A new survey by a provider of heavy-duty repair shop software sheds some significant light on the work lives of professional technicians.
The State of Heavy-Duty Repair by Fullbay delivers insights into the men and women who work in the shops maintaining and repairing heavy-duty equipment.
The survey covers 2024-2025, and reveals plenty about the work lives of professional technicians, 59% of whom said they attended trade school.
When asked what best describes their jobs:
- 47% said they do in-shop and mobile work
- 35% said they are in-shop only
- 10% said they are mobile only
No matter where they work, the survey found professional technicians are staying busy. The survey asked how many hours a week they work. It found:
- 56% work between 41 and 50 hours a week
- 24% work 31 to 40 hours
- 12% work 51 to 60 hours
- 3% work 61 to 70 hours
- 3% work over 70 hours
And, what are they paid for all of those hours? They survey found that professional technicians have seen their pay increase steadily in the last several years.
Technicians self-reported they earned a median wage of $27 per hour in 2023, $29 per hour in 2024 and $30 per hour in 2025, when the survey was conducted.
The number of techs being paid bonuses by their shops is pretty well dead even, with 49% saying they do not receive bonuses while 48% said they do. The vast majority – 68% – said those bonuses were handed out based on technician proficiency. Another 52% said bonuses were paid on training and certification and 51% said they were paid on technician performance.
As for benefits, the survey found:
- 66% of shops provide techs with health insurance
- 58% provide paid time off
- 44% allow flexible schedules
- 22% offer 401K, while 35% of shops match those contributions
- 35% pay for technicians’ training
When it comes to the tools these technicians use, it’s a mixed bag if the shop buys them or if the tech is on their own. The survey found:
- 41% said the shop only buys bigger tools
- 19% said the shop does not buy tools
- 18% said they do
- 17% said the shop sometimes buys their tools
As for other gear:
- 79% said the shop provides safety equipment
- 77% said they have uniforms provided
- 35% said they are given boots by their shops
Interestingly, the survey found that many shops do not require techs to be certified for the equipment on which they work. Results showed:
- 77% said their shops do not require that sort of certification
- 22% said they shops do
And, just how satisfied are technicians in their work lives?
When asked, “In the next year, are you looking to …:
- 11% said start their own shop
- 9% said leave their existing employer for a new opportunity
- 1% said retire
- 10% said “other”
- 68% said said none of the above
Likewise, technicians in the survey seem to be content with the state of thin=gs in the heavy-duty repair industry.
When asked, “In the past year, your opinion of the industry has:
- 52% said stayed the same
- 27% said it improved
- 21% said it was lowered
