What Does a Maintenance Technician Do?
First, let’s understand what exactly a maintenance technician does.
Maintenance technicians are behind-the-scenes, unsung heroes who keep our world running. They're the skilled professionals responsible for installing, repairing, and maintaining the equipment and systems that power our homes, businesses, and industries.
Whether fixing HVAC systems, troubleshooting electrical issues, or performing routine inspections –– they prevent breakdowns and ensure everything operates smoothly and safely.
A maintenance technician’s duties vary depending on their industry and specialization. Here are some tasks that are common across industries:
- Troubleshoot and repair mechanical, electrical, and hydraulic systems.
- Perform preventive maintenance to anticipate breakdowns and extend equipment lifespan.
- Read and interpret technical drawings, schematics, and manuals.
- Install new equipment and machinery.
- Maintain records of repairs and maintenance activities.
Maintenance technicians work in a wide range of environments, including factories, hospitals, hotels, office buildings, and even theme parks!
As a maintenance technician, you could be employed by a single company or work for a contractor that provides maintenance services to multiple clients.
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Why a Maintenance Technician Career Is a Good Choice
There is a long list of internal and external factors that signal this career might be right for you.
Let’s get into them.
1. Strong Job Security
If you’re after job stability, maintenance technician roles are as solid as they come. The demand for these professionals is consistently high.
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 14.9% job growth for industrial machinery mechanics workers from 2022 to 2032, far outpacing most other careers. Even employment for general maintenance and repair workers is projected to grow 4% from 2022 to 2032, about as fast as the average for all occupations.
This surge is driven by the need to maintain increasingly complex machinery and infrastructure regularly. As long as our world relies on machines, equipment, and infrastructure, skilled maintenance technicians will be in demand.
2. Competitive Salaries
While a passion for fixing things is essential, a good salary and benefits package are also important.
So, let’s talk money!
Maintenance technicians earn pretty competitive wages, with the potential for additional pay through overtime and specialization.
According to The US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median pay for general maintenance and repair workers was $46,700 annually in 2023. The median annual wage for industrial machinery mechanics is even higher, at $61,420.
Specialized maintenance roles can earn significantly higher. For example, an automotive technician –– with particular expertise in systems such as engines, brakes, transmissions, and electronic components –– earns an average base salary of $61,272, according to Indeed.
A maintenance technician with enough experience and additional training might become a maintenance manager, a role that commands an average base salary of $90,773.
As you can imagine, the salaries increase significantly as you enter the top quartile of earners. Many employers also offer comprehensive benefits, including health insurance, retirement plans, and paid time off.
3. Work in Diverse Industries & Environments
Variety is the spice of life, right?
As a maintenance technician, you can work in a wide array of environments - healthcare, education, manufacturing, government… the list of sectors goes on and on.
If you’re a generalist or working on a contract, you might be repairing HVAC systems in a hospital one day and troubleshooting a robotic arm on an assembly line the next.
The variety of tasks and environments ensures no two days are the same for a maintenance technician. This can be particularly appealing if you thrive on new challenges and want to avoid being stuck in a monotonous routine.
Even if you’re more committed to working in a single industry or a single company, the broad demand translates to numerous job opportunities and the potential to switch when you fancy a career change.
From the buzzing atmosphere of manufacturing plants to the calm of healthcare facilities, you can pick an option catering to your specific interests and requirements.
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4. Hands-On Work
If sitting around a desk leaves you restless and unfulfilled, a maintenance technician role might be perfect for you. It is specifically suitable for those who love hands-on work – tinkering with tools, building things, or fixing broken ones.
You'll get to satisfy your urge to work with your hands and solve practical problems daily. Better yet, you get to see the tangible results of your work, be it smoothly running systems and machinery or permanent improvements in building infrastructure.
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