills will never become obsolete; the editor suggests verifying electrical and fuel system training by target vehicle type and position scope, and no generic high-voltage operating method is given.
Sources:ILO：Generative AI and Jobs — A Refined Global Index of Occupational ExposureOriginal material ↗
Three lines of verification are possible: first, whether, after a tool gives a ranking, the cause can be verified or ruled out with the measurements and dismantling specified in the manual; second, whether abnormal noise, vibration and leakage and other physical clues can be recognised in confined and noisy environments; third, whether the diagnostic process, measured values, replaced parts and items still requiring observation can be written completely into records and accept review. All three can be verified in supervised actual work.
Sources:NIST：Artificial Intelligence Risk Management Framework（AI RMF 1.0）Original material ↗
Guidance on common questions: this section answers separately which tasks already have verifiable evidence of technical change, whether those changes amount to fewer positions, and which capabilities should be prioritised for verification when facing tool-based diagnosis; each answer is accompanied by its source and limits of use and draws no conclusions beyond the evidence.
Insufficient evidence: no single-occupation wage distribution for Chinese diesel repair or representative recruitment sample was obtained in this round. NBS2025 residential services, repair and other services non-private 70226 and private 52059 yuan annual average, with actual transport units separately at 133981 and 73133; urban legal entities with 5 or more people, multiple occupations, non-private not limited to state-owned enterprises, excluding sole traders and freelance workers, matching only the unit industry background rather than the wage, median or quote for this occupation.
This round NBS2025 matched industry background, with a gap in diesel repair occupational wages and recruitment samples; repair charges are not employee pay
| Position or scope | Pay and disclosure status | Scope of application and gaps |
|---|---|---|
| Work and business requirements | The typical United States entry and the Chinese 2018 skill standard are kept separate; the current assessment notice for the 2024 new job type is verified separately | Motor vehicle repair operators in China file with the county-level transport authority of their location after registration, filing is free of charge, and the scope and category follow the business items. Article 12 requires at least 1 person each for the technical lead, quality inspection and reception and for each type of repair personnel in categories one and two; category three comprehensive minor repairs, engine, body, electrical and automatic transmission repair also require a technical lead and quality inspection, and this cannot be omitted. Quality inspection personnel must hold a compatible driving licence, so the driving threshold is not uniform for all repair workers; enterprise filing does not replace individual skills or position authority. Staffing requirements do not prove that position pay plus performance is general or that skill level necessarily affects grading. |
| Skill level path | The typical United States entry and the Chinese 2018 skill standard are kept separate; the current assessment notice for the 2024 new job type is verified separately | Editorial examples of fleet repair positions must verify the real shift pattern, outage windows and pay agreements; there is no Chinese sample in this round proving that shift work and breakdown repair are general. |
| Scope of specialist work | The typical United States entry and the Chinese 2018 skill standard are kept separate; the current assessment notice for the 2024 new job type is verified separately | Category three filing items include engine, electrical and injection pump and injector work, and this is not used to prove that piece-rate or hourly wages are general or that income fluctuations are caused by them. |
| National occupational-level wage distribution | Insufficient evidence: no national single-occupation wage distribution or representative recruitment sample for Chinese diesel repair was obtained in this round; an industry average cannot substitute. | Articles 25—26 provide for public disclosure of repair labour time unit prices and standard labour times, with material charges listed separately and filed standards taking priority where standards conflict; these are customer repair costs and do not prove the employee pay method. |
2025 national quintiles annual 44530 / 50540 / 61770 / 75470 / 88740 USD, hourly 21.41 / 24.30 / 29.70 / 36.29 / 42.66. OEWS is pretax wages for employees' straight time, including commissions and other incentives, production bonuses and specified allowances, and excluding overtime premiums, shift differentials and nonproduction bonuses; it does not exclude piece-rate commissions across the board, does not include the self-employed, and is not an individual annual take-home figure. Insufficient evidence: no single-occupation wage distribution for Chinese diesel repair or representative recruitment sample was obtained in this round. NBS2025 residential services, repair and other services non-private 70226 and private 52059 yuan annual average, with actual transport units separately at 133981 and 73133; urban legal entities with 5 or more people, multiple occupations, non-private not limited to state-owned enterprises, excluding sole traders and freelance workers, matching only the unit industry background rather than the wage, median or quote for this occupation. China and the United States are explained as separate markets, with no direct currency conversion.
Insufficient evidence: no single-occupation wage distribution for Chinese diesel repair or representative recruitment sample was obtained in this round. NBS2025 residential services, repair and other services non-private 70226 and private 52059 yuan annual average, with actual transport units separately at 133981 and 73133; urban legal entities with 5 or more people, multiple occupations, non-private not limited to state-owned enterprises, excluding sole traders and freelance workers, matching only the unit industry background rather than the wage, median or quote for this occupation.
The editor verifies the monthly wage, piece-rate and performance pay and working hours benefits in the specific labour contract; there is no sample in this round proving a general pattern. Articles 25—26 on repair labour time fees and material fees concern charges to the customer commissioning the repair, not an algorithm for employee wages; a settlement statement does not replace a payslip.
The editor needs to verify the actual business, contracts and comparable continuous samples; the BLS United States demand explanation does not support an inference of significant fluctuations in individual income in China, and there is no income time series for this occupation in this round.
The relationship between AI and income: diagnostic software, telematics and fault prediction tools may change the entry point of diagnosis and the organisation of routine servicing, but they provide leads rather than conclusions; whether income is affected depends on how employers configure positions and skills, and this page does not infer individual income changes on that basis.
| National median wage | 61770 USD/year; 29.70 USD/hour (2025 median) | Does not equal a fixed monthly income | Median wage: 61,770 USD/year (29.70 USD/hour), meaning that about half of practitioners are below and half above this level. |
|---|
| Higher wage position | 88740 USD/year; 42.66 USD/hour (2025 90th percentile) | Does not mean continuously high income all year | In the current United States for 49-3031 itself: about 316000 positions in 2025 and about 327400 in 2035, growth of 4% over 2025—2035 with a net increase of 11400, and 24400 annual average openings including growth and replacement. O*NET and BLS currently share the same projection period, so the older 2024—2034 figures must not be called another current scope; openings are not net new positions or individual opportunities. |
|---|
Salary · 10th percentile：44530 USD/year; 21.41 USD/hour (2025 10th percentile)；The low end of the distribution in the May 2025 wage data for this occupation, a statistical position rather than an entry-level salary.
Salary · 25th percentile：50,540 USD/year；The lower quartile of the May 2025 wage data for this occupation； the hourly basis is 24.30 USD.
Salary · median：61770 USD/year; 29.70 USD/hour (2025 median)；The middle position of the May 2025 wage data for this occupation: half of practitioners are below and half above this value (median hourly 29.70 USD).
Salary · 75th percentile：75,470 USD/year；The upper quartile of the May 2025 wage data for this occupation； the hourly basis is 36.29 USD.
Salary · 90th percentile：88740 USD/year; 42.66 USD/hour (2025 90th percentile)；The 90th percentile is a position in the distribution and does not prove causation between the number of skills or certifications and wages
2025 national quintiles annual 44530 / 50540 / 61770 / 75470 / 88740 USD, hourly 21.41 / 24.30 / 29.70 / 36.29 / 42.66. OEWS is pretax wages for employees' straight time, including commissions and other incentives, production bonuses and specified allowances, and excluding overtime premiums, shift differentials and nonproduction bonuses; it does not exclude piece-rate commissions across the board, does not include the self-employed, and is not an individual annual take-home figure. China and the United States coverage, units and periods are verified separately and cannot be used to infer individual income directly.
The main BLS employers for this occupation itself in 2025 are truck transportation 18%, wholesale trade 13%, local government (excluding education and hospitals) 9%, automotive repair 9% and leasing 6%; these are not the shares of the whole transportation and warehousing group. The corresponding industry median annual wages for this occupation are 59820 / 63070 / 71460 / 60330 / 60220 USD, not all-industry average wages or skill causation. Actually verified across the 57 United States context items: contaminants 85% every day, noise 81% every day, hazardous equipment 60% every day, PPE78% every day; using hands 80% continuously, standing 59% continuously, bending 59% continuously; accuracy extremely important 53%, very high responsibility for the safety of others 72%, face-to-face 90% every day. These are survey frequencies and opinions, not accident rates, all workstation conditions or the Chinese distribution.
Low and high percentiles are statistical positions, not starting salary, skill or years of service lines; the national distribution does not prove causation between specialism, number of certifications, region or shift and the percentiles. The BLS description that certification may lead to higher wages is not a quantitative guarantee; the specific contract and regional wages are verified separately.
