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First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers

Also called: Maintenance Foreman, Maintenance Manager, Maintenance Supervisor, Service Manager

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

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Median pay BLS, 2025$79,860
Openings a year BLS, 2025–3548,900
Typical education to start BLSHigh school diploma or equivalent
AI exposure BLS, Aug 2026 High
Projected job growth BLS, 2025–35 +4.1%

What the data says: AI could halve the time on 11 of its 22 tasks, yet jobs are projected to grow 4.1% by 2035. How to think about this →

About this projection

BLS builds AI into its projections where the research supports it: “BLS generally applies adjustments based on this research conservatively, where there is convincing evidence for a change.”

It also notes a limit: “BLS projection methods are not designed to capture extremely rapid technological change.”

On its AI exposure groups, BLS says exposure “does not imply job loss.”

Recent conditions

  • In 2024, 1.5% of people in this work were unemployed, against 3.8% across all occupations Census ACS 2024
  • From Sep 2025 to Aug 2026, 12.8 hires for every 10 job openings in construction, which employs about 11% of people in this work, against 7.3 across all industries BLS JOLTS One box per opening, filled for each hire; hires beyond the openings are added in a lighter shade. Higher can mean openings get filled, or that people leave often; lower, that jobs go unfilled, or hiring is slow.

How to read these

Pay compared with all occupations BLS median wages Pays more than 73% of 825 occupations
lowest-paidhighest-paid

Median pay by state BLS OEWS May 2025, state estimates

$71k$98knot published

Median pay in every state
StateMedianMiddle half earnJobs
Alabama$74,830$59,070 to $96,05013,390
Alaska$98,110$76,080 to $119,1802,720
Arizona$76,240$58,740 to $96,51013,490
Arkansas$71,460$53,750 to $87,2507,590
California$93,660$72,910 to $120,05051,670
Colorado$83,260$68,030 to $102,32013,590
Connecticut$94,050$73,890 to $113,7906,230
Delaware$83,250$69,350 to $103,1901,890
District of Columbia$83,460$77,060 to $102,3701,260
Florida$75,900$59,890 to $94,59041,250
Georgia$77,010$60,490 to $95,67023,180
Guam$48,760$36,830 to $65,580380
Hawaii$87,550$73,630 to $113,9003,380
Idaho$74,940$58,630 to $96,0303,780
Illinois$83,180$66,610 to $105,30017,710
Indiana$79,650$63,950 to $100,03013,210
Iowa$78,340$63,380 to $96,0306,450
Kansas$78,390$61,900 to $99,4306,780
Kentucky$76,760$59,990 to $99,22010,020
Louisiana$75,550$58,670 to $100,34010,490
Maine$79,260$62,340 to $100,1802,640
Maryland$82,330$67,220 to $103,60010,120
Massachusetts$92,250$73,630 to $110,80012,140
Michigan$77,810$60,160 to $98,28015,740
Minnesota$87,160$73,750 to $103,8309,110
Mississippi$70,900$51,510 to $89,8106,930
Missouri$77,470$61,830 to $99,26011,220
Montana$81,440$63,850 to $100,6102,690
Nebraska$77,850$62,710 to $95,7904,610
Nevada$79,860$64,260 to $102,3405,450
New Hampshire$87,560$71,750 to $105,0703,360
New Jersey$92,680$74,340 to $114,16014,930
New Mexico$77,550$56,530 to $98,9503,780
New York$91,150$73,160 to $118,55026,930
North Carolina$76,800$60,950 to $97,17021,110
North Dakota$90,600$74,110 to $116,5501,920
Ohio$78,730$61,250 to $97,20019,410
Oklahoma$77,040$59,000 to $101,83010,260
Oregon$86,970$70,490 to $107,4807,120
Pennsylvania$79,400$63,280 to $98,08020,220
Puerto Rico$47,660$36,100 to $63,9302,980
Rhode Island$78,840$64,180 to $100,1901,460
South Carolina$75,120$60,100 to $95,04010,140
South Dakota$80,810$67,290 to $98,0601,750
Tennessee$75,830$58,740 to $96,04015,070
Texas$76,760$59,210 to $98,61075,340
Utah$78,930$62,250 to $99,1406,980
Vermont$83,050$71,460 to $96,930630
Virgin Islands$58,660$46,440 to $69,990220
Virginia$80,770$64,730 to $99,72016,910
Washington$94,420$75,660 to $119,51014,680
West Virginia$71,360$53,630 to $100,3404,070
Wisconsin$82,570$66,990 to $101,69010,640
Wyoming$87,460$67,540 to $107,1002,030

