Private Aviation · Senior · 7 to 12 years typical
Lead Mechanic / Maintenance Foreman Salary
Annual base compensation, national and by market, from 258 named sources. Every figure below says where it came from.
| Market | Multiplier | P25 | P50 | P75 | P90 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York City, NY | 1.40× | $125,000 | $160,000 | $195,000 | $245,000 |
| San Francisco, CA | 1.30× | $115,000 | $150,000 | $180,000 | $230,000 |
| Boston, MA | 1.25× | $110,000 | $145,000 | $175,000 | $220,000 |
| Palm Beach, FL | 1.25× | $110,000 | $145,000 | $175,000 | $220,000 |
| Miami, FL | 1.23× | $110,000 | $140,000 | $170,000 | $215,000 |
| Los Angeles, CA | 1.20× | $105,000 | $140,000 | $170,000 | $210,000 |
| Washington, DC | 1.20× | $105,000 | $140,000 | $170,000 | $210,000 |
| Seattle, WA | 1.15× | $100,000 | $130,000 | $160,000 | $200,000 |
| Chicago, IL | 1.05× | $90,000 | $120,000 | $145,000 | $185,000 |
| Dallas, TX | 1.00× | $90,000 | $115,000 | $140,000 | $175,000 |
Time to fill 12 weeks for comparable searches, estimated from rouka's benchmark set.
Shortage mirrors A&P pipeline issues; lead/foreman roles increasingly hard to fill
What does a Lead Mechanic / Maintenance Foreman do?
The Lead Mechanic / Maintenance Foreman operates in private aviation operations, managing aircraft, flight crews, and aviation logistics for principals, charter operators, or fractional ownership programs. Professionals in this role typically bring 7 to 12 years of relevant experience. Classified at the Senior level, this position draws from a tight candidate market with an estimated pool of 120-300 qualified professionals, making targeted sourcing and competitive compensation critical for successful placements.
What drives Lead Mechanic / Maintenance Foreman compensation?
The median (P50) compensation for a Lead Mechanic / Maintenance Foreman is $115,000, with the 25th to 75th percentile range spanning $90,000 to $140,000. The 45% spread between P25 and P75 reflects significant pay variation driven by aircraft type and fleet size, flight hours, type ratings held, international operating experience, Part 91 vs. Part 135 operations, and the principal's travel frequency. Demand for this role is trending upward with 10% year-over-year growth, which is putting upward pressure on compensation at all levels.
Lead Mechanic / Maintenance Foreman career path
Professionals who move into Lead Mechanic / Maintenance Foreman roles most commonly come from commercial aviation, military flight operations, or corporate flight departments. From this position, the typical trajectory leads toward chief pilot positions, director of aviation, aviation management company leadership, or fleet management for multi-aircraft operations. The average tenure in this role is approximately 5 years, with an annual turnover rate of 12%.
Hiring a Lead Mechanic / Maintenance Foreman?
A search playbook for this seat: compensation positioning against the band above, the sourcing map, and the interview framework.