What is a head mechanic and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
2 min read
There is more than meets the eye when it comes to being a head mechanic. For example, did you know that they make an average of $56.17 an hour? That's $116,841 a year! Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow 4% and produce 12,600 job opportunities across the U.S.
ScoreHead MechanicUS Average
Salary
8.0

Avg. Salary $116,841

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level
9.3

Growth Rate 4%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity
2.5
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 1.25%

Asian 2.12%

Black or African American 8.42%

Hispanic or Latino 16.03%

Unknown 4.51%

White 67.67%

Gender

female 2.84%

male 97.16%

Age - 50
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 50
Stress Level
9.3

Stress level is very high

7.1 - high

Complexity Level
9.4

Complexity Level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work Life Balance
2.6

Work Life balance is poor

6.4 - fair

Head Mechanic career paths

Key steps to become a head mechanic

  1. Explore head mechanic education requirements

    Most common head mechanic degrees

    High School Diploma

    37.2 %

    Bachelor's

    22.4 %

    Associate

    20.8 %
  2. Start to develop specific head mechanic skills

    Skills
    ascdesc
    Percentages
    ascdesc
    Preventive Maintenance6.42%
    R6.03%
    Air Compressors5.44%
    Diesel Engines4.79%
    Brake Systems4.73%
  3. Complete relevant head mechanic training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 3-6 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New head mechanics learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a head mechanic based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real head mechanic resumes.
  4. Research head mechanic duties and responsibilities

    • Maintain and manage shop for parts, supplies and priority in jobs and cleanliness.
    • Weld (Mig, arc, Oxy/Acet . )
    • Assist lead mechanics with diagnosis and repair of all units and systems.
    • Involve in all aspects of center maintenance from roof repairs and HVAC to lanes and pinspotters.
  5. Prepare your head mechanic resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your head mechanic resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a head mechanic resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose From 10+ Customizable Head Mechanic Resume templates

    Build a professional Head Mechanic resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your Head Mechanic resume.
    Head Mechanic Resume
    Head Mechanic Resume
    Head Mechanic Resume
    Head Mechanic Resume
    Head Mechanic Resume
    Head Mechanic Resume
    Head Mechanic Resume
    Head Mechanic Resume
    Head Mechanic Resume
  6. Apply for head mechanic jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a head mechanic job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How Did You Land Your First Head Mechanic Job

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Average head mechanic salary

The average Head Mechanic salary in the United States is $116,841 per year or $56 per hour. Head mechanic salaries range between $86,000 and $158,000 per year.

Average Head Mechanic Salary
$116,841 Yearly
$56.17 hourly

What Am I Worth?

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How do head mechanics rate their job?

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Head Mechanic reviews

profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Jul 2022
Pros

Hands on /weld/electric/mech/plumbing……

Cons

People looking over me when they can’t do the jobs


profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Mar 2022
Pros

Satisfaction of fixing, repairing broken vehicles and challenge of finding problems and correcting them properly.

Cons

Electrical problems are my least favorite.


profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Jun 2020
Pros

The ability to diagnose a problem and fix it, to make golf cart run again.

Cons

Poor quality of other techs.


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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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