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The differences between mechanical maintenance supervisors and section chiefs can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a mechanical maintenance supervisor and a section chief. Additionally, a section chief has an average salary of $78,816, which is higher than the $74,298 average annual salary of a mechanical maintenance supervisor.
The top three skills for a mechanical maintenance supervisor include preventative maintenance, CMMS and equipment maintenance. The most important skills for a section chief are safety procedures, training programs, and professional development.
| Mechanical Maintenance Supervisor | Section Chief | |
| Yearly salary | $74,298 | $78,816 |
| Hourly rate | $35.72 | $37.89 |
| Growth rate | 5% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 97,565 | 13,655 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 32% | Bachelor's Degree, 40% |
| Average age | 49 | 49 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
A mechanical maintenance supervisor oversees the daily maintenance of machinery and systems in buildings or establishments. They manage teams of mechanics and technicians, supervise and coordinate maintenance activities, liaise with external parties such as vendors and suppliers, process the procurement of supplies, delegate tasks and responsibilities among staff, and develop action plans and strategies to optimize operations. Moreover, a mechanical maintenance supervisor regularly conducts inspections and maintenance checks to ensure everything complies with the company's safety standards and regulations.
A section chief's job varies with the type of organization. In most cases, a section chief is the head of a given section in an organization that is tasked with performing certain duties. A section chief is the head of a unit and provides leadership, motivation, and management of a section of employees. Their duties and responsibilities include reviewing and overseeing budgets, expenditure, and section activities.
Mechanical maintenance supervisors and section chiefs have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Mechanical Maintenance Supervisor | Section Chief | |
| Average salary | $74,298 | $78,816 |
| Salary range | Between $58,000 And $95,000 | Between $37,000 And $163,000 |
| Highest paying City | Hayward, CA | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | California | New York |
| Best paying company | Macy's | Learjet |
| Best paying industry | Hospitality | Government |
There are a few differences between a mechanical maintenance supervisor and a section chief in terms of educational background:
| Mechanical Maintenance Supervisor | Section Chief | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 32% | Bachelor's Degree, 40% |
| Most common major | Automotive Technology | Business |
| Most common college | SUNY College of Technology at Alfred | SUNY College of Technology at Alfred |
Here are the differences between mechanical maintenance supervisors' and section chiefs' demographics:
| Mechanical Maintenance Supervisor | Section Chief | |
| Average age | 49 | 49 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 97.1% Female, 2.9% | Male, 88.4% Female, 11.6% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 8.3% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 15.8% Asian, 2.1% White, 68.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2% | Black or African American, 8.4% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 16.1% Asian, 2.1% White, 67.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 4% |