In the current United States for 49-3031 itself: about 316000 positions in 2025 and about 327400 in 2035, growth of 4% over 2025—2035 with a net increase of 11400, and 24400 annual average openings including growth and replacement. O*NET and BLS currently share the same projection period, so the older 2024—2034 figures must not be called another current scope; openings are not net new positions or individual opportunities.
| Work environment | Main fields of employment and work context | How to understand it |
|---|---|---|
| Local government (excluding education and hospitals) | Local government (excluding education and hospitals)｜71460 USD median annual wage; 9% of employment | The main BLS employers for this occupation itself in 2025 are truck transportation 18%, wholesale trade 13%, local government (excluding education and hospitals) 9%, automotive repair 9% and leasing 6%; these are not the shares of the whole transportation and warehousing group. The corresponding industry median annual wages for this occupation are 59820 / 63070 / 71460 / 60330 / 60220 USD, not all-industry average wages or skill causation. Industry occupational wages are not work context; the exposure survey and the employed statistics are kept separate. |
| Wholesale trade | Wholesale trade｜63070 USD median annual wage; 13% of employment | The main BLS employers for this occupation itself in 2025 are truck transportation 18%, wholesale trade 13%, local government (excluding education and hospitals) 9%, automotive repair 9% and leasing 6%; these are not the shares of the whole transportation and warehousing group. The corresponding industry median annual wages for this occupation are 59820 / 63070 / 71460 / 60330 / 60220 USD, not all-industry average wages or skill causation. Industry occupational wages are not work context; the exposure survey and the employed statistics are kept separate. |
| Automotive repair | Automotive repair｜60330 USD median annual wage; 9% of employment | The main BLS employers for this occupation itself in 2025 are truck transportation 18%, wholesale trade 13%, local government (excluding education and hospitals) 9%, automotive repair 9% and leasing 6%; these are not the shares of the whole transportation and warehousing group. The corresponding industry median annual wages for this occupation are 59820 / 63070 / 71460 / 60330 / 60220 USD, not all-industry average wages or skill causation. Industry occupational wages are not work context; the exposure survey and the employed statistics are kept separate. |
| Other industries and the self-employment boundary | Statistics do not include the self-employed | Self-employment and contracting: the O*NET page does not publish the self-employment proportion or self-employment income for this occupation; this page does not infer individual income from industry classification. |
The BLS United States demand explanation and industry wages can serve as background; the causation between shift, region and individual annual income was not verified. The main BLS employers for this occupation itself in 2025 are truck transportation 18%, wholesale trade 13%, local government (excluding education and hospitals) 9%, automotive repair 9% and leasing 6%; these are not the shares of the whole transportation and warehousing group. The corresponding industry median annual wages for this occupation are 59820 / 63070 / 71460 / 60330 / 60220 USD, not all-industry average wages or skill causation.
Low and high percentiles are statistical positions, not starting salary, skill or years of service lines; the national distribution does not prove causation between specialism, number of certifications, region or shift and the percentiles. The BLS description that certification may lead to higher wages is not a quantitative guarantee; the specific contract and regional wages are verified separately.
The BLS United States demand explanation and industry wages can serve as background; the causation between shift, region and individual annual income was not verified. The main BLS employers for this occupation itself in 2025 are truck transportation 18%, wholesale trade 13%, local government (excluding education and hospitals) 9%, automotive repair 9% and leasing 6%; these are not the shares of the whole transportation and warehousing group. The corresponding industry median annual wages for this occupation are 59820 / 63070 / 71460 / 60330 / 60220 USD, not all-industry average wages or skill causation.
In the current United States for 49-3031 itself: about 316000 positions in 2025 and about 327400 in 2035, growth of 4% over 2025—2035 with a net increase of 11400, and 24400 annual average openings including growth and replacement. O*NET and BLS currently share the same projection period, so the older 2024—2034 figures must not be called another current scope； openings are not net new positions or individual opportunities.
In the current United States for 49-3031 itself: about 316000 positions in 2025 and about 327400 in 2035, growth of 4% over 2025—2035 with a net increase of 11400, and 24400 annual average openings including growth and replacement. O*NET and BLS currently share the same projection period, so the older 2024—2034 figures must not be called another current scope； openings are not net new positions or individual opportunities.
In the current United States for 49-3031 itself: about 316000 positions in 2025 and about 327400 in 2035, growth of 4% over 2025—2035 with a net increase of 11400, and 24400 annual average openings including growth and replacement. O*NET and BLS currently share the same projection period, so the older 2024—2034 figures must not be called another current scope； openings are not net new positions or individual opportunities.
Try a small experience first： A low-cost experiment: find a publicly available diesel engine repair teaching video or a section of a service manual, write out a checklist in the manual's order of which measured values are needed, how the cause of the fault is confirmed and which steps must be rechecked, and then judge whether you are willing to do this kind of item-by-item verification work over the long term. The exercise uses public material only and involves no real vehicles or tools.
Are you willing both to work hands-on in dismantling and assembly and to check items item by item according to procedure?
The O*NET interest R100/C46/I38/S9/E5/A0 supports RCI and is not an individual ability or hiring line; the 17 work style Impact scores of dependability 82, attention to detail 81, caution 65, persistence 59 and stress tolerance 42 and so on are not Big Five scores or population proportions. Near vision 75 and manual dexterity 72 are ability importance, not IQ thresholds; the validity of personality testing or learning prediction for this occupation was not verified.
Do not use it this way:Note: interest codes describe the overall tendency of the occupation, are not equal to individual ability, and are not used for hiring or screening.
Understand my occupational interestsCan you stay stable between repetitive procedural work and sudden breakdown repair?
The O*NET interest R100/C46/I38/S9/E5/A0 supports RCI and is not an individual ability or hiring line; the 17 work style Impact scores of dependability 82, attention to detail 81, caution 65, persistence 59 and stress tolerance 42 and so on are not Big Five scores or population proportions. Near vision 75 and manual dexterity 72 are ability importance, not IQ thresholds; the validity of personality testing or learning prediction for this occupation was not verified. It is not inferred from work style that an individual needs a higher conscientiousness or emotional stability test threshold.
Do not use it this way:Fourth group of signals: judgement about safety and responsibility — for safety components such as brakes, steering and wheel bearings and for emission-related work, it is better to recheck one extra time than to rush; be willing to stop and ask when a task exceeds your capability.
Understand my Big Five traitsCan a type description show whether you are suited to this job?
The editor may use preference descriptions for self-observation; no research on MBTI predicting occupational performance was verified in this round, and a type does not directly imply repair skills or task authorization.
Do not use it this way:Note: do not put type results on a resume or use them as a basis for choosing a position.
Understand my personality preferencesIs the Enneagram explanation useful for choosing a career?
An editorial self-exploration reference; the relationship between the Enneagram and performance in this occupation was not verified in this round, and types are not used to judge competence in physical and procedural work.
Do not use it this way:Note: not used for recruitment, promotion or dismissal decisions.
Understand my motivation cluesCan an intelligence test score determine whether I can do this work?
The O*NET interest R100/C46/I38/S9/E5/A0 supports RCI and is not an individual ability or hiring line; the 17 work style Impact scores of dependability 82, attention to detail 81, caution 65, persistence 59 and stress tolerance 42 and so on are not Big Five scores or population proportions. Near vision 75 and manual dexterity 72 are ability importance, not IQ thresholds; the validity of personality testing or learning prediction for this occupation was not verified. The typical BLS entry in the United States is high school or equivalent, no related work experience, and long-term on-the-job training; employers may prefer a postsecondary diesel repair course, certification may be required or preferred, and a CDL may be needed for road tests of large bus or truck vehicles. The O*NET JobZone3/SVP6 to below 7 and the group-level 1—2 years of training do not guarantee that duration for every person in this occupation; the education responses of 39% postsecondary certificate and 37% high school are not law or the education composition of employees. Standard occupational ability characteristics are not a general test hiring line, and the magnitude of the correlation between scores and specific repair learning was not verified.
Note: not used for recruitment, promotion or dismissal decisions.
Does dealing with customers and colleagues require very high emotional intelligence?
Face-to-face 90% every day and contact 51% continuously indicate that communication exists, but do not represent an EQ test threshold, and there is no standard for a uniform concept; the editor verifies fault clarification and handover behaviour, and the validity of testing was not verified in this round.
Do not use it this way:Sixth group of signals: collaboration and communication — you need to communicate with service advisers, parts suppliers, team leaders and customers about faults, costs and delivery time, and accept quality inspectors' review of safety components.
Understand my communication cluesBetter match:Suited to people who are willing to study the manual, record measurement data and can patiently rule things out.
Note:If you resist looking things up or replace parts on experience alone, you will struggle with recurring faults.
Better match:Suited to people with strong hands-on ability who can focus on assembly precision for long periods.
Note:If you lack patience for repetitive assembly and tolerance rechecks, rework is likely.
Better match:Suited to people who want to start with standardized vehicle types and quick service processes.
Note:When moving from diesel repair to 49-3023, verify the target vehicle type's automotive systems and processes and the actual position authority, and do not reverse-require diesel as a target gap; the training period was not quantified.
View related occupations:Automotive service technicians and mechanicsBetter match:Suited to people who prefer driving and the pace of transport and are willing to obtain the driving qualification as required.
Note:The daily checks of a driver position do not equal repair authorization, and repair work must still be carried out by personnel with the right conditions.
View related occupations:Heavy and tractor-trailer truck driversBetter match:Suited to people who prefer general machinery, hydraulics and transmission and want fewer vehicle-specific steps.
Note:The pace of equipment maintenance and the division of responsibility differ from fleet repair, and collaboration methods need to be readjusted to.
View related occupations:Industrial machinery mechanicsBetter match:Suited to people who want to enter the rail transit industry and develop within a repair schedule system.
Note:Rail vehicles 49-3043 diagnose, adjust, repair or overhaul vehicles including railway, mine car and rail transit; the editor verifies the target object and the actual safety system and does not compare whether it is stricter than road repair.
View related occupations:Rail car repairersFirst group of signals: whether you can stay patient when information is incomplete — fault symptoms are often vague and the customer's description may not match the measured data, requiring items to be ruled out one by one among several possibilities rather than replacing an assembly on first instinct.
Second group of signals: acceptance of manual and physical work — lifting heavy components, tightening high-torque bolts and working in confined spaces are routine; fine operation with the arms and fingers is also required, for example dismantling small parts and connecting fasteners.
Third group of signals: attitude to specifications and records — torque specifications, clearance tolerances, protective equipment and work order records are hard requirements, and omitting any one of them may affect safety or the determination of liability.
