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The differences between equipment managers 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 equipment manager and a lead mechanic. Additionally, an equipment manager has an average salary of $62,974, which is higher than the $54,471 average annual salary of a lead mechanic.
The top three skills for an equipment manager include equipment maintenance, equipment room and logistics. The most important skills for a lead mechanic are hand tools, preventive maintenance, and HVAC.
| Equipment Manager | Lead Mechanic | |
| Yearly salary | $62,974 | $54,471 |
| Hourly rate | $30.28 | $26.19 |
| Growth rate | - | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 25,935 | 86,668 |
| Job satisfaction | 5 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 62% | Associate Degree, 31% |
| Average age | 49 | 49 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
An equipment manager is responsible for monitoring the efficiency and optimal performance of the office equipment and machinery to support the business functions and daily operations. Equipment managers perform preventive maintenance on the machines and equipment, reviewing its licenses and service agreements, as well as look for product alternatives with minimal costing but deliver high-performance. They also attend to the employees' repair calls, delegate tasks to the equipment team, replace defective components, and monitor the adequacy of mechanical inventory.
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.
Equipment managers and lead mechanics have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Equipment Manager | Lead Mechanic | |
| Average salary | $62,974 | $54,471 |
| Salary range | Between $30,000 And $129,000 | Between $40,000 And $73,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Anchorage, AK |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | Alaska |
| Best paying company | BJ Energy Solutions | California Resources |
| Best paying industry | Energy | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between an equipment manager and a lead mechanic in terms of educational background:
| Equipment Manager | Lead Mechanic | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 62% | Associate Degree, 31% |
| Most common major | Business | Automotive Technology |
| Most common college | SUNY College of Technology at Alfred | SUNY College of Technology at Alfred |
Here are the differences between equipment managers' and lead mechanics' demographics:
| Equipment Manager | Lead Mechanic | |
| Average age | 49 | 49 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 84.2% Female, 15.8% | Male, 96.8% Female, 3.2% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 8.1% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 15.5% Asian, 2.1% White, 68.5% 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% |