What does a building mechanic do?
Building mechanic responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real building mechanic resumes:
- Involve in all phases of building maintenance, repairs and upgrades including electrical, HVAC and mechanical.
- Calibrate control systems for air conditioning, refrigeration, heating, and ventilation systems, and solid state electronic motor control.
- Maintain OSHA and safety requirements.
- Utilize hand and power mowers.
- Schedule and perform maintenance of building air exhaust / ventilation units.
- Perform a variety of tasks including but not limit to: electrical work, plumbing, general maintenance, etc.
- Assemble, install, and repair electrical wiring or electronic components, pipe systems, plumbing, machinery, and equipment.
- Maintain HVAC systems and computerize energy management system.
- Inspect boilers and other machinery to ensure proper operation by making require adjustments or repairs.
- Read blueprints and diagrams; install compressors, evaporators, motors, temperature controls, ducts and piping.
Building mechanic skills and personality traits
We calculated that 13% of Building Mechanics are proficient in Plumbing, HVAC, and Ladders. They’re also known for soft skills such as Customer-service skills, Dexterity, and Troubleshooting skills.
We break down the percentage of Building Mechanics that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Plumbing, 13%
Assembled, installed, and repaired electrical wiring or electronic components, pipe systems, plumbing, machinery, and equipment.
- HVAC, 12%
Maintain HVAC systems and computerized energy management system.
- Ladders, 7%
Do monthly safety inspections on ladders, Crown waves, pump room and fire extinguishers.
- Hand Tools, 5%
Hand tools and knowledge of bolts, tools and correction of set up.
- Electrical Systems, 5%
Installed and repaired electrical systems, apparatuses and electrical and electronic components of industrial machinery and equipment.
- Mechanical Equipment, 5%
Trained staff on utilizing industrial and mechanical equipment.
"plumbing," "hvac," and "ladders" are among the most common skills that building mechanics use at work. You can find even more building mechanic responsibilities below, including:
Customer-service skills. One of the key soft skills for a building mechanic to have is customer-service skills. You can see how this relates to what building mechanics do because "these workers interact with customers on a regular basis." Additionally, a building mechanic resume shows how building mechanics use customer-service skills: "maintain kitchen and building maintenance, handle customers when neccesary"
Dexterity. Another essential skill to perform building mechanic duties is dexterity. Building mechanics responsibilities require that "many repair and maintenance tasks, such as repairing small devices, connecting or attaching components, and using hand tools, require a steady hand and good hand–eye coordination." Building mechanics also use dexterity in their role according to a real resume snippet: "worked in the building maintenance department as a certified forklift operator and material handler as an extension of shipping and receiving. "
Troubleshooting skills. building mechanics are also known for troubleshooting skills, which are critical to their duties. You can see how this skill relates to building mechanic responsibilities, because "workers find, diagnose, and repair problems." A building mechanic resume example shows how troubleshooting skills is used in the workplace: "executed troubleshooting on electrical equipment, such as: motors, heaters, controls, and safety circuits. "
The three companies that hire the most building mechanics are:
- Honeywell12 building mechanics jobs
- Mammoth Mountain6 building mechanics jobs
- Midwestern University6 building mechanics jobs
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Compare different building mechanics
Building mechanic vs. Handyman
A handyman can perform various repair and maintenance tasks involving electricity, carpentry, plumbing, and even appliance installation. Most handymen work independently, but they can also choose to be part of a company. Furthermore, a handyman must also discuss the extent of repairs to clients, even sharing insights on maintaining facilities in good condition. There are instances when a handyman may be required to work in a group setting, which requires an active line of communication and coordination.
There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, building mechanic responsibilities require skills like "ladders," "hand tools," "mechanical equipment," and "routine maintenance." Meanwhile a typical handyman has skills in areas such as "customer service," "drywall repair," "general maintenance," and "mowing." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.
Handymen earn the highest salaries when working in the construction industry, with an average yearly salary of $51,528. On the other hand, building mechanics are paid more in the energy industry with an average salary of $52,256.handymen tend to reach similar levels of education than building mechanics. In fact, handymen are 0.3% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.2% more likely to have a Doctoral Degree.Building mechanic vs. Maintenance coordinator
A maintenance coordinator is responsible for maintaining the cleanliness and safeness of the organization's facilities, as well as conducting repairs on defective equipment and machinery. Maintenance coordinators inspect and diagnose inconsistencies with equipment, replacing faulty components immediately to prevent delays in the operation and avoid potential workplace hazards. They also monitor the adequacy of maintenance inventories and create purchase requests for necessary tools and materials. A maintenance coordinator keeps an organized record of maintenance logs, observing strict protocols and safety regulations during operations.
Each career also uses different skills, according to real building mechanic resumes. While building mechanic responsibilities can utilize skills like "ladders," "hand tools," "fire protection," and "ventilation," maintenance coordinators use skills like "good judgment," "customer service," "preventative maintenance," and "general maintenance."
On average, maintenance coordinators earn a lower salary than building mechanics. Some industries support higher salaries in each profession. Interestingly enough, maintenance coordinators earn the most pay in the energy industry with an average salary of $57,628. Whereas building mechanics have higher pay in the energy industry, with an average salary of $52,256.In general, maintenance coordinators achieve similar levels of education than building mechanics. They're 2.0% more likely to obtain a Master's Degree while being 0.2% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Building mechanic vs. Maintenance assistant
A maintenance assistant is responsible for maintaining the company's facilities' cleanliness, ensuring that all the equipment and machinery are in working condition, and escalating high defective items for repair. Maintenance assistants should adhere to the organization's safety standards at all times to prevent hazards in operations. They also assist with monitoring inventories and requesting office supplies, inspect electrical wirings and systems for inconsistencies, respond to cleaning and repair requests, and assist guests to the correct departments.
The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, building mechanics are more likely to have skills like "routine maintenance," "ventilation," "mechanical systems," and "control systems." But a maintenance assistant is more likely to have skills like "customer service," "patients," "maintenance tasks," and "grass."
Maintenance assistants make a very good living in the government industry with an average annual salary of $35,031. On the other hand, building mechanics are paid the highest salary in the energy industry, with average annual pay of $52,256.When it comes to education, maintenance assistants tend to earn similar degree levels compared to building mechanics. In fact, they're 0.3% less likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.2% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Building mechanic vs. Maintenance associate
A maintenance associate is responsible for ensuring the cleanliness and orderliness of the facilities, as well as inspecting and repairing broken machines and defective equipment to avoid delays in the operations. Maintenance associates monitor the adequacy of inventories, especially in manufacturing settings, coordinating with suppliers and third-party vendors for distribution and delivery. They also report hazardous incidents to the management, resolve maintenance complaints, and suggest quality control strategies to prevent reoccurrence and improve operational structures.
Types of building mechanic
Updated January 8, 2025
