Job Description
Maintenance technicians have several job duties.
Some duties depend on the location of their work.
An example of this is that some duties may differ for maintenance technicians who work in apartment buildings compared to those who work at clinics, in large businesses, or in large manufacturing facilities.
The job description and duties also vary somewhat among the different types of maintenance technicians.
They may work in small apartment buildings or in large apartment complexes.
Some maintenance technicians work in industrial facilities, while others work in aviation facilities.
Duties
Some job duties of maintenance technicians include:
- Performing regular inspections of machines, equipment, grounds, and systems
- Use various tools to repair and maintain electrical, plumbing, and HVAC systems
- Installing and maintaining equipment in good working order
- Making necessary repairs and requests
- Responding to emergency maintenance issues
- Using preventive maintenance software and helping to develop preventive maintenance programs
- Complying with industry standards and regulations
Maintenance technicians who work in specialized areas may have other duties and responsibilities.
Industrial maintenance technicians usually work in large facilities, such as manufacturing facilities.
They focus on large industrial machinery. Aviation maintenance technicians help to keep aircraft in safe, good working order.
Salary
The salary that maintenance technicians earn depends on several things, such as where they work, their experience, their training, and certifications.
The average salary for maintenance technicians in the U.S. ranges from $54,922 to $67,422.
Many maintenance technicians earn more than the average annual salary of $60,505.
The median salary for maintenance technicians in California, as of August 1, 2025, is $66,736.
Maintenance technicians who work in the District of Columbia earn an average salary of $66,991.
Check the average salary for the state or city that you plan to work in once you complete your training and certification.
The average annual salary for maintenance technicians in some areas is below the national average.
Annually National Average Salary: $52,430
Average Annual Salary by State
| State | Avg. Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $44,240 |
| Alaska | $62,490 |
| Arizona | $50,960 |
| Arkansas | $44,000 |
| California | $59,270 |
| Connecticut | $57,420 |
| Delaware | $54,230 |
| District of Columbia | $62,530 |
| Florida | $48,040 |
| Georgia | $49,000 |
| Hawaii | $57,780 |
| Idaho | $50,170 |
| Illinois | $56,460 |
| Indiana | $52,330 |
| Iowa | $52,760 |
| Kansas | $48,540 |
| Kentucky | $49,000 |
| Louisiana | $46,280 |
| Maine | $51,850 |
| Maryland | $52,830 |
| Massachusetts | $57,600 |
| Michigan | $48,960 |
| Minnesota | $57,350 |
| Mississippi | $44,120 |
| Missouri | $51,360 |
| Montana | $47,960 |
| Nebraska | $50,850 |
| Nevada | $54,720 |
| New Hampshire | $54,480 |
| New Jersey | $55,730 |
| New Mexico | $46,280 |
| New York | $58,290 |
| North Carolina | $49,390 |
| North Dakota | $51,200 |
| Ohio | $53,260 |
| Oklahoma | $44,780 |
| Oregon | $55,220 |
| Pennsylvania | $51,830 |
| Rhode Island | $54,160 |
| South Carolina | $49,370 |
| South Dakota | $47,990 |
| Tennessee | $48,470 |
| Texas | $46,960 |
| Utah | $51,980 |
| Vermont | $56,370 |
| Virginia | $52,980 |
| Washington | $59,640 |
| West Virginia | $44,330 |
| Wisconsin | $53,240 |
| Wyoming | $52,160 |
| Guam | $31,910 |
| Puerto Rico | $25,350 |
| Virgin Islands | $43,390 |
Annual Average Salary: Top 5 States
The top earning state in the field is District of Columbia, where the average salary is $62,530.
These are the top 5 earning states in the field:
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
How to Become a Maintenance Technician: Step-by-Step
Step 1Step 1: Earn a High School Diploma
Earning a high school diploma is important for anyone who wants to become a maintenance technician.
It paves the way towards meeting the basic educational requirements for employers.
You need to have a high school diploma or a GED to start a maintenance technician training program.
Take courses that will help you when you apply for jobs and start working as a maintenance technician.
Many high schools offer vocational courses that can help with the requirements to become a maintenance technician.
