Mechanic jobs come in a variety of types based on your experience and interest. Some mechanics specialize in a single area, such as transportation or heating and cooling systems, while others have more general.
Mechanics work on everything from automobiles to heavy equipment and even aircrafts and submarines. In this article, we list 20 different mechanic types and their job descriptions you can consider in your future career.
Table of Contents
- 1. Diesel Mechanic
- 2. General Automotive Mechanic
- 3. Heavy Equipment Mechanic
- 4. Small Engine Mechanic
- 5. Brake and Transmission Mechanic
- 6. Auto Body Mechanic
- 7. Auto Exhaust Mechanic
- 8. Aftermarket Mechanic
- 9. Race Car Mechanic
- 10. Roadside Assistance Mechanic
- 11. Service Mechanic
- 12. Auto Glass Mechanic
- 13. Tire Mechanic
- 14. Aircraft Mechanic
- 15. Marine Mechanic
- 16. Motorcycle Mechanic
- 17. Bicycle Mechanic
- 18. Line Mechanic
- 19. Plumbing Mechanic
- 20. Air Conditioning Mechanic
1. Diesel Mechanic
A diesel mechanic is someone who is capable of maintaining, servicing, diagnosing problems with, and repairing the engine in a vehicle that runs on diesel fuel.
2. General Automotive Mechanic
If you own a car, you’ve probably been in the position where something has gone wrong with it. Maybe your engine won’t start, maybe your breaks aren’t working properly, or maybe there’s a funny noise coming from your engine. In this situation, it is important to have someone knowledgeable about cars to fix the problems. This is where a general automotive mechanic comes in.
A general automotive mechanic has the knowledge and ability to fix any problem that might arise with a car. They can fix pretty much anything under the hood of a car, from repairing the damage done by an accident to replacing wiper blades.
3. Heavy Equipment Mechanic
A heavy equipment mechanic works with colossal machinery to develop, maintain and repair transportation vehicles. He or she might work with machines like dump trucks, cement mixers, semi-trucks and mobile cranes, as well as other types of large construction machinery. They tend to be employed in a variety of industries that deal with the transport sector including building, resource extraction and land clearing.
4. Small Engine Mechanic
A small engine mechanic is a person who repairs and fixes small engines. These include lawn mowers, snow blowers, hedge trimmers, chainsaw sand many more. Small engines are typically powered by gasoline or electricity instead of diesel or steam.
5. Brake and Transmission Mechanic
Transmission and brake problems are two of the most common issues found in cars. If you have a car with either or both of these issues, it might be best to get them serviced by a mechanic. A brake and transmission mechanic has training in understanding how brakes and transmissions work, as well as what might be causing your car to have an issue with either or both of these parts.
6. Auto Body Mechanic
An auto body mechanic works specifically on restoring damaged vehicles to their original state by evaluating and repairing body damage.
Auto body mechanics typically use custom-built equipment in their shops, including lifts and other heavy-duty tools, to make sure they can accommodate any size vehicle in the best way possible.
As with most other types of mechanic careers, this career path also requires a great deal of training and technical knowledge to be successful.
7. Auto Exhaust Mechanic
An auto exhaust mechanic specializes in the management and repair of car exhaust systems. The mechanic installs, inspects, repairs, or replaces any portion of the system that is faulty or needs updating.
The auto exhaust system is the path that emission control gasses take to leave a car’s engine. The mechanic tests all parts of the system, including the catalytic converter and other sensors, for correct function. If any part is faulty, it must be replaced or repaired.
Exhaust systems are complex, so repairing them requires technical knowledge, precision, and a lot of patience.
8. Aftermarket Mechanic
The “aftermarket” of an aftermarket mechanic refers specifically to replacement parts for cars that are not supplied by the original manufacturer. Since modern vehicle manufacturing is carried out on a massive scale, there are often small deviations in specifications from one car model to the next.
Aftermarket car parts are designed to address these differences and thereby allow for a great degree of customization in terms of performance, appearance, and other factors.
Most mechanics who deal with aftermarket parts only work on certain types of vehicles. A mechanic working on one specific model may be called a “chassis specialist” because they only perform repairs on replacement parts for one make and model of vehicle. However, some mechanics can work with any type of aftermarket part as long as the person ordering the part provides it. These automotive professionals are known as generalists or universal technicians.
9. Race Car Mechanic
Racecar mechanics are working on cars that take part in races. No matter if it is NASCAR, Formula 1 racing, or any other type of race, these mechanics have to keep a watchful eye on their drivers and automobiles. They need extensive knowledge in a variety of fields because they usually have to deal with all types of cars.
One thing to note is that race car mechanics typically have to travel with their drivers so it can be a very stressful job if you are not willing to move around all the time. However, there are also many perks to being a race car mechanic – including attending cool races and seeing new cities.
