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Job outlook for chief maintenance engineers in the United States
Chief maintenance engineer job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected chief maintenance engineer job growth rate is 2% from 2018-2028.
About 6,400 new jobs for chief maintenance engineers are projected over the next decade.
Chief maintenance engineer salaries have increased 11% for chief maintenance engineers in the last 5 years.
There are over 9,502 chief maintenance engineers currently employed in the United States.
There are 70,717 active chief maintenance engineer job openings in the US.
The average chief maintenance engineer salary is $61,998.
Are chief maintenance engineer jobs in demand?
Chief maintenance engineer job and salary trends over time
Chief maintenance engineer jobs over time
Chief maintenance engineer job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 9,502 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 9,695 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 10,081 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 9,930 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 9,564 | 0.00% |
Average chief maintenance engineer salary over time
Chief maintenance engineer salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $61,998 | $29.81 | +4.1% |
| 2024 | $59,544 | $28.63 | +2.0% |
| 2023 | $58,379 | $28.07 | +2.1% |
| 2022 | $57,179 | $27.49 | +2.0% |
| 2021 | $56,084 | $26.96 | +0.8% |
Chief maintenance engineer jobs by state
Most common states for chief maintenance engineers
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 435 | 63% |
| 2 | Delaware | 961,939 | 210 | 22% |
| 3 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 1,688 | 20% |
| 4 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 1,059 | 19% |
| 5 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 365 | 19% |
| 6 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 250 | 19% |
| 7 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 1,252 | 18% |
| 8 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 1,074 | 18% |
| 9 | Alaska | 739,795 | 134 | 18% |
| 10 | North Carolina | 10,273,419 | 1,740 | 17% |
| 11 | Georgia | 10,429,379 | 1,691 | 16% |
| 12 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 1,208 | 16% |
| 13 | Wisconsin | 5,795,483 | 906 | 16% |
| 14 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 168 | 16% |
| 15 | Arizona | 7,016,270 | 1,069 | 15% |
| 16 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 626 | 15% |
| 17 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 455 | 15% |
| 18 | Vermont | 623,657 | 96 | 15% |
| 19 | Florida | 20,984,400 | 2,851 | 14% |
| 20 | Illinois | 12,802,023 | 1,756 | 14% |
Most common cities for chief maintenance engineers
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Holland | 2 | 6% | $62,994 |
| 2 | Huntsville | 1 | 1% | $60,183 |
| 3 | Jacksonville | 1 | 0% | $52,408 |
| 4 | Los Angeles | 1 | 0% | $81,956 |
| 5 | Scottsdale | 1 | 0% | $49,968 |
Chief Maintenance Engineer job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of chief maintenance engineer experts
Xavier University
East Tennessee State University
University of Nebraska–Lincoln
Liberty University
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology
Northern Michigan University
Villanova University
Elon University
Marietta College
University of Maryland
University of Baltimore
Crafton Tull
Dr. Heidrun Schmitzer
Professor and ChairXavier University
Department Of Physics
What skills stand out on Chief Maintenance Engineer resumes?
Dr. Heidrun Schmitzer: Programming languages, numerical design and simulation tools, knowledge of various measurement equipment.
What soft skills should all Chief Maintenance Engineers possess?
Dr. Heidrun Schmitzer: Communication, teamwork.
What skills will help Chief Maintenance Engineers earn the most?
Dr. Heidrun Schmitzer: Problem-solving, troubleshooting, independent learner.
Jared Wilson
Assistant Professor and Faculty CoordinatorEast Tennessee State University
Surveying and Mapping
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Chief Maintenance Engineers?
Jared Wilson: The information I have been provided is positive when the outlook is concerning the workload that is being performed by the professional industry. Land surveying, and subsequently, land surveyors, have been deemed essential; thus, work is still being performed. The profession, as a whole, is driven highly by the status of the economy, and in the current economic state, the current workload is in demand. Thus, graduates should be able to find gainful employment regardless of the impact COVID-19 has. As with all professions, adaptation is necessary, and the profession is adapting well.
