Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between maintenance 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 a maintenance manager and a lead mechanic. Additionally, a maintenance manager has an average salary of $72,269, which is higher than the $54,471 average annual salary of a lead mechanic.
The top three skills for a maintenance manager include OSHA, customer service and plumbing. The most important skills for a lead mechanic are hand tools, preventive maintenance, and HVAC.
| Maintenance Manager | Lead Mechanic | |
| Yearly salary | $72,269 | $54,471 |
| Hourly rate | $34.74 | $26.19 |
| Growth rate | 7% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 61,748 | 86,668 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 41% | Associate Degree, 31% |
| Average age | 49 | 49 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
A maintenance manager's role is to lead and oversee the workflow and workforce involved in the upkeep of a building or establishment. Duties include ensuring that all aspects are operational and in good condition. Some of the responsibilities of a maintenance manager are to supervise all installation and repairs in the building, arrange schedules for regular inspection, devise strategies, obtain cost-effective materials, and hire trustworthy contractors. Furthermore, maintenance managers must coordinate with all workforce involved and ensure that all operations adhere to the company's policies and regulations.
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 managers and lead mechanics have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Maintenance Manager | Lead Mechanic | |
| Average salary | $72,269 | $54,471 |
| Salary range | Between $47,000 And $109,000 | Between $40,000 And $73,000 |
| Highest paying City | Sacramento, CA | Anchorage, AK |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | Alaska |
| Best paying company | BP America Inc | California Resources |
| Best paying industry | Government | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between a maintenance manager and a lead mechanic in terms of educational background:
| Maintenance Manager | Lead Mechanic | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 41% | 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 maintenance managers' and lead mechanics' demographics:
| Maintenance Manager | Lead Mechanic | |
| Average age | 49 | 49 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 94.0% Female, 6.0% | Male, 96.8% Female, 3.2% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 8.3% 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% |