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The differences between plant maintenance supervisors 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 plant maintenance supervisor and a lead mechanic. Additionally, a lead mechanic has an average salary of $54,471, which is higher than the $48,355 average annual salary of a plant maintenance supervisor.
The top three skills for a plant maintenance supervisor include safety procedures, production lines and USDA. The most important skills for a lead mechanic are hand tools, preventive maintenance, and HVAC.
| Plant Maintenance Supervisor | Lead Mechanic | |
| Yearly salary | $48,355 | $54,471 |
| Hourly rate | $23.25 | $26.19 |
| Growth rate | 5% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 90,042 | 86,668 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 36% | Associate Degree, 31% |
| Average age | 49 | 49 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
Plant maintenance supervisors must have a high school diploma or GED at minimum, though some employers will prefer candidates with an associate degree or bachelor's degree. This position requires preventative maintenance skills, knowledge of plant equipment, and understanding of safety procedures. Plant maintenance supervisors supervise a team and maintain the operations of plant systems.
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.
Plant maintenance supervisors and lead mechanics have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Plant Maintenance Supervisor | Lead Mechanic | |
| Average salary | $48,355 | $54,471 |
| Salary range | Between $30,000 And $76,000 | Between $40,000 And $73,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Leandro, CA | Anchorage, AK |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Altice USA | California Resources |
| Best paying industry | Construction | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between a plant maintenance supervisor and a lead mechanic in terms of educational background:
| Plant Maintenance Supervisor | Lead Mechanic | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 36% | 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 plant maintenance supervisors' and lead mechanics' demographics:
| Plant Maintenance Supervisor | Lead Mechanic | |
| Average age | 49 | 49 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 94.1% Female, 5.9% | Male, 96.8% Female, 3.2% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 8.1% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 15.5% Asian, 2.1% White, 68.6% 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% |