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What is a mechanical foreman and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
3 min read
The average mechanical foreman salary is $50,649. The most common degree is a high school diploma degree with an automotive technology major. It usually takes 2-4 years of experience to become a mechanical foreman. Mechanical foremen with a OSHA Safety Certificate certification earn more money. Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow -3% and produce -400 job opportunities across the U.S.
ScoreMechanical ForemanUS Average
Salary
4.0

Avg. Salary $50,649

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
9.3

Growth rate -3%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
2.5
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 1.24%

Asian 2.09%

Black or African American 8.13%

Hispanic or Latino 15.56%

Unknown 4.50%

White 68.48%

Gender

female 2.84%

male 97.16%

Age - 50
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 50
Stress level
9.3

Stress level is very high

7.1 - high

Complexity level
9.4

Complexity level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work life balance
2.6

Work life balance is poor

6.4 - fair

Mechanical foreman career paths

Key steps to become a mechanical foreman

  1. Explore mechanical foreman education requirements

    Most common mechanical foreman degrees

    High School Diploma

    36.9 %

    Associate

    21.6 %

    Bachelor's

    21.6 %
  2. Start to develop specific mechanical foreman skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Safety Regulations12.83%
    OSHA9.46%
    Plumbing8.86%
    HVAC7.78%
    Equipment Repair7.17%
  3. Complete relevant mechanical foreman training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 3-6 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New mechanical foremen learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a mechanical foreman based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real mechanical foreman resumes.
  4. Research mechanical foreman duties and responsibilities

    • Manage and supervise residential remodel and new construction projects.
    • Prepare all permits (lock out, tag out, and work permits).
    • Instruct and train part-time personnel on proper maintenance procedures, preventative maintenance and proper FAA logbook documentation.
    • Motivate high crew productivity, inspect completed structures and verify adherence to technical specifications during this refinery turnaround.
  5. Prepare your mechanical foreman resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your mechanical foreman resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a mechanical foreman resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose from 10+ customizable mechanical foreman resume templates

    Build a professional mechanical foreman resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your mechanical foreman resume.
    Mechanical Foreman Resume
    Mechanical Foreman Resume
    Mechanical Foreman Resume
    Mechanical Foreman Resume
    Mechanical Foreman Resume
    Mechanical Foreman Resume
    Mechanical Foreman Resume
    Mechanical Foreman Resume
    Mechanical Foreman Resume
  6. Apply for mechanical foreman jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a mechanical foreman job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How did you land your first mechanical foreman job

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Average mechanical foreman salary

The average mechanical foreman salary in the United States is $50,649 per year or $24 per hour. Mechanical foreman salaries range between $33,000 and $75,000 per year.

Average mechanical foreman salary
$50,649 Yearly
$24.35 hourly

What am I worth?

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How do mechanical foremen rate their job?

-/5

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3 stars

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1 star

Mechanical foreman reviews

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A zippia user wrote a review on Jan 2021
Pros

Making sure things get done the right way the first time.... keeping a happy crew


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A zippia user wrote a review on Dec 2019
Pros

just seeing myself fixing something making it work as new.


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A zippia user wrote a review on Apr 2019
Pros

I like most is being able to motivate and encourage the crew to do the best they can and all there efforts are appreciated I feel that a positive attitude toward your employees resault in a more positive attitude throughout the company as a whole I also like to keep everyone aware of the safety hazards around there work space and maintain a safe work place environment but what I enjoy most is being able to look back at a job complete and know that I was the one in charge of completing that job and it gives me that great feeling of accomplishment

Cons

I don't like when I have to terminate an employee I always feel like there was more than I could have done a better job motavating and incorporating that employee in a different position in the company that would have benefited both the employee and the company


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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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