Maintenance Technician: what the job is, what it pays, and how to get hired.

Median pay

$49,590

BLS May 2025

Employed in the U.S.

1,529,700

BLS May 2025

Preparation

Job Zone 3 of 5

medium preparation

Most common education

Post-Secondary Certificate

63% of workers

Data Government data groups this job as Maintenance and Repair Workers, General (O*NET-SOC 49-9071.00). Figures on this page are for that occupation.

1. Perform routine maintenance, such as inspecting drives, motors, or belts, checking fluid levels, replacing filters, or doing other preventive maintenance actions.
2. Inspect, operate, or test machinery or equipment to diagnose machine malfunctions.
3. Adjust functional parts of devices or control instruments, using hand tools, levels, plumb bobs, or straightedges.
4. Order parts, supplies, or equipment from catalogs or suppliers.
5. Diagnose mechanical problems and determine how to correct them, checking blueprints, repair manuals, or parts catalogs, as necessary.
6. Design new equipment to aid in the repair or maintenance of machines, mechanical equipment, or building structures.
7. Assemble, install, or repair wiring, electrical or electronic components, pipe systems, plumbing, machinery, or equipment.
8. Clean or lubricate shafts, bearings, gears, or other parts of machinery.

Telework available

less than 0.5%

of workers had the ability to telework

Workday sitting

15.1%

mean share of the day required to sit

Most common strength level

Medium

69.8% of workers

Can pause work

71.4%

of workers could take short, unscheduled breaks

Self-paced workload

3.2%

of workers set their own workload

Employer-changed schedules

54.5%

of workers had schedules changed by the employer week to week

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Requirements Survey. Estimates are preliminary; ranges are shown as published.

1. Real estate19.7% of all jobs in this occupation · +5.6% projected change here 2025–35 · mean wage $51,340
2. Government, excluding state and local education and hospitals11.8% of all jobs in this occupation · +3.0% projected change here 2025–35 · mean wage $55,260
3. Educational services; state, local, and private7.7% of all jobs in this occupation · +0.9% projected change here 2025–35 · mean wage $53,980
4. Accommodation6.0% of all jobs in this occupation · +6.9% projected change here 2025–35 · mean wage $45,140
5. Religious, grantmaking, civic, professional, and similar organizations5.1% of all jobs in this occupation · +2.5% projected change here 2025–35 · mean wage $47,610
6. Administrative and support services4.8% of all jobs in this occupation · +2.1% projected change here 2025–35 · mean wage $51,020

Sources: BLS 2025–35 National Employment Matrix (share of the occupation's jobs, projected change) and BLS OEWS May 2025 industry estimates (mean wage). Different industry estimates are not a pay forecast for any person.

Knowledge areas: Mechanical, English Language, Building and Construction, Mathematics, Production and Processing.

• Autodesk AutoCADComputer aided design CAD softwareHot technology
• FacebookWeb page creation and editing softwareHot technology
• Computer aided design and drafting software CADDComputer aided design CAD software
• Computerized maintenance management system CMMSFacilities management software
• Dassault Systemes CATIAComputer aided design CAD software
• Digital direct control DDC energy management softwareIndustrial control software
• DropboxCloud-based data access and sharing software
• EkoDesktop communications software
• LoomVideo creation and editing software
• PTC Creo ParametricComputer aided design CAD software
• Supervisory control and data acquisition SCADA softwareIndustrial control software
• YouTubeVideo creation and editing software

Also called: Building Mechanic, Equipment Engineering Technician, Facilities Technician, Maintenance Engineer, Maintenance Journeyman, Maintenance Man.