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The differences between aviation maintenance technicians 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 aviation maintenance technician and a lead mechanic. Additionally, a lead mechanic has an average salary of $54,471, which is higher than the $51,794 average annual salary of an aviation maintenance technician.
The top three skills for an aviation maintenance technician include electrical troubleshooting, FAA and maintenance procedures. The most important skills for a lead mechanic are hand tools, preventive maintenance, and HVAC.
| Aviation Maintenance Technician | Lead Mechanic | |
| Yearly salary | $51,794 | $54,471 |
| Hourly rate | $24.90 | $26.19 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 102,259 | 86,668 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 37% | Associate Degree, 31% |
| Average age | 33 | 49 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
An Aviation Maintenance Technician carries out repairs and maintenance on all sorts of aircraft, like airplanes and helicopters. They ensure that aircraft are in perfect working condition.
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.
Aviation maintenance technicians and lead mechanics have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Aviation Maintenance Technician | Lead Mechanic | |
| Average salary | $51,794 | $54,471 |
| Salary range | Between $35,000 And $75,000 | Between $40,000 And $73,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | Anchorage, AK |
| Highest paying state | - | Alaska |
| Best paying company | - | California Resources |
| Best paying industry | - | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between an aviation maintenance technician and a lead mechanic in terms of educational background:
| Aviation Maintenance Technician | Lead Mechanic | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 37% | Associate Degree, 31% |
| Most common major | Aviation | Automotive Technology |
| Most common college | Stanford University | SUNY College of Technology at Alfred |
Here are the differences between aviation maintenance technicians' and lead mechanics' demographics:
| Aviation Maintenance Technician | Lead Mechanic | |
| Average age | 33 | 49 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 91.3% Female, 8.7% | Male, 96.8% Female, 3.2% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 8.6% Unknown, 6.7% Hispanic or Latino, 29.3% Asian, 4.9% White, 50.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% | 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 | 14% | 4% |