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How to hire a general maintenance worker

General maintenance worker hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring general maintenance workers in the United States:

  • HR departments typically spend 15% of their expenses on recruitment.
  • It usually takes about 12 weeks for a new employee to reach full productivity levels.
  • It typically takes 36-42 days to fill a job opening.
  • The median cost to hire a general maintenance worker is $1,633.
  • Small businesses spend an average of $1,105 per general maintenance worker on training each year, while large companies spend $658.
  • There are currently 163,991 general maintenance workers in the US and 153,538 job openings.
  • Colorado Springs, CO, has the highest demand for general maintenance workers, with 22 job openings.
  • New York, NY has the highest concentration of general maintenance workers.

How to hire a general maintenance worker, step by step

To hire a general maintenance worker, you need to identify the specific skills and experience you want in a candidate, allocate a budget for the position, and advertise the job opening to attract potential candidates. To hire a general maintenance worker, you should follow these steps:

Here's a step-by-step general maintenance worker hiring guide:

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

What does a general maintenance worker do?

A general maintenance worker plays a vital role in keeping buildings and establishments running smoothly and efficiently. They are in charge of performing a variety of maintenance tasks such as repairing malfunctioning equipment and systems, replacing light bulbs and other fixtures, handling mechanical fixes, and maintaining the cleanliness of work areas. They must also perform regular maintenance checks on systems, performing repairs and replacements as needed. Moreover, they must also organize and monitor the inventory of supplies, storing them according to the company's policies and regulations.

Learn more about the specifics of what a general maintenance worker does
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  1. Identify your hiring needs

    Before you post your general maintenance worker job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find a general maintenance worker for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

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

    A general maintenance worker's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, general maintenance workers 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.

    The following list breaks down different types of general maintenance workers and their corresponding salaries.

    Type of General Maintenance WorkerDescriptionHourly rate
    General Maintenance WorkerGeneral 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.$12-24
    Building Maintenance TechnicianA building maintenance technician is a professional who takes responsibility for keeping the repair tools and other supplies in good condition. Building maintenance technicians make sure that a facility operates pretty well... Show more$14-25
    Maintenance TechnicianMaintenance technicians are technicians who specialize in the preservation of office facilities. They have in-depth knowledge of how various office equipment or fixtures work so that they can immediately identify how to repair them in case of breakdowns... Show more$14-28
  2. Create an ideal candidate profile

    Common skills:
    • General Maintenance
    • Plumbing
    • Switches
    • HVAC
    • Hand Tools
    • Ladders
    • OSHA
    • Door Locks
    • Mechanical Equipment
    • Snow Removal
    • Customer Service
    • Electrical Receptacles
    • Building Maintenance
    • Electrical Repairs
    Check all skills
    Responsibilities:
    • Maintain overall appearance of cemetery by mowing and trimming grass and keeping area free of debris.
    • Train under OSHA guidelines for safe chemical handling procedures.
    • Install and troubleshoot security cameras and vehicle cameras to ensure training is being properly record.
    • Pull weeds, cut grass, shovele, and pick up garbage to maintain grounds.
    • Make minor repairs to heating equipment to include replacement of thermostats and valves on HVAC equipment.
    • Perform PMCS IAW proper TM s to all target stations, troubleshoot and repair any issues.
    More general maintenance worker duties
  3. Make a budget

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

    • Location. For example, general maintenance workers' average salary in idaho is 43% less than in alaska.
    • Seniority. Entry-level general maintenance workers 46% less than senior-level general maintenance workers.
    • Certifications. A general maintenance worker 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 a general maintenance worker's salary.

    Average general maintenance worker salary

    $36,917yearly

    $17.75 hourly rate

    Entry-level general maintenance worker salary
    $27,000 yearly salary
    Updated December 15, 2025

    Average general maintenance worker salary by state

    RankStateAvg. salaryHourly rate
    1Massachusetts$45,949$22
    2California$44,918$22
    3District of Columbia$44,916$22
    4New York$44,088$21
    5Washington$43,743$21
    6Wisconsin$41,372$20
    7Virginia$39,526$19
    8Maryland$39,507$19
    9Pennsylvania$38,785$19
    10North Carolina$38,736$19
    11Ohio$38,518$19
    12Georgia$38,029$18
    13Minnesota$37,104$18
    14Iowa$37,074$18
    15South Carolina$35,658$17
    16Missouri$34,287$16
    17Colorado$34,072$16
    18Utah$33,374$16
    19Texas$32,528$16
    20Arizona$31,811$15

    Average general maintenance worker salary by company

    RankCompanyAverage salaryHourly rateJob openings
    1Jacobs Engineering Group$54,557$26.23
    2Mount Sinai Health System$52,850$25.415
    3American Water$52,464$25.226
    4Chatham University$50,698$24.37
    5Owens Corning$50,539$24.3027
    6Klein Tools$49,114$23.61
    7Valley Presbyterian Hospital$48,925$23.522
    8Lockheed Martin$48,786$23.4527
    9Southcoast Health$48,579$23.361
    10Madera High School$48,323$23.231
    11General Dynamics$47,685$22.9328
    12United Natural Foods$47,561$22.878
    13Prime Healthcare$47,544$22.8626
    14Raytheon Technologies$47,319$22.7528
    15Anheuser-Busch$47,171$22.6822
    16Campbells$46,911$22.5513
    17Four Seasons$46,814$22.516
    18Dairy Farmers of America$46,323$22.27109
    19Anoka-Ramsey Community College$46,065$22.15
    20Miriam Hospital$46,035$22.13
  4. Writing a general maintenance worker job description

    A job description for a general maintenance worker role includes a summary of the job's main responsibilities, required skills, and preferred background experience. Including a salary range can also go a long way in attracting more candidates to apply, and showing the first name of the hiring manager can also make applicants more comfortable. As an example, here's a general maintenance worker job description:

    General maintenance worker job description example

    Since being founded in 1919, Hilton has been a leader in the hospitality industry. Today, Hilton remains a beacon of innovation, quality, and success. This continued leadership results from our Team Members staying true to our Vision, Mission, