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Building maintenance engineer vs senior maintenance technician

The differences between building maintenance engineers and senior maintenance technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a building maintenance engineer and a senior maintenance technician. Additionally, a senior maintenance technician has an average salary of $51,970, which is higher than the $47,450 average annual salary of a building maintenance engineer.

The top three skills for a building maintenance engineer include HVAC, plumbing and preventive maintenance. The most important skills for a senior maintenance technician are HVAC, plumbing, and customer service.

Building maintenance engineer vs senior maintenance technician overview

Building Maintenance EngineerSenior Maintenance Technician
Yearly salary$47,450$51,970
Hourly rate$22.81$24.99
Growth rate5%5%
Number of jobs95,005137,443
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 28%Associate Degree, 42%
Average age4747
Years of experience44

What does a building maintenance engineer do?

A building maintenance engineer is primarily in charge of maintaining building facilities in good condition. Their job entails conducting regular maintenance checks on an establishment's electrical, plumbing, ventilation, and air-conditioning systems, performing repairs and replacements when necessary. They may also install or upgrade systems, execute adjustments, provide technical support to staff, and maintain extensive records. Moreover, as a building maintenance engineer, it is essential to lead maintenance teams to reach goals, all while implementing safety standards and regulations for a smooth and efficient workflow.

What does a senior maintenance technician do?

A senior maintenance technician is responsible for the maintenance and repairs of an establishment or household's electrical and mechanical systems. Senior maintenance technicians handle the installation of ventilation systems, as well as the inspection of equipment and machinery, to ensure optimal performance and efficiency for business operations. They also monitor the adequacy of inventories needed to set up systems and other functionalities. A senior maintenance technician must have excellent organizational and mechanical skills and the ability to follow safety procedures and processes during operations.

Building maintenance engineer vs senior maintenance technician salary

Building maintenance engineers and senior maintenance technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.

Building Maintenance EngineerSenior Maintenance Technician
Average salary$47,450$51,970
Salary rangeBetween $35,000 And $64,000Between $37,000 And $71,000
Highest paying CityWashington, DCSacramento, CA
Highest paying stateAlaskaAlaska
Best paying companyProvidence Health & ServicesEssex Property Trust
Best paying industryHospitalityTechnology

Differences between building maintenance engineer and senior maintenance technician education

There are a few differences between a building maintenance engineer and a senior maintenance technician in terms of educational background:

Building Maintenance EngineerSenior Maintenance Technician
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 28%Associate Degree, 42%
Most common majorHeating And Air ConditioningElectrical Engineering
Most common college--

Building maintenance engineer vs senior maintenance technician demographics

Here are the differences between building maintenance engineers' and senior maintenance technicians' demographics:

Building Maintenance EngineerSenior Maintenance Technician
Average age4747
Gender ratioMale, 96.5% Female, 3.5%Male, 96.8% Female, 3.2%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 9.6% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 22.7% Asian, 4.3% White, 58.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1%Black or African American, 10.9% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 18.3% Asian, 4.5% White, 60.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2%
LGBT Percentage2%2%

Differences between building maintenance engineer and senior maintenance technician duties and responsibilities

Building maintenance engineer example responsibilities.

  • Create python script to automate the deployment process which deploys the application and restarts the servers.
  • Perform preventive maintenance and repair electrical equipment, plumbing, air-condition and refrigeration.
  • Create a plan maintenance system to stay on top of HVAC, energy management and mechanical systems and component repairs.
  • Complete engineering & life-safety systems and procedures training and certifications to ensure adherence to OSHA and other compliance and quality standards.
  • Attend numerous OSHA classes and receive numerous certifications.
  • Restart steam boilers and equipment after unplan emergency shutdowns.
  • Show more

Senior maintenance technician example responsibilities.

  • Manage all hazardous materials generate by shop operations and ensure safety requirements are met in accordance to OSHA standards.
  • Upgrade and implement well-defined CMMS to better track preventative and predictive maintenance.
  • Climb vertical ladders, work at heights.
  • Experience with gaffs, safety harness, bucket truck, and ladders.
  • Assist in the creation of the PLC back-up program that is currently in use.
  • Subject matter expert responsible for PLC systems and furnace systems throughout a 4 plant campus.
  • Show more

Building maintenance engineer vs senior maintenance technician skills

Common building maintenance engineer skills
  • HVAC, 12%
  • Plumbing, 12%
  • Preventive Maintenance, 10%
  • Ladders, 9%
  • Snow Removal, 8%
  • Emergency Situations, 5%
Common senior maintenance technician skills
  • HVAC, 8%
  • Plumbing, 7%
  • Customer Service, 7%
  • Ladders, 6%
  • PLC, 6%
  • CMMS, 5%

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