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The differences between field maintenance technicians and preventive 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 field maintenance technician and a preventive maintenance technician. Additionally, a preventive maintenance technician has an average salary of $40,935, 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 preventive maintenance technician are customer service, hand tools, and HVAC.
| Field Maintenance Technician | Preventive Maintenance Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $37,403 | $40,935 |
| Hourly rate | $17.98 | $19.68 |
| Growth rate | 5% | 5% |
| Number of jobs | 225,113 | 170,517 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 32% | Associate Degree, 31% |
| Average age | 47 | 47 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
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.
A preventive maintenance technician performs routine facility maintenance to prevent possible mechanical failure. The technicians change worn out machine parts before they can cause mechanical damage. They keep the facility operating. It is their job to conduct quality assessments, maintain inventory, and schedule repairs. Also, they see to it that machines are up and running at all times. They are expected to be equipped with skills in customer service, problem-solving, reading comprehension, business operation, and mechanical aptitude.
Field maintenance technicians and preventive maintenance technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Field Maintenance Technician | Preventive Maintenance Technician | |
| Average salary | $37,403 | $40,935 |
| Salary range | Between $25,000 And $54,000 | Between $31,000 And $52,000 |
| Highest paying City | Richmond, VA | Owatonna, MN |
| Highest paying state | Minnesota | Alaska |
| Best paying company | American Water | Kiewit |
| Best paying industry | - | Automotive |
There are a few differences between a field maintenance technician and a preventive maintenance technician in terms of educational background:
| Field Maintenance Technician | Preventive Maintenance Technician | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 32% | Associate Degree, 31% |
| Most common major | Business | Automotive Technology |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between field maintenance technicians' and preventive maintenance technicians' demographics:
| Field Maintenance Technician | Preventive Maintenance Technician | |
| Average age | 47 | 47 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 91.8% Female, 8.2% | Male, 91.8% Female, 8.2% |
| Race ratio | Black 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, 11.3% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 19.4% Asian, 4.6% White, 59.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 2% | 2% |