Find Trade Colleges
First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers: Career Overview
Directly supervise and coordinate the activities of mechanics, installers, and repairers. May also advise customers on recommended services. Excludes team or work leaders.
What Tasks Do First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers Take On?
The core tasks performed by first-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers span:
- Inspect, test, and measure completed work, using devices such as hand tools or gauges to verify conformance to standards or repair requirements.
- Inspect and monitor work areas, examine tools and equipment, and provide employee safety training to prevent, detect, and correct unsafe conditions or violations of procedures and safety rules.
- Interpret specifications, blueprints, or job orders to construct templates and lay out reference points for workers.
- Monitor employees' work levels and review work performance.
- Perform skilled repair or maintenance operations, using equipment such as hand or power tools, hydraulic presses or shears, or welding equipment.
- Compute estimates and actual costs of factors such as materials, labor, or outside contractors.
- Monitor tool and part inventories and the condition and maintenance of shops to ensure adequate working conditions.
- Requisition materials and supplies, such as tools, equipment, or replacement parts.
Key Skills and Knowledge
Effective first-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers draw on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Most Important Skills
The abilities most central to this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Core Knowledge
Other First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers Job Titles
Common job titles for this role include:
- AC Installer Supervisor (Air-Conditioning Installer Supervisor)
- AC Supervisor (Air Conditioning Supervisor)
- Aircraft Maintenance Supervisor
- Airport Maintenance Chief
- Airport Skilled Maintenance Supervisor
- Apartment Maintenance Supervisor
- Appliance Service Supervisor
- Artillery Maintenance Supervisor
Employment and Demand
There are about 108,834 first-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers working in the United States today. This occupation is expected to grow by +1.2% over the projection horizon.
First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers Pay
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $85,639 |
| Hourly median | $41.17 |
| 10th percentile | $52,686 |
| 25th percentile | $69,163 |
| 75th percentile | $102,115 |
| 90th percentile | $118,592 |
Pay can vary substantially based on experience, location, and industry.
First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers Salary by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| Alaska | $99,030 |
| District of Columbia | $93,170 |
| Washington | $92,820 |
| California | $89,880 |
| New Jersey | $88,120 |
| Connecticut | $87,850 |
| Massachusetts | $86,780 |
| Hawaii | $86,460 |
| North Dakota | $85,380 |
| Wyoming | $85,080 |
| New York | $85,000 |
| Minnesota | $84,410 |
| Delaware | $83,200 |
| New Hampshire | $82,800 |
| Illinois | $82,680 |
| Colorado | $81,450 |
| Oregon | $81,290 |
| Maryland | $81,200 |
| Wisconsin | $80,670 |
| Virginia | $80,650 |
| Vermont | $80,330 |
| Rhode Island | $80,100 |
| Indiana | $79,530 |
| South Dakota | $79,320 |
| Iowa | $77,980 |
| Ohio | $77,430 |
| Utah | $77,380 |
| Michigan | $77,340 |
| Pennsylvania | $77,340 |
| Nevada | $76,910 |
| Maine | $76,720 |
| Kansas | $76,380 |
| Nebraska | $76,030 |
| Montana | $75,960 |
| Missouri | $75,160 |
| Georgia | $75,120 |
| Texas | $75,050 |
| Idaho | $74,740 |
| South Carolina | $74,360 |
| Tennessee | $73,910 |
| Arizona | $73,760 |
| North Carolina | $73,730 |
| New Mexico | $73,680 |
| Kentucky | $73,070 |
| Alabama | $73,020 |
| Oklahoma | $72,920 |
| Florida | $72,280 |
| Louisiana | $71,970 |
| Mississippi | $68,440 |
| West Virginia | $67,850 |
| Arkansas | $67,590 |
| Virgin Islands | $58,660 |
| Guam | $47,600 |
| Puerto Rico | $43,680 |
Pay by U.S. Region
Pay for first-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers vary by region. The following regions pay the most:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Far Western US | $88,947 | 13.9% | 0.86 |
| New England | $84,971 | 4.5% | 0.94 |
| Middle Atlantic | $82,950 | 12.5% | 0.84 |
| Great Lakes | $79,447 | 12.9% | 0.92 |
| Rocky Mountains | $79,400 | 4.6% | 1.19 |
| Plains States | $78,640 | 6.6% | 0.97 |
| Southwest | $74,616 | 15.5% | 1.24 |
| Southeast | $73,523 | 28.8% | 1.19 |
Highest-Paying Metro Areas for First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | WA | $110,140 | 1,090 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | CA | $104,020 | 2,290 |
| Longview-Kelso, WA | WA | $101,150 | 240 |
| Vallejo, CA | CA | $100,500 | 650 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | CA | $100,150 | 6,250 |
| Anchorage, AK | AK | $97,360 | 1,080 |
| Fairbanks-College, AK | AK | $96,290 | 290 |
| Lexington Park, MD | MD | $96,060 | 310 |
Industry Breakdown
Most first-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers work in these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Retail Trade | 72,420 | $64,480 |
| Construction | 64,640 | $80,270 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) | 63,560 | $68,770 |
| Manufacturing | 63,050 | $92,510 |
| Real Estate and Rental and Leasing | 58,270 | $65,080 |
| Wholesale Trade | 41,680 | $80,830 |
| Transportation and Warehousing | 39,960 | $92,210 |
| Utilities | 24,670 | $122,610 |
The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.
Tech Stack
- Computer aided design CAD software: Autodesk AutoCAD (hot technology)
- Data base user interface and query software: Microsoft Access (hot technology)
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Electronic mail software: Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Presentation software: Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Project management software: Microsoft Project (hot technology)
- Document management software: Microsoft SharePoint (hot technology)
- Operating system software: Microsoft Windows (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Project management software: Oracle Primavera Enterprise Project Portfolio Management (hot technology)
- Enterprise resource planning ERP software: SAP software (hot technology)
The Day-to-Day Environment
The work environment for first-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers reflects the following characteristics:
- Telephone Conversations
- Contact With Others
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Determine Tasks, Priorities and Goals
- Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
Education and Training
Entry-level first-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers positions require a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education. This career aligns with Medium Preparation Needed (Job Zone 3), signaling the level of preparation typically expected.
Related Careers
Similar Occupations
- Industrial Production Managers (Supplemental)
- Industrial Engineers (Supplemental)
- Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians (Supplemental)
- First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers (Supplemental)
- First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers (Supplemental)
- First-Line Supervisors of Housekeeping and Janitorial Workers (Primary-Long)
- First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers (Supplemental)
- First-Line Supervisors of Entertainment and Recreation Workers, Except Gambling Services (Primary-Long)
Where to Study
Future first-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers commonly pursue programs in:
Mechanic and Repair Technologies/Technicians
9 programs across 3 majors
- Vehicle Maintenance & Repair
- Mechanics & Repairers
- Energy Systems Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians
Construction Trades
2 programs across 1 majors
About the Data
This profile draws on the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 49-1011.00 (First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers).