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The differences between maintenance planners 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 planner and a lead mechanic. Additionally, a maintenance planner has an average salary of $57,625, which is higher than the $54,471 average annual salary of a lead mechanic.
The top three skills for a maintenance planner include CMMS, maintenance planning and maintenance tasks. The most important skills for a lead mechanic are hand tools, preventive maintenance, and HVAC.
| Maintenance Planner | Lead Mechanic | |
| Yearly salary | $57,625 | $54,471 |
| Hourly rate | $27.70 | $26.19 |
| Growth rate | -3% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 71,145 | 86,668 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 47% | Associate Degree, 31% |
| Average age | 49 | 49 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
A maintenance planner is responsible for maintaining the efficiency and optimal performance of the operational tools, equipment, and machinery. Maintenance planners assist with the personnel's request for equipment repairs, requiring them to have excellent knowledge of the mechanical industry to identify inconsistencies and glitches and perform immediate troubleshooting. They schedule maintenance routine checks, upgrade component features, and replace malfunctioning parts as needed. A maintenance planner also supports the staff on the proper usage of machinery by creating procedural manuals and demonstrations.
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 planners and lead mechanics have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Maintenance Planner | Lead Mechanic | |
| Average salary | $57,625 | $54,471 |
| Salary range | Between $39,000 And $84,000 | Between $40,000 And $73,000 |
| Highest paying City | Fremont, CA | Anchorage, AK |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | Alaska |
| Best paying company | CVR Energy | California Resources |
| Best paying industry | Hospitality | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between a maintenance planner and a lead mechanic in terms of educational background:
| Maintenance Planner | Lead Mechanic | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 47% | 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 planners' and lead mechanics' demographics:
| Maintenance Planner | Lead Mechanic | |
| Average age | 49 | 49 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 85.6% Female, 14.4% | 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, 67.8% 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% |