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A maintenance technician is similar to a doctor.
Their “patients” just happen to be machines and other mechanical equipment.
Like doctors, there are also general practitioners and specialists, such as those who concentrate solely on HVAC or electrical equipment.
If you like to work on mechanical things, this may be the perfect career for you.
Let’s explore what it takes to become a maintenance technician.
Article Table of Contents
- 1 Steps to Becoming a Maintenance Technician in Hawaii
- 2 Licensing Requirements for Maintenance Technicians in Hawaii
- 3 Maintenance Technician Programs in Hawaii
- 4 How Much Does a Maintenance Technician in Hawaii Make?
- 5 Frequently Asked Questions
- 5.1 Do I need to take a test to be licensed as a maintenance technician in Hawaii?
- 5.2 What degree should someone in Hawaii seek if they want to become a maintenance technician?
- 5.3 What kinds of specializations are their Hawaii as a maintenance technician?
- 5.4 Why would I want a job as a maintenance technician in Hawaii?
- 5.5 How much does a maintenance technician in Hawaii earn?
Steps to Becoming a Maintenance Technician in Hawaii
1. High School Diploma
You will definitely need either a high school diploma or a GED and demonstrated knowledge of math and science.
2. Vocational Program
Local technical/vocational schools very often offer training programs in things such as HVAC, electrical maintenance, or welding.
This is the quickest way to be job-ready.
3. Associate’s Degree
An Associate’s degree in a program such as Industrial Maintenance or Mechatronics will enable you to seek higher-paying jobs and ones that may lead to supervisory positions.
4. Gain Experience
Most certifications require experience.
You can get this with an entry-level position, an apprenticeship, or on-the-job training.
5. Needed Certificates
If you specialize or work in certain areas, you will possibly need certification.
Now is the time to get those.
6. OSHA certification
OSHA certification is almost always needed.
Licensing Requirements for Maintenance Technicians in Hawaii
If the project involves more than $1000 in parts and labor, a maintenance technician in Hawaii must be licensed by the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Professional and Vocational Licensing.
This will require a test that shows your knowledge of both laws governing this field, as well as general knowledge of the work you do.
You may also need to obtain a business license if you run your own business, purchase insurance, be bonded, and have a driver’s license if you must travel from one site to another.
Maintenance Technician Programs in Hawaii
Maui College
This school offers students three opportunities to specialize in maintenance.
The classes to choose from are HVAC, Electricity, or Plumbing. Each course costs $2855.
The HVAC course runs for 330 hours, the Electrical course for 125, and the Plumbing course for 145 hours.
All classes include a starter tool kit.
The HVAC course includes instruction that includes such topics as heat, temperature, and pressure, matter and energy, safety, tools and equipment, tubing and piping, refrigeration, automatic controls, troubleshooting, air conditioning, and common appliances.
Among the electricity topics are electrical overview and theory, test instruments, electrical systems, circuits, electrical safety, hand tools, power tools, branch circuits, appliance connections, and troubleshooting.
Plumbing students will cover, among other topics, plumbing history and codes, tools of the trade, first aid and safety, basic math for plumbers, water supplies, piping materials, basic geometry, fixtures, valves, sewers, building drains, and customer service.
Hawaii Community College
Hawaii Community College offers an Associate of Applied Science in Electrical Installation and Maintenance Technology.
The course runs for four semesters and earns 68 credits.
The total cost for Hawaii students is $13,019.
Classes covered include Electricity Theory and Practice, blueprint reading and drafting, expository writing, college reading skills, commercial wiring, industrial wiring, and three electives.
Honolulu Community College
The Aeronautics Maintenance Technology program is one of the most recognized in the country.
Students have an excellent chance of getting an apprenticeship with one of the local airports after being in the program for six months, or if they have military experience.
Graduates can be found throughout the country.
The Associate of Science degree takes two years to complete and contains 72 hours of instruction.
The cost for Hawaii students is $131 per credit hour.
Non-residents pay $345 per credit hour.
Subjects covered in this program are General Aircraft Maintenance I and II, Powerplant Maintenance I, II, and III, Airframe Maintenance I, II, and III, Composition, Personal and Public Speech, and a social science elective.
| School Name | Address |
|---|---|
| Maui College | 6 S Wakea Ave, Kahului, HI 96732, United States |
| Hawaiʻi Community College | 1175 Manono St, Hilo, HI 96720, United States |
| Honolulu Community College | 874 Dillingham Blvd, Honolulu, HI 96817, USA |
How Much Does a Maintenance Technician in Hawaii Make?
A maintenance technician in Hawaii makes, on average $25.88 an hour.
This takes into account a low amount of $11 an hour to a high of $22 an hour.
The amount of money a maintenance technician makes is affected by where they work, such as residential or industrial, how much experience they have, whether they work for an organization or independently, and whether or not they are a general maintenance technician or specialist.
Annual Salary Range:| Location | Avg. Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Honolulu | $54,061 |
| Pearl City | $61,069 |
| Kailua | $55,365 |
| Hilo | $55,197 |
| Kaneohe | $50,092 |
| Waipahu | $65,761 |
| Kailua-Kona | $52,538 |
| Kahului | $56,638 |
| Kapaa | $53,260 |
| Makakilo | $54,062 |
Salary by Metro Area in Hawaii
| Metro Area | Employed | Avg. Annual | Avg. Hourly | Top 10% | Bottom 10% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kahului-Wailuku, HI | 1,310 | $62,000 | $29.81 | $79,660 | $43,680 |
| Urban Honolulu, HI | 4,920 | $56,300 | $27.07 | $79,300 | $36,300 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to take a test to be licensed as a maintenance technician in Hawaii?
Yes, if the jobs you work on earn more than $1000 in labor and materials, you will need to take a written test given by the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs Professional and Vocational Licensing.
What degree should someone in Hawaii seek if they want to become a maintenance technician?
Earning an Associate’s degree in Industrial Maintenance or Mechatronics will aid a person in Hawaii in obtaining a position as a maintenance technician.
What kinds of specializations are their Hawaii as a maintenance technician?
In addition to the specializations of HVAC, plumbing, machine maintenance, and electronic maintenance, maintenance technicians in Hawaii have more opportunities than in many other places to find work on boats and larger ships.
Why would I want a job as a maintenance technician in Hawaii?
A position as a maintenance technician is a job that has an almost guaranteed future as long as you keep your skills up to date.
As long as there are machines and systems such as plumbing and electricity, there will be a need for someone who can maintain and fix them.
How much does a maintenance technician in Hawaii earn?
A maintenance technician in Hawaii makes, on average $25.88 an hour.
This takes into account a low amount of $11 an hour to a high of $22 an hour.
The amount of money a maintenance technician makes is affected by where they work, such as residential or industrial, how much experience they have, whether they work for an organization or independently, and whether or not they are a general maintenance technician or specialist.
Read the full guide: How to Become a Maintenance Technician
Maintenance Technician by State