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What is a building technician and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read

A building technician supports construction managers, architects, and other workers in supervising the construction project from start to finish. They draft blueprints and building plans using computer-aided design (CAD) software and estimate building costs. They also negotiate with suppliers and clients regarding details of materials, labor, and equipment.

Typically occupying full-time positions, the building technician spends their work hours in the office and at project sites. They supervise the construction work and ensure compliance with building codes and regulations. They join clients, contractors, and building inspectors in meetings to report progress and other matters of the project connected with the deadlines, budget, and resources.

People in this position must have strong computer and mathematical skills. To follow this career path, aspirants must have at least a high school diploma. Completion of apprenticeship programs and a commercial driver's license pose as a great advantage. The building technician's median salary is $27.4 an hour, which amounts to an annual income of $56,990.

ScoreBuilding TechnicianUS Average
Salary
3.6

Avg. Salary $46,250

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
7.6

Growth rate 5%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
5.9
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 1.18%

Asian 4.59%

Black or African American 11.25%

Hispanic or Latino 18.30%

Unknown 4.26%

White 60.43%

Gender

female 14.57%

male 85.43%

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 technician career paths

Key steps to become a building technician

  1. Explore building technician education requirements

    Most common building technician degrees

    Associate

    31.2 %

    Bachelor's

    30.1 %

    High School Diploma

    21.0 %
  2. Start to develop specific building technician skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Plumbing10.30%
    HVAC9.60%
    Building Maintenance5.66%
    Preventative Maintenance5.43%
    Customer Service5.13%
  3. Complete relevant building technician training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 1-3 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New building technicians 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 technician based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real building technician resumes.
  4. Research building technician duties and responsibilities

    • Maintain an accident free workplace under OSHA's standards.
    • Build, troubleshoot, and repair cellular analyzing equipment for medical and educational research.
    • Perform general plumbing and electrical repairs.
    • Execute basic electrical and plumbing functions.
  5. Prepare your building technician resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your building technician 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 technician 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 technician resume templates

    Build a professional building technician 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 technician resume.
    Building Technician Resume
    Building Technician Resume
    Building Technician Resume
    Building Technician Resume
    Building Technician Resume
    Building Technician Resume
    Building Technician Resume
    Building Technician Resume
    Building Technician Resume
  6. Apply for building technician jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a building technician 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 technician job

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Average building technician salary

The average building technician salary in the United States is $46,250 per year or $22 per hour. Building technician salaries range between $30,000 and $69,000 per year.

Average building technician salary
$46,250 Yearly
$22.24 hourly

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How do building technicians rate their job?

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Building technician reviews

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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 Dec 2019
Cons

That I didn’t find this job during the time they were looking for full time employees.


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A zippia user wrote a review on Oct 2019
Pros

I like the technicality, reasoning and the calculative nature of the job

Cons

I can't really say, because I love been maintenance technician


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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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