Step 2Step 2: Learn About Career Options
Becoming a maintenance technician gives people who choose this career the opportunity to work in areas that match their interests and career goals.
Maintenance technicians do much more than just paint walls or buildings, clean properties, and make minor repairs.
They have important duties and responsibilities that help to keep the equipment running smoothly in small businesses, apartments, and medical offices.
They install equipment, maintain the equipment, systems, and machines.
Maintenance technicians comply with safety regulations and industry standards.
They are often responsible for responding to calls for emergency maintenance assistance.
Make decisions about things like whether you want to work in an apartment complex, a business, a large manufacturing plant, an aviation facility, or another specialized area.
Step 3Step 3: Complete a Training Program
Enroll in a training program that gives students the knowledge and skills that they need to start their maintenance technician career.
Look for a program that best suits your interests and your goals.
Some schools offer programs with a certain focus or specialty option.
Universal Technical Institute (UTI) offers an industrial maintenance technician program that students can complete in seven months.
Students who are interested in becoming building maintenance technicians may want to consider the Building Maintenance Technician program that is offered by TPC, a Certus company.
Learn basic skills, mechanical systems and applications, electrical systems, building and grounds maintenance, and other skills.
Be sure to enroll in a program that meets your needs and goals.
Some programs are offered online, while others require students to attend class in person.
Step 4Step 4: Consider an Apprenticeship
Completing an apprenticeship is a personal decision.
Many maintenance technicians complete a training program and complete other company requirements, where they intend to apply for a job.
The time that it takes to complete an apprenticeship can be a factor in making the decision.
Some apprenticeships can last up to five years.
Check with the employers where you want to work to see if they require maintenance technicians to complete an apprenticeship.
Step 5Step 5: Earn a Certification
Earning a certification will show your commitment to starting a career as a maintenance technician or advancing your career.
Some employers require their employees to have a certification.
Make sure that you know the best certification for the specialized area that you want to work in as a maintenance technician.
Several organizations and other entities offer certifications.
Check to see if there are specific certifications that maintenance technicians need to work for that employer.
Step 6Step 6: Apply for Jobs
Look for entry-level maintenance technician jobs to get your foot in the door.
Check to see if you can start in the area that you want to work in, such as working as a building maintenance technician, facilities maintenance technician, or aviation maintenance technician.
Apply for jobs that you qualify for, not those that require certifications or experience that you do not have yet.
Education
Earning a high school diploma or a GED is required to become a maintenance technician.
Proving that you have a high school education is often required to be accepted into a training program.
It can also be required for those who apply for a maintenance technician certification.
The length of time that it takes to complete an educational or training program depends on the program, the design of the program at each school or institution, and whether the program leads to the opportunity to earn a certification.
One program that prepares students for entry-level maintenance technician jobs is the Certified Maintenance Technician Certificate program at Mt. Hood Community College.
Students usually complete the program in a year.
They prepare for a maintenance technician career while also gaining mechatronic knowledge and skills.
The 16-credit Industrial Maintenance Certificate program at Kellogg Community College prepares students to work in entry-level maintenance technician jobs in Michigan.
The curriculum focuses on the fundamental skills that maintenance technicians need, along with technical skills beyond the basics.
They learn safety protocols, problem-solving skills, and technical communication skills.
Video About The Career
Licensing and Certification
Licensing and certification are not required for many general maintenance technicians.
Employers can require that you have a certification to work for them.
One example of a certification that maintenance technicians earn when they work in apartment maintenance is the Certificate for Apartment Maintenance Technicians (CAMT).
Apartment technicians who have this credential show validation of their knowledge and skills, and their credibility.
The Society for Maintenance and Reliability Professionals offers the Certified Maintenance and Reliability Technician credential.
It is considered the leading credential for maintenance and reliability technicians.
The credentialing exam covers maintenance practices, preventive and predictive maintenance, troubleshooting and analysis, and corrective maintenance.
Maintenance technicians who want to advance into management can complete the Certified Manager of Maintenance Training program.
The certification program, offered by the National Center for Housing Management (NCHM), shows people who want to earn this certification how to run an effective, efficient maintenance operation.