The editor observes through safe paper tasks whether you are willing to work with your hands, verify against specifications and keep records; the causation between the source of interest and adaptation or achievement was not verified in this round, and specialisms cannot be allocated by whether the interest comes from hands-on work or results.
Face-to-face 90% every day and contact 51% continuously; the intensity and objects of communication are verified by position, and this is not used to guarantee that both introverts and extroverts fit or that high-intensity social contact is unnecessary. The editor focuses on faults, costs and handover explanations.
PPE78% every day is a United States survey, not a uniform equipment list for every person. In the 2018 Chinese standard, normal colour vision applies only to personnel doing body painting repair; other specific health and protection requirements follow the actual process, and appearance or colour vision thresholds are not generalised to all repair personnel.
The O*NET typical week is over 40 hours 53% and 40 hours 46%, 87% regular scheduling does not mean a fixed workday with no night shifts, and time pressure 40% every day. BLS mentions some evening, weekend or 24-hour service settings, and this is not used to claim that all fleets are on call at any time or that brand service stations are more regular. Verify the target position's roster first; it was not verified that brand service stations have more fixed hours.
Three steps are suggested: first, do the paper exercises on this page (read a manual excerpt, list the troubleshooting order, write a work order record) to confirm that you are willing to verify items according to procedure; second, use public teaching material to become familiar with safe working requirements and common measuring tools; third, seek a supervised hands-on opportunity, starting with basic tasks such as servicing and dismantling and assembly. Do not dismantle real vehicles or carry out high-pressure and electrical work unsupervised and without protection.
It can be a starting point for self-understanding, but do not use it to decide whether to enter the field. Assessment tools differ in the strength of their evidence (interest codes and conscientiousness have relatively more correlational evidence, while typology tools and emotional intelligence measures have weaker evidence), and none predicts individual job performance. The more reliable way to judge fit is to complete the low-risk exercises on this page and have one supervised hands-on experience.
Three steps: first, complete the low-risk written exercises on this page to confirm that you are willing to verify item by item against the manual and measured values; second, find a supervised hands-on opportunity (such as an open career experience or a conversation with someone working in the field) to confirm that you can accept the working conditions; third, then decide whether to enter systematic training or an apprenticeship path. Do not substitute assessment results for these three steps.
Possible consequences：Braking performance declines or wheel components fail, which may lead to a traffic accident and to rework and liability claims.
Reduce risk：Risk one: improper handling of safety components. Brakes, steering and wheel bearings are directly related to driving safety; if replacement parts do not meet specifications, if torques and clearances are not reassembled to specification, or if rechecks are omitted, this may lead to serious consequences such as brake failure or a wheel coming off. The control is to work strictly to manual specifications, use genuine and traceable parts, and remeasure and verify by road test after reassembly.
Basis：O*NET OnLine: Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists detailed information (49-3031.00)
Typical scenarios：Starting to dismantle heavy components before lifting support is secured, or working without depressurising a high-pressure fuel system or without protection for welding and live electrical work.
Main positions：Workers · team leaders · safety managers
Possible consequences：May cause crush injuries, burns, electric shock and fuel spray injuries, which are preventable personal risks.
Reduce risk：Risk two: personal risk in lifting, high-pressure and electrical work. Unstable support when lifting vehicles and assemblies, failure to depressurise a high-pressure fuel system, and missing protection for welding and live electrical work can all cause personal injury. The control is to use qualified supports and lifting gear, depressurise and isolate power according to procedure, wear protective equipment, and set up supervision for work in confined spaces.
Basis：O*NET OnLine: Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists detailed information (49-3031.00)
Typical scenarios：Using parts of unknown origin, or providing a settlement statement that does not itemise labour time fees and material fees, so that the customer later disputes the cost and the necessity of replacement.
Main positions：Workers · service advisers · customers
Possible consequences：Leads to complaints and rework, and self-employed and piece-rate workers may lose income directly.
Reduce risk：Risk three: compliance risk in emission-related work. Temporarily replacing emission control devices or disabling the onboard emission diagnostic system to get a vehicle through an emission inspection is expressly prohibited work; if it happens, both the repair operator and the worker may bear responsibility. The control is to repair to standards and the manufacturer's technical requirements and to record test data truthfully.
Basis：Provisions on the Administration of Motor Vehicle Repair (Order No. 18 of 2021 of the Ministry of Transport, re-promulgated after the November 10, 2023 fifth amendment)
Typical scenarios：Temporarily replacing emission control devices or disabling the onboard emission diagnostic system to get a vehicle through an emission inspection.
Main positions：Workers · technical lead · operator
Possible consequences：Article 29 prohibits repair operators from temporarily replacing emission controls or disabling the OBD to pass inspection; operator and individual responsibility are separate, and the specific penalty provisions or inspection invalidity procedures were not verified item by item in this round, so no uniform individual penalty conclusion is given.
Reduce risk：Risk four: income and reputational risk arising from parts and labour time disputes. Using counterfeit or substandard parts, not itemising labour time and material fees, or providing an incomplete settlement statement all lead to rework and complaints; self-employed and piece-rate workers may also face customer arrears and business fluctuation. The control is to keep vouchers for the source of parts, issue settlement statements according to labour time allowances and charge standards, and avoid taking on work beyond your capability after promising a low price.
Basis：Provisions on the Administration of Motor Vehicle Repair (Order No. 18 of 2021 of the Ministry of Transport, re-promulgated after the November 10, 2023 fifth amendment)
Typical scenarios：Exporting or repurposing vehicle identification and owner information from diagnostic and repair records without authorization.
Main positions：Workers · fleet managers · platform service providers
Possible consequences：May raise data ownership and privacy disputes and affect trust in collaboration between enterprises.
Reduce risk：Risk five: skills becoming obsolete and career development stalling. The fuel, emission and electrical systems of diesel vehicles keep being updated, and alternative fuel and hybrid systems are expanding; if you only do repetitive part replacement over the long term without building up diagnostic and electrical capability, income and job choices will be limited. The control is to keep attending manufacturer and industry training, record the complex diagnostic cases you have handled, and gradually establish a specialism.
Basis：NIST：Artificial Intelligence Risk Management Framework（AI RMF 1.0） · NIST：Artificial Intelligence Risk Management Framework（AI RMF 1.0）
Typical scenarios：Only doing repetitive part replacement work over the long term without building up diagnostic, electrical and alternative fuel system capability.
Main positions：Workers · team leaders · employers
Possible consequences：Editorial risk scenario: when the target equipment changes, the task training gap needs to be verified; the causation or magnitude of limited income growth caused by a single repetitive job was not verified in this round.
Reduce risk：If you receive review opinions from quality inspectors or team leaders, treat them as a normal part of safety and quality rather than a denial of your personal ability; for opinions involving safety components, remeasure to specification before delivery.
Basis：O*NET OnLine: Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists detailed information (49-3031.00) · BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook：Diesel Service Technicians and Mechanics
Verifiable items include: training course certificates and practical training records, industry certification (such as ASE-related directions), a commercial driving licence (where large vehicle road testing is involved), and the mainland China automotive repairer occupational skill level certificate and motor vehicle repair business filing information.
| Entry directions | What you mainly do at first | Employer requirements and basis for observation | How to prove it without experience | Difference from other directions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basic servicing and dismantling and assembly position | Under the guidance of the mentor or team leader, complete oil changes, filter and battery checks, lubrication and tire mounting and demounting, and record completion on the work order | Whether protective equipment is worn and the vehicle supported according to safety procedures, whether work follows specifications, and whether the work order is completed truthfully | Use evaluation records from supervised work or vocational education practical training records to show that you have completed basic tasks according to procedure | An editorial example of an entry direction; the most common starting point or all initial authority was not verified |
| Diagnostic assistant position | Assist with reading fault codes and parameters, organising measurement data, preparing and returning tools, and watching how the mentor troubleshoots according to the manual |
The editor verifies actual procedures and authorization; what employers observe first or a uniform order was not verified
Article 29 follows applicable standards and, where there is none, refers to manufacturer information; specifications are not replaced by feel
Completing work order records is an O*NET task; the editor observes that data can be reviewed, which is not a uniform employer hiring threshold
The editor verifies the handover of unconfirmed issues; quality inspection signing and additional archives are limited to the corresponding repair items in Articles 31—33
Clearly state the symptoms, the fault codes and measured values read, the troubleshooting order according to the manual, the conclusion and the items still requiring observation
List the dismantling order, the parts marking method, the key torque and clearance specifications, and the items to be remeasured after reassembly
Itemise labour time fees and material fees, and attach a column for parts source and traceability information, explaining compliance and traceability requirements
List the confirmation items and responsible signatures for lifting support, electrical isolation, welding protection and high-pressure fuel depressurisation
| Scenario | What to verify | How to observe | What cannot be inferred from this |
|---|---|---|---|
| Job interview | Training background, existing certification and driving licence, and whether shifts and protection requirements are acceptable | Verify experience and conditions against the job description and listen for genuine reactions to the working conditions | Answers in one interview cannot prove actual hands-on ability and procedural habits |
| Supervised trial | Whether procedures are followed and reports are truthful when completing basic servicing or dismantling tasks under the mentor's guidance | Observe protective equipment use, tool use, whether the manual is consulted proactively, and whether uncertainties are flagged | Performance in one trial cannot indicate long-term quality levels or safety habits |
| First week of the mentoring period |
| Qualification/preparation item | Who it mainly suits | Practical role in job seeking | Whether it is a universal entry threshold | Registration/processing conditions | Investment considerations | Important limitations |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High school or equivalent | Everyone who wants to enter this occupation | The entry education requirement of most employers; automotive, electronics and mathematics courses at high school or secondary vocational school level form the knowledge foundation | The typical BLS entry is not a statutory education line for all employers | Complete schooling according to the local education system | This takes several years, and the main investment is the schooling itself | Education does not indicate hands-on ability and does not replace safety and procedural training |
| Vocational college or postsecondary diesel engine repair course |
Contains the customer description (difficulty starting cold, loss of power), the fault codes read, and three sets of measurement data (fuel pressure, cylinder pressure, intake air temperature)
Used to practise checking whether the information is sufficient and what still needs measuring
List the causes to be ruled out in the manual's order, and state which measured value or check is needed at each step
The output is a reviewable troubleshooting checklist, with items still to be confirmed marked
State the diagnosis of the cause, the handling method, replaced parts and items still requiring observation, in language that colleagues and customers can understand
The output is a reviewable work order record
All the above are paper exercises and involve no real vehicle lifting, dismantling and assembly, electrical, welding or fuel system work
Find publicly available diesel engine repair material and write out the torque or clearance specifications and inspection steps given by the manual
Using the three given sets of fictional measured values, judge which item is out of specification and write down the items that need remeasuring
List the causes to be ruled out and the corresponding inspection methods in the manual's order, marking the safety steps that cannot be omitted
State the cause of the fault, the handling method, replaced parts and items to be observed clearly, in no more than 300 characters
Look at publicly available material on workshop work and protection requirements and write down whether you can accept working with oil, noise and confined spaces
Choose two directions in the adjacent occupation comparison table on this page and write one sentence each on the difference in objects and responsibility
Typical responsibilities：Under guidance, complete oil changes, filter and battery checks, lubrication and tire mounting and demounting, return tools and keep the bay tidy.
Promotion evidence：Be able to complete basic tasks in work order order and record truthfully
Qualification boundaries：Editorial entry positions require verification of the real employer's training, vehicle types and jurisdictional conditions; they cannot be described uniformly as having no specific licence requirement. The typical BLS entry in the United States is high school or equivalent, no related work experience, and long-term on-the-job training; employers may prefer a postsecondary diesel repair course, certification may be required or preferred, and a CDL may be needed for road tests of large bus or truck vehicles. The O*NET JobZone3/SVP6 to below 7 and the group-level 1—2 years of training do not guarantee that duration for every person in this occupation; the education responses of 39% postsecondary certificate and 37% high school are not law or the education composition of employees.
Next step：Become familiar with common measuring tools and torque specifications and seek to move into dismantling, assembly and inspection steps.
Typical responsibilities：Dismantle assemblies and components in the manual's order, mark and clean parts, and reassemble to torque and clearance specifications.
Promotion evidence：The editor observes whether dismantling marking and specification reassembly records can be reviewed; no uniform rework rate threshold or real employer screening was obtained.
Qualification boundaries：Take part in internal training as required by the employer; some positions require vocational college practical training experience
Next step：Build up specification knowledge for safety components such as brakes and steering and apply to move into a diagnostic assistant position.
Typical responsibilities：Independently complete the replacement and reassembly of safety components such as brakes, steering and wheel bearings, and remeasure to specification.
Promotion evidence：The remeasurement data is complete, the road test verification is passed and the records are traceable
Qualification boundaries：Capability confirmation by the employer or quality inspector is required
Next step：Build up experience across vehicle types and learn the procedures for emission-related work.
Typical responsibilities：Arrange the work order sequence and tool preparation for the bay and review the reassembly and records of colleagues in the same bay.
Promotion evidence：Bay quality and safety records are stable and newcomers can be guided to work according to procedure
Qualification boundaries：Usually taken on after appointment by the employer and does not constitute an industry qualification
Next step：Specialise in diagnosis or assembly repair, or move into a fleet quality inspection position.
Typical responsibilities：Read fault codes and parameters, organise measurement data and help the mentor troubleshoot according to the manual.
Promotion evidence：Measurement records are in a standard format and allow colleagues to verify on that basis
Qualification boundaries：Verify entry conditions by region, enterprise and actual task. The BLS states that certification may be required or preferred, and a CDL may be needed for bus and large truck road tests; in China repair quality inspection personnel have a vehicle-category driving licence requirement, which is not extended to a uniform threshold for all repair workers. Pre-job safety training cannot replace the corresponding qualification.
Next step：Learn the principles of fuel and emission systems and practise turning measured values into a basis for judgment.
Typical responsibilities：Independently diagnose common faults, determine whether to adjust, repair or replace, and record the basis.
Promotion evidence：Diagnostic conclusions can be confirmed by subsequent dismantling and inspection, with few recurring faults
Qualification boundaries：Industry certification can be obtained progressively to demonstrate the specialism
Next step：Move into the dismantling and assembly steps of assembly overhaul.
Typical responsibilities：Take on specialist work such as injection pump and injector repair and electrical system diagnosis, forming a verifiable craft standard.
Promotion evidence：The pass rate and rework rate of specialist work are stable and process records are complete
Qualification boundaries：In mainland China, specialist work must be taken on within the filed business scope
Next step：Expand vehicle type and system coverage, or produce process and training material.
Typical responsibilities：Complete emission-related measurements and adjustments to standard and record the test data truthfully.
Promotion evidence：Test data can be reviewed and no workarounds are used to pass an inspection
Qualification boundaries：Qualified test equipment and methods must be used as required
Next step：May move to a testing body or technical compliance position, but the qualification requirements of that position must be verified anew.
Typical responsibilities：Organise the fleet repair plan and outage windows, manage spare parts and staff arrangements, and control cost and safety.
Complete high school or equivalent education, take a vocational college or postsecondary diesel engine repair course, and master the use of measuring tools, the concepts of torque and clearance, and safe working requirements.
Under the guidance of the mentor or team leader, complete basic servicing and dismantling and assembly tasks, check specifications against the manual, record on the work order, and accept review by quality inspectors.
Be able to independently diagnose and repair common faults, replace and reassemble and recheck safety components, and write the process into a reviewable record.
Develop a specialism in diagnosis, fuel injection and electrical work, assembly overhaul or fleet supervision, or take on mentoring and quality review duties; the scope of responsibility is still governed by the position and authorization.
The BLS projects freight growth and demand for repairing older vehicles, while electric vehicles generally require less maintenance, which may reduce part of the demand; this is not a measured test of the share of Chinese diesel heavy vehicles or of a rising share of emission and electrical work. In the current United States for 49-3031 itself: about 316000 positions in 2025 and about 327400 in 2035, growth of 4% over 2025—2035 with a net increase of 11400, and 24400 annual average openings including growth and replacement. O*NET and BLS currently share the same projection period, so the older 2024—2034 figures must not be called another current scope; openings are not net new positions or individual opportunities.
Cannot indicate：The United States BLS2025—2035 projection is not a Chinese or individual opportunity projection; the O*NET trend page still shows 2024—2034 in this round, and they cannot be combined into the same current period.
United States · Diesel service technicians and mechanics (O*NET-SOC 49-3031.00)
BLS Occupational Handbook: about 316000 positions in 2025; the O*NET trend page still lists the 2024—2034 period in this round and is explained separately as an earlier version.
Employment scale for this occupation
The BLS United States 2025 employment scale is a number of positions, not the number of vacancies recruited in this round. When looking at specific recruitment, verify the actual duties, shifts, certification, driving licence and training, and do not treat a job title or high-pay advertising as a wage sample.
Cannot indicate：This row is the BLS United States 2025 occupational employment scale; it is not the Chinese scale, current recruitment volume, employment commitment or individual benefits.
United States and mainland China · Diesel service technicians and mechanics (O*NET-SOC 49-3031.00)
In the United States on-the-job training and industry certification predominate, and road testing large vehicles may require a commercial driving licence; mainland China operates motor vehicle repair business filing and sets automotive repairer occupational skill levels (including commercial vehicle repair worker)
Employment and training paths
Editorial comparison directions: automotive repair, industrial machinery maintenance, machinery assembly and relocation, rail car repair and aircraft maintenance each have different objects and procedures and can be used to explore learning gaps; diesel repair experience is not guaranteed to transfer directly. Diagnosis, fuel injection and electrical work, assembly repair and management are also position directions to be verified; qualification, authorization, object knowledge and safety requirements must be verified by target.
Cannot indicate：Limitation: this row is a guide to how to read recruitment information and does not represent the current recruitment status or pay level of any enterprise.
These are capability adjacency relationships; they do not mean automatic promotion or that no further training is needed.
Transferable：49-3023 diagnoses, adjusts, repairs or overhauls motor vehicles; moving from diesel repair requires verifying the target automotive systems and processes, and diesel training is not in turn written as a target gap; this is only an editorial task comparison and does not quantify distance or transfer duration or guarantee hiring.
To be supplemented：49-3023 diagnoses, adjusts, repairs or overhauls motor vehicles; moving from diesel repair requires verifying the target automotive systems and processes, and diesel training is not in turn written as a target gap; this is only an editorial task comparison and does not quantify distance or transfer duration or guarantee hiring.
View career detailsTransferable：53-3032 drives tractor-trailers or heavy trucks with a GVW of at least 26001 pounds, possibly unloading, including trailer drivers, and the definition requires a CDL; the target is transport safety and the corresponding driving qualification, and repair experience does not replace a driving licence; this is only an editorial task comparison and does not quantify distance or transfer duration or guarantee hiring.
To be supplemented：53-3032 drives tractor-trailers or heavy trucks with a GVW of at least 26001 pounds, possibly unloading, including trailer drivers, and the definition requires a CDL; the target is transport safety and the corresponding driving qualification, and repair experience does not replace a driving licence; this is only an editorial task comparison and does not quantify distance or transfer duration or guarantee hiring.
