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Field maintenance technician vs field service technician

The differences between field maintenance technicians and field service technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a field maintenance technician, becoming a field service technician takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, a field service technician has an average salary of $54,339, which is higher than the $37,403 average annual salary of a field maintenance technician.

The top three skills for a field maintenance technician include field maintenance, customer service and plumbing. The most important skills for a field service technician are customer service, preventative maintenance, and customer satisfaction.

Field maintenance technician vs field service technician overview

Field Maintenance TechnicianField Service Technician
Yearly salary$37,403$54,339
Hourly rate$17.98$26.12
Growth rate5%8%
Number of jobs225,113167,298
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 32%Associate Degree, 40%
Average age4744
Years of experience412

What does a field maintenance technician do?

Field Maintenance Technicians are responsible for the on-site maintenance, repair, and installation of systems and equipment. Their duties include inspecting technical problems, performing repair or installing systems and equipment, conducting test runs, demonstrating safe operating procedures, and carrying out preventive maintenance service. They educate clients on troubleshooting techniques, undertake service reviews, and produce service reports. Field Maintenance Technicians also make recommendations related to service upgrades or equipment replacements, organize travel arrangements, and maintain client relationships.

What does a field service technician do?

Field service technicians are skilled professionals who manage the technical needs of their clients outside the company's physical office space. They are usually on the field to visit their clients and check up on clients' equipment. Field service technicians are dispatched to provide technical support. They oversee installations, repairs, or maintenance activities. They ensure that all the work needed is done well. They also conduct diagnostic activities and troubleshooting. Field service technicians also supervise any updating or changes needed to be done in their clients' offices. They are expected to have good analytical skills, communication skills, and highly technical skills.

Field maintenance technician vs field service technician salary

Field maintenance technicians and field service technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.

Field Maintenance TechnicianField Service Technician
Average salary$37,403$54,339
Salary rangeBetween $25,000 And $54,000Between $35,000 And $82,000
Highest paying CityRichmond, VASan Francisco, CA
Highest paying stateMinnesotaCalifornia
Best paying companyAmerican WaterGoogle
Best paying industry-Finance

Differences between field maintenance technician and field service technician education

There are a few differences between a field maintenance technician and a field service technician in terms of educational background:

Field Maintenance TechnicianField Service Technician
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 32%Associate Degree, 40%
Most common majorBusinessElectrical Engineering
Most common college--

Field maintenance technician vs field service technician demographics

Here are the differences between field maintenance technicians' and field service technicians' demographics:

Field Maintenance TechnicianField Service Technician
Average age4744
Gender ratioMale, 91.8% Female, 8.2%Male, 92.3% Female, 7.7%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 10.9% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 19.0% Asian, 4.5% White, 60.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2%Black or African American, 4.8% Unknown, 3.8% Hispanic or Latino, 16.8% Asian, 1.7% White, 72.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%
LGBT Percentage2%1%

Differences between field maintenance technician and field service technician duties and responsibilities

Field maintenance technician example responsibilities.

  • Manage proper storage of equipment, compliance with ANSI, NEC standard and assure OSHA safety regulations.
  • Repair and install anything HVAC and plumbing relate
  • Service and charge HVAC systems.
  • Perform electrical repairs such as replacing switches, ballast and wiring.
  • Perform activities such as loading trucks, repairing and operating rock crushers, loaders, and excavators.
  • Follow OSHA protocols and standards for working with high-voltage equipment and heavy machinery in a constantly changing environment.
  • Show more

Field service technician example responsibilities.

  • Manage onsite supporting contractors to achieve customers end result to satisfaction.
  • Lead initiatives to decrease manufacturing downtime and increase QA process inspection.
  • Manage a team of 12 field engineers and 130 MRI systems in NYC.
  • Collaborate to achieve a Citrix solution for the IADC shop floor and implement the current server farm.
  • Manage and administer network security, LAN, WLAN, desktops, servers, applications, and databases.
  • Manage and service access control technology to include Honeywell's StarII and TEMA, and PCSC MicroLPM and IQ series controllers.
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Field maintenance technician vs field service technician skills

Common field maintenance technician skills
  • Field Maintenance, 15%
  • Customer Service, 10%
  • Plumbing, 7%
  • Preventative Maintenance, 6%
  • OSHA, 6%
  • Routine Maintenance, 5%
Common field service technician skills
  • Customer Service, 19%
  • Preventative Maintenance, 8%
  • Customer Satisfaction, 6%
  • Technical Support, 5%
  • Hand Tools, 4%
  • Test Equipment, 3%

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