TRADES Zone 3: Medium Preparation

Mechanic Supervisors

Mechanic Supervisors earn $79,860 nationally at the median. The middle 50% of workers fall between $62,690 and $101,360. Where you land depends on specialization, employer, and experience.

About Mechanic Supervisors

This page sets out what the federal data says about working as a mechanic supervisors: what the job pays, how fast it is growing, and what it takes to get in. Most people arrive through a degree in Business Administration and what it leads to, though it is not the only route.

Directly supervise and coordinate the activities of mechanics, installers, and repairers. May also advise customers on recommended services. Excludes team or work leaders.


Median Wage
$79,860
Employed Nationally
618K
Openings / Year
48,900
Entry Education
High school diploma or equivalent
Job Zone
Zone 3: Medium Preparation

Also known as:

AC Installer Supervisor (Air-Conditioning Installer Supervisor) AC Supervisor (Air Conditioning Supervisor) Aircraft Maintenance Supervisor Airport Maintenance Chief Airport Skilled Maintenance Supervisor

How Much Do Mechanic Supervisors Make?

Most mechanic supervisors take home around $79,860 a year, above what most college graduates make. Half earn somewhere between $62,690 and $101,360, so where you land depends a lot on employer, specialty and city. A solid living in most parts of the country. Source: BLS.

A wage on its own says nothing about whether the degree behind it pays for itself, which is a question of lifetime earnings set against the total cost of getting there.

$79,860
National Median (Annual)

Above the national median for college graduates.

$63K–$101K
Middle 50% Range

25th to 75th percentile. Most workers earn within this band.


Earnings Range

What Do Mechanic Supervisors Do?

This is what the job actually looks like on a Tuesday: 5 core activities and 5 skills the work depends on. Read it before the salary, because pay matters less than whether you would want to spend your days doing this. Source: O*NET.

What You'll Do

  • 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.

Core Skills Employers Look For

Monitoring Management of Personnel Resources Judgment and Decision Making Time Management Coordination

Who Thrives Here

E
Enterprising

Leadership, influence, and business acumen are rewarded here, where managing teams, driving decisions, or persuading others shapes career outcomes.

C
Conventional

Success depends on precision and structured processes, where detail-oriented people who work consistently within established systems perform best.

R
Realistic

Hands-on tasks, physical activity, or working with tools and real materials are central parts of the daily work here.

Where Do Mechanic Supervisors Work?

What the physical and mental conditions of this job actually look like day to day, based on O*NET Work Context data collected from people working in this occupation.

Work Setting
Mixed

Split between indoor and outdoor or field settings.

Physical Demands
Light

Mix of sitting and movement throughout the day.

Stress Level
Moderate

Moderate pressure. Regular deadlines exist but are generally manageable with experience.

What Is the Job Outlook for Mechanic Supervisors?

Through 2035 the BLS expects this field to change by +4.1%, meaning it is growing at about the same pace as everything else, so expect steady demand. Around 48,900 roles open up each year, which is the number that matters most if you are starting out. Source: BLS.

Growth rates are only meaningful next to other occupations, and the full list of careers with their projected growth puts this one in context.

↗ +4.1%
10-Year Growth (2025–2035)

About as fast as average.

48,900
Annual Openings

New positions plus replacements for retirees and career-changers.

618K
Currently Employed

Total US employment as of BLS May 2025.

Source: BLS Employment Projections 2025–2035 and Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025.

Where the Jobs Are

The five states below employ the most Mechanic Supervisors professionals nationwide. State-level wages can differ significantly from the $79,860 national median. Research your specific market before committing to a program.

# State Jobs Median Wage vs. National
1 Texas 75,340 $76,760 -3.9%
2 California 51,670 $93,660 +17.3%
3 Florida 41,250 $75,900 -5.0%
4 New York 26,930 $91,150 +14.1%
5 Georgia 23,180 $77,010 -3.6%

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Employment figures rounded. Read our methodology →

How to Get Here

To get hired here you will usually need a high school diploma or equivalent. The 5 programs below are the most common routes in, ordered by how many people actually graduate from each one.

