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Mechanic vs body shop supervisor

The differences between mechanics and body shop supervisors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become a mechanic, becoming a body shop supervisor takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a mechanic has an average salary of $47,149, which is higher than the $43,234 average annual salary of a body shop supervisor.

The top three skills for a mechanic include hand tools, preventive maintenance and customer service. The most important skills for a body shop supervisor are lean manufacturing, customer vehicles, and quality standards.

Mechanic vs body shop supervisor overview

MechanicBody Shop Supervisor
Yearly salary$47,149$43,234
Hourly rate$22.67$20.79
Growth rate4%3%
Number of jobs100,53421,721
Job satisfaction4.25-
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 42%Bachelor's Degree, 46%
Average age4249
Years of experience24

Mechanic vs body shop supervisor salary

Mechanics and body shop supervisors have different pay scales, as shown below.

MechanicBody Shop Supervisor
Average salary$47,149$43,234
Salary rangeBetween $35,000 And $63,000Between $29,000 And $63,000
Highest paying CitySan Jose, CA-
Highest paying stateConnecticut-
Best paying companyAnheuser-Busch-
Best paying industryManufacturing-

Differences between mechanic and body shop supervisor education

There are a few differences between a mechanic and a body shop supervisor in terms of educational background:

MechanicBody Shop Supervisor
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 42%Bachelor's Degree, 46%
Most common majorAutomotive TechnologyBusiness
Most common college-SUNY College of Technology at Alfred

Mechanic vs body shop supervisor demographics

Here are the differences between mechanics' and body shop supervisors' demographics:

MechanicBody Shop Supervisor
Average age4249
Gender ratioMale, 95.7% Female, 4.3%Male, 79.7% Female, 20.3%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 8.5% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 17.1% Asian, 2.4% White, 65.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1%Black or African American, 8.2% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 15.8% Asian, 2.1% White, 68.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2%
LGBT Percentage2%4%

Differences between mechanic and body shop supervisor duties and responsibilities

Mechanic example responsibilities.

  • Dismantle and re-assemble equipment, using hoists and hand tools, such as transfer cases, hydraulic cylinders, bell housings.
  • Identify issues with wire feeder and power source, break press, overhead cranes , 2 ton to 25 ton hoists.
  • chain saws, trimmers, tractors, push mowers, blowers, generators, cut saws, power washers, etc.
  • Work with networking, plumbing, troubleshooting electrical and performing mechanical repairs.
  • Monitor HVAC systems and operations, and ensure that routine preventive maintenance are performed according to establish schedules.
  • Complete repair of low-boy style trailers, and tractors with wet line PTO systems.
  • Show more

Body shop supervisor example responsibilities.

  • Manage and operate custom restoration shop for existing bodyshop.
  • Strengthen the dealership reputation by providing expert technical explanations and resolving product disputes between customer, dealer, and manufacturer.
  • Have worked with everything from bondo and paint prep all the way to welding support pieces together.

Mechanic vs body shop supervisor skills

Common mechanic skills
  • Hand Tools, 9%
  • Preventive Maintenance, 8%
  • Customer Service, 7%
  • Customer Vehicles, 7%
  • Diagnosis, 6%
  • Electrical Systems, 5%
Common body shop supervisor skills
  • Lean Manufacturing, 51%
  • Customer Vehicles, 41%
  • Quality Standards, 8%

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