Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between assistant chief engineers and lead mechanics can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both an assistant chief engineer and a lead mechanic. Additionally, an assistant chief engineer has an average salary of $93,642, which is higher than the $54,471 average annual salary of a lead mechanic.
The top three skills for an assistant chief engineer include HVAC, plumbing and customer service. The most important skills for a lead mechanic are hand tools, preventive maintenance, and HVAC.
| Assistant Chief Engineer | Lead Mechanic | |
| Yearly salary | $93,642 | $54,471 |
| Hourly rate | $45.02 | $26.19 |
| Growth rate | 2% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 15,988 | 86,668 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 37% | Associate Degree, 31% |
| Average age | 49 | 49 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
The assistant chief engineer works under the direct supervision of the chief engineer. Most of the chief engineer's responsibilities are given to the assistant, such as delegating employees for different tasks, inspect plans and blueprints, conduct determinations of various engineering projects, and provide reports and status updates of each. An assistant chief engineer's job is vital for any engineering project, and high organizational skills are required. Alongside this, the assistant must have competent knowledge in all relevant fields of engineering.
A lead mechanic coordinates the teams of mechanics and ensures the timely completion of repairs. Lead mechanics supervise their subordinates, order mechanical parts, and inspect their work making sure that the standards are met. They are responsible for repairing, overhauling, and maintaining vehicles or farm equipment. It is their job to provide support and give advice on matters associated with repairs. They also conduct road tests and maintain the repair of equipment. They should also have leadership and strong communication skills.
Assistant chief engineers and lead mechanics have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Assistant Chief Engineer | Lead Mechanic | |
| Average salary | $93,642 | $54,471 |
| Salary range | Between $63,000 And $139,000 | Between $40,000 And $73,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Anchorage, AK |
| Highest paying state | California | Alaska |
| Best paying company | BGC Partners | California Resources |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between an assistant chief engineer and a lead mechanic in terms of educational background:
| Assistant Chief Engineer | Lead Mechanic | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 37% | Associate Degree, 31% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Automotive Technology |
| Most common college | SUNY College of Technology at Alfred | SUNY College of Technology at Alfred |
Here are the differences between assistant chief engineers' and lead mechanics' demographics:
| Assistant Chief Engineer | Lead Mechanic | |
| Average age | 49 | 49 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 96.0% Female, 4.0% | Male, 96.8% Female, 3.2% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 8.2% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 15.6% Asian, 2.1% White, 68.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2% | Black or African American, 8.3% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 15.8% Asian, 2.1% White, 68.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 4% |