View career detailsTransferable：49-9041 repairs, installs, adjusts and maintains industrial production, processing or refinery pipeline machinery and may install, dismantle and move equipment; verify against the target industrial equipment system and actual safety training, and complete transfer of the original skills is not guaranteed; this is only an editorial task comparison and does not quantify distance or transfer duration or guarantee hiring.
To be supplemented：49-9041 repairs, installs, adjusts and maintains industrial production, processing or refinery pipeline machinery and may install, dismantle and move equipment; verify against the target industrial equipment system and actual safety training, and complete transfer of the original skills is not guaranteed; this is only an editorial task comparison and does not quantify distance or transfer duration or guarantee hiring.
View career detailsTransferable：49-9044 installs, dismantles and moves machinery and heavy equipment according to layout drawings or blueprints; the target is installation, moving and layout skills, and it is not claimed that the same precision applies or that the share of fault diagnosis necessarily falls; this is only an editorial task comparison and does not quantify distance or transfer duration or guarantee hiring.
To be supplemented：49-9044 installs, dismantles and moves machinery and heavy equipment according to layout drawings or blueprints; the target is installation, moving and layout skills, and it is not claimed that the same precision applies or that the share of fault diagnosis necessarily falls; this is only an editorial task comparison and does not quantify distance or transfer duration or guarantee hiring.
View career detailsTransferable：53-3052 drives buses or coaches, including fixed routes, charters and private transport, and may help with luggage or collect fares; verify against the target passenger transport duties and jurisdictional qualifications, and the current definition does not list uniform CDL details; this is only an editorial task comparison and does not quantify distance or transfer duration or guarantee hiring.
To be supplemented：53-3052 drives buses or coaches, including fixed routes, charters and private transport, and may help with luggage or collect fares; verify against the target passenger transport duties and jurisdictional qualifications, and the current definition does not list uniform CDL details; this is only an editorial task comparison and does not quantify distance or transfer duration or guarantee hiring.
View career detailsTransferable：49-3043 diagnoses, adjusts, repairs or overhauls railway cars, mine cars or rail transit vehicles; verify the target vehicle systems and actual safety system, and do not assume a uniform graded repair schedule or timetable window; this is only an editorial task comparison and does not quantify distance or transfer duration or guarantee hiring.
To be supplemented：49-3043 diagnoses, adjusts, repairs or overhauls railway cars, mine cars or rail transit vehicles; verify the target vehicle systems and actual safety system, and do not assume a uniform graded repair schedule or timetable window; this is only an editorial task comparison and does not quantify distance or transfer duration or guarantee hiring.
View career detailsTransferable：49-3093 repairs and replaces tires; the target tire task training and actual equipment authority, and engine expansion is not in turn required as a gap for moving into tire work; this is only an editorial task comparison and does not quantify distance or transfer duration or guarantee hiring.
To be supplemented：49-3093 repairs and replaces tires; the target tire task training and actual equipment authority, and engine expansion is not in turn required as a gap for moving into tire work; this is only an editorial task comparison and does not quantify distance or transfer duration or guarantee hiring.
View career detailsTransferable：49-3011 diagnoses, adjusts, repairs or overhauls aircraft engines and assemblies, including hydraulic and pneumatic systems; overlapping repair skills do not replace aviation qualification, and the specific jurisdictional declarations were not fully verified in this round; this is only an editorial task comparison and does not quantify distance or transfer duration or guarantee hiring.
To be supplemented：49-3011 diagnoses, adjusts, repairs or overhauls aircraft engines and assemblies, including hydraulic and pneumatic systems; overlapping repair skills do not replace aviation qualification, and the specific jurisdictional declarations were not fully verified in this round; this is only an editorial task comparison and does not quantify distance or transfer duration or guarantee hiring.
View career detailsThis occupation is a position that carries out repair work: responsible for diagnosis, dismantling, repair and overhaul, and for repair quality and the reassembly of safety components. Team leaders and workshop supervisors are responsible for work order allocation, progress and staff arrangements; the technical lead and quality inspection personnel are responsible for technical control and reviewing inspection conclusions (category one and two motor vehicle repair businesses in mainland China must have these two types of personnel). Workers must not replace the review of quality inspection personnel and do not bear operating or management responsibility.
What the available public evidence supports is a change in the entry point of diagnosis and higher record requirements, not replacement. The relevant technology entries recorded by O*NET centre on diagnosis, testing and information query steps; the ILO occupational exposure study classifies this type of occupation as having limited exposure; the tasks of this occupation are mainly physical dismantling and assembly, measurement and on-site judgment, and dismantling conclusions and the reassembly of safety components must still be done by people. The BLS Occupational Outlook gives a 2025—2035 projection of +4%.
The clearest are diagnostic and testing steps such as reading fault codes, parameter trend analysis and similar case retrieval, and reminders for servicing scheduling; the O*NET task list has corresponding descriptions, but its technology entries only state technical availability, not the actual adoption proportion of enterprises. No verifiable substitution evidence has appeared for dismantling and overhaul, the reassembly of safety components, or human confirmation of emission-related work.
Following the approach of the NIST AI risk management framework, three things should be verified: first, whether, after a tool gives a cause ranking, the cause can be verified or ruled out with the measurements and dismantling specified in the manual; second, whether physical clues such as abnormal noise, vibration and leakage can be recognised in confined and noisy environments; third, whether the diagnostic process, measured values and items to be observed can be completely recorded and accept review. All three can be tested in supervised actual work.
United States OEWS May 2025 wage data show a median annual wage of 61,770 USD (median hourly 29.70 USD), with annual percentiles of 44,530 / 50,540 / 61,770 / 75,470 / 88,740 USD. When comparing, first confirm the occupational code, statistical period, unit (annual or hourly) and whether allowances and overtime are included; without all of these they cannot be compared; no occupational-level wage scope for this occupation was obtained for mainland China, and this page retains visible gap markers without substituting an industry average or an online quote.
The BLS Occupational Outlook gives a typical entry education of high school or equivalent, no related work experience required, and long-term on-the-job training provided by the employer; among O*NET worker responses, 39% mention a postsecondary certificate being needed and 37% mention high school or equivalent; the preparation level is Job Zone Three (SVP 6.0 to below 7.0), usually requiring 1—2 years of training, and registered apprenticeship programmes exist in some areas. Some employers give priority to candidates who have completed a diesel engine repair course.
There is no uniform statutory practising licence in the United States, but employers may require or prefer industry certification (such as ASE-related directions), and road testing large buses and trucks may require a commercial driving licence. Motor vehicle repair operations in mainland China are subject to filing management; category one and two motor vehicle repair businesses must have a technical lead, quality inspection personnel and mechanical, electrical, panel beating and painting repair technicians, and practitioners should follow safe production operating procedures; the national occupational skill standard for automotive repairers sets levels from level five/junior worker to level one/senior technician, and the commercial vehicle repair worker job type was added in 2024. Filing constrains the operator, and a skill level certificate describes the skill level, and neither means authorization to work independently.
Three steps: first, complete the paper exercises on this page (read a manual excerpt, organise measurement data, write a troubleshooting checklist and a work order record) to confirm that you are willing to verify item by item against procedures and data; second, use public material to learn about safe working requirements and common measuring tools; third, seek one supervised hands-on opportunity, starting with basic servicing and dismantling and assembly tasks. Do not dismantle real vehicles or carry out electrical, welding and high-pressure fuel system work unsupervised and without protection.
Four points should also be considered: first, working conditions — exposure to contaminants 85% every day, noise 81% every day, indoors but without environmental control 74% every day, requiring protective equipment to be worn over the long term; second, pace — a typical workweek over 40 hours accounts for 53%, and fleet positions involve shifts and breakdown repair; third, the direction of technical change — the share of emission and electrical related work is rising and continuous learning is needed; fourth, regional differences — demand is more concentrated where fleets and freight hubs are located. These factors affect long-term fit no less than the wage level.
Author and update: this page is a FermatMind career content page, written by the author on the basis of public official sources, with source access dates, statistical periods and projection periods marked separately and not merged into a single latest.
Retrieval and compilation on 2026-10-09; United States 2025 wages and the 2025—2035 projection, and Chinese 2025 industry wages, the 2018 standard and the 2024 new job type are verified separately.
This round covered the O*NET detailed information, the 2025 wage and recruitment terms and eight adjacent definitions, the BLS handbook and OEWS concepts, the Chinese repair provisions, the 2025 industry wages, the 2018 standard original text and the 2024 new job type annex. ILO and NIST reuse the corresponding versions already read in the same batch, and the occupational mapping effect was not verified; old names and URLs are retained, with specific documents and limitations added.
Limits of use：Adjacent occupational profile, used to compare the space for development in the direction. That occupation focuses on petrol-engined passenger cars and light vehicles and differs from this occupation in objects and assembly scope, and its qualification and training requirements cannot substitute for those of this occupation.
Limits of use：Adjacent occupational profile, used to explain the difference between the procedural system of rail maintenance and this occupation in work organisation and safety constraints; knowledge of brake systems and bearing fits is transferable between the two.
Limits of use：Adjacent occupational profile, used to explain the difference between the installation and alignment direction and this occupation in fault diagnosis and assembly overhaul; alignment precision and fastening specifications are the shared foundation of both.
Limits of use：2025 national quintiles annual 44530 / 50540 / 61770 / 75470 / 88740 USD, hourly 21.41 / 24.30 / 29.70 / 36.29 / 42.66. OEWS is pretax wages for employees' straight time, including commissions and other incentives, production bonuses and specified allowances, and excluding overtime premiums, shift differentials and nonproduction bonuses; it does not exclude piece-rate commissions across the board, does not include the self-employed, and is not an individual annual take-home figure.
