How to become a maintenance technician

What is the role of a maintenance technician?

A maintenance technician is in charge of the servicing and upkeep of the building they operate in and the significant number of its resources. The duties will often involve general maintenance functions that do not entail advanced training. It is an aspect of the work to acknowledge when a job is beyond their capabilities is performed by an electrician, plumber, or another skilled technician. In practice, many upkeep divisions will consider hiring people with experience in one or more of these places to manage a large percentage of the challenges in-house. Maintenance staff saves money since subcontracting is expensive. Here are some general duties and responsibilities that you might see in a routine maintenance technician job requirements, regardless of the organization;

• Taking care of designated work instructions and PMs verifications, oil changes, and meter measurements.
• Carrying out a diverse range of regular maintenance activities.
• Managing received work assignments.
• Conversing existing and emerging challenges with the managers, who are usually the maintenance manager or the site manager.
• To access maintenance work, use the CMMS or official records.
• Washing and preserving the methods that you use.
• Following various security metrics and regulations.

Maintenance Technician Job types and duties

The three typical job categories and the precise tasks a maintenance technician need to accomplish are;

Industrial maintenance technician 

An industrial maintenance technician is accountable for; 

• Fixing mechanical and hydraulic problems on different manufacturing and building equipment.
• Diagnosing mechanical failures
• Execute necessary routine maintenance, find, analyze, and evaluate technical processes, electrical designs, blueprints, service guidebooks, and work instructions.
• Constructing, unloading, and installing new devices, sensors, and equipment.

Building/property maintenance technician

Building and property maintenance are mainly associated, so it's only normal that technicians operating in those settings have comparable responsibilities;

• Assessing, restoring, and sustaining the facility's pipework, woodworking, electrical, and HVAC systems.
• Obtaining and answering tenant complaints about mechanical or upkeep difficulties on their property.
• Establishing the building's fire, smoke, and other security systems.

Fleet maintenance technician

As the title implies, fleet maintenance technicians have a slightly more specific set of duties;

• Serviced, detected, and rectified all fleet vehicles.
• General upkeep of their transportation site and its nearby area repair store and all saved hardware such as pumps and vehicle lifts.
• These are not an exhaustive collection, but they do demonstrate the correlations and distinctions among maintenance technician specializations.

If you're searching for employment in the maintenance industry, you'll notice that many related roles are advertised, with a lot of coincidental essential roles and qualifications. Maintenance and industrial electricians are two examples of these jobs. Mechanics and electricians are usually viewed as conducting basic maintenance tasks, based on how much unique work is available on any specified day.

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How much does a maintenance technician earn?

The income of a maintenance technician is determined by multiple variables. Here are a few;

• The industry in which you operate
• The size of the company for which you work
• Years of experience

According to a study, entry-level roles at smaller firms begin at around $30k/year, whereas seasoned technicians at top firms can obtain up to $70k/year. In terms of hourly wages, the scope is approximately $15 to $22 per hour. You're generally more involved in the average annual compensation. Here's what the major job boards say about annual salaries in the US market;

• According to Payscale, the typical hourly pay rate for maintenance technicians is $19.22, with a yearly salary of around $40k. There is the possibility of earning more money through rewards and overtime.
• According to Salary.com, the median installation and maintenance technician income are only over $59k per year.
• According to Indeed, the typical hourly pay is roughly $19.47, placing the yearly wage at about $40k with an extra $7k received by overtime pay.
• According to Glassdoor, the ordinary base salary is $45k per year, with incomes ranging slightly all over industries.

Steps for becoming a maintenance technician

The following are a few steps you can take to become a maintenance technician;

Continue your education

Many maintenance technicians must have a high school qualification or GED as an entry criterion. Prospective maintenance technicians can also enroll in a two-year initiative at a community university or similar institution to earn an associate's qualification in their preferred field of building management.

Acquire job experience

Regular practice accounts for a large portion of a maintenance technician's competence. Interning with a painter, plumber, electrician, or another related expert, for instance, can enable a new maintenance technician to gain adequate experience to qualify for a job.

Obtain the necessary certifications

Maintenance technicians can study for tests to obtain certifications from multiple companies, illustrating their abilities and knowledge.

Make a resume

Outline your schooling, abilities, and work experiences, beginning with the most latest and appropriate experience, and ending with the names of your companies and the duration you worked at each. An excellent resume will be customized to the work for which you are applying.

Look for job openings

Once you've identified job vacancies that fit your standard of schooling and experience, cautiously interpret the application guidelines. Create a cover letter that sums up your qualifications for the position.

Maintenance technician work environment

A few components of a maintenance technician's workplace setting will stay constant irrespective of if they work for a major office facility, a college room, or a small housing complex. Maintenance technicians normally work during the day, but they may also operate on weekends and evenings on occasion. Those who reside in the facility where they function may retain service requests at odd hours, such as in the middle of the night. While several maintenance technicians have a workstation and an office where they can study remedies and collect client requests, a large portion of their work will be accomplished outside and across their building.  

