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The differences between maintenance controllers 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 a maintenance controller and a lead mechanic. Additionally, a maintenance controller has an average salary of $72,133, which is higher than the $54,471 average annual salary of a lead mechanic.
The top three skills for a maintenance controller include maintenance control, FAA and general maintenance. The most important skills for a lead mechanic are hand tools, preventive maintenance, and HVAC.
| Maintenance Controller | Lead Mechanic | |
| Yearly salary | $72,133 | $54,471 |
| Hourly rate | $34.68 | $26.19 |
| Growth rate | 5% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 70,069 | 86,668 |
| Job satisfaction | 5 | - |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 37% | Associate Degree, 31% |
| Average age | 49 | 49 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
To ensure that every passenger can have safe travel, a maintenance controller must check, monitor, and maintain an aircraft's good performance. They are responsible for ensuring that it has passed quality standards, safety requirements, and mechanics before they go in the air. Often reviews, schedules, logs, and coordinates to their supervisor to identify or resolve any unforeseen issue that may come along the way.
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.
Maintenance controllers and lead mechanics have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Maintenance Controller | Lead Mechanic | |
| Average salary | $72,133 | $54,471 |
| Salary range | Between $48,000 And $106,000 | 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 a maintenance controller and a lead mechanic in terms of educational background:
| Maintenance Controller | Lead Mechanic | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 37% | Associate Degree, 31% |
| Most common major | Aviation | Automotive Technology |
| Most common college | SUNY Farmingdale | SUNY College of Technology at Alfred |
Here are the differences between maintenance controllers' and lead mechanics' demographics:
| Maintenance Controller | Lead Mechanic | |
| Average age | 49 | 49 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 89.1% Female, 10.9% | Male, 96.8% Female, 3.2% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 8.4% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 15.9% Asian, 2.1% White, 67.9% 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% |