Nationally: $79,860. Shades run from the lowest state median to the highest; a territory below that range takes the lightest. How to read this

How AI touches the work

What AI could speed up, task by task, and where people already use it.

AI could halve the time on 11 of its 22 tasks

2 · AI alone could halve the time 9 · AI + software built on it could 11 · Not much
AI ratingIts main tasks Share of Claude conversations
May 2026
AI + software Requisition materials and supplies, such as tools, equipment, or replacement parts. Not published
Not much 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. Not published
AI + software Monitor employees' work levels and review work performance. Not published
AI + software Counsel employees about work-related issues and assist employees to correct job-skill deficiencies. Not published
Not much Examine objects, systems, or facilities and analyze information to determine needed installations, services, or repairs. Not published
Not much Monitor tool and part inventories and the condition and maintenance of shops to ensure adequate working conditions. Not published
See all 22 tasks
Not much Inspect, test, and measure completed work, using devices such as hand tools or gauges to verify conformance to standards or repair requirements. Not published
Not much Confer with personnel, such as management, engineering, quality control, customer, or union workers' representatives, to coordinate work activities, resolve employee grievances, or identify and review resource needs. under 0.01%
AI + software Determine schedules, sequences, and assignments for work activities, based on work priority, quantity of equipment, and skill of personnel. Not published
AI + software Recommend or initiate personnel actions, such as hires, promotions, transfers, discharges, or disciplinary measures. Not published
Not much Conduct or arrange for worker training in safety, repair, or maintenance techniques, operational procedures, or equipment use. Not published
AI + software Compute estimates and actual costs of factors such as materials, labor, or outside contractors. 0.01%
AI alone Meet with vendors or suppliers to discuss products used in repair work. Not published
Not much Perform skilled repair or maintenance operations, using equipment such as hand or power tools, hydraulic presses or shears, or welding equipment. Not published
Not much Interpret specifications, blueprints, or job orders to construct templates and lay out reference points for workers. Not published
Not much Investigate accidents or injuries and prepare reports of findings. Not published
AI + software Participate in budget preparation and administration, coordinating purchasing and documentation and monitoring departmental expenditures. Not published
Not much Develop, implement, or evaluate maintenance policies and procedures. Not published
Not much Review, evaluate, accept, and coordinate completion of work bid from contractors. Not published
AI alone Compile operational or personnel records, such as time and production records, inventory data, repair or maintenance statistics, or test results. under 0.01%
AI + software Design equipment configurations to meet personnel needs. under 0.01%
AI + software Develop or implement electronic maintenance programs or computer information management systems. Not published

Ordered by how important O*NET's respondents rate each task (1 to 5) times the share who say it is part of their job. The ordering is ours. 4 of the 22 have a published share of Claude conversations; “not published” means too few conversations for Anthropic to publish a figure.

Where people already use AI

The tasks above say what AI could speed up. This shows what people are using it for. Its 22 tasks fall under 22 work activities that many occupations share, and Microsoft counted how often each one came up in 200,000 conversations with its Copilot assistant in 2024.