Racecar mechanics are to be well paid. One reason for this is that these mechanics typically tend to work for very famous drivers who are willing to take care of their workers.
10. Roadside Assistance Mechanic
It’s easy to find roadside assistance jobs than any other type of mechanic. Roadside assistance mechanics are the types of mechanics you see when you’re stuck on the side of the road and your car won’t start. They typically come with a tow truck to take your car back to their shop for repairs.
Roadside assistance mechanics typically do not need any formal training or certification to start, but you will most likely want to get your state special license. This is an official form of identification that proves you know what you’re doing and can be recognized by law enforcement officers on the road who might come across a stranded car.
The hours for roadside assistance are regular because the business needs to be open around the clock, but it can also depend on how many cars you have to take care of every day. This means that working at roadside assistance will give you more time off than other types of mechanics – which is why this type of mechanic typically makes less money.
Roadside assistance mechanics are also required to have excellent customer service skills because they will be interacting with stressed-out drivers who are afraid that their car is beyond repair.
11. Service Mechanic
The term “service mechanic” is often used to refer to a specific type of mechanic that works exclusively on heavy machinery whose primary purpose is not transport, but some people use it to refer to any mechanic that works on heavy machinery or industrial equipment.
12. Auto Glass Mechanic
A glass mechanic is a person who fixes car windows and windshields. They are commonly called ‘auto glass mechanics.’ Also known as auto glass repairers, they often work for an auto shop that specializes in repairs or for large companies that own many cars.
There are two different types of glass mechanics: those who fix side windows, which are called ‘side glass mechanics,’ and those who fix windshields and rear windows, which are called ‘windshield glass mechanics.’ Side glass is typically less complicated than windshields, so side glass mechanics do not require as much training.
13. Tire Mechanic
Tire mechanics are responsible for the repair and exchange of tires. They fix flats, replace tires that are worn out or damaged, and perform other tire-related services. Tire technicians also balance wheels and rotate tires as needed.
14. Aircraft Mechanic
Aircraft mechanics are the people who take care of the various aspects of aircrafts – they are also called avionics technicians.
There are many different jobs that an aircraft mechanic does, but for the most part, they specialize in doing everything that needs to be done to keep planes up in the air and running smoothly on land. Because there are so many different types of planes, aircraft mechanics also need to be experienced with working on all of them.
15. Marine Mechanic
A marine mechanic works on maintaining and repairing boats, ships, oil rigs, dock equipment, and other water-related vehicles. Duties may include electrical work, diesel engine mechanics, hydraulic systems repairs, and maintenance of all types of marine equipment.
16. Motorcycle Mechanic
A motorcycle mechanic is someone who, as the name implies, repairs motorcycles. However, this is certainly not all that they do. A small list of things that motorcycle mechanics do includes everything from teaching people how to ride motorcycles safely for the first time to performing complex engine rebuilds on customer’s bikes.
17. Bicycle Mechanic
At first glance, a bicycle mechanic may seem like a bike-specific version of a regular mechanic. However, unlike cars, bicycles have many different parts that require specialized mechanics with experience working on each of those different parts. In addition to being knowledgeable about all of the components of a bicycle, they also understand how the bicycle operates as a single unit and how all of the different components work together.
Their job is to fix whatever is wrong with your bicycle, be it a flat tire or a broken pedal. They will also tune bikes, which involves adjusting the gears and making sure everything runs smoothly and properly.
18. Line Mechanic
Line Mechanic is a position in the rail transport industry that enables the safe, efficient and economical movement of trains. These professionals are responsible for safely moving trains from one location to another by opening and closing switches, allowing two sets of tracks to meet at an intersection.
They also inspect railroad crossings before train traffic resumes, determine whether or not maintenance is required and inspect and repair damage to tracks. Collectively, the work of a Line Mechanic is crucial in allowing safe transit of train traffic.
19. Plumbing Mechanic
Plumbing mechanics have a lot of responsibilities in the plumbing career field. The most common, and probably best-known task that a plumber is responsible for installing, maintaining, and repairing water and sewer piping in homes and businesses.
The plumber’s work is to be done according to the building codes and standards of the area where he or she works. This ensures that everyone has access to a safe water supply for their household needs. Another important part of the job is making sure that the waste and sewage water piping is designed and installed properly.
20. Air Conditioning Mechanic
A air conditioning mechanic diagnoses and repairs problems with the air conditioning in a vehicle. This may be as simple as recharging the refrigerant, or as complex as replacing the compressor. A mechanic needs to have extensive training and knowledge regarding air conditioning systems so they can work to ensure you aren’t stuck with a non-functioning AC during the hottest days of the year.