Dr. Sohrab Asgarpoor
Associate Dean for Undergraduate Programs, Professor of Electrical and Computer EngineeringUniversity of Nebraska–Lincoln
College of Engineering
How do you envision technology impacting Chief Maintenance Engineers in the next 5 years?
Dr. Sohrab Asgarpoor: Adopting new technology should be an exciting (and expected) reality for those with an engineering degree. The virtual space will continue to grow as folks seek jobs and work online more. But what holds paramount, no matter what particular technological changes arise, is the ability to adapt-and to demonstrate that critical aptitude in their application documents and through their interviews, always highlighting those moments they've done so and articulating their propensity for learning.
What experience really stands out on Chief Maintenance Engineer resumes?
Robert Rich: -Certification such as green belt, black-belt, machine learning, Lean Manufacturing, and APICS supply chain/inventory
-Specialized undergraduate research projects that go deep into various leading-edge topics like integrating AI with manufacturing and logistics
-Consulting experience/real projects within areas of undergraduate research
Dr. Galen Duree
Head of the Department of Physics and Optical Engineering and ProfessorRose-Hulman Institute of Technology
Department of Physics and Optical Engineering
What experience really stands out on Chief Maintenance Engineer resumes?
Dr. Galen Duree: It depends on what you are applying for. If you are working on product development, then internships or co-ops provide a definite advantage. If you are working on developing new ways of doing things, research experiences in academia or companies are advantageous. Either case, this shows a certain maturity in your career path - you have participated in an activity related to the career you are currently pursuing.
What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for Chief Maintenance Engineers in the next 3-5 years?
Dr. Galen Duree: People with knowledge, even introductory experience, in quantum effects, quantum computing, optics in general (communication, measurements, imaging, illumination, detection), material science and engineering, biotechnology, and nanotechnology, will be in high demand.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Chief Maintenance Engineers?
Michael Rudisill: It depends on what you really mean by enduring, but for all practical purposes, once the pandemic has passed, the economy will return, and anyone in the engineering field who wants a job will have many opportunities. Obviously, the short-term effect can be brutal for new graduates as jobs are not as plentiful as "usual"-but in the long term, those that persevere will end up in great careers. In some ways, it will be harder on the senior engineers who haven't stayed employed, as they are missing out on years when their income should be the highest. New graduates are missing relatively low earning years, so the long-term effects should not be as bad looking at lifetime earnings.
How do you envision technology impacting Chief Maintenance Engineers in the next 5 years?
Michael Rudisill: Technology will continue to advance-which will increase the need for trained engineers. Even areas such as sales that not many people would think would be looking for engineers when dealing with technologically advanced products need people who understand how the product works, perform, etc.-in other words-trained engineers.
What general advice would you give to a Chief Maintenance Engineer?
Michael Rudisill: Patience will be a key - there will be many jobs available - we have been contacted by several employers looking for grads. Still, it certainly is not like we have seen historically. As the economy comes out of the COVID recession, engineering jobs will come back very quickly. By the spring graduation, I think we will be pretty close to back to a somewhat familiar employment picture.
How would you rate the starting salaries for Chief Maintenance Engineers, as well as the prospects for salary advancement?
Michael Rudisill: From what we've seen, salaries haven't been reduced, even though demand is down. I would expect wages and salary progression to remain strong as the need for engineering will only continue to grow.
Dr. Sridhar Santhanam Ph.D.
Professor and ChairVillanova University
Department of Mechanical Engineering
What Chief Maintenance Engineer skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Sridhar Santhanam Ph.D.: In a gap year, graduates could consider retooling themselves by acquiring advanced knowledge and skills. Graduate school provides a perfect avenue for this. Enrolling in a Masters's program that aligns with one's interests and aptitudes can be an excellent investment. Many graduate schools also offer shorter certificate programs targeted to specific sub-disciplines within mechanical engineerings, such as robotics, sustainable energy, or additive manufacturing. Certificates can be obtained in a calendar year, or less, and can significantly bolster one's resume in preparation for exploring the job market after the gap year. Several programs offer online graduate classes, thereby providing convenience and accessibility to students.
