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The differences between shop foremen and lead mechanics can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become a shop foreman, becoming a lead mechanic takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a shop foreman has an average salary of $68,171, which is higher than the $54,471 average annual salary of a lead mechanic.
The top three skills for a shop foreman include customer service, preventative maintenance and CDL. The most important skills for a lead mechanic are hand tools, preventive maintenance, and HVAC.
| Shop Foreman | Lead Mechanic | |
| Yearly salary | $68,171 | $54,471 |
| Hourly rate | $32.77 | $26.19 |
| Growth rate | 5% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 16,599 | 86,668 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 37% | Associate Degree, 31% |
| Average age | 46 | 49 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 4 |
A shop foreman is responsible for monitoring the daily operations of a shop, ensuring that the staff members perform their duties to address customers' needs. A shop foreman manages staffing schedules, trains new employees, and distributes tasks. They often work in manufacturing, automotive, and warehouse industries, which require knowledge of operating equipment. A shop foreman must have excellent leadership and communication skills, especially on addressing customers' inquiries and complaints and performing clerical tasks as needed.
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.
Shop foremen and lead mechanics have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Shop Foreman | Lead Mechanic | |
| Average salary | $68,171 | $54,471 |
| Salary range | Between $47,000 And $97,000 | Between $40,000 And $73,000 |
| Highest paying City | Gillette, WY | Anchorage, AK |
| Highest paying state | Wyoming | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Freightliner Trucks | California Resources |
| Best paying industry | Energy | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between a shop foreman and a lead mechanic in terms of educational background:
| Shop Foreman | Lead Mechanic | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 37% | Associate Degree, 31% |
| Most common major | Automotive Technology | Automotive Technology |
| Most common college | SUNY Farmingdale | SUNY College of Technology at Alfred |
Here are the differences between shop foremen' and lead mechanics' demographics:
| Shop Foreman | Lead Mechanic | |
| Average age | 46 | 49 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 97.0% Female, 3.0% | Male, 96.8% Female, 3.2% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 12.5% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 16.7% Asian, 5.3% White, 60.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% | 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 | 6% | 4% |