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First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers

Typical education: High school diplomaModerate pressure

What they do

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

Kinds of work

  • Enterprising: Leading, persuading, selling and starting new projects or businesses.
  • Conventional: Organizing information, following clear procedures and working with data and details.
  • Realistic: Hands-on work with tools, machines, plants or animals, often outdoors.

Moderate pressure: How much pressure workers in this job report: deadlines, conflict, dealing with upset people, the cost of mistakes, responsibility for others' safety, competition and long hours. It varies a lot from one employer to the next. Source: U.S. Department of Labor worker surveys.

Pay, tasks and more

Salary

United States $79,860 Median per year · $38.39/hr Most earn $49,600–$126,790

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025.

What you might do

  • Counsel employees about work-related issues and assist employees to correct job-skill deficiencies.
  • Develop or implement electronic maintenance programs or computer information management systems.
  • Perform skilled repair or maintenance operations, using equipment such as hand or power tools, hydraulic presses or shears, or welding equipment.
  • Requisition materials and supplies, such as tools, equipment, or replacement parts.
  • Meet with vendors or suppliers to discuss products used in repair work.
  • Inspect, test, and measure completed work, using devices such as hand tools or gauges to verify conformance to standards or repair requirements.

Job outlook

United States
4% more jobs by 2035, about as fast as average · about 48,900 openings a year

Openings include new jobs and jobs left by workers who retire or change careers. Projections: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Bright Outlook": U.S. Department of Labor.

Where they work

  • Real estate7.7%
  • Local government, excluding education and hospitals6.4%
  • Automobile dealers5.4%
  • Plumbing, heating, and air-conditioning contractors5.0%
  • Automotive mechanical and electrical repair and maintenance4.7%

Share of all workers in this career. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Employment Matrix.

Experience before this job: 2 to 4 years

Some people start through an apprenticeship: paid training on the job, often with classes. Search apprenticeships on Apprenticeship.gov (opens in a new tab) ↗

Career path

How people usually get into this career, from school to their first job and beyond.

Typical education: High school diplomaExperience before this job: 2 to 4 years

This is not an entry-level job. Most people first earn a high school diploma, then spend roughly 2 to 4 years doing hands-on mechanic, installer, or repair work before moving into a supervisor role.

  1. High school diploma

    4 years

    Build a strong base in math, science, and hands-on shop or technical classes, which are the foundation for repair work.

  2. Entry-level Repair Technician or Mechanic

    2-4 years

    Work under experienced technicians to learn diagnostics, repairs, and safety, and build a track record of reliable work with customers.

  3. First-Line Supervisor of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers

    Ongoing

    Coordinate the daily work of a team of mechanics, installers, or repairers, and advise customers on recommended services.

Where it can lead

  1. Service Manager

    3-5 years of experience first

    You oversee a whole service department, including budgets, scheduling, and customer relations, and you usually take on more responsibility for the business side of the work.

  2. Operations Manager

    5+ years of experience first

    You manage several teams or locations and focus on planning, staffing, and meeting company goals, which usually requires strong management training and a long record of leadership.

What you can do now

Ideas for high school and college students.

In high school

  • Take shop, auto, or electronics classesHands-on technical courses help you learn tools, safety, and how equipment works, which is the base for supervising repair work.
  • Join a career and technical education (CTE) programMany high schools offer trade programs that let you practice repair skills and sometimes earn credentials before you graduate.
  • Get a part-time or summer job at a repair or service shopWorking around technicians shows you how a service team runs and gives you real experience to point to later.
  • Take math and communication classesMeasurement and reading skills support technical work, while writing and speaking skills help when you explain problems to customers.
  • Join a club like SkillsUSA or a school robotics teamTeamwork, planning, and leading a small group build the coordination skills supervisors use every day.

In college

  • Earn a certificate or associate degree in a technical fieldPrograms in automotive, HVAC, or electrical repair teach the hands-on skills that employers look for when hiring technicians.
  • Get an internship or co-op at a service companyReal work experience with a repair or installation team builds the practical record that supervisors usually need.
  • Work a customer-facing campus or retail jobExplaining options and solving problems for customers prepares you for the advisory part of supervising.
  • Pursue industry certifications for your tradeTrade-specific certifications show employers you have verified skills and can help you move up faster.
  • Take a few business or management coursesBasic classes in scheduling, budgeting, or team leadership prepare you for the planning side of a supervisor role.

Tips for getting started

  • Ask an experienced supervisor what they do each day, and find out which skills, like scheduling or training, they wish they had learned earlier.
  • Pick up a part-time job at a repair shop, auto parts store, or service center. Customer contact and teamwork are as important here as technical skill.
  • Keep a simple record of the jobs you complete and any certifications you earn. Supervisors are often chosen from people who show both skill and reliability.

Related jobs that often lead here

Related jobs a step up

Education, experience and related careers: U.S. Department of Labor. The step-by-step path, where it can lead and what you can do now were written by AI as typical examples; many people take other ways.

College majors that lead here

Majors: U.S. Department of Education and BLS (CIP–SOC crosswalk). Earnings and debt: College Scorecard, typical across U.S. colleges.

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