First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers
SOC code 49-1011 · O*NET-SOC 49-1011.00 · Medium preparation needed · Skilled trades
These supervisors lead crews of mechanics and repair technicians — assigning jobs, checking quality, handling the difficult diagnoses. Nearly all were technicians first, and the role is the standard route from the workshop floor into management.
First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers pay
U.S. national figures, May 2025 BLS survey · How we got this number
Median pay
$79,860
a year
Hourly
$38.39
per hour
The solid band is the middle 50% of workers; the bar spans the 10th to 90th percentile.
Average pay
$85,220
$40.97 per hour
Middle 50%
$62,690 – $101,360
25th to 75th percentile
Full spread
$49,600 – $126,790
10th to 90th percentile
People employed
617,500
nationwide
National U.S. figure, May 2025. Local pay can be higher or lower.
- 10th percentile
- $49,600
- $23.85/hr
- 25th percentile
- $62,690
- $30.14/hr
- Median percentile
- $79,860
- $38.39/hr
- 75th percentile
- $101,360
- $48.73/hr
- 90th percentile
- $126,790
- $60.96/hr
What do first-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers do?
Directly supervise and coordinate the activities of mechanics, installers, and repairers. May also advise customers on recommended services. Excludes team or work leaders.
The tasks that matter most day to day
- Inspect, test, and measure completed work, using devices such as hand tools or gauges to verify conformance to standards or repair requirements.
- Inspect and monitor work areas, examine tools and equipment, and provide employee safety training to prevent, detect, and correct unsafe conditions or violations of procedures and safety rules.
- Interpret specifications, blueprints, or job orders to construct templates and lay out reference points for workers.
- Monitor employees' work levels and review work performance.
- Perform skilled repair or maintenance operations, using equipment such as hand or power tools, hydraulic presses or shears, or welding equipment.
- Compute estimates and actual costs of factors such as materials, labor, or outside contractors.
- Participate in budget preparation and administration, coordinating purchasing and documentation and monitoring departmental expenditures.
- Monitor tool and part inventories and the condition and maintenance of shops to ensure adequate working conditions.
How to qualify for this work
Most people in this role hold high school diploma or the equivalent (such as a ged) — 54% of workers surveyed reported it as their level of education.
Preparation level: zone 3 — Medium preparation needed
- Education
- Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
- Experience
- Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.
- Training
- Employees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.
Education reported by people doing this job
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)54%
- Some College Courses17%
- Post-Secondary Certificate13%
- Bachelor's Degree8%
Common questions
How much does a first-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers earn?
The national median is $79,860 a year. The full range runs from $49,600 at the 10th percentile to $126,790 at the 90th — entry pay sits closer to the lower figure, and experience, licensing and specialisation move you up the range.
Can you become a first-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers without a degree?
Yes — this occupation sits in preparation zone 3, meaning the typical entry route is most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree. A four-year degree is not the standard requirement, though licensing or certification may still apply.
Skills and knowledge you need
Core skills
- Monitoring4.0/5
- Speaking3.8/5
- Critical Thinking3.8/5
- Reading Comprehension3.6/5
- Active Listening3.6/5
Knowledge areas
- Administration and Management4.0/5
- Mechanical3.8/5
- Customer and Personal Service3.7/5
- Administrative3.3/5
- Personnel and Human Resources3.2/5
- English Language3.2/5
- Mathematics3.1/5
- Computers and Electronics3.0/5
Transferable strengths: Management of Personnel Resources, Coordination, Judgment and Decision Making, Time Management, Quality Control Analysis.