How to hire a lead mechanic

How to hire a lead mechanic, step by step

Here's a step-by-step lead mechanic hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a lead mechanic job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new lead mechanic
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a lead mechanic do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The lead mechanic hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A lead mechanic's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, lead mechanics from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   This list shows salaries for various types of lead mechanics.

   Type of Lead Mechanic	Description	Hourly rate
   Lead Mechanic	A Lead Mechanic performs major mechanical repairs to ensure proper performance and safety of vehicles. They evaluate mechanical problems, analyze engine performance, and perform routine vehicle maintenance and preventive care.	$19-35
   Automotive Service Technician	Automotive service technicians, often called service technicians, have a duty to inspect, maintain, and repair cars and even light trucks. It is their job as automotive service technicians to find problems, often by computerized diagnostic equipment... Show more	$12-35
   Diesel Technician	Diesel technicians specialize in repairing and handling the maintenance of vehicles powered by diesel. They are primarily responsible for inspecting cars, conducting tests, and identifying its problems to determine what course of action to take... Show more	$15-31

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Hand Tools
   • Preventive Maintenance
   • HVAC
   • Electrical Systems
   • Mechanical Equipment
   • Hydraulic Systems
   • Diagnosis
   • Routine Maintenance
   • Landing Gear
   • Diesel Engines
   • Safety Procedures
   • Air Compressors
   • FAA
   • Mechanical Systems

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage the repairs of electrical and mechanical components, such as power assemblies and traction motors.
   • Manage routine maintenance and modifications for locomotives as well as preventative maintenance for freight cars.
   • Complete restoration of antique motorcycles, extensive engine repair, payroll, quarterly reports, parts sales and database inventory.
   • Assemble and repair motor scooters.
   • Perform conventional welding, MIG, TIG, OxyAcet.
   • Ensure quality repairs are made while meeting stringent FRA guidelines.

   More lead mechanic duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your lead mechanic job description helps attract top candidates to the position. A lead mechanic salary can be affected by several factors, such as geography, experience, seniority, certifications, and the prestige of the hiring company.

   For example, the average salary for a lead mechanic in Oklahoma may be lower than in Alaska, and an entry-level lead mechanic usually earns less than a senior-level lead mechanic. Additionally, a lead mechanic with certifications may command a higher salary, and working for a well-known company or start-up may also impact an employee's pay.

   Average lead mechanic salary

   $54,471yearly

   $26.19 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level lead mechanic salary

   $40,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 19, 2026

   Average lead mechanic salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Alaska	$70,114	$34
   2	California	$65,716	$32
   3	Washington	$61,744	$30
   4	Oregon	$59,988	$29
   5	New York	$58,033	$28
   6	Michigan	$57,620	$28
   7	Missouri	$56,847	$27
   8	Iowa	$56,181	$27
   9	Ohio	$55,769	$27
   10	Nevada	$55,585	$27
   11	Virginia	$53,447	$26
   12	District of Columbia	$53,024	$25
   13	Colorado	$52,646	$25
   14	New Mexico	$51,435	$25
   15	Texas	$50,752	$24
   16	Kansas	$49,840	$24
   17	Arizona	$49,487	$24
   18	Maryland	$45,985	$22
   19	North Carolina	$43,299	$21
   20	Florida	$43,098	$21

   Average lead mechanic salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	California Resources	$80,742	$38.82
   2	Blue Origin	$69,672	$33.50	8
   3	Textron	$69,259	$33.30	77
   4	Mortenson	$68,568	$32.97
   5	Trek Bicycle	$68,001	$32.69	2
   6	The Marcus Corporation	$67,888	$32.64
   7	Cardinal Health	$67,790	$32.59	3
   8	Lyft	$67,199	$32.31
   9	FlatironConstruction	$66,802	$32.12
   10	Jacobs Engineering Group	$66,626	$32.03
   11	Bell Flight	$66,621	$32.03
   12	Sharp HealthCare	$66,456	$31.95
   13	Bonita Unified School District	$66,378	$31.91
   14	Airborne Maintenance & Engineering Services	$66,050	$31.75	7
   15	College of Mount Saint Vincent	$65,860	$31.66
   16	Northrop Grumman	$65,600	$31.54	21
   17	Reyes Holdings	$65,500	$31.49	50
   18	Barry-Wehmiller	$65,396	$31.44
   19	Mesa Airlines	$65,283	$31.39	7
   20	XPO Logistics	$64,956	$31.23

4. Writing a lead mechanic job description

   A job description for a lead mechanic role includes a summary of the job's main responsibilities, required skills, and preferred background experience. Including a salary range can also go a long way in attracting more candidates to apply, and showing the first name of the hiring manager can also make applicants more comfortable. As an example, here's a lead mechanic job description:

   Lead mechanic job description example

   The Lead, A&P Mechanic is responsible for using sound judgment and technical aptitude to make decisions regarding maintenance, sequence and techniques, troubleshooting, and discrepancy resolution. The Lead, A&P Mechanic is technically competent on assigned aircraft/engines, and is expected to accomplish all of his/her duties with little or no supervision. Leads projects, and coaches and oversees the activities of the A&P Mechanic I and II, providing guidance and instruction on proper mechanical procedures and techniques. Customer satisfaction hinges upon sound decisions and expedient action on the part of Lead, A&P Mechanics. As customers are on site at the facilities, professional appearance and communication skills are required in order to create a positive and lasting professional relationship.
   MINIMUM EDUCATION, SKILL, AND EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS:
   High school diploma or equivalent.
   Valid FAA Airframe and Powerplant License
   Minimum of 5 years experience as an A&P Mechanic in corporate aviation.
   Aviation training preferred. This training may take the form of military training, aeronautical academy or technical school training, and/or an Aviation Associates Degree. Factory authorized training on assigned aircraft or engines is preferred.
   Engine run certification is preferred.
   Technical competency on assigned aircraft/engine(s).
   Analytical skills required to perform complex mechanical troubleshooting.
   History of demonstrating high levels of initiative in completing all job assignments, clearly following directions, and promoting teamwork within the department.
   Must be able to work with minimal supervision.
   Sufficient leadership skills in order to be able to supervise others, train less experienced mechanics, and lead on road trips.
   Strong communication skills required, both verbal and written. Must have good interpersonal and verbal skills in order to interface with customers and employees.
   PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
   Must be able to lift up to 50 pounds.
   Must be able to stand a minimum of 8 hours per day and walk long distances.
   Must be able to bend, stretch, crawl, and climb ladders in order to work on areas within the aircraft that are difficult to access.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find lead mechanics for your business:

   • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your lead mechanic job on Zippia to find and recruit lead mechanic candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with lead mechanic candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of interviews.

   You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new lead mechanic

   Once you've found the lead mechanic candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

   It's equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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How much does it cost to hire a lead mechanic?