Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists vs Refractory Materials Repairers, Except Brickmasons: Similar Pay, 3.6% vs -13.7% Growth

Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists vs Refractory Materials Repairers, Except Brickmasons: what changes?

Consider Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists if you want to diagnose, adjust, repair, or overhaul buses and trucks, or maintain and repair any type of diesel engines. Consider Refractory Materials Repairers, Except Brickmasons if you would rather build or repair equipment such as furnaces, kilns, cupolas, boilers, converters, ladles, soaking pits, and ovens, using refractory materials. Both list high school diploma or equivalent; compare training and prior experience separately.

Try this next: Compare three local entry-level postings for Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists and Refractory Materials Repairers, Except Brickmasons. List the duties, credentials, prior experience, and paid training each employer actually asks for. Try a supervised class or sample project from each field before choosing a program.

BLS 2025 wages and 2025–2035 projections. National medians are not starting offers. Occupation size is not a count of vacancies. View the BLS data.

Compare the practical differences

Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists

National median pay (2025): $61,770
Route into the job: High school diploma or equivalent; More than 12 months of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing
Prior related experience: No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.
Training and licensing: More than 12 months of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing.
Work to investigate: Use handtools, such as screwdrivers, pliers, wrenches, pressure gauges, or precision instruments, as well as power tools, such as pneumatic wrenches, lathes, welding equipment, or jacks and hoists.
Annual openings (2025–2035): 24,400

Know before you choose

The work can involve real occupational hazards. Training, protective equipment, and routine safety discipline matter every day.

See the full Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists brief

Refractory Materials Repairers, Except Brickmasons

National median pay (2025): $61,290
Route into the job: High school diploma or equivalent; More than one month and up to 12 months of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing
Prior related experience: No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.
Training and licensing: More than one month and up to 12 months of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing.
Work to investigate: Reline or repair ladles and pouring spouts with refractory clay, using trowels.
Annual openings (2025–2035): 100

Know before you choose

BLS projects employment to shrink 13.7% from 2025 to 2035. Openings can still occur when existing workers leave.

See the full Refractory Materials Repairers, Except Brickmasons brief

How the national numbers differ

Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists has the edge on annual openings

Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists is at 24,400 annual openings, compared with 100 annual openings for Refractory Materials Repairers, Except Brickmasons.

Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists has the edge on projected growth

Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists is at 3.6% projected growth, compared with -13.7% projected growth for Refractory Materials Repairers, Except Brickmasons.

Typical preparation differs.

Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists: High school diploma or equivalent; More than 12 months of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing Refractory Materials Repairers, Except Brickmasons: High school diploma or equivalent; More than one month and up to 12 months of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing Preparation categories do not establish admission difficulty, calendar time, tuition, time without earnings, or licensing difficulty.

National pay benchmarks are very similar.

Compare actual offers, expected paid hours, schedule, and benefits before treating either career as the higher-paying option.

61.2/ 100

Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists

28.2/ 100

Refractory Materials Repairers, Except Brickmasons

Each available metric is ranked from 0 to 100 against the careers on ChooseField. The weighted average uses this profile: pay 30%, growth 25%, openings 30%, preparation level 15%. Missing values are not scored as zero; their weights are redistributed across available metrics. Occupation size has zero weight: employment is not accessible vacancies. Preparation categories do not measure admission difficulty or years without earnings. The score summarizes national measures; local opportunities and personal fit still need separate consideration.

Detailed evidence

Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists vs Refractory Materials Repairers, Except Brickmasons

Dimension	Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists	Refractory Materials Repairers, Except Brickmasons
Median pay (2025)	$61,770	$61,290
Pay percentile	50.8 percentile	49.9 percentile
Projected growth (2025–2035)	3.6%	-13.7%
Annual openings (2025–2035)	24,400	100
2025 employment	316,000	1,100
How you qualify	High school diploma or equivalent; More than 12 months of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing	High school diploma or equivalent; More than one month and up to 12 months of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing
O*NET preparation group	Job Zone 3	Job Zone 2
Related work experience	No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.	No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.
On-the-job training	More than 12 months of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing.	More than one month and up to 12 months of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing.

The table reports national benchmarks and reviewed work descriptions. It does not rate personal suitability, job security, or physical safety.

Read Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists brief Read Refractory Materials Repairers, Except Brickmasons brief

Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists vs Refractory Materials Repairers, Except Brickmasons: what changes?

The facts most likely to affect your decision

Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists

Refractory Materials Repairers, Except Brickmasons

How the national numbers differ

Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists has the edge on annual openings

Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists has the edge on projected growth

Typical preparation differs.

National pay benchmarks are very similar.

Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists vs Refractory Materials Repairers, Except Brickmasons

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