Texas is a big state, so it’s no surprise that there are a lot of diesel mechanics in Texas. When you are looking for a position, you may be working in any number of industries. This includes the government, trucking companies, fleet management companies or vehicle manufacturers. Each one has various requirements and environments to consider.
The requirements on the job will vary based upon your experience and your specific employer. You may have to diagnose, repair and maintain various diesel engines. You may have to work up costs associated with the repairs. There may also be requirements where you will need to inventory and order parts to maintain a sufficient supply within the warehouse you work in.
Environments change as employers change. You may be working in a large air-conditioned warehouse or in a small, hot garage. You may also be on-call, driving to various areas of the state where there is a vehicle broken down. When you are out and about, you will likely be exposed to the dry heat that is found throughout Texas. Depending on the season you may also be dealing with the cold, snow and ice.
Knowing about the various types of equipment you may have to work with will help. Lathes, pneumatic wrenches, welding equipment and much more are usually found within a mechanic’s shop. Hand tools of your own may also be necessary as many employers won’t supply these for you for fear of them walking off the job site.
The average diesel mechanic in Texas works 40 hours a week. Most of these hours are during the week but you may be required to work during the night or even on the weekends based upon your position. You might also be asked to work above and beyond the 40 hours at times.
The average salary according to the BLS http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes493031.htm is $39,350 for Texas mechanics. This number may go up based upon various ASE certifications that you can get. Diesel mechanics and various other mechanic certifications can prove that you are knowledgeable about multiple topics, thus making you a greater asset to employers. You may also want to consider getting your CDL to help when you must drive larger trucks for the job.
