Post job

What does a general maintenance mechanic do?

Updated January 8, 2025
7 min read
What does a general maintenance mechanic do

A general maintenance mechanic is responsible for ensuring the cleanliness and orderliness of the facilities and inspecting the condition and performance of the equipment and machinery for business operations and processes. General maintenance mechanics handle equipment repairs and replacement of defective components, requiring them to have extensive knowledge of the mechanical industry. They also install and assemble equipment by analyzing mechanical schematics and blueprints accurately. A general maintenance mechanic creates a comprehensive schedule of inspection, repairs, and quality control checks to preserve the safe standards of the premises.

On this page

General maintenance mechanic responsibilities

Here are examples of responsibilities from real general maintenance mechanic resumes:

  • Maintain all safety and training documentation as required by OSHA.
  • Assist client in maintaining a clean, safe work environment per OSHA regulations.
  • General apartment maintenance in HVAC repair
  • Perform PLC setup of newly install production machinery.
  • Repair and troubleshoot not only plumbing but also construction and general maintenance situations.
  • Perform general maintenance of parks facilities including carpentry, electrical and plumbing work.
  • Perform multiple assignments relate to maintenance, cleanliness and operation across multiple hydroelectric power stations.
  • Inspect boilers and other machinery to ensure proper operation by making require adjustments or repairs.
  • Operate trucks, tractors with attachments, loaders, forklifts and riding mowers.
  • Mow and trim lawns and shrubbery, using mowers, hand and power trimmers.
  • Use and install chain hoists or any other lifting device require for rigging of equipment and hardware throughout the plant.
  • Mow and trim lawns and shrubbery, using mowers and hand and power trimmers, and clear debris from grounds.

General maintenance mechanic skills and personality traits

We calculated that 16% of General Maintenance Mechanics are proficient in Plumbing, HVAC, and Customer Service. They’re also known for soft skills such as Customer-service skills, Dexterity, and Troubleshooting skills.

We break down the percentage of General Maintenance Mechanics that have these skills listed on their resume here:

  • Plumbing, 16%

    Team Leader-LandscapingTeam Leader-Mowing I also performed some maintenance technician duties which included* Electrical* Plumbing* Painting

  • HVAC, 11%

    Maintain boilers, air handlers (HVAC), grease motors, replace belts, and components that are related.

  • Customer Service, 11%

    Provided outstanding customer services in applying basic construction to more than 500 customers with 100% satisfied results.

  • Hand Tools, 5%

    Assemble, install, test, and maintain electrical appliances, apparatus, and fixtures, using hand tools/power tools.

  • Ladders, 5%

    Utilize safety practices relating to aerial lift vehicles, ladders and potentially hazardous environments.

  • Electrical Equipment, 4%

    Research and requisition of repair parts for electrical equipment maintenance.

"plumbing," "hvac," and "customer service" are among the most common skills that general maintenance mechanics use at work. You can find even more general maintenance mechanic responsibilities below, including:

Customer-service skills. To carry out their duties, the most important skill for a general maintenance mechanic to have is customer-service skills. Their role and responsibilities require that "these workers interact with customers on a regular basis." General maintenance mechanics often use customer-service skills in their day-to-day job, as shown by this real resume: "responded to all guest calls for both tower and room maintenance to include all electrical repairs. "

Dexterity. Another soft skill that's essential for fulfilling general maintenance mechanic duties is dexterity. The role rewards competence in this skill because "many repair and maintenance tasks, such as repairing small devices, connecting or attaching components, and using hand tools, require a steady hand and good hand–eye coordination." According to a general maintenance mechanic resume, here's how general maintenance mechanics can utilize dexterity in their job responsibilities: "maintained cleanliness of workout machines, bathrooms, locker rooms and weight lifting area. "

Troubleshooting skills. This is an important skill for general maintenance mechanics to perform their duties. For an example of how general maintenance mechanic responsibilities depend on this skill, consider that "workers find, diagnose, and repair problems." This excerpt from a resume also shows how vital it is to everyday roles and responsibilities of a general maintenance mechanic: "perform troubleshooting procedures on electrical systems. ".

Most common general maintenance mechanic skills

Choose from 10+ customizable general maintenance mechanic resume templates

Build a professional general maintenance mechanic resume in minutes. Our AI resume writing assistant will guide you through every step of the process, and you can choose from 10+ resume templates to create your general maintenance mechanic resume.
General Maintenance Mechanic Resume
General Maintenance Mechanic Resume
General Maintenance Mechanic Resume
General Maintenance Mechanic Resume
General Maintenance Mechanic Resume
General Maintenance Mechanic Resume
General Maintenance Mechanic Resume
General Maintenance Mechanic Resume
General Maintenance Mechanic Resume
General Maintenance Mechanic Resume
General Maintenance Mechanic Resume
General Maintenance Mechanic Resume
General Maintenance Mechanic Resume
General Maintenance Mechanic Resume
General Maintenance Mechanic Resume
General Maintenance Mechanic Resume

Compare different general maintenance mechanics

General maintenance mechanic vs. Mechanic

Mechanics are professionals responsible for assembling, maintaining, and repairing vehicles and types of machinery. They are knowledgeable of various tools and equipment, machinery, electrical systems, and other components. They can usually be seen indoors, garages in particular. Due to the advancement of technology, they are also required to be familiar with computer and software programs that can be used in auto shops and vehicles. They always work in safety precautions.

