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Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines vs Motorboat Mechanics and Service Technicians: what changes?

Consider Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines if you want to diagnose, adjust, repair, or overhaul mobile mechanical, hydraulic, and pneumatic equipment, such as cranes, bulldozers, graders, and conveyors, used in construction, logging, and mining. Consider Motorboat Mechanics and Service Technicians if you would rather repair and adjust electrical and mechanical equipment of inboard or inboard-outboard boat engines. Both list high school diploma or equivalent; compare training and prior experience separately.

Try this next: Compare three local entry-level postings for Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines and Motorboat Mechanics and Service Technicians. 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
What this means in practice

The facts most likely to affect your decision

Start with earnings, the route into the job, training, available openings, and a day-to-day reality.

Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines

National median pay (2025)
$65,510
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
Repair and replace damaged or worn parts.
Annual openings (2025–2035)
15,000
Know before you choose

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

See the full Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines brief

Motorboat Mechanics and Service Technicians

National median pay (2025)
$57,550
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
Start motors and monitor performance for signs of malfunctioning, such as smoke, excessive vibration, or misfiring.
Annual openings (2025–2035)
2,600
Know before you choose

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

See the full Motorboat Mechanics and Service Technicians brief
See scores, detailed data, and how the comparison works

How the national numbers differ

1

Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines has the edge on annual openings

Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines is at 15,000 annual openings, compared with 2,600 annual openings for Motorboat Mechanics and Service Technicians.

2

Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines has the edge on median pay

Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines is at $65,510, compared with $57,550 for Motorboat Mechanics and Service Technicians.

3

Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines has the edge on projected growth

Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines is at 6.7% projected growth, compared with 4.9% projected growth for Motorboat Mechanics and Service Technicians.

67/ 100

Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines

vs
49/ 100

Motorboat Mechanics and Service Technicians

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

Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines vs Motorboat Mechanics and Service Technicians

DimensionMobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesMotorboat Mechanics and Service Technicians
Median pay (2025)$65,510$57,550
Pay percentile57.4 percentile42.9 percentile
Projected growth (2025–2035)6.7%4.9%
Annual openings (2025–2035)15,0002,600
2025 employment180,30025,000
How you qualifyHigh school diploma or equivalent; More than 12 months of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensingHigh school diploma or equivalent; More than 12 months of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing
O*NET preparation groupJob Zone 3Job Zone 3
Related work experienceNo prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.
On-the-job trainingMore than 12 months of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing.More than 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 Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines briefRead Motorboat Mechanics and Service Technicians brief

Try another comparison

Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines vs Mechanical Door Repairers

Compare pay, growth, education, and the tradeoffs that affect the decision.

Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines
$65,510 · 6.7% growth
Mechanical Door Repairers
$55,720 · 6.4% growth
Compare careers →

Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines vs Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door

Compare pay, growth, education, and the tradeoffs that affect the decision.

Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines
$65,510 · 6.7% growth
Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door
$74,340 · 4.3% growth
Compare careers →

Motorboat Mechanics and Service Technicians vs Mechanical Door Repairers

Compare pay, growth, education, and the tradeoffs that affect the decision.

Motorboat Mechanics and Service Technicians
$57,550 · 4.9% growth
Mechanical Door Repairers
$55,720 · 6.4% growth
Compare careers →

Motorboat Mechanics and Service Technicians vs Electronic Equipment Installers and Repairers, Motor Vehicles

Compare pay, growth, education, and the tradeoffs that affect the decision.

Motorboat Mechanics and Service Technicians
$57,550 · 4.9% growth
Electronic Equipment Installers and Repairers, Motor Vehicles
$48,420 · -14.5% growth
Compare careers →
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