OSCA 351433

Diesel Technician

Overview

  • Employed persons

    8,900

  • Employment status

    93.6% Full time

    6.3% Part time

  • Median age

    32 years

  • Employment by sex

    1.2% Female

    98.8% Male

    Almost completely male dominated

  • Indigenous employment share

    3.3%

  • Main employing industry

    Other Services

Indicator Diesel Technician Total employment
Employed persons 8,900 12,049,400
Median age 32 years 40 years
Full-time share 93.6% 64.2%
Part-time share 6.3% 35.8%
Female employment share 1.2% 48.5%
Male employment share 98.8% 51.5%
Gender segregation intensity scale Almost completely male dominated Gender balanced
Indigenous employment share 3.3% 2.2%
Main employing industry Other Services Health Care and Social Assistance
Note: N/A values indicate data are not available due to confidentiality or data reliability requirements.

Occupation overview

Diesel Technicians maintain, test and repair diesel motors, and the mechanical parts of trucks, buses and heavy and lightweight vehicles with diesel engines. These mechanical parts include transmissions, suspension, steering and brakes.

What the occupation involves

  • Inspects diesel motors in heavy and lightweight vehicles, and mechanical parts to identify faults and determine repair requirements
  • Tests and diagnoses faults in diesel motors and mechanical systems using electronic diagnostic equipment, and interprets findings
  • Dismantles and removes engine assemblies, transmissions, steering mechanisms and other components, and checks parts
  • Repairs or replaces worn and faulty parts by welding, bolting, riveting or soldering
  • Reassembles engine components and installs repaired engines in vehicles
  • Adjusts and repairs electrical and mechanical systems such as ignition, fuel injection, and cooling and lubrication systems
  • Tests and adjusts mechanical systems after repairs and servicing
  • Performs routine maintenance such as changing oil, checking batteries, and lubricating equipment and machinery

Common occupation titles

  • Diesel Motor Mechanic

Specialisations

  • Automotive Heavy Mechanic

Note: Specialisations are examples of roles in within this occupation and are not separate OSCA occupations.

Skill level (education and experience level)

Skill level 3
equivalent to a mid-level Vocational Education and Training (VET) qualification (Certificate IV or Certificate III with at least 2 years’ on-the-job training).

Note: While skill levels are described using formal education levels, some people use a combination of informal learning, on-the-job training and personal experience to achieve an equivalent level.

Licensing or registration requirements

Registration or licensing may be required.

OSCA structure

Employment

On this page

    Industries

    Top 10 most common industries, 2021

    Diesel Technician Total employment
    Industry Share of occupation Industry Share of occupation
    Other Services 31.7% Health Care and Social Assistance 14.5%
    Transport, Postal and Warehousing 17.8% Retail Trade 9.1%
    Wholesale Trade 12.0% Construction 8.9%
    Manufacturing 10.9% Education and Training 8.8%
    Mining 6.1% Professional, Scientific and Technical Services 7.8%
    Construction 4.3% Public Administration and Safety 6.6%
    Public Administration and Safety 3.6% Accommodation and Food Services 6.5%
    Electricity, Gas, Water and Waste Services 2.5% Manufacturing 5.9%
    Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing 2.1% Transport, Postal and Warehousing 4.5%
    Retail Trade 1.8% Financial and Insurance Services 3.7%
    Note: N/A values indicate data are not available due to confidentiality or data reliability requirements.

    States and territories

    Employment distribution by states and territories, 2021

    • New South Wales

      23.6%

    • Victoria

      27.6%

    • Queensland

      21.2%

    • South Australia

      12.0%

    • Tasmania

      3.1%

    • Northern Territory

      1.4%

    • Australian Capital Territory

      0.4%

    Diesel Technician Total employment
    State / Territory Employment Share of occupation Employment Share of occupation
    New South Wales 2,100 23.6% 3,684,200 30.6%
    Victoria 2,500 27.6% 3,162,900 26.2%
    Queensland 1,900 21.2% 2,444,100 20.3%
    South Australia 1,100 12.0% 839,400 7.0%
    Western Australia 930 10.5% 1,306,200 10.8%
    Tasmania 280 3.1% 254,700 2.1%
    Northern Territory 130 1.4% 107,000 0.9%
    Australian Capital Territory 40 0.4% 248,600 2.1%
    Note: N/A values indicate data are not available due to confidentiality or data reliability requirements.

    Age and sex

    Employment distibution by age group and sex, 2021

    Diesel Technician

    Total employment

    Age group Diesel Technician Total employment
    15–24 years 28.3% 14.3%
    25–34 years 29.2% 22.7%
    35–44 years 19.8% 22.3%
    45–54 years 12.0% 20.4%
    55–64 years 8.6% 15.3%
    65–74 years 2.0% 4.3%
    75 years and over <0.1% 0.6%
    Note: N/A values indicate data are not available due to confidentiality or data reliability requirements.
    Sex Diesel Technician Total employment
    Female 1.2% 48.5%
    Male 98.8% 51.5%
    Note: N/A values indicate data are not available due to confidentiality or data reliability requirements.

    On this page

      OSCA occupation profiles data

      This file contains data available from the OSCA Occupation Profile page.

      Use of this data must include the relevant attribution text provided.

      OSCA Occupation data - 2021 Census.xlsx

      xlsx 1236447

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      Occupation Standard Classification for Australia (OSCA)

      Occupation Standard Classification for Australia (OSCA) is the skill-based classification used to categorise occupations across the Australian labour market. OSCA is used to define occupations across all official occupational statistics. OSCA replaces the Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO).

      Each job is classified to one, and only one, group of jobs at each level of the classification with no overlaps. This prevents the accidental double-counting of roles within the Australian labour market. For more information about OSCA, visit the What is OSCA information page, or the ABS website.

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