Post job

How to hire an equipment maintenance technician

Equipment maintenance technician hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring equipment maintenance technicians in the United States:

  • There are a total of 10,604 equipment maintenance technicians in the US, and there are currently 168,523 job openings in this field.
  • The median cost to hire an equipment maintenance technician is $1,633.
  • Small businesses spend $1,105 per equipment maintenance technician on training each year, while large companies spend $658.
  • It takes between 36 and 42 days to fill the average role in the US.
  • It takes approximately 12 weeks for a new employee to reach full productivity levels.
  • HR departments typically allocate 15% of their budget towards recruitment efforts.
  • Fremont, CA, has the highest demand for equipment maintenance technicians, with 58 job openings.

How to hire an equipment maintenance technician, step by step

To hire an equipment maintenance technician, you should create an ideal candidate profile, determine a budget, and post and promote your job. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to hire a equipment maintenance technician:

Here's a step-by-step equipment maintenance technician hiring guide:

  • Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
  • Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
  • Step 3: Make a budget
  • Step 4: Write an equipment maintenance technician job description
  • Step 5: Post your job
  • Step 6: Interview candidates
  • Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new equipment maintenance technician
  • Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does an equipment maintenance technician do?

An equipment maintenance technician is responsible for ensuring the stability and efficiency of all production tools and equipment to support smooth business functions and operations. Equipment maintenance technicians conduct regular maintenance for optimization, repair defective components, and inspect equipment parts to identify possible upgrades and replacements. They also assemble equipment and machinery, requiring them to have excellent mechanical and critical-thinking skills to analyze schematics and blueprints accurately. An equipment maintenance technician must be highly communicative and organizational, especially in adhering to the highest safety standards and protocols during operations.

Learn more about the specifics of what an equipment maintenance technician does
jobs
Post an equipment maintenance technician job for free, promote it for a fee
  1. Identify your hiring needs

    First, determine the employments status of the equipment maintenance technician you need to hire. Certain equipment maintenance technician roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

    Determine employee vs contractor status
    Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

    An equipment maintenance technician's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, equipment maintenance technicians from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

    This list presents equipment maintenance technician salaries for various positions.

    Type of Equipment Maintenance TechnicianDescriptionHourly rate
    Equipment Maintenance TechnicianGeneral maintenance and repair workers fix and maintain machines, mechanical equipment, and buildings. They paint, repair flooring, and work on plumbing, electrical, and air-conditioning and heating systems.$16-28
    Maintenance EngineerA maintenance engineer is responsible for the maintenance of industrial machinery and inspects equipment defects for immediate troubleshooting or replacement as needed. Maintenance engineers install and upgrade system components to improve system optimization and perform diagnostic systems to locate any adjustments... Show more$13-35
    Maintenance Lead PersonThe primary job of a maintenance lead person involves painting, asbestos removal, resolving emergencies, plumbing, and welding. Workers in this position lead a team composing maintenance engineers or technicians... Show more$18-34
  2. Create an ideal candidate profile

    Common skills:
    • Equipment Maintenance
    • Hand Tools
    • Preventive Maintenance
    • Maintenance Procedures
    • PLC
    • Production Equipment
    • Test Equipment
    • AC
    • Mechanical Equipment
    • Plumbing
    • Corrective Maintenance
    • Repair Equipment
    • Mechanical Troubleshooting
    • HVAC
    Check all skills
    Responsibilities:
    • Maintain and repair CNC milling machines.
    • Carry out lead mechanic and avionics duties.
    • Diagnose HVAC problems; installation of new vent motors.
    • Certify to operate man lifts, fork lifts, and overhead cranes.
    • Skil at extracting seize fasteners in hot sections, airframe assemblies and panels.
    • Work on single and double bridge overhead cranes that operate on 480vac or 250vdc.
    More equipment maintenance technician duties
  3. Make a budget

    Including a salary range in your equipment maintenance technician job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. An equipment maintenance technician can vary based on:

    • Location. For example, equipment maintenance technicians' average salary in south carolina is 44% less than in alaska.
    • Seniority. Entry-level equipment maintenance technicians 42% less than senior-level equipment maintenance technicians.
    • Certifications. An equipment maintenance technician with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
    • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in an equipment maintenance technician's salary.

    Average equipment maintenance technician salary

    $45,945yearly

    $22.09 hourly rate

    Entry-level equipment maintenance technician salary
    $35,000 yearly salary
    Updated December 16, 2025

    Average equipment maintenance technician salary by state

    RankStateAvg. salaryHourly rate
    1California$61,870$30
    2Massachusetts$59,544$29
    3New York$58,790$28
    4Nevada$56,582$27
    5Minnesota$50,787$24
    6Washington$50,611$24
    7Oregon$49,568$24
    8Arizona$47,015$23
    9Kansas$46,535$22
    10Colorado$45,843$22
    11Utah$45,190$22
    12Indiana$41,683$20
    13North Carolina$41,381$20
    14Idaho$41,360$20
    15Texas$39,363$19
    16Oklahoma$38,660$19
    17Florida$35,463$17

