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Building maintenance technician vs general maintenance mechanic

The differences between building maintenance technicians and general maintenance mechanics 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 technician and a general maintenance mechanic. Additionally, a building maintenance technician has an average salary of $40,065, which is higher than the $37,631 average annual salary of a general maintenance mechanic.

The top three skills for a building maintenance technician include plumbing, HVAC and ladders. The most important skills for a general maintenance mechanic are plumbing, HVAC, and customer service.

Building maintenance technician vs general maintenance mechanic overview

Building Maintenance TechnicianGeneral Maintenance Mechanic
Yearly salary$40,065$37,631
Hourly rate$19.26$18.09
Growth rate5%5%
Number of jobs159,634167,937
Job satisfaction5-
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 32%High School Diploma, 46%
Average age4747
Years of experience44

What does a building maintenance technician do?

A building maintenance technician is an individual who takes responsibility for keeping the repair tools and other supplies in good condition. Building maintenance technicians make sure that a facility operates pretty well. The technicians need to familiarize the security of the buildings. They maintain buildings through repairs and safety checks. It is their job to care for industrial and commercial facilities and determine maintenance needs. Some of them are in charge of the landscape and perform primary janitorial work.

What does a general maintenance mechanic do?

A general maintenance mechanic is responsible for ensuring the cleanliness and orderliness of the facilities and inspecting the condition and performance of the equipment and machinery for business operations and processes. General maintenance mechanics handle equipment repairs and replacement of defective components, requiring them to have extensive knowledge of the mechanical industry. They also install and assemble equipment by analyzing mechanical schematics and blueprints accurately. A general maintenance mechanic creates a comprehensive schedule of inspection, repairs, and quality control checks to preserve the safe standards of the premises.

Building maintenance technician vs general maintenance mechanic salary

Building maintenance technicians and general maintenance mechanics have different pay scales, as shown below.

Building Maintenance TechnicianGeneral Maintenance Mechanic
Average salary$40,065$37,631
Salary rangeBetween $30,000 And $52,000Between $27,000 And $51,000
Highest paying CityAnchorage, AKSanta Clara, CA
Highest paying stateAlaskaAlaska
Best paying companyVanderbilt University Medical CenterBeth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Best paying industryManufacturingManufacturing

Differences between building maintenance technician and general maintenance mechanic education

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

Building Maintenance TechnicianGeneral Maintenance Mechanic
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 32%High School Diploma, 46%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common college--

Building maintenance technician vs general maintenance mechanic demographics

Here are the differences between building maintenance technicians' and general maintenance mechanics' demographics:

Building Maintenance TechnicianGeneral Maintenance Mechanic
Average age4747
Gender ratioMale, 95.7% Female, 4.3%Male, 93.6% Female, 6.4%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 11.2% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 19.8% Asian, 4.6% White, 59.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2%Black or African American, 10.4% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 19.9% Asian, 4.5% White, 59.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2%
LGBT Percentage2%2%

Differences between building maintenance technician and general maintenance mechanic duties and responsibilities

Building maintenance technician example responsibilities.

  • Maintain and repair plumbing systems and accessories and perform maintenance of HVAC peripheral utility equipment.
  • Set up ladders to work above grind level.
  • Engage understanding of city OSHA and other compliance standards, guidelines, and issues
  • Follow OSHA standards at all times to ensure that a safe workplace are maintained
  • Used various tools, including but not limit to: drills, saws, hammers, screwdrivers, sanders and ladders.
  • Perform preventative maintenance on HVAC and refrigeration systems.
  • Show more

General maintenance mechanic example responsibilities.

  • Maintain all safety and training documentation as required by OSHA.
  • Assist client in maintaining a clean, safe work environment per OSHA regulations.
  • General apartment maintenance in HVAC repair
  • Perform PLC setup of newly install production machinery.
  • Repair and troubleshoot not only plumbing but also construction and general maintenance situations.
  • Perform general maintenance of parks facilities including carpentry, electrical and plumbing work.
  • Show more

Building maintenance technician vs general maintenance mechanic skills

Common building maintenance technician skills
  • Plumbing, 13%
  • HVAC, 8%
  • Ladders, 8%
  • Customer Service, 7%
  • OSHA, 5%
  • Dexterity, 5%
Common general maintenance mechanic skills
  • Plumbing, 16%
  • HVAC, 11%
  • Customer Service, 11%
  • Hand Tools, 5%
  • Ladders, 5%
  • Electrical Equipment, 4%

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