HGV Mechanics & Heavy Diesel – Withdrawals in Australia and UK: What Makes These Jobs Worth Considering?

02.02.2026

5 mins to read

blog Withdrawals in Australia and UK_ What Makes These Jobs Worth Considering

Within the automotive industry, heavy vehicle work has never been about entry-level mechanics or casual career choices. HGV and heavy diesel roles sit firmly on the specialist end of the spectrum. They are less crowded, technically demanding, and consistently better paid. For technicians already operating in the trade, the real question is not whether this niche pays, but where it pays better: the UK or Australia. And more importantly: why?

HGV automotive roles: same trade, different weight class

Across both markets, HGV technicians, heavy panel beaters, body builders, tyre specialists, and auto electricians operate within recognised skilled-trade classifications.

In the UK, these roles fall under skilled vehicle maintenance and repair occupations, as defined within SOC 2020, which cover heavy goods vehicles and specialist diesel systems.

Australia categorises the same skillset under motor mechanics and heavy vehicle trades, with explicit recognition of diesel systems, fleet maintenance, and specialist repair environments. The work itself is comparable; however, the market conditions are not.

How These Roles (Diesel Mechanic & HGV Mechanic) Actually Differ

While the technical foundations of HGV and heavy diesel roles are largely transferable, the way these jobs are applied differs noticeably between the UK and Australia. In the UK, heavy vehicle technicians typically operate within structured workshop or fleet environments, with a strong emphasis on scheduled servicing, diagnostics, MOT preparation and compliance with DVSA roadworthiness standards as part of daily work.

In Australia, heavy diesel mechanics cover similar core tasks, such as diagnosing, servicing and repairing heavy vehicles. However, the role often extends across transport fleets, construction equipment, agriculture and mining-related machinery, reflecting the scale and diversity of the Australian heavy vehicle market. This broader operational scope is reinforced by Australian training pathways, which place strong emphasis on hands-on competence across diesel, hydraulic, electrical and braking systems, aligning the role with a wider range of heavy machinery applications.

Comparison of earnings: UK to Australia

Hourly rates below reflect typical market ranges for experienced specialists. Australian rates are shown in AUD (exchange rate varies; conversion is indicative only).

Role	Australia (AUD/hour)	Converted to GBP (approx)	UK (£/hour)
HGV Technician	40–60 AUD	~£20–£30 GBP	£16–24
Heavy Panel Beater	40–65 AUD	~£20–£33 GBP	£19–28
Body Builder	35–45 AUD	~£18–£23 GBP	£17–25
HGV Tyre Technician	40–60 AUD	~£20–£30 GBP	£14–18
HGV Auto Electrician	50–80 AUD	~£25–£40 GBP	£18–22

These figures align with national labour data and officially recognised occupational earnings.

Find a job with these rates for yourself: LINK

UK market reality: consistent demand, compressed rates

UK earnings for heavy automotive specialists remain stable but relatively compressed. Data from the Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE) shows that vehicle technicians working in skilled maintenance roles earn above the national median. The HGV experience pushes rates toward the top end of the band.

The National Careers Service confirms that senior or specialist motor mechanics (including heavy vehicle technicians) reach the highest earnings within automotive trades, though progression is incremental rather than exponential. In practice, overtime, night shifts, and fleet contracts often make the difference rather than base hourly rates.

Australia: higher pay driven by structural skill shortages

Australia applies a noticeably higher wage premium to roles related to heavy diesel and HGV operations. Jobs and Skills Australia identifies motor mechanics, particularly those working on heavy vehicles and diesel systems, as occupations with ongoing skills shortages and above-average earnings.

Australian Bureau of Statistics data on earnings and working conditions shows that skilled trades connected to transport, logistics, and infrastructure consistently outperform broader trade averages. Regional demand, fleet reliance, and industry-critical uptime expectations push rates higher, especially for auto electricians and technicians with diagnostic depth.

Why the heavy end still commands a premium

For experienced automotive specialists, the reasons are obvious:

Higher technical threshold compared to light vehicle work
Downtime sensitivity in transport and logistics fleets
Persistent skills shortages acknowledged by labour authorities
Limited substitution: HGV work cannot be easily offshored or automated

These dynamics exist in both countries, but Australia prices the risk and responsibility more aggressively.

Heavy vehicles, heavy pay decisions

For those already in the trade, heavy vehicle and diesel work is one of the last spaces where deeper specialisation still shows up directly on the payslip. The UK market values reliability and experience, but the ceiling is visible. Australia pays for scarcity, especially when uptime, diagnostics and responsibility are non-negotiable. Same tools. Same skillset. Same pressure. What changes is how the market prices it. If you know how these cycles move, and you pay attention early enough, this part of the industry tends to reward the people who were watching before everyone else caught on.