    Average equipment maintenance technician salary by company

    RankCompanyAverage salaryHourly rateJob openings
    1Vicor$54,383$26.152
    2University of Houston-Clear Lake$54,310$26.11
    3United Natural Foods$53,894$25.917
    4Ilitch Holdings$53,737$25.84
    5Fresenius Medical Care North America Holdings Limited Partnership$53,624$25.789
    6Wicomico County Public Schools$53,422$25.68
    7Arrow Electronics$53,167$25.56
    8Sanmina$52,742$25.365
    9Analog Devices$52,667$25.327
    10Twist Bioscience$52,589$25.28
    11Blue Origin$52,475$25.2324
    12Ball$52,238$25.118
    13Steel Dynamics$52,201$25.1036
    14Emerson College$52,180$25.09
    15CDC Foundation$51,918$24.96
    16GPAC$51,629$24.82
    17Micron Technology$51,570$24.7953
    18Weatherford International$51,333$24.685
    19Black Gold Farms$51,214$24.62
    20Bert Ogden RGV$50,739$24.39
  4. Writing an equipment maintenance technician job description

    A good equipment maintenance technician job description should include a few things:

    • Summary of the role
    • List of responsibilities
    • Required skills and experience

    Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of an equipment maintenance technician job description:

    Equipment maintenance technician job description example

    Spirit AeroSystems designs and builds aerostructures for both commercial and defense customers. With headquarters in Wichita, Kansas, Spirit operates sites in the U.S., U.K., France and Malaysia. The company's core products include fuselages, pylons, nacelles and wing components for the world's premier aircraft. Spirit AeroSystems focuses on affordable, innovative composite and aluminum manufacturing solutions to support customers around the globe.
    Responsibilities

    Diagnose machinery and equipment failures in the aerospace industry for precision Machine Tools, Industrial and Infrastructure Equipment in a fast-paced production environment. Determine parts /material requirements, and perform timely repairs, as required to support our production customers. Service and maintain lubrication and metal cutting fluids on plant assets and equipment.

    Assist higher grade employees in the completion of work, or complete work under the direction of a higher-grade employee in same job classification, or work plans.

    + Support root/cause analysis in support of reliability processes, and collaborate with vendors, engineering, team leader, customer, other crafts and management to solve equipment problems and develop corrective action.

    + Perform Planned Services and Preventative Maintenance on machinery and equipment minimize risk of unplanned downtime.

    + Enter and retrieve data from the CMMS system to identify and account for work, as well as order parts required to accomplish work tasks, (except as relates to inventory, store, record, issue and any other duties related to material support technician.) Communicate in CMMS to follow-on shifts, as to what work has been accomplished and what work is yet needed.

    + Work from general knowledge and experience, as well as blueprints, schematics and formal documentation to complete job tasks.

    + Train other employees in same job classification as requested or required.

    + Assist Management with work assessment for proper completion of assignment or project.

    + Be willing to accept shift work.

    Qualifications

    Required:

    + 2 yrs experience

    + All applicants must be willing and able to work any shift, including alternative work weeks. Majority of new hires will be hired on 2nd shift.

    + All Candidates must pass the WorkKeys Assessment ( workkeys.com ) or provide verification that they have passed the WorkKeys Assessment. Delay in completing your WorkKeys Assessment will result in a delay in your start date. You may complete your assessment in advance of an interview.

    Spirit AeroSystems is an equal opportunity employer and considers qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, marital or civil partnership status, pregnancy, age, disability, veteran status or any other protected factor under federal, state or local law.

    Job LocationsUS-KS-Wichita


    Posted Date 1 week ago (10/5/2022 2:11 PM)

    Category Manufacturing
  5. Post your job

    To find equipment maintenance technicians for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

    • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
    • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any equipment maintenance technicians they would recommend.
    • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level equipment maintenance technicians with the right educational background.
    • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.
    Post your job online:
    • Post your equipment maintenance technician job on Zippia to find and recruit equipment maintenance technician candidates who meet your exact specifications.
    • Use field-specific websites.
    • Post a job on free websites.
  6. Interview candidates

    During your first interview to recruit equipment maintenance technicians, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

    It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

    The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

  7. Send a job offer and onboard your new equipment maintenance technician

    Once you have selected a candidate for the equipment maintenance technician position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

    It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

    To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is created.

  8. Go through the hiring process checklist

    • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
    • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
    • Define job responsibilities and requirements
    • Establish budget and timeline
    • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
    • Write job description
    • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
    • Promote the job internally
    • Process applications through applicant tracking system
    • Review resumes and cover letters
    • Shortlist candidates for screening
    • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
    • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
    • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
    • Conduct background checks on top candidates
    • Check references of top candidates
    • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
    • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
    • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
    • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
    • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
    • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)
    Sign up to download full list

How much does it cost to hire an equipment maintenance technician?

Hiring an equipment maintenance technician comes with both the one-time cost per hire and ongoing costs. The cost of recruiting equipment maintenance technicians involves promoting the job and spending time conducting interviews. Ongoing costs include employee salary, training, benefits, insurance, and equipment. It is essential to consider the cost of equipment maintenance technician recruiting as well the ongoing costs of maintaining the new employee.

You can expect to pay around $45,945 per year for an equipment maintenance technician, as this is the median yearly salary nationally. This can vary depending on what state or city you're hiring in. If you're hiring for contract work or on a per-project basis, hourly rates for equipment maintenance technicians in the US typically range between $16 and $28 an hour.

Find better equipment maintenance technicians in less time
Post a job on Zippia and hire the best from over 7 million monthly job seekers.

Hiring equipment maintenance technicians FAQs

Search for equipment maintenance technician jobs

Ready to start hiring?

Browse installation, maintenance and repair jobs