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Career Facts for Heavy Equipment Repairer
Where are heavy equipment repair technicians employed?
Employers can not
always find enough qualified men and women to maintain their fleet. If you are
interested in this type of career, Lansing Community College
and AIS Construction Equipment, one of the area’s premier heavy-equipment
suppliers, are in partnership offering students a new way to get some of the
best heavy-equipment repair training in the region through the Heavy Equipment
Repair Technician Program. Faster employment growth is expected for mobile heavy
equipment mechanics than for farm equipment mechanics or railcar
repairers. Increasing numbers of heavy duty and mobile equipment
service technicians will be required to support growth in the
construction industry, equipment dealers, and rental and leasing
companies. Because of the nature of construction activity, demand for
service technicians follows the Nation’s economic cycle. As the economy expands,
construction activity increases, resulting in the use of more mobile heavy
equipment to grade construction sites, excavate basements, and lay water and
sewer lines. The increased use of such equipment increases the need for periodic
service and repair. In addition, the construction and repair of highways and
bridges requires more technicians to service equipment. As equipment
becomes more complicated, repairs increasingly must be made by specially trained
technicians. Job openings for farm equipment mechanics and railcar repairers are
expected to rise mostly because of replacement needs. Construction and
mining are particularly sensitive to changes in the level of economic activity;
therefore, heavy and mobile equipment may be idled during downturns. In
addition, winter is traditionally the slow season for construction and farming
activity, particularly in cold regions. Few technicians may be needed during
periods when equipment is used less; however, employers usually try to retain
experienced workers. Employers may be reluctant to hire inexperienced workers
during slow periods.
What is the average salary?
In our program, you will learn everything you need to know
about repairing heavy equipment to build a career. You will even be assigned
your own engine to tear down and rebuild as you complete coursework. The program
is practical, hands-on and can lead you into a career starting out at $10-25 an
hour. After working hard, gaining five years of experience, and depending on
your level of ambition, you could be making as much as $70,000 a year.
What else do I need to know?
Courses are offered
throughout the year. Many evening courses are offered to accommodate your
schedule. Spring semester begins in January, summer semester begins in June and
fall classes begin in August.
• For more
information, contact:
Instructors for the
Heavy Equipment Operator program are contracted through AIS Construction
Equipment Corporation at www.aisequip.com. Please call the
Transportation Technologies Department Office at
(517) 267-5880 for
specific questions regarding instruction.