Tasks AI could speed up11 of 22 tasksEloundou et al. ratings (2023)
Its activities among the 50 people ask AI for help with most3 of 22 activities
  • #7 Explain technical details of products or services
  • #8 Read documents or materials to inform work processes
  • #36 Purchase goods or services
Microsoft Copilot (2024), ranked among all 332 activities. The cut-off of 50 is ours.
Work activity This occupation's tasks under it People asked AI for help
in 10,000 conversations		 AI did it for them
in 10,000 conversations
Supervise personnel activities 0.56#266 0.05#283
Communicate with others about operational plans or activities 9.39#92 28#39
Train others on operational or work procedures 1.60#211 29#38
Explain technical details of products or services 224#7 235#10
Read documents or materials to inform work processes 197#8 47#28
Purchase goods or services 47#36 0.39#220
Plan work activities 21#55 14#57
Set up computer systems, networks, or other information systems 11#83 4.24#102
Show all 22 activities
Investigate incidents or accidents 8.06#104 0.71#183
Measure physical characteristics of materials, products, or equipment 6.04#113 1.15#158
Schedule operational activities 4.88#128 2.89#116
Maintain tools or equipment 4.47#136 1.04#167
Estimate project development or operational costs 4.43#137 2.69#118
Prepare reports of operational or procedural activities 4.23#140 2.99#113
Inspect completed work or finished products 3.91#150 1.95#130
Maintain operational records 2.92#170 0.49#209
Direct organizational operations, activities, or procedures 1.85#204 0.36#225
Monitor safety or security of work areas, facilities, or properties 1.39#218 1.50#142
Inspect commercial, industrial, or production systems or equipment 0.84#245 0.32#232
Design industrial systems or equipment 0.47#273 0.18#248
Replenish inventories of materials, equipment, or products 0.43#276 0.10#268
Join parts using soldering, welding, or brazing techniques 0.19#300 0.02#309
Task: AI alone Task: AI + software Task: not much #: rank among all 332 activities Microsoft measured (#1 = most common; activities that never came up share last place, shown as “tied”)
Where the two sources differ: “Supervise personnel activities” holds 3 tasks rated AI + software, yet people asked AI for help with it in 0.56 of every 10,000 conversations, #266 of 332.

How people in this work use Claude

What people in this work made with Claude % of conversations

  • Data or a spreadsheet27%
  • A document or report26%
  • Advice or a recommendation8%
  • An explanation or answer6%
  • Math or a calculation6%

How they worked with Claude

50% handed the task off50% worked on it together

77% of these conversations were about work. Anthropic Economic Index, May 2026.

How to read this

Work activities come from O*NET, which links every task to the broader activities it involves. Microsoft's figures are for the activity across everyone who used Copilot, not for first-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers specifically. Copilot is a general chat assistant; dedicated coding tools are not included, so programming help is under-counted here. Activities are listed by how many of this occupation's tasks fall under them.

The task ratings say whether AI could halve the time a task takes: on its own (“AI alone”), or with software built on it (“AI + software”). They were made by people in 2023 (Eloundou et al.). Claude's share is the task's share of all Claude.ai conversations in May 2026; Anthropic doesn't publish a task with too few conversations. None of these add up to the BLS exposure group, which combines five research measures.

More in the Guide: task ratings · task order · work activities · Copilot figures · Claude

High exposure doesn't mean fewer jobs

BLS projects most occupations in its two most exposed groups to grow: 141 of 206 rated Very high and 165 of 206 rated High. Each dot is one of the 831 occupations BLS rates.

AI exposure and projected job growth, 831 occupationsLow exposure: 134 of 213 occupations projected to grow. Moderate exposure: 151 of 206 occupations projected to grow. High exposure: 165 of 206 occupations projected to grow. Very high exposure: 141 of 206 occupations projected to grow.-20%-15%-10%-5%0%+5%+10%+15%+20%+25%Low134 of 213 growingModerate151 of 206 growingHigh165 of 206 growingVery high141 of 206 growing11 occupations outside −20% to +25% are drawn at the edge. Click a dot to see that occupation.First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers: +4.1%First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and RepairersAI exposure and projected job growth, 831 occupationsLow exposure: 134 of 213 occupations projected to grow. Moderate exposure: 151 of 206 occupations projected to grow. High exposure: 165 of 206 occupations projected to grow. Very high exposure: 141 of 206 occupations projected to grow.-20%-15%-10%-5%0%+5%+10%+15%+20%+25%Low134 of 213Moderate151 of 206High165 of 206Very high141 of 20611 occupations outside −20% to +25% are drawn at the edge. Tap a dot.First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers: +4.1%First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers

Career moves into and out of this occupation

From moves between occupations found in online resumes, 2002–2016. Career changes only: a first job after school isn't a move.

