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What is a building maintenance mechanic and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
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Building maintenance mechanics are responsible for keeping buildings in proper working condition. They survey buildings and repair mechanical systems to ensure they are consistent with health and safety standards. They so perform maintenance of electrical systems and maintain heating and plumbing systems to ensure functionality. Building maintenance mechanics earn an average salary of $34,000 annually or $16 per hour.

Building maintenance mechanics install, repair, and maintain machinery and equipment while building and maintaining mechanical systems. They troubleshoot machinery and perform routine preventive maintenance while reading, interpreting, and following instructions and operation manuals. They also clean, repair, and install equipment and parts as needed and operate a variety of hand and power tools.

Building maintenance mechanics typically hold a high school diploma or GED. They are expected to have some years of experience as a maintenance mechanic or in a similar role. Some employers prefer candidates with the knowledge and ability to operate hand and power tools while developing the mechanical aptitude needed to run the job effectively. They need to have dexterity with excellent customer service and troubleshooting skills.

ScoreBuilding Maintenance MechanicUS Average
Salary
3.0

Avg. Salary $38,609

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
7.6

Growth rate 5%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
6.0
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 1.19%

Asian 4.73%

Black or African American 10.98%

Hispanic or Latino 19.53%

Unknown 4.29%

White 59.27%

Gender

female 7.90%

male 92.10%

Age - 49
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 49
Stress level
7.6

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level
6.3

Complexity level is intermediate

7 - challenging

Work life balance
6.1

Work life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

Building maintenance mechanic career paths

Key steps to become a building maintenance mechanic

  1. Explore building maintenance mechanic education requirements

    Most common building maintenance mechanic degrees

    High School Diploma

    44.1 %

    Associate

    18.0 %

    Diploma

    15.1 %
  2. Start to develop specific building maintenance mechanic skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Plumbing16.27%
    HVAC12.71%
    Hand Tools6.00%
    Ladders5.82%
    Customer Service5.79%
  3. Complete relevant building maintenance mechanic training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 1-3 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New building maintenance mechanics learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a building maintenance mechanic based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real building maintenance mechanic resumes.
  4. Gain additional building maintenance mechanic certifications

    Building maintenance mechanic certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific building maintenance mechanic certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

    The most common certifications for building maintenance mechanics include EPA Amusement Operators Safety Certification (EPA) and OSHA Safety Certificate .

    More About Certifications
  5. Research building maintenance mechanic duties and responsibilities

    • Perform routine preventative maintenance and repairs to ensure that HVAC and mechanical equipment are operating according design specifications.
    • Accommodate minor upkeep complications including electrical, structural, plumbing, and equipment repair or replacement for residential facility.
    • Coordinate work activities of personnel through CMMS along with contractors and vendors.
    • Perform landscaping duties such as mowing lawns, raking leaves and trimming hedges and surrounding greens.
  6. Prepare your building maintenance mechanic resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your building maintenance mechanic resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a building maintenance mechanic resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose from 10+ customizable building maintenance mechanic resume templates

    Build a professional building maintenance mechanic resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your building maintenance mechanic resume.
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    Building Maintenance Mechanic Resume
    Building Maintenance Mechanic Resume
  7. Apply for building maintenance mechanic jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a building maintenance mechanic job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How did you land your first building maintenance mechanic job

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Average building maintenance mechanic salary

The average building maintenance mechanic salary in the United States is $38,609 per year or $19 per hour. Building maintenance mechanic salaries range between $28,000 and $51,000 per year.

Average building maintenance mechanic salary
$38,609 Yearly
$18.56 hourly

What am I worth?

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How do building maintenance mechanics rate their job?

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Building maintenance mechanic reviews

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A zippia user wrote a review on Oct 2023
Pros

Positive feeling


profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Apr 2022
Pros

Being able to use my skills in hvacr, electical and plumbing

Cons

Working for and with unqualified people.


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A zippia user wrote a review on Apr 2021
Pros

Helping people get things figured out that they would not . Some claim to be able to do a job but fake and rig things instead of fixing the underlying issue and repairing it correctly. Most of my people are elderly and I feel its my duty to help .

Cons

fixing others messed up jobs . People that act like im trying to get over on them


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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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