What type of skills will young Chief Maintenance Engineers need?
John Ring: While our universities consistently educate engineering students with hard skills and strong engineering fundamentals, tomorrow's engineers need to be strong communicators, collaborators, and critical thinkers. Our professional environments are filled with data and information, and the constraint is typically how much time individuals can dedicate to solving a problem. At Elon University, we educate tomorrow's engineers to have the hard skills necessary to analyze the information and situations, apply critical thinking techniques to determine ways to solve the issue, and then concisely and efficiently communicate with colleagues as solutions are being set in motion.
How do you envision technology impacting Chief Maintenance Engineers in the next 5 years?
John Ring: An engineering student learns "how to learn" during their time in college. Technology will evolve, and tomorrow's engineers must learn at the same pace so that new technology can be applied to solve a problem.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Chief Maintenance Engineers?
Ben Ebenhack: I believe that the impact of the pandemic on the US economy is still unfolding and that we won't be able to see any kind of robust turnaround until vaccines are widely available and seen, in practice, to be effective. Until that time, I suspect that we'll continue to see a lot of volatility as investors speculate about recovery, reopening, etc., but the trends will probably vacillate.
Once the pandemic is clearly seen to be reasonably well-controlled, I think that there will be a good deal of pent-up demand for energy and its services. I expect to see a modest recovery in energy prices, but that may not translate to jobs for a few years. Ultimately, the world's need for energy will drive prices up, and there will probably be another boom. Everyone should remember that half of humanity (~3.5 billion people) lack access to modern energy, on which development depends. With global economic recovery, I would expect that to apply considerable upward pressure on energy (and related resource) demands for the next several decades. Alternative energy will continue to grow, but I don't think it can grow as fast as some optimists expect.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Chief Maintenance Engineers?
Craig Carignan: Yes, it will have an enduring impact on aerospace grads, especially those going into aeronautical engineering. The airline industry has been hit especially hard by the pandemic, and commercial aircraft manufacture has come to a screeching halt. That means not just the airplane manufacturers being affected but all of the hundreds of aircraft parts suppliers too. The other factor is that people are learning how to attend conferences and meetings virtually, through applications like Zoom and Teams, which also saves a lot of money on travel. So even when things do start returning to normal, I think that the demand for air travel will not return to the same levels as before.
Some long term impact may also be felt by the space industry. Even though there are quarantine precautions in place (before and after a flight), human space flight might be seen as riskier due to possible infection from viruses that may not show symptoms. So we might try to do more from the ground using robotics. Also, the density of workers in a lot of places in the aerospace industry is very high, and I would expect telecommuting to become more common.
How do you envision technology impacting Chief Maintenance Engineers in the next 5 years?
Dr. Giovanni Vincenti: Technology will take an ever more prominent role in any field over the next few years. However, it is important for companies to realize that someone who is somewhat familiar with IT probably will not have the same expertise as a trained technologist. Whether we are creating mobile applications, finding new ways to deliver physical products, or ways to facilitate the workflow when people are working remotely, technology will remain the unifying foundation across most fields and gain significant importance in the list of essential assets for operations continuity.
What general advice would you give to a Chief Maintenance Engineer?
Libby Toping: It has definitely been a unique time to start my first job. COVID-19 has caused many of my peers to struggle to find a job, so I think it has caused me to recognize how thankful I am to have a job that I enjoy working and that allows me to improve my community, even in the midst of a pandemic. There are certainly struggles with virtual meetings and mask-wearing, but learning to be flexible and adaptable are skills that I think will make me a better engineer in the long run!