Short answer
Very unlikely. BLS rates mobile heavy equipment mechanics among the occupations least exposed to AI, and most of the work is the kind current AI tools cannot do.
AI and jobs
Will AI Replace Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics? (2026)
The Bureau of Labor Statistics places mobile heavy equipment mechanics in its low AI exposure category, among the occupations least exposed to current AI. BLS projects employment to change by +6.7% over 2025–2035, against 3.5% for all occupations, with about 15,000 openings a year.
- BLS AI exposure
- LowBLS EP supplemental table
- AI-resilience score
- 66/100Higher than 95% of jobs · NueCareer
- Projected change
- +6.7%BLS EP 2025–2035; all jobs 3.5%
- Openings a year
- 15,000BLS EP 2025–2035
The federal measure
How exposed mobile heavy equipment mechanics are to AI
The Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes a relative AI exposure category for each occupation it projects, built from five public measures of where AI could be, or already is, used to assist with or complete the work. Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics land in the low category: among the occupations least exposed to current AI.
Where this job sits on the BLS scale
786 occupations in the NueCareer bank, in BLS's four relative categories; width shows how many fall in each
- Low · this job203 occupations · 26%
- Moderate194 occupations · 25%
- High190 occupations · 24%
- Very high199 occupations · 25%
Source: BLS Employment Projections, AI exposure categories supplemental table.
- Exposure is relative. The categories rank occupations against each other; they are not a probability that a job is automated.
- BLS says exposure does not imply job loss, productivity gains, automation probability or wage effects. A highly exposed job can still grow if AI makes the people in it more productive.
- The classification reflects AI capabilities as the underlying studies measured them. Read the BLS method and limitations.
Inside the work
What AI can and cannot do in this job
O*NET rates how important each work activity is to an occupation and how often each working condition comes up. The ratings below are the ones that move the job's NueCareer AI-resilience score the most: the ones that pull it up, and the ones that pull it down. Only ratings clearly above the midpoint count.
What holds up
Physical, hands-on and person-to-person work
- Repairing and maintaining mechanical equipment4.6/5O*NET work activity, importance
- Face-to-face discussions4.7/5O*NET work context, frequency or level
- Performing general physical activities4.0/5O*NET work activity, importance
- Operating vehicles, mechanized devices, or equipment4.5/5O*NET work activity, importance
What AI reaches first
Routine, repeatable and screen-based work
- Documenting/recording information4.0/5O*NET work activity, importance
- Processing information3.8/5O*NET work activity, importance
- Getting information4.2/5O*NET work activity, importance
- Repetitive motions3.8/5O*NET work context, frequency or level
The tasks O*NET lists for mobile heavy equipment mechanics
- Repair and replace damaged or worn parts.
- Test mechanical products and equipment after repair or assembly to ensure proper performance and compliance with manufacturers' specifications.
- Adjust, maintain, and repair or replace subassemblies, such as transmissions and crawler heads, using hand tools, jacks, and cranes.
- Read and understand operating manuals, blueprints, and technical drawings.
- Operate and inspect machines or heavy equipment to diagnose defects.
- Clean, lubricate, and perform other routine maintenance work on equipment and vehicles.
O*NET 31.0 Database task statements, most important first.
The jobs
Will there still be jobs?
Exposure says where AI meets the work. The BLS projection says what the labor market is expected to do over 2025–2035. BLS projects +6.7% change in employment over the decade, against 3.5% across all occupations, and about 15,000 openings a year once retirements and career changes are counted. About 176,600 people work in the job today, at a median of $65,510 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Full mobile heavy equipment mechanic, except engines profile: pay by state, entry route and skills
Options
Related careers that are also low-exposure
Careers O*NET lists as related to the work, or in the same field at similar pay, that BLS places in a low exposure category.
Crane and Tower Operator
Transportation and Material Moving
- Median pay
- $68,080median a year
- Growth
- +3.8%
- Openings / yr
- 3,500
- Education
- High school
- Low
- BLS AI exposure
- 76/100
- resilience
Operate mechanical boom and cable or tower and cable equipment to lift and move materials, machines, or products in many directions.
Electrical Power-Line Installer and Repairer
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair
- Median pay
- $95,320median a year
- Growth
- +10.3%
- Openings / yr
- 10,900
- Education
- High school
- Low
- BLS AI exposure
- 76/100
- resilience
Install or repair cables or wires used in electrical power or distribution systems.
Mechanical Door Repairer
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair
- Median pay
- $55,720median a year
- Growth
- +6.4%
- Openings / yr
- 2,100
- Education
- High school
- Low
- BLS AI exposure
- 73/100
- resilience
Install, service, or repair automatic door mechanisms and hydraulic doors.
Commercial Diver
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair
- Median pay
- $72,990median a year
- Growth
- +4.8%
- Openings / yr
- 400
- Education
- Certificate
- Low
- BLS AI exposure
- 68/100
- resilience
Work below surface of water, using surface-supplied air or scuba equipment to inspect, repair, remove, or install equipment and structures.
Millwright
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair
- Median pay
- $65,700median a year
- Growth
- +0.9%
- Openings / yr
- 3,200
- Education
- High school
- Low
- BLS AI exposure
- 67/100
- resilience
Install, dismantle, or move machinery and heavy equipment according to layout plans, blueprints, or other drawings.
Questions
Will AI Replace Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics? FAQ
Will AI replace mobile heavy equipment mechanics?
Very unlikely. BLS rates mobile heavy equipment mechanics among the occupations least exposed to AI, and most of the work is the kind current AI tools cannot do. BLS defines exposure as AI being able to assist with or complete some of the work, and says it does not imply job loss, productivity gains or wage effects. BLS projects employment to change by +6.7% over 2025–2035, against 3.5% for all occupations, with about 15,000 openings a year.
How exposed are mobile heavy equipment mechanics to AI?
BLS sorts 786 occupations into four relative categories: low, moderate, high and very high. Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics are in the low category, alongside 202 other occupations. The categories combine five public measures of where AI could be or already is used, and they compare occupations with each other rather than giving an absolute risk.
What parts of a mobile heavy equipment mechanic, except engines's job can AI do?
In O*NET's description of the work, the parts that overlap most with what AI handles well are documenting/recording information, processing information and getting information. The parts that hold up best are repairing and maintaining mechanical equipment, face-to-face discussions and performing general physical activities. These come from O*NET ratings of how important each activity is to the job, read through NueCareer's AI-resilience method.
Is being a mobile heavy equipment mechanic, except engines a safe career from AI?
On NueCareer's AI-resilience score, built from O*NET work activities, mobile heavy equipment mechanics score 66 out of 100, higher than 95% of the occupations we score. The job pays a median of $65,510 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). No job is fully safe from technological change, but the federal exposure category and the projected openings are the two numbers worth weighing.
What careers similar to mobile heavy equipment mechanics are less exposed to AI?
Crane and Tower Operator (low exposure, $68,080 median), Electrical Power-Line Installer and Repairer (low exposure, $95,320 median), Mechanical Door Repairer (low exposure, $55,720 median), Commercial Diver (low exposure, $72,990 median). Each is also in the low category, and most are listed by O*NET as related to the work.
The AI exposure category is the Bureau of Labor Statistics'. The AI-resilience score and the activity breakdown are NueCareer's analysis of O*NET 31.0 Database data (method), not a federal figure. More: jobs most exposed to AI, jobs least exposed to AI, or check any job.