If we compare the average general maintenance mechanic annual salary with that of a mechanic, we find that mechanics typically earn a $9,518 higher salary than general maintenance mechanics make annually.While their salaries may differ, the common ground between general maintenance mechanics and mechanics are a few of the skills required in each roleacirc;euro;trade;s responsibilities. In both careers, employee duties involve skills like hvac, customer service, and hand tools.

There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, general maintenance mechanic responsibilities require skills like "plumbing," "electrical equipment," "mechanical equipment," and "caulking." Meanwhile a typical mechanic has skills in areas such as "preventive maintenance," "customer vehicles," "diagnosis," and "routine maintenance." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.

Mechanics tend to make the most money working in the manufacturing industry, where they earn an average salary of $51,758. In contrast, general maintenance mechanics make the biggest average salary, $41,234, in the manufacturing industry.On average, mechanics reach similar levels of education than general maintenance mechanics. Mechanics are 0.0% less likely to earn a Master's Degree and 0.1% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

General maintenance mechanic vs. Maintenance associate

A maintenance associate is responsible for ensuring the cleanliness and orderliness of the facilities, as well as inspecting and repairing broken machines and defective equipment to avoid delays in the operations. Maintenance associates monitor the adequacy of inventories, especially in manufacturing settings, coordinating with suppliers and third-party vendors for distribution and delivery. They also report hazardous incidents to the management, resolve maintenance complaints, and suggest quality control strategies to prevent reoccurrence and improve operational structures.

A career as a maintenance associate brings a lower average salary when compared to the average annual salary of a general maintenance mechanic. In fact, maintenance associates salary is $2,530 lower than the salary of general maintenance mechanics per year.A few skills overlap for general maintenance mechanics and maintenance associates. Resumes from both professions show that the duties of each career rely on skills like "plumbing," "hvac," and "customer service. "

While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that general maintenance mechanic responsibilities requires skills like "electrical equipment," "switches," "door locks," and "osha." But a maintenance associate might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "clean environment," "sales floor," "groceries," and "clean restrooms."

Maintenance associates earn a lower average salary than general maintenance mechanics. But maintenance associates earn the highest pay in the manufacturing industry, with an average salary of $37,733. Additionally, general maintenance mechanics earn the highest salaries in the manufacturing with average pay of $41,234 annually.Average education levels between the two professions vary. Maintenance associates tend to reach similar levels of education than general maintenance mechanics. In fact, they're 0.4% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.1% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

General maintenance mechanic vs. Maintenance engineer

A 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. They also conduct routine checks, assist clients with technical faults, and ensure that the equipment works safely for certain operations. A maintenance engineer must have excellent knowledge of the mechanical industry to address technical malfunctions immediately.

On average scale, maintenance engineers bring in higher salaries than general maintenance mechanics. In fact, they earn a $9,502 higher salary per year.general maintenance mechanics and maintenance engineers both have job responsibilities that require similar skill sets. These similarities include skills such as "plumbing," "hvac," and "customer service," but they differ when it comes to other required skills.

There are many key differences between these two careers, including some of the skills required to perform responsibilities within each role. For example, a general maintenance mechanic is likely to be skilled in "safety procedures," "door locks," "minor maintenance," and "ventilation," while a typical maintenance engineer is skilled in "guest rooms," "maintenance tasks," "boilers," and "kitchen equipment."

When it comes to education, maintenance engineers tend to earn similar degree levels compared to general maintenance mechanics. In fact, they're 4.7% more likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.0% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

General maintenance mechanic vs. Maintenance team member

Inspection, performance, and maintenance are the major functions of a maintenance team member. They are the ones responsible for repairing, fixing, monitoring, and ensuring that the equipment or tools are utilized properly without having any issues. This job position requires someone who is organized and can multi-task because of the unpredictable nature of the job.

Maintenance team members tend to earn a lower pay than general maintenance mechanics by an average of $8,599 per year.While both general maintenance mechanics and maintenance team members complete day-to-day tasks using similar skills like plumbing, hvac, and customer service, the two careers vary in some skills.

Even though a few skill sets overlap between general maintenance mechanics and maintenance team members, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, a general maintenance mechanic might have more use for skills like "caulking," "electrical systems," "door locks," and "osha." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of maintenance team members require skills like "pallets," "general maintenance," "safety standards," and "sales floor. "

Maintenance team members enjoy the best pay in the technology industry, with an average salary of $33,118. For comparison, general maintenance mechanics earn the highest salary in the manufacturing industry.maintenance team members reach similar levels of education compared to general maintenance mechanics, in general. The difference is that they're 2.4% more likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.1% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Types of general maintenance mechanic

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

Browse installation, maintenance and repair jobs