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Craft worker vs maintenance technician

The differences between craft workers and maintenance technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a craft worker and a maintenance technician. Additionally, a craft worker has an average salary of $45,364, which is higher than the $43,293 average annual salary of a maintenance technician.

The top three skills for a craft worker include plumbing, ladders and general maintenance. The most important skills for a maintenance technician are plumbing, HVAC, and hand tools.

Craft worker vs maintenance technician overview

Craft WorkerMaintenance Technician
Yearly salary$45,364$43,293
Hourly rate$21.81$20.81
Growth rate5%5%
Number of jobs25,488178,450
Job satisfaction-4.25
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 35%High School Diploma, 34%
Average age4747
Years of experience44

Craft worker vs maintenance technician salary

Craft workers and maintenance technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.

Craft WorkerMaintenance Technician
Average salary$45,364$43,293
Salary rangeBetween $33,000 And $61,000Between $31,000 And $59,000
Highest paying CityNew Haven, CTRichmond, CA
Highest paying stateAlaskaRhode Island
Best paying companyKern Community College DistrictAnheuser-Busch
Best paying industryHospitalityManufacturing

Differences between craft worker and maintenance technician education

There are a few differences between a craft worker and a maintenance technician in terms of educational background:

Craft WorkerMaintenance Technician
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 35%High School Diploma, 34%
Most common majorBusinessElectrical Engineering Technology
Most common college--

Craft worker vs maintenance technician demographics

Here are the differences between craft workers' and maintenance technicians' demographics:

Craft WorkerMaintenance Technician
Average age4747
Gender ratioMale, 88.8% Female, 11.2%Male, 95.7% Female, 4.3%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 10.5% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 20.0% Asian, 4.5% White, 59.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2%Black or African American, 11.4% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 18.2% Asian, 4.6% White, 60.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2%
LGBT Percentage2%2%

Differences between craft worker and maintenance technician duties and responsibilities

Craft worker example responsibilities.

  • Work extensively on autoclaves, lyophilizers, pressure vessels and pumps.
  • Install open and conceal wiring including lighting fixtures, relays and switches.
  • Remove insulation materials associate with repairing pipes & fittings using OSHA approve methods.
  • Identify and repair a variety of light plumbing problems, replacing fixtures and equipment.
  • Repair and replace plumbing parts, including drinking fountains, sinks, and water closets.
  • Used hoists and jacks, hand tools, power tools, plumb bobs and measuring equipment.
  • Show more

Maintenance technician example responsibilities.

  • Install, repair and troubleshoot electrical wiring, including switches, outlets, lights, ballast.
  • Monitor and document all temperature readings on boilers, chillers, and dry vac systems beginning and mid shift.
  • Perform preventative maintenance checks and services on exhaust fans, boilers, chiller units, automatic transfer switches, and generators.
  • Repair electrical equipment; replace faulty electrical switches; repair refrigeration equipment.
  • Handle trouble-shooting and repair of mechanical systems refrigerant recovery and charging of HVAC systems.
  • Facilitate commercial plumbing, electrical, light HVAC, and carpentry repairs in a laboratory facility environment
  • Show more

Craft worker vs maintenance technician skills

Common craft worker skills
  • Plumbing, 15%
  • Ladders, 15%
  • General Maintenance, 11%
  • HVAC, 9%
  • Hoists, 7%
  • Mechanical Equipment, 7%
Common maintenance technician skills
  • Plumbing, 10%
  • HVAC, 8%
  • Hand Tools, 7%
  • Customer Service, 6%
  • Ladders, 4%
  • Electrical Systems, 4%

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