Limits of use：Adjacent occupational profile, used to explain the difference between aviation maintenance and this occupation in the qualification system and compliance requirements; the airworthiness and release requirements for aircraft parts cannot be replaced by vehicle repair experience.
Limits of use：Adjacent occupational profile, used to explain the difference between public transport operating positions and this occupation in duties and qualifications; the two work closely together in a fleet, but a driving qualification and repair authorization cannot substitute for one another.
Limits of use：Adjacent occupational profile, used to explain the difference in scope between tire and wheel specialist work and this occupation; safe lifting and torque specifications are the shared foundation of both.
Limits of use：The notice text does not contain job type details; the official annex already read, p14 through 15, is listed separately, and wages or licensing are not inferred from the new job type.
Limits of use：Adjacent occupational profile, used to explain the difference between the equipment maintenance direction and this occupation in objects and work organisation; general mechanical and hydraulic knowledge is interchangeable, but the objects change from vehicles to factory equipment.
Limits of use：An online questionnaire for self-understanding of interest types (realistic, investigative, artistic, social, enterprising, conventional); the results are for self-exploration only and are not used for hiring, screening or diagnosis.
Limits of use：The old human resources and social security homepage does not stand in for the full standard text; the 2018 original text obtained is listed separately, and the 2018 provisions are not used as all current new job type notices or nationwide practice licensing.
Limits of use：The voluntary AI RMF1.0 framework was read in the same batch and does not stand in for repair law, manufacturer procedures or individual operating authorization, and its effect for this occupation was not verified.
Limits of use：2025 national quintiles annual 44530 / 50540 / 61770 / 75470 / 88740 USD, hourly 21.41 / 24.30 / 29.70 / 36.29 / 42.66. OEWS is pretax wages for employees' straight time, including commissions and other incentives, production bonuses and specified allowances, and excluding overtime premiums, shift differentials and nonproduction bonuses; it does not exclude piece-rate commissions across the board, does not include the self-employed, and is not an individual annual take-home figure.
Limits of use：The 6 United States recruitment keywords for 2025: Office / Excel 1% each, Word / SAP under 1%, AutoCAD / SolidWorks NA rather than 0; the denominator is all unique job postings associated with this occupational code, not a usage rate or AI adoption rate. The BLS describes computer diagnostics, and ordinary diagnostic software cannot be equated with generative AI.
Limits of use：The old homepage does not stand in for the statistical tables, and the specific 2025 industry background is listed separately; it cannot be said that all public wage data has the finest subdivision or that occupational data never existed.
Limits of use：The old homepage does not stand in for the main text; this round actually read the OEWS concepts composition, which includes commissions and other incentives and specified allowances and excludes overtime premiums and shift differentials.
Limits of use：2025 national quintiles annual 44530 / 50540 / 61770 / 75470 / 88740 USD, hourly 21.41 / 24.30 / 29.70 / 36.29 / 42.66. OEWS is pretax wages for employees' straight time, including commissions and other incentives, production bonuses and specified allowances, and excluding overtime premiums, shift differentials and nonproduction bonuses; it does not exclude piece-rate commissions across the board, does not include the self-employed, and is not an individual annual take-home figure.
Limits of use：The training and certification entry points do not equal a complete list of statutory qualifications in every state; the BLS describes certification as possibly required or preferred and a CDL as possible, and the specific current fee, duration and examination conditions were not fully verified.
Limits of use：The ILO2025 summary was read in the same batch, and the 49-3031—ISCO mapping score, generative AI adoption, substitution or wage causation were not verified; it is not claimed that the complete study has no data.
Limits of use：Adjacent occupational profile, used to explain the difference between transport positions and this occupation in duties and qualifications; drivers are responsible for transport safety and on-route handling, and daily checks do not equal repair authorization.
Limits of use：Itself 316000 to 327400, growth of 4%, a net increase of 11400, and 24400 annual average openings including growth and replacement; not individual hiring or regional positions.
Limits of use：Full-time and part-time non-farm employees, straight time, pretax, including cost-of-living and hazard allowances, commissions and other incentives and production bonuses; excluding overtime premiums, shift differentials and nonproduction bonuses and so on, with the self-employed not covered; piece-rate commissions or allowances are not excluded across the board.
Limits of use：Tables 2 and 5: residential services, repair and other services non-private 70226 and private 52059 yuan annual average; transport, storage and postal services 133981 and 73133. Urban legal entities with 5 or more people, excluding sole traders and freelance workers; non-private is not limited to state-owned enterprises. Matched by the actual unit as background, and does not represent the single diesel repair occupation, its median, a quote or individual take-home pay.
Limits of use：Of the 68-page PDF, the occupational overview and application and assessment sections, p6 through 9, were actually read, and p7 was checked visually; five levels and general education of junior high school, with normal colour vision only for body painting repair personnel. Level five requires 1 year of work or completion of an apprenticeship; level four has branches such as 4 years after the certificate, 6 accumulated years or a qualification from a specified school major; theory and skills and the applicable comprehensive review each require 60 points, with technicians and senior technicians undergoing a comprehensive review. The old edition is not the updated application notice for the 2024 new job type, and it is not falsely claimed that all graded work tables have been reviewed; the current fees, duration and subsidies of assessment institutions were not verified.
Limits of use：Actually read annex p14 through 15 and checked p15 visually: the commercial vehicle repair worker is added under automotive repairer 4-12-01-01, and this is not a new independent occupation or an individual practice licence, and does not automatically imply wages, certificate fees or application conditions.
Exercise and boundary note: the exercises on this page all use fictional material and are for career exploration only; real vehicle lifting, dismantling and assembly, electrical, welding, high-pressure fuel and emission-related work must be carried out by personnel with the corresponding capability and authorization. The current BLS Occupational Handbook gives a 2025 base period of 316000 and a projected 327400 in 2035, growth of 4%, a net increase of 11400 and 24400 annual average openings; the O*NET trend page still shows 2024—2034 in this round. Different published versions and periods should be explained separately, and openings are not net new positions or individual opportunities. 2025 national quintiles annual 44530 / 50540 / 61770 / 75470 / 88740 USD, hourly 21.41 / 24.30 / 29.70 / 36.29 / 42.66. OEWS is pretax wages for employees' straight time, including commissions and other incentives, production bonuses and specified allowances, and excluding overtime premiums, shift differentials and nonproduction bonuses; it does not exclude piece-rate commissions across the board, does not include the self-employed, and is not an individual annual take-home figure. Insufficient evidence: no single-occupation wage distribution for Chinese diesel repair or representative recruitment sample was obtained in this round. NBS2025 residential services, repair and other services non-private 70226 and private 52059 yuan annual average, with actual transport units separately at 133981 and 73133; urban legal entities with 5 or more people, multiple occupations, non-private not limited to state-owned enterprises, excluding sole traders and freelance workers, matching only the unit industry background rather than the wage, median or quote for this occupation. The typical BLS entry in the United States is high school or equivalent, no related work experience, and long-term on-the-job training; employers may prefer a postsecondary diesel repair course, certification may be required or preferred, and a CDL may be needed for road tests of large bus or truck vehicles. The O*NET JobZone3/SVP6 to below 7 and the group-level 1—2 years of training do not guarantee that duration for every person in this occupation; the education responses of 39% postsecondary certificate and 37% high school are not law or the education composition of employees. The 2018 automotive repairer standard sets levels five to one and general education of junior high school; level five requires 1 accumulated year in this occupation or a specified related occupation or completion of an apprenticeship, and level four has different branches such as 4 years after the level five certificate, 6 accumulated years, or a qualification from a specified school major, with theory and skills and the applicable comprehensive review each passing at 60, and technicians and senior technicians undergoing a comprehensive review. The 2024 official annex adds the commercial vehicle repair worker job type under 4-12-01-01; the old standard's registration branches are not passed off as the current assessment notice for the new job type, and fees, actual duration and subsidies were not verified in this round. Motor vehicle repair operators in China file with the county-level transport authority of their location after registration, filing is free of charge, and the scope and category follow the business items. Article 12 requires at least 1 person each for the technical lead, quality inspection and reception and for each type of repair personnel in categories one and two; category three comprehensive minor repairs, engine, body, electrical and automatic transmission repair also require a technical lead and quality inspection, and this cannot be omitted. Quality inspection personnel must hold a compatible driving licence, so the driving threshold is not uniform for all repair workers; enterprise filing does not replace individual skills or position authority. Article 30 requires vouchers to be kept for the purchase and use of parts and prohibits counterfeit or substandard parts, and permits equivalent-quality parts as defined, not only original manufacturer parts; original, equivalent-quality and remanufactured parts are labelled and priced separately. Articles 31—33 set pre-entry, in-process and completion inspections for level two maintenance, assembly repair and whole-vehicle repair, the issuing of certificates of conformity by quality inspection personnel and additional archive requirements, which are not applied to all oil change items; electronic management and uploading of archives follow the rules, and the signing parties are distinguished. 2025 United States recruitment technology keywords: the denominator is all unique job postings associated with this occupation's O*NET-SOC code, not only postings that contain technology requirements; NA means a value was not provided rather than 0. Keyword frequency does not represent software or AI adoption rates; computer diagnostics also does not equal generative AI. The O*NET interest R100/C46/I38/S9/E5/A0 supports RCI and is not an individual ability or hiring line; the 17 work style Impact scores of dependability 82, attention to detail 81, caution 65, persistence 59 and stress tolerance 42 and so on are not Big Five scores or population proportions. Near vision 75 and manual dexterity 72 are ability importance, not IQ thresholds; the validity of personality testing or learning prediction for this occupation was not verified. The original Chinese standard image returned 403 and was not bypassed; of the 68-page original text obtained, only p6 through 9 and the related foreword were read, and p7 was checked visually; for the 2024 annex, p14 through 15 were read and 15 checked visually. Not all standard work tables or the current institutional notices were signed off.
