A first-line supervisor of mechanics, installers, and repairers leads teams that keep machinery and equipment running. You manage people, solve problems, and make sure work meets standards. You can reach this role with a high school education and hands-on experience.
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You oversee mechanics, installers, and repair technicians on the job. Your days involve making decisions about how work gets done, monitoring progress and quality, and organizing tasks across your team. You evaluate whether work meets standards and compliance requirements. You communicate with your crew, upper management, and sometimes customers. You also handle hiring, training, and performance issues. This is a blend of technical knowledge from your repair background and people management skills.
Core work activities
Career video courtesy of CareerOneStop.
First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers earn a median of $79,860 a year, based on 2025 data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and location.
The outlook is steady. Employment is projected to grow 3 percent from 2024 to 2034, about as fast as average for all occupations, with about 52,400 openings a year.
Top skills
Knowledge areas
Most supervisors start as mechanics, installers, or repairers and work their way up. You typically need a high school diploma or equivalent to begin in a technical role. From there, you gain hands-on experience in your field, learning the work inside and out. As you prove yourself reliable and capable, you take on informal leadership tasks. Many employers promote from within when supervisory roles open. Some pursue additional training in management or administration to strengthen their candidacy for advancement.
The path to supervision usually runs through years of technical work in your field. If you are deciding between jumping into a technical role now or exploring other routes first, Pathly can map the first-line supervisor of mechanics, installers, and repairers path that fits you and map it out with your counselor so you know what comes next.
You do not need a license to work as a first-line supervisor of mechanics, installers, and repairers, but professional certifications can strengthen your resume.
Common certifications
You are enterprising, comfortable taking charge and making decisions. You thrive when you can lead others, solve real problems, and see the direct results of your direction.
Reading about a career is the easy part. Turning it into a plan is where most students get stuck. Pathly takes you from curious to a clear next step, and gives your counselor the insight to champion you along the way.
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Last updated July 1, 2026.
Data sources. Career details from the O*NET 30.3 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under CC BY 4.0. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. Salary and outlook figures from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025 wages; 2024–2034 projections), delivered via the CareerOneStop API. Certification, licensing, wage, and outlook data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by USDOL/ETA and the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED).