← Engineering and trades

ANZSCO 3212Skill level 3Engineering and trades

Diesel mechanic

Service and repair diesel-powered trucks, buses, plant and earth-moving equipment.

Registration: Motor-vehicle repair licence required in NSW, QLD and WA

Salary

Cited figures from Job Outlook and QILT. ExamExplained does not publish predictive earnings or projections.

FigureAUDSource
Full-time weekly earnings$1950Job Outlook (2025-06-01)

How far does this stretch in each city?

What a diesel mechanic actually does

Diesel mechanics work on the engines and systems behind trucks, buses, haul trucks, earth-moving plant, agricultural machinery and gensets. Most start the day in a workshop with a job sheet covering scheduled services, breakdowns and component changeouts. Mining and earthworks fitters often work field maintenance, driving service trucks out to plant in the pit or on a quarry. Hours run between 38 and 50 per week in standard shops, with mining and earth-moving rosters pushing higher. Many diesel mechanics move into mining maintenance after qualifying, where they can earn substantially more in exchange for a fly-in fly-out lifestyle. Bigger trucks and plant carry hydraulics, electrical and cooling systems alongside diesel engines, so a good diagnostic mindset matters as much as physical strength.

Typical tasks

  • Service heavy diesel engines.
  • Diagnose hydraulic and pneumatic systems.
  • Carry out roadworthy inspections on heavy vehicles.

Skills you'll use

  • Heavy diesel engine teardown and rebuild
  • Hydraulic and pneumatic system diagnosis
  • Electronic engine management diagnosis using OEM scan tools
  • Brake, suspension and powertrain service on heavy vehicles
  • Welding and basic fabrication for plant repairs
  • Reading hydraulic schematics and electrical wiring diagrams
  • Working safely with heavy lifting equipment

How to become one

  1. 1Finish Year 10 or 12. A pre-apprenticeship Certificate II in Automotive Vocational Preparation is useful if you have not found a host employer yet
  2. 2Secure a host with a heavy vehicle workshop, mining contractor, earthworks company or transport operator
  3. 3Complete a 4-year Certificate III in Heavy Commercial Vehicle Mechanical Technology (AUR31120) or Mobile Plant Technology (AUR30620) at TAFE alongside paid on-job training
  4. 4Add tickets such as forklift, dogman, EWP and HR truck licence early. Mining and resources work also requires standard inductions and medicals
  5. 5For NSW, Queensland and WA, register your trade qualification with the state regulator
  6. 6Optional next steps include OEM master technician programmes, a Certificate IV in Automotive Mechanical Diagnosis, or specialist roles in hydraulics or auto-electrical

Where you can work

  • Heavy haulage and freight transport operators
  • Bus and coach service depots
  • Mining maintenance providers such as Komatsu, Caterpillar and Liebherr
  • Iron ore, coal and metals mines across the Pilbara, Bowen Basin and Goldfields
  • Earthworks and civil construction contractors
  • Agricultural machinery dealers
  • Defence vehicle maintenance contractors

Career progression

Typical stages and salary bands. Salary figures are sourced from Job Outlook, QILT or industry bodies; brackets are 25th-75th percentile not absolute floors or ceilings.

  1. Apprentice
    0-4 years
    Typical roles: First-year apprentice, Fourth-year apprentice
    Salary band: $30,000 - $60,000 per year (source, sourced 2026-05-21)
  2. Qualified diesel fitter
    4-8 years
    Typical roles: Heavy vehicle mechanic, Mobile plant mechanic, Field service technician
    Salary band: $90,000 - $130,000 per year (source, sourced 2026-05-21)
  3. Senior or mining fitter
    8-15 years
    Typical roles: Senior fitter, Maintenance supervisor, Mining diesel fitter
    Salary band: $130,000 - $180,000 per year (source, sourced 2026-05-21)
  4. Supervisor or business owner
    12+ years
    Typical roles: Workshop manager, Maintenance superintendent, Workshop owner

Is this for you?

You might love this if

  • You like big machinery and hands-on problem solving
  • You are willing to work fly-in fly-out for higher pay
  • You can lift, twist and crawl into tight spaces
  • You handle dust, grease and noisy environments well
  • You enjoy diagnostics as much as turning a spanner

This might not suit you if

  • You want office or desk work
  • You have a back, shoulder or knee issue that limits heavy work
  • You cannot commit to remote rosters or shift work

Three ways in

Uni, TAFE and trade routes for diesel mechanic. Not every career has all three; we only list pathways that actually lead to this occupation.

University

Bachelor degrees that lead to this career.

No direct undergraduate pathway. Consider postgraduate study after a related bachelor degree.

TAFE / VET

Nationally accredited Certificate and Diploma qualifications.

Apprenticeship trade

Earn while you learn through an Australian Apprenticeship.

Sources

ExamExplained does not publish predictive salary figures. For current Australian earnings data check Job Outlook directly. Career classifications follow the ABS ANZSCO 2022 release.