Understand the task interests and work preferences of diesel service technicians and mechanics · Understand the task interests and work preferences of diesel service technicians and mechanics · Understand the task interests and work preferences of diesel service technicians and mechanics · Understand the task interests and work preferences of diesel service technicians and mechanics
Dismantling and inspection records and measurement data, replaced parts lists, reassembly and torque and clearance recheck records
| Dimensions | Main directions | Comparison directions |
|---|---|---|
| Core purpose | Restore vehicles and equipment powered by diesel engines to a technical condition in which they can operate safely and reliably, and leave the cause of the fault, the handling method and replaced parts as a verifiable record. | Core purposes of adjacent positions: automotive service technicians and mechanics restore the technical condition of petrol passenger cars and light vehicles; body and glass repairers restore body structure and glass installation; heavy truck drivers complete transport tasks and ensure safety en route; industrial machinery mechanics keep factory equipment available. |
| Main objects and basis | The objects are diesel engines, assemblies such as transmission, brakes, steering and suspension, fuel injection and emission control and electrical and hydraulic components, and fault codes and measured values and service manuals; the basis is the manufacturer's service technical information and labour time allowances, safety operating procedures and quality control requirements. | Objects and basis of adjacent positions: petrol vehicle assemblies and onboard electronic controls (automotive repair specifications); body structure and glass (panel beating and installation specifications); transport tasks and daily vehicle checks (road transport and safety rules); factory equipment and production lines (equipment maintenance procedures). |
| Core process | Questioning and initial inspection → code reading and measurement → locating by listening and road test → dismantling and determination → replacement or repair → reassembly and torque and clearance recheck → road test verification → recording and delivery. | Processes of adjacent positions: petrol vehicle diagnosis and repair (automotive service technicians); panel straightening and glass installation (body and glass staff); pre-trip inspection and transport execution (heavy truck drivers); preventive maintenance and equipment breakdown repair (industrial machinery mechanics). |
| Main outputs | Work orders and repair records, fault codes and measurement data, dismantling and replaced parts lists, reassembly and torque and clearance recheck records, road test and delivery confirmation, and waste oil and solid waste disposal records. | Outputs of adjacent positions: petrol vehicle repair records; body and glass repair results; transport task and driving records; equipment maintenance and repair records. |
| Responsible parties | People in this occupation are responsible for repair quality, the correct reassembly of safety components and the truthfulness and completeness of records; lifting, electrical, welding and high-pressure fuel system work must follow safety procedures, and emission-related repairs must not be used to get a vehicle through inspection by temporarily replacing emission control devices or disabling the onboard emission diagnostic system. | Responsible parties of adjacent positions: automotive service technicians are responsible for petrol vehicle repair quality; body and glass staff are responsible for structure and installation; heavy truck drivers are responsible for transport safety and on-route handling; industrial machinery mechanics are responsible for the operating condition of equipment. |
| Collaboration and supervision | Confirm the fault and costs with the service adviser or customer, check the source and traceability information of parts with the parts supply, and hand over inspection conclusions to the technical lead and quality inspectors; assembly overhauls, complex electrical diagnosis and structural modification must follow the escalation process or be passed to personnel with the right conditions. | Collaboration of adjacent positions: automotive service technicians with service reception and the parts department; body and glass staff with claims assessment and insurance; heavy truck drivers with dispatch and repair stations; industrial machinery mechanics with production and equipment management. |
| Boundaries of the conclusion | The typical BLS entry in the United States is high school or equivalent, no related work experience, and long-term on-the-job training; employers may prefer a postsecondary diesel repair course, certification may be required or preferred, and a CDL may be needed for road tests of large bus or truck vehicles. The O*NET JobZone3/SVP6 to below 7 and the group-level 1—2 years of training do not guarantee that duration for every person in this occupation; the education responses of 39% postsecondary certificate and 37% high school are not law or the education composition of employees. Chinese and United States skill assessment, business filing and driving qualifications are verified separately and are not mutually equivalent. | The qualification, authorization and training requirements of adjacent positions cannot substitute for one another; the diagnostic and repair scope of this occupation also cannot be extended to the duties of other positions, and the specifics are governed by the rules of the target jurisdiction, the manufacturer's service technical information and employer rules. |
Judgment two: whether the diagnosis is based on measured values — whether instruments, listening and road testing are used to rule things out item by item in the order given by the manual, and whether measured data such as pressure, temperature, clearance or voltage are recorded, rather than concluding from sound and experience alone.
Judgment one: whether the fault symptoms have been reconstructed — whether the operating conditions and the time of occurrence are clarified first, and whether fault codes are read and current instrument values recorded, rather than directly accepting a claim that something is probably broken.
Judgment four: whether the work keeps to safety and compliance boundaries — whether lifting and support, electrical isolation, welding protection, high-pressure fuel system depressurisation and emission-related repairs are carried out according to procedure, whether genuine and traceable parts are used, and whether waste oil and solid waste disposal records are kept.
BLS projects that freight transport and repair of older vehicles will drive demand, while less electric vehicle repair may reduce part of the demand; this is not a generative AI effect. In the current United States for 49-3031 itself: about 316000 positions in 2025 and about 327400 in 2035, growth of 4% over 2025—2035 with a net increase of 11400, and 24400 annual average openings including growth and replacement. O*NET and BLS currently share the same projection period, so the older 2024—2034 figures must not be called another current scope; openings are not net new positions or individual opportunities. Including alternative fuel tasks as Core does not prove that their share is growing or that all diesel skills will never become obsolete.
The O*NET work context does show exposure to contaminants 85% every day and noise 81% every day, indoors but without environmental control 74% every day, and these are real working conditions that should be faced squarely; at the same time this occupation offers clear technical depth (diagnosis, fuel injection and electrical, assembly overhaul, fleet and team leader directions), as well as apprenticeship and on-the-job training paths and an industry certification system. Whether it suits you depends on whether you can accept such working conditions and whether you are willing to keep learning in the electrical and diagnostic direction, not on labels.
Environment and pace: mainly workshop work, with occasional repairs at the roadside or at a work site; workshop ventilation is relatively good but it is sometimes noisy; exposure to contaminants 85% every day, noise 81% every day, indoors but without environmental control 74% every day, being in an enclosed vehicle or operating enclosed equipment 68% every day; using hands to handle and control tools 80% continuously or almost continuously, wearing common protective or safety equipment 78% every day; face-to-face discussion with individuals and teams 90% every day; a typical workweek longer than 40 hours 53%, time pressure 40% every day.
