MEET THE PRO: Hailey Scott, Diesel Technician
By Arkansas Next on Friday, October 13, 2023
Hometown: Blytheville
Age: 20
Where I Trained: Arkansas Northeastern College
What I Earned: Certificate of proficiency and associate degree of applied science in steel technology
Job Title: Diesel technician
Employer: United Rentals
Hailey Scott never wanted to pursue the traditional higher education route. She wanted to enter the workforce as quickly as possible, so becoming a diesel technician was a no-brainer for her. Now, Hailey gets to work close to home and focus on her career. She's breaking the mold in a male-dominated field with her drive for success and eagerness to learn.
“I always wanted to learn mechanics and about electrical work, and starting at United Rentals will help me learn the basics,” Hailey said.
Her daily responsibilities include diagnosing and repairing problems on 280-amp miller welders to ensure they are “rent-ready” for use. She also monitors for damage and replaces the oil, oil filters and air filters in the equipment, and she operates the equipment. She was surprised to learn how precise she must be while repairing mechanics.
“My favorite part about this job is inspecting all the equipment, because I’m getting to see how the [machines] function and understanding what is wrong with it," Haley said.
She said the job requires physical strength. “Without it, it’s hard to do heavy lifting and such. Everything is precise and must be right when working on the equipment.”
Skipping the traditional college route and entering the workforce quickly set Hailey up for the life she’s always dreamed of.
“Focused, hands-on training [takes] less time as opposed to going to a traditional university,” Hailey said. “I started out earning a much higher hourly wage than most do right out of college, and I can easily find a job.”
WHAT DOES A DIESEL TECHNICIAN DO?
A skilled mechanic specializing in diesel engines, which are most commonly used in larger vehicles like trucks, buses and heavy machinery. Diesel tech are responsible for diagnosing, repairing and maintaining these engines.
Education Needed:
Technical certificate or associate degree
Job Outlook
► 6% projected job growth in Arkansas by 2030
► 4,120 - Estimated number of diesel engine specialists expected to be employed in Arkansas by 2030
You'll be great at this too if...
► You enjoy working with your hands
► You enjoy taking things apart and putting them back together
► You've always had a thing for cars or trucks
► You want a job that's always in demand in Arkansas
► You don't mind getting your hands dirty
High-end earners (top 10%) make
$62,810 Annual
$30.20 Hourly
Median wages in Arkansas
$46,550 Annual
$22.38 Hourly
WHERE TO LEARN
- Arkansas State University-Beebe
- Arkansas State University-Mid-South
- Arkansas State University-Newport
- East Arkansas Community College
- Greenway Equipment
- Northwest Technical Institute (NWTI)
- Simmons Foods
- Tyson Foods Inc.
- University of Arkansas - Pulaski Technical College
- University of Arkansas at Monticello College of Technology-McGehee
- University of Arkansas Community College at Morrilton
- University of Arkansas Hope-Texarkana
WHERE TO WORK
- Daimler Truck North America
- Greenway Equipment
- McKee Foods
- Simmons Foods
- Stribling Equipment
- Tyson Foods Inc.
Sources: careeronestop.org