The next most common path is a Vehicle Maintenance program and the colleges offering it, which suits a different kind of applicant.

High school diploma or equivalent
Zone 3: Medium Preparation

A medium amount of preparation is required, often an associate degree, certificate program, or apprenticeship, plus some related experience.


Degree Programs That Lead Here

# Program Graduates/yr 4yr Median Colleges
1 Business Administration 395,227 $68,257 2,611
2 Vehicle Maintenance 68,347 $80,809 956
3 Electrical and Power Transmission Installers 29,904 — 635
4 Mechanics and Repairers 431 — 20
5 Energy Systems Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians 146 — 12

Top Colleges for Aspiring Mechanic Supervisors

Colleges offering the degree programs that lead to this career, ranked by UCD Score. A strong program plus solid outcomes is a good place to begin your search.

# College UCD Score Net Price Salary 10yr
1 United States Coast Guard Academy New London, CT 96 — —
2 United States Air Force Academy USAF Academy, CO 96 — —
3 United States Military Academy West Point, NY 96 — —
4 CUNY Bernard M Baruch College New York, NY 93 $3,033 $75,971
5 University of California-Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA 93 $12,548 $82,511
6 University of California-Berkeley Berkeley, CA 93 $13,481 $92,446

Plan Your Path

Once you've sized up Mechanic Supervisors, these tools turn the numbers into a plan. Estimate the real cost of a degree that leads here, weigh the long-term payoff, compare specific colleges side-by-side, and find programs that match your profile.

Mechanic Supervisors Pros & Cons

The data on Mechanic Supervisors shows 4 measurable strengths and 1 real trade-offs. All points are drawn from BLS wage data, employment projections, and IPEDS program completions.

PROS
  • Above-average pay At $79,860 median annually, this career pays meaningfully more than most college-graduate roles. Financial return on education is typically strong.
  • Steady job outlook The BLS projects +4.1% growth through 2035, keeping pace with the national average. Demand is stable and annual openings remain consistent.
  • High earning ceiling Top earners (75th percentile) reach $101,360 annually. Strong performers, specialists, and those in high-cost markets have significant upside beyond the median.
  • Large, established field 618K people work in this occupation nationally, creating a broad job market with openings spread across every region and industry.
CONS
  • Earnings and demand vary significantly by region National figures for Mechanic Supervisors mask real geographic variation. High-demand metros can pay 20% or more above the national median while lower-cost or rural markets often fall well short. Where you work matters nearly as much as your credentials.

Mechanic Supervisors Frequently Asked Questions

How much do Mechanic Supervisors professionals earn?
Around $79,860 a year for the typical worker, above the national median for full-time workers. The middle 50% of earners fall between $62,690 and $101,360. Treat the national figure as a starting point rather than a promise: employer size, industry and city all move it.
Is Mechanic Supervisors a good career?
For people genuinely interested in the work, yes. At $79,860 median, with +4.1% projected growth through 2035, there is a real financial case and a stable market for new entrants. Compare program net price against local salary outcomes (not just the national median) before committing.
How do I become a Mechanic Supervisors?
Most Mechanic Supervisors positions require a high school diploma or equivalent as the minimum credential. a medium amount of preparation is required, often an associate degree, certificate program, or apprenticeship, plus some related experience. Programs like Business Administration are common starting points.
What is the job outlook for Mechanic Supervisors?
Employment is projected to change by +4.1% through 2035, about as fast as average compared with other occupations. Around 48,900 roles open each year once you count people retiring and moving on, which matters more to someone starting out than the growth rate does. 618K people do this job nationwide today, so it is an established field rather than a niche one. Source: BLS May 2025.
What skills do Mechanic Supervisors professionals need?
Mainly Monitoring, Management of Personnel Resources, Judgment and Decision Making, Time Management, and Coordination. Notice how many of those are habits rather than facts: they come from doing the work, not from a lecture. That is why programs with an internship or co-op requirement put you ahead of people who only studied the theory. Source: O*NET.

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