Maintenance technicians are regularly required to cooperate with possibly dangerous hardware, which they should extensively comprehend to ensure their security and that of others. Maintenance technicians have to undertake some standard of ongoing training as they undergo new problems and requalify in their programs. These courses will also teach them new security procedures for themselves and others. Maintenance technicians are found in other individuals' private spaces, like their workstations and homes. They must be able to perform themselves appropriately while respecting their clients' confidentiality and their security. Maintenance technicians can consider work in many settings, such as: 

• Shopping malls, and stores
• Factories, and technical structures 
• Schools and universities
• Labs and scientific research buildings
• Large processes, medical facilities, and clinics
• Apartment buildings
• Institutions for assisted living.
• Community amenities, like golf clubs

What are the requirements to be a maintenance technician?

To become a maintenance technician, you must first complete a definite type of skills and certification.

Education

A high school education or GED is usually needed for entry-level maintenance technician jobs. Those with an associate's degree in building maintenance software could have a benefit in the job market, whereas those involved in operating manufacturing units can undertake an associate's degree in Industrial Maintenance Technology. Some industrial software university courses are even more skilled. You could, for instance, specialize in refrigeration or equipment.

Training

Maintenance technicians can gain on-the-job instruction by processing and constructing their tasks. They can also develop skills in diverse parts of the work, like plumbing, painting, or woodworking, by attending classes or shadowing an experienced professional.

Certifications

Obtaining certifications can demonstrate to a prospective company that a maintenance technician has expressed skills in the field. Here are a couple of examples;

• Maintenance and reliability technician certification

The CMRT indicates the holder's knowledge of precautionary, prescriptive, and corrective upkeep. Passing a test to illustrate proficiencies in four regions is required for the CMRT; maintenance procedures, preventative and predictive maintenance, debugging and assessment, and repair work.

• Apartment Maintenance Technician Certification

The National Apartment Association provides this credential. The exam preparation program will prepare a wide range of apartment maintenance skills, such as customer support, interpersonal skills, and how to process orders and records regarding HVAC, construction, mechanical, appliance, and lock and core services and repairs.

• Certification from the International Maintenance Institute.

This worldwide institution provides three tiers of credentials for maintenance technicians operating in skilled trades and two layers of qualifications for those employed in maintenance management.

• Certificate in Building System Maintenance

The SMC assesses potential certificate holders' knowledge of HVAC, pipework, other construction techniques, and effective energy management.

What skills are necessary to become a maintenance technician?

Here is a list of skills to become a maintenance technician;

• Computer and electronics equipment
• Administration skills
• Management of material resources
• Cleaning and sanitizing
• Device testing and diagnostics
• Blueprint and schematic interpretation
• Equipment calibration
• Safety regulations
• Critical thinking
• Time management
• Customer service
• Critical thinking
• Good communication skills
• Strong work ethic
• Problem-solving
• Device testing and diagnostics
• Blueprint and schematic interpretation
• Time management
• Equipment calibration
• Customer service
• Safety regulations
• Communication skills
• Building and construction processes
• Strong work ethic
• Installation and repair
• Adaptability
• Building and construction processes
• Installation and repair
• Analytical skills
• Computer and electronics equipment
• Administration skills
• Management of material resources
• Cleaning and sanitizing
• Educational planning

How to format a maintenance technician resume?

The format of the resume will be determined by your work experience and skills. Here are these steps;

• Chronological-order resume: This format emphasizes your employment record and accomplishments and is best suited for jobs that require over five years of experience.
• Hybrid resume format: This format is suitable if you have a couple of years of previous professional expertise and competencies to highlight.
• Functional resume format: If you have the little practical experience and want to emphasize your knowledge and skills, the functional format is perfect.

What are the core certifications to become a maintenance technician?

Certifications can be a powerful instrument for showcasing to organizations that you recognize your stuff. Not all certifications, although, are treated equally. Here is a list of the most popular maintenance technician certifications. Getting these certifications would not only offer you an advantage when seeking employment, but they will also boost your overall worth.

• Master Certified Electronics Technician (CET)
• Certified Maintenance Technician (CMT)
• Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)
• Certified Maintenance Manager (CMM)
• Electrical Maintenance Technician Certificate
• Facilities Maintenance Technician Certificate
• Certified Apartment Maintenance Technician (CAMT)
• Certified Welding Fabricator (CWF)
• Certified Technical Professional (CTP)
• Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT)
• Master; Engine Machinist
• Air Conditioning and Heat Pump Professional
• Heating Professional
• Air Conditioning Service Certification
• Electrical Technician Certification

What are top maintenance technician specialty jobs?

• Plumbing maintenance

Training is not essential but you should have a license in your state, which depends on the state.

Yearly median income: $76,159 - : $96,675 per year

• Electrical systems

Training is not necessary, but you have to be certified in your state.  

Median wage: $75,789 - $96,901/yr

• HVAC servicing

Required training: Most HVAC technician jobs will necessitate at least one of the following training: a certificate, an associate degree, or traineeship. To work with refrigeration systems, you must also be EPA-licensed. Other permit specifications should be checked with the state's labor division. 

Hourly pay: $23.41/hr - $31.78/hr

• Groundskeeping maintenance 

Many groundskeepers obtain on-the-job instruction, but most businesses will consider some tier of post-secondary education. Many regions also need permits.

Hourly wage: $14.09/hr - $18.47/hr

• Machinery and building maintenance 

An associate college education will suffice to get initiated as a construction maintenance technician, but extra training is not a bad thing.

Annual salary: $63,933/yr - $91,672/yr