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Transportation and Logistics
UPS, FedEx Freight, Penske
First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers
These supervisors keep repair crews moving by assigning jobs, checking work quality, and making sure tools, parts, and safety rules are all in place. The job is distinct because it mixes hands-on shop knowledge with people management and scheduling, so success depends on balancing quick fixes, cost control, and safe work practices. A big part of the tension is that you are responsible for keeping equipment running, but you often have limited time, limited parts, and a crew with different skill levels.
Also known as Maintenance SupervisorShop SupervisorShop ForemanRepair SupervisorFleet Maintenance Supervisor
Median Salary
$78,300
Mean $82,930
U.S. Workforce
~601K
52.4K openings per year
10-Year Growth
+3.1%
617.5K to 636.5K
Entry Education
High school diploma or equivalent
+ Less than 5 years experience
What This Role Looks Like in Practice
First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers sits in the Trades category. In practical terms, this role combines day-to-day execution, cross-team coordination, and consistent decision-making under real business constraints.
U.S. employment is currently about ~601K workers, with a median annual pay of $78,300 and roughly 52.4K openings each year. Based on BLS projections, total employment is expected to grow from 617.5 K in 2024 to 636.5K in 2034.
Most hiring paths start with High school diploma or equivalent, and employers typically expect less than 5 years of related experience. Many careers in this track begin around Entry-level mechanic, installer, or repairer and can progress toward Operations manager. High-value skills usually include CMMS, Inspection Checklists & Maintenance Logs, Workforce Scheduling & Shift Planning Tools (UKG, Kronos, ServiceTitan), and Parts Inventory, Purchasing & ERP Systems (SAP, Oracle NetSuite), paired with soft skills such as Leadership and people management, Clear communication, and Scheduling and prioritization.
Core Responsibilities
- Estimate how much a repair or installation will cost, including labor, parts, and any outside help.
- Set the work schedule, decide who handles each job, and reshuffle priorities when equipment breaks down unexpectedly.
- Train workers on safe procedures, repair methods, and the proper use of shop equipment.
- Inspect machines, systems, or facilities to decide what needs to be fixed, replaced, or installed.
Keep exploring: more Trades careers or browse all job titles.
A Day in the Life
01 Estimate how much a repair or installation will cost, including labor, parts, and any outside help.
02 Set the work schedule, decide who handles each job, and reshuffle priorities when equipment breaks down unexpectedly.
03 Train workers on safe procedures, repair methods, and the proper use of shop equipment.
04 Inspect machines, systems, or facilities to decide what needs to be fixed, replaced, or installed.
05 Look into accidents or injuries, document what happened, and follow up on safety issues.
06 Track tools, parts, and supplies so the shop has what it needs and work does not stall.
Industries That Hire
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Manufacturing
Toyota, General Motors, 3M
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Airlines and Aerospace
Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, Southwest Airlines
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Utilities and Energy
Duke Energy, Exelon, Southern Company
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Equipment Rental and Heavy Machinery
United Rentals, Sunbelt Rentals, Caterpillar
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Hospitals and Healthcare Facilities
HCA Healthcare, Kaiser Permanente, Mayo Clinic
Pros and Cons
Advantages
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Pay is solid for a role that often starts from a high school diploma, with a median annual salary of $78,300 and a mean of $82,930.
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There are about 52.4K annual openings, so experienced workers have a steady set of opportunities across many industries.
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The usual entry route is practical rather than academic, and BLS says the typical entry education is a high school diploma or equivalent.
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You can move into supervision without a long training runway, since BLS lists less than 5 years of prior experience and no on-the-job training as typical.
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The work builds transferable management experience, including scheduling, coaching, cost control, and safety oversight.
Challenges
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Growth is only 3.1% through 2034, so this is not a fast-expanding occupation and advancement can be gradual.
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The job is mostly on-site, which makes remote work rare and ties you to the shop, plant, or fleet yard.
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You are often stuck balancing urgent breakdowns, parts shortages, and staffing gaps, so the day can be reactive instead of planned.
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There is a real career ceiling at the first-line level; moving up usually means leaving direct shop supervision for broader management roles.
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The role can be exposed to industry swings and budget cuts, especially in manufacturing, transportation, and other capital-intensive businesses.
Career Progression
Entry-level mechanic, installer, or repairer
0-3 years
$40K-$54K
Learns the equipment, builds speed and accuracy, and handles assigned repairs under close supervision.
Lead technician or senior mechanic
3-7 years
$54K-$68K
Takes on harder repairs, helps newer workers, and starts to informally coordinate daily shop work.
First-line supervisor of mechanics, installers, and repairers THIS ROLE
5-10 years
$70K-$90K
Assigns work, checks quality and safety, manages parts and schedules, and keeps the team productive.
Maintenance manager
10-15 years
$90K-$115K
Handles budgets, staffing, preventive maintenance plans, and bigger decisions across one or more shops or sites.
Operations manager
15+ years
$115K-$145K
Oversees multiple functions, sets performance goals, and makes higher-level staffing and spending decisions.
Education Paths
High school diploma or equivalent
The most common entry point, held by 54.15% of workers in this occupation.
Some college courses
A sizable alternative path, held by 16.91% of workers, especially for people who pick up shop or business classes while working.
Postsecondary certificate in diesel, industrial maintenance, HVAC, or a similar trade
A practical route, held by 13.08% of workers, and often paired with years of shop experience and safety training.
Bachelor's degree in industrial management, mechanical engineering technology, or a related field
A smaller route, held by 7.57% of workers, and it can help when moving into larger operations or plant leadership.
Key Skills
Technical
CMMS, Inspection Checklists & Maintenance Logs 84%
Workforce Scheduling & Shift Planning Tools (UKG, Kronos, ServiceTitan) 80%
Parts Inventory, Purchasing & ERP Systems (SAP, Oracle NetSuite) 78%
OSHA Compliance, Incident Reporting & Safety Documentation 76%
Cost Estimating in Excel & ERP Budget Tracking 74%
Work Order Communication, Radios & Dispatch Systems 72%
Soft Skills
Leadership and people managementClear communicationScheduling and prioritizationProblem solvingDecision makingActive listening and coaching Job Outlook and Trends
+3.1%
Projected growth (2024-2034)
52.4K
Annual job openings
Employment is projected to rise from 617.5K to 636.5 K over the next decade, representing 3.1% growth. Around 52.4 K openings per year include both newly created roles and replacement hiring from turnover.
Remote availability is currently Rare. Demand remains strongest where employers need practical domain knowledge plus modern workflow and data skills.