Maintenance technicians can also earn an HVAC certification or a certification in other specialized areas.
Average Training Program Duration: 6-12 Months
Popular Programs
Job Outlook
The good job outlook for maintenance technicians over the next several years means that there will be many openings for people who choose this career.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) expects that maintenance technicians will have average job growth.
The job outlook may be higher for maintenance technicians who work in some specialty areas.
The BLS expects that an average of 81,800 new maintenance technician jobs will be added through 2034.
Employment Growth Projection: 4.8%
2023
2033
That's a higher than average projected growth of 81,800 jobs.
Maintenance Technician: Interest Over Time
Should You Become a Maintenance Technician? (Data-Driven Review)
Overall Satisfaction: Medium
Maintenance technicians reported average job satisfaction in areas such as their work environment, job-related stress level, and work-life balance in one survey.
Many maintenance technicians would recommend the career to other people.
Average Salary: Medium
Maintenance workers earn an average salary that is comparable to the salaries of several other careers.
Entry-level maintenance technicians can expect to earn less than experienced maintenance technicians.
The average salary for maintenance technicians in 2025 was $60,505.
Job Growth Outlook: High
Become a maintenance technician to have a career in a growing field.
The average job growth will result in more than 64,000 new openings for maintenance technicians over several years.
Choose a specialty and experience higher-than-average job growth.
Aviation International News (AIN) reported the results of a survey that showed strong interest in aviation maintenance technician careers.
More than 60 percent of people working in the field said that they would recommend it to other people.
Education Duration: 6-12 Months
Maintenance technician education and training programs vary by the school or facility offering the program.
They also vary in duration based on things like whether it is a certification program and whether it is a program in a specialized area, such as aviation maintenance, industrial, or facilities maintenance.
Personal Skills Needed
Personal skills are important for all maintenance technicians.
Employers often look for the personal skills of applicants, not just their technical skills.
Some personal skills that maintenance technicians need to have include:
- Customer service skills
- Time management skills
- Communication skills
- Attention to detail
- Physical strength and stamina
- Problem-solving skills
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. How long does it take to become a maintenance technician?
The time that it takes to become a maintenance technician depends on things like the length of your training program.
It also varies if you choose to work in aviation maintenance, facilities maintenance, or another area.
Earning a certification may increase the time it takes for you to become a maintenance technician.
Check the length of training programs and credentialing programs that you are interested in to get an idea of how long it will take for you to complete them.
Q. What skills do you need to have to be a maintenance technician?
Maintenance technicians need to have various technical skills.
They need to be able to use the tools, equipment, and materials to perform their job duties.
They also need to know how to read blueprints.
Maintenance technicians need to have basic computer skills.
They also need to have HVAC, electrical, and plumbing knowledge and skills.
The career requires maintenance technicians to be detail-oriented, have problem-solving skills, time management skills, and communication skills.
People who work as facilities maintenance technicians, aviation maintenance technicians, or apartment maintenance technicians may need skills that are required for their specific job.
Q. Are maintenance technicians in high demand?
Maintenance technicians are in high demand now and are expected to be in high demand for several years.
The average job growth, when compared to all other occupations, shows the steady need for skilled maintenance workers.
Employment growth and the need to replace retirees and others leaving the occupation will drive the demand for maintenance technicians.
Working as aviation maintenance technicians, industrial maintenance technicians, and in other specialized areas may also affect the high demand.
Q. What kind of education do you need to become a maintenance technician?
Maintenance technicians need to have a high school diploma or a GED.
They also need to complete a vocational program.
Consider a program that focuses on areas that you want to work in when you become a maintenance technician.
People who want to become certified maintenance technicians complete the requirements to earn the credential.
Q. How much money does a maintenance technician make a year?
How much a maintenance technician makes a year can vary based on their training, certifications, and experience.
The average salary for maintenance technicians may also vary according to some sources, because of things like the location.
Many states and cities pay more money, compared to other states and cities.
The average salary for maintenance technicians, as of August 2025, is $60,505, according to salary.com.
Some sources list the average salary as more than that, while others list the average salary as less than that amount.
Maintenance Technician Information by State
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