Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines
Diagnose, adjust, repair, or overhaul mobile mechanical, hydraulic, and pneumatic equipment, such as cranes, bulldozers, graders, and conveyors, used in construction, logging, and mining.
176,600 people do this job in the US. $65,510 a year.
of the working time. Estimate.
- 5%
- 0%
- 95%
Measured, from Anthropic's usage data (2025). Counts help on part of a task.
On the chosen pace and reliability. Estimate.
Share of the working time within reach, now to 2030
What each choice means: , , , , . Every pace starts from .
At this date and pace, models finish tasks up to 4.4 h long four times in five.
How far this has come
With GPT-4, measured in March 2023, 0% of this job's working time was within reach at . With Claude 3.7 Sonnet, measured in February 2025, 0%. With Claude Mythos Preview (early), measured in April 2026, 4%. Today's estimate: 5%.
A backcast: today's task data with the best model METR had measured by each date. It shows how fast the models have moved, not what anyone forecast at the time.
The tasks
Sorted by . 20 tasks from .
| Task | Kind | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adjust, maintain, and repair or replace subassemblies, such as transmissions and crawler heads, using hand tools, jacks, and cranes.Done daily by most who do it. | 15% | 6.7 h1.7 h to 2.1 work days | Stays with people | |
| Overhaul and test machines or equipment to ensure operating efficiency.Done daily by most who do it. | 15% | 1.7 work days3.3 h to 1 work week | Stays with people | |
| Repair and replace damaged or worn parts.Done daily by most who do it. | 14% | 2.5 h50 min to 6.7 h | Stays with people | |
| Dismantle and reassemble heavy equipment using hoists and hand tools.Done daily by most who do it. | 11% | 6.7 h1.7 h to 2.5 work days | Stays with people | |
| Test mechanical products and equipment after repair or assembly to ensure proper performance and compliance with manufacturers' specifications.Done daily by most who do it. | 7% | 1.7 h25 min to 3.3 h | Stays with people | |
| Operate and inspect machines or heavy equipment to diagnose defects.Done daily by most who do it. | 5% | 1.3 h25 min to 2.5 h | Stays with people | |
| Repair, rewire, and troubleshoot electrical systems.Done daily by most who do it. | 4% | 2.5 h50 min to 5 h | Stays with people | |
| Fabricate needed parts or items from sheet metal.Done more than monthly by most who do it. | 4% | 2.5 h50 min to 5 h | Stays with people | |
| Diagnose faults or malfunctions to determine required repairs, using engine diagnostic equipment such as computerized test equipment and calibration devices.Done daily by most who do it. | 3% | 1.7 h38 min to 3.3 h | Stays with people | |
| Assemble gear systems, and align frames and gears.Done more than monthly by most who do it. | 3% | 3.3 h1.3 h to 1 work day | Stays with people | |
| Fit bearings to adjust, repair, or overhaul mobile mechanical, hydraulic, and pneumatic equipment.Done daily by most who do it. | 3% | 2.5 h50 min to 5 h | Stays with people | |
| Research, order, and maintain parts inventory for services and repairs.Done daily by most who do it. | 2% | 1.3 h25 min to 2.5 h | 87%Half by now |
Within reach, per task: the share of the task's time whose instances are short enough for a model to finish at the chosen date, pace and reliability. Half by: the date half of that time comes within reach.
Jobs that share skills with this one
From O*NET's related occupations. Within reach now and by the end of 2028, long-run pace, four in five.
- Industrial Machinery Mechanics15% now, 17% by 2028
- Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists0% now, 0% by 2028
- Maintenance Workers, Machinery7% now, 7% by 2028
- Rail Car Repairers3% now, 3% by 2028
- Electric Motor, Power Tool, and Related Repairers3% now, 3% by 2028
- Engine and Other Machine Assemblers8% now, 9% by 2028
Where this job works
The industry groups that employ the most of it (BLS, May 2025).
- Machinery, Equipment, and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers46,810 people
- Rental and Leasing Services (5322, 5323, and 5324 only)20,620 people
- Other Specialty Trade Contractors14,780 people
- Highway, Street, and Bridge Construction9,730 people
- Commercial and Industrial Machinery and Equipment (except Automotive and Electronic) Repair and Maintenance8,750 people
Where the most of these jobs are
The metro areas with the most people in it (BLS, May 2025).