| Whether basic instruments and measuring tool readings are understood and whether measured values can be organised into comparable records |
| Use a fictional vehicle troubleshooting record (symptoms, measured values, troubleshooting order, conclusion) to show that you will work in the manual's order |
| Focuses on the diagnostic process and data organization; what is tested is patience and method, not dismantling speed |
| Assembly repair assistant position | Take part under supervision in dismantling and cleaning engines, transmissions, differentials and other assemblies, parts inspection and assembly preparation | Whether the dismantling order and parts marking are followed, whether reassembly follows torque and clearance specifications, and whether the workstation and parts are kept in order | Use a dismantling order and parts inspection checklist to show that you understand the importance of order, marking and tolerances | Emphasises assembly precision and tolerance rechecks more, and requires higher hands-on ability and patience |
|---|
| Fleet and public transport repair position | Complete vehicle checks and repairs within the operating outage window, take part in breakdown repair and complete repair records | Whether procedure is maintained under shifts and time pressure and whether handover follows record requirements | Use a task list for shift and breakdown repair scenarios to show that you understand the steps that cannot be omitted under time pressure | The specific shift, breakdown repair and operating windows are verified by real position; round-the-clock standby was not verified as general |
|---|
| Specialist repair and sole trader position | Carry out specialist work within the filed business scope, such as injection pump and injector repair, electrical system repair and engine repair | Whether the corresponding specialist capability is held, whether business is taken on within the filed business scope, and whether parts source and settlement statements are kept | Use a process note and record template for specialist work to show that you understand compliance and traceability requirements | Business charges and employee wages are kept separate; the prevalence of piece-rate or hourly wages was not verified; specialist items follow the filed scope |
|---|
| Daily feedback from the mentoring technician, focusing on the two items of rechecking and recording |
| Short-term performance cannot replace a judgement of the whole mentoring period (usually a year or longer) |
| Confirmation before independent work | Whether the reassembly of safety components, emission-related work and road test verification have reached a level where they can be carried out independently | Confirmed item by item and documented by the quality inspector or technical lead | Passing the confirmation does not mean obtaining any industry certification or expanding work authorization |
|---|
| Candidates who want to study diesel repair knowledge and practice systematically; whether the course raises starting pay was not verified in this round. |
| Some employers give priority to candidates who have completed a diesel repair certificate or degree course |
| The BLS supports that some employers prefer completion of a postsecondary diesel repair course; a uniform threshold for brand service stations or core fleet positions was not verified, and the target enterprise's actual requirements should be checked. |
| Admission conditions for the relevant major at a technical or vocational college; courses usually mix classroom and practical work |
| Insufficient evidence: the actual cost and duration of specific courses were not verified; long-term on-the-job work is a typical category |
| Completing the course does not mean holding a certificate or obtaining work authorization, and on-the-job training and confirmation are still required |
| Industry certification (such as ASE-related certification) | Working personnel who want to build verifiable evidence in a specialism | Used to demonstrate capability in a specific direction; some employers link certification to grading and wages | Usually not a statutory entry threshold, but employers may require or prefer it | The BLS only supports that certification may be required or preferred; the current experience and examination conditions for specific certifications were not fully verified | Insufficient evidence: institutional fees, duration and renewal were not verified | Certification demonstrates the direction of capability and does not equal a licence, authorization or the independent signing authority for safety components |
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| Commercial driving licence (CDL) | People who need to road test buses and large trucks or take on road testing tasks | Road testing large vehicles usually requires the corresponding driving qualification, otherwise the road test step cannot be completed | Not all positions need it; it depends on whether large vehicle road testing is involved | Repair road tests may require a CDL, verified by target vehicle type and jurisdiction; it is not necessary for all positions | Insufficient evidence: the specific processing fee and time were not verified | Holding a driving licence does not equal repair authorization, and vice versa; the two cannot substitute for one another |
|---|
| Mainland China: automotive repairer occupational skill levels (including the commercial vehicle repair worker job type) | People in mainland China who work on motor vehicle and diesel vehicle repair and want to build evidence of skill level | Skill assessment evidence; wages, subsidies or a nationwide hard hiring threshold are not inferred from it | The 2018 automotive repairer standard sets levels five to one and general education of junior high school; level five requires 1 accumulated year in this occupation or a specified related occupation or completion of an apprenticeship, and level four has different branches such as 4 years after the level five certificate, 6 accumulated years, or a qualification from a specified school major, with theory and skills and the applicable comprehensive review each passing at 60, and technicians and senior technicians undergoing a comprehensive review. The 2024 official annex adds the commercial vehicle repair worker job type under 4-12-01-01; the old standard's registration branches are not passed off as the current assessment notice for the new job type, and fees, actual duration and subsidies were not verified in this round. | The 2018 older branches such as level five and level four require verification of the major and related occupation footnotes and the current institutional notice; the 2024 new job type is not applied directly | Insufficient evidence: the current assessment fee and duration and local subsidies were not verified | A level certificate describes the skill level; it does not mean that work outside the filed business scope may be taken on independently, nor does it replace safety procedures |
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| Mainland China: motor vehicle repair business filing (sole traders) | People planning to set up or jointly run a repair shop on their own | A precondition for lawfully conducting repair business; the filed scope determines which repair work may be taken on | Motor vehicle repair operators in China file with the county-level transport authority of their location after registration, filing is free of charge, and the scope and category follow the business items. Article 12 requires at least 1 person each for the technical lead, quality inspection and reception and for each type of repair personnel in categories one and two; category three comprehensive minor repairs, engine, body, electrical and automatic transmission repair also require a technical lead and quality inspection, and this cannot be omitted. Quality inspection personnel must hold a compatible driving licence, so the driving threshold is not uniform for all repair workers; enterprise filing does not replace individual skills or position authority. | After lawfully completing market entity registration, file with the county-level transport authority of the location and submit material on premises, equipment, technical personnel and management systems | Filing is free of charge; investment in premises and equipment is separate, and the amount and processing period were not verified in this round | Filing applies to the operator rather than individual qualification; the scope of category three business and specialist work is limited by the filed business items |
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Find out separately the entry education, on-the-job training, certification and licence requirements of the target region, and write down what information is still missing
Typical responsibilities：Dismantle and overhaul assemblies such as engines, transmissions, differentials and pumps, and measure and reassemble to specification.
Promotion evidence：Tolerance and torque records are complete and the road test verification is passed after reassembly
Qualification boundaries：Some employers recognise the relevant certification as a basis for grading
Next step：Choose a specialism (fuel injection, electrical or emissions) or take on mentoring tasks.
Typical responsibilities：Review conclusions on safety components and emission-related work, and manage repair technical information and record archiving.
Promotion evidence：Review conclusions have a basis and records are complete, and the corresponding technical and quality responsibility can be borne
Qualification boundaries：Category one and two repair businesses in mainland China must have technical lead personnel and quality inspection personnel, and quality inspection personnel must hold a motor vehicle driving licence compatible with the vehicle types repaired
Next step：Move toward workshop management, training or specialist services.
Promotion evidence：Fleet availability, rework rate and safety records can be measured
Qualification boundaries：Usually taken on after appointment by the employer and is a management position rather than a qualification
Next step：Move toward equipment management at logistics and transport enterprises.
Typical responsibilities：Move toward automotive service technician, industrial machinery mechanic, rail car repairer or heavy truck driver and other directions.
Promotion evidence：Receive training and confirmation anew in the new position according to its requirements
Qualification boundaries：The qualification and authorization requirements of adjacent positions cannot substitute for one another
Next step：When transferring, prioritise building up knowledge of the objects, the procedural system and safety requirements, rather than relying only on tool proficiency.
Limits of use：Motor vehicle repair operators in China file with the county-level transport authority of their location after registration, filing is free of charge, and the scope and category follow the business items. Article 12 requires at least 1 person each for the technical lead, quality inspection and reception and for each type of repair personnel in categories one and two; category three comprehensive minor repairs, engine, body, electrical and automatic transmission repair also require a technical lead and quality inspection, and this cannot be omitted. Quality inspection personnel must hold a compatible driving licence, so the driving threshold is not uniform for all repair workers; enterprise filing does not replace individual skills or position authority. Article 30 requires vouchers to be kept for the purchase and use of parts and prohibits counterfeit or substandard parts, and permits equivalent-quality parts as defined, not only original manufacturer parts; original, equivalent-quality and remanufactured parts are labelled and priced separately. Articles 31—33 set pre-entry, in-process and completion inspections for level two maintenance, assembly repair and whole-vehicle repair, the issuing of certificates of conformity by quality inspection personnel and additional archive requirements, which are not applied to all oil change items; electronic management and uploading of archives follow the rules, and the signing parties are distinguished. Articles 25—26 charges are not employee wages.
Limits of use：In the current United States for 49-3031 itself: about 316000 positions in 2025 and about 327400 in 2035, growth of 4% over 2025—2035 with a net increase of 11400, and 24400 annual average openings including growth and replacement. O*NET and BLS currently share the same projection period, so the older 2024—2034 figures must not be called another current scope; openings are not net new positions or individual opportunities. The main BLS employers for this occupation itself in 2025 are truck transportation 18%, wholesale trade 13%, local government (excluding education and hospitals) 9%, automotive repair 9% and leasing 6%; these are not the shares of the whole transportation and warehousing group. The corresponding industry median annual wages for this occupation are 59820 / 63070 / 71460 / 60330 / 60220 USD, not all-industry average wages or skill causation. The typical BLS entry in the United States is high school or equivalent, no related work experience, and long-term on-the-job training; employers may prefer a postsecondary diesel repair course, certification may be required or preferred, and a CDL may be needed for road tests of large bus or truck vehicles. The O*NET JobZone3/SVP6 to below 7 and the group-level 1—2 years of training do not guarantee that duration for every person in this occupation; the education responses of 39% postsecondary certificate and 37% high school are not law or the education composition of employees. This is a handbook rather than sampled employer systems.
Limits of use：Actually verified across the 57 United States context items: contaminants 85% every day, noise 81% every day, hazardous equipment 60% every day, PPE78% every day; using hands 80% continuously, standing 59% continuously, bending 59% continuously; accuracy extremely important 53%, very high responsibility for the safety of others 72%, face-to-face 90% every day. These are survey frequencies and opinions, not accident rates, all workstation conditions or the Chinese distribution. The O*NET interest R100/C46/I38/S9/E5/A0 supports RCI and is not an individual ability or hiring line; the 17 work style Impact scores of dependability 82, attention to detail 81, caution 65, persistence 59 and stress tolerance 42 and so on are not Big Five scores or population proportions. Near vision 75 and manual dexterity 72 are ability importance, not IQ thresholds; the validity of personality testing or learning prediction for this occupation was not verified. The typical BLS entry in the United States is high school or equivalent, no related work experience, and long-term on-the-job training; employers may prefer a postsecondary diesel repair course, certification may be required or preferred, and a CDL may be needed for road tests of large bus or truck vehicles. The O*NET JobZone3/SVP6 to below 7 and the group-level 1—2 years of training do not guarantee that duration for every person in this occupation; the education responses of 39% postsecondary certificate and 37% high school are not law or the education composition of employees.
Limits of use：Actually verified across the 57 United States context items: contaminants 85% every day, noise 81% every day, hazardous equipment 60% every day, PPE78% every day; using hands 80% continuously, standing 59% continuously, bending 59% continuously; accuracy extremely important 53%, very high responsibility for the safety of others 72%, face-to-face 90% every day. These are survey frequencies and opinions, not accident rates, all workstation conditions or the Chinese distribution. The O*NET interest R100/C46/I38/S9/E5/A0 supports RCI and is not an individual ability or hiring line; the 17 work style Impact scores of dependability 82, attention to detail 81, caution 65, persistence 59 and stress tolerance 42 and so on are not Big Five scores or population proportions. Near vision 75 and manual dexterity 72 are ability importance, not IQ thresholds; the validity of personality testing or learning prediction for this occupation was not verified. Its own 26 tasks are 23 Core and 3 Supplemental and are not all done in every position; the alternative fuel tasks are not a growth time series.
Limits of use：Editorial ratings use the existing occupational responsibilities and AI task analysis on this page. They are not adoption rates, measured effects, job-disappearance or personal-unemployment probabilities, or official scores from Stanford or another external institution. No measured time weights or future robot deployment are assumed.