Where people moved next

of 179,962 moves out

  1. 1 Managers, All Other (2010 group) an older group BLS has since split; no exposure group today 9%
  2. 2 General and Operations Managers High +5.0% 5%
  3. 3 Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers Moderate +3.8% 4%
  4. 4 Maintenance and Repair Workers, General Low +4.2% 4%
  5. 5 First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers High -3.7% 3%

Where people moved in from

of 217,765 moves in

  1. 1 Managers, All Other (2010 group) an older group BLS has since split; no exposure group today 8%
  2. 2 Maintenance and Repair Workers, General Low +4.2% 4%
  3. 3 First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers High -3.7% 4%
  4. 4 Customer Service Representatives Very high -5.3% 4%
  5. 5 General and Operations Managers High +5.0% 3%

Resumes over-represent younger, white-collar job-seekers and moves into management. Schubert, Stansbury and Taska (resume data).

Education and training for the occupation

Education people in it hold

O*NET survey of workers in this occupation

  • 3% less than high school
  • 54% high school
  • 13% postsecondary certificate
  • 17% some college
  • 3% associate's
  • 8% bachelor's
  • 2% research doctorate

O*NET 31.0 survey of workers in this occupation · 36 people answered.

Census survey (American Community Survey)

  • 7% less than high school
  • 37% high school
  • 27% some college
  • 15% associate's
  • 11% bachelor's
  • 2% master's

Census ACS 2024, all workers in this occupation · 2,547 people surveyed.

Why the two can differ

O*NET asks about 20 people in each occupation, which makes its shares uncertain, but it reports the exact occupation and counts certificates. The Census survey reaches thousands, but it groups some occupations together and counts degrees only. More in the Guide

Median pay by highest degree full-time, year-round · Census ACS 2024, all workers in this occupation

Programs that prepare people for it (NCES)
12 programs, such as Electrical and Power Transmission Installation/Installer, General, Lineworker and Mechanics and Repairers, General.
See all
  • Electrical and Power Transmission Installation/Installer, General
  • Lineworker
  • Mechanics and Repairers, General
  • Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technology/Technician, General
  • High Performance and Custom Engine Technician/Mechanic
  • Recreation Vehicle (RV) Service Technician
  • Energy Systems Installation and Repair Technology/Technician
  • Solar Energy System Installation and Repair Technology/Technician
  • Wind Energy System Installation and Repair Technology/Technician
  • Hydroelectric Energy System Installation and Repair Technology/Technician
  • Geothermal Energy System Installation and Repair Technology/Technician
  • Operations Management and Supervision

Jobs that require a credential BLS Occupational Requirements Survey 2023

71.3% this occupation

45.3% all occupations

By kindThis occupationAll occupations
a license17.0%19.1%
a certification10.5%5.8%
an educational certificate1.1%2.8%

Share of jobs whose employer requires it. BLS doesn't say which credential. How to read this

Look up certifications, training and licenses U.S. Department of Labor

  • Certification Finder ↗ certifications CareerOneStop lists for this occupation
  • Training Finder ↗ schools and programs, nationwide; narrow the place there
  • License Finder ↗ licenses by state
  • Apprenticeship Finder ↗ DOL lists 1 registered apprenticeship in this occupation (Telecommunications Utilities Foreman). Apprenticeship.gov can't be linked to one occupation, so search for “First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers” there.

These open in a new tab and send only the occupation's public code. More in the Guide

See where your own career could go Start by uploading your resume Browse careers

BLS AI exposure categories (Aug 2026) · BLS Employment Projections 2025–35 · O*NET 31.0 · Task ratings: Eloundou et al., Science (2024) · Microsoft "Working with AI" v1.1 · Anthropic Economic Index (2026-06-26) · Schubert, Stansbury and Taska · NCES CIP–SOC · Census ACS 2024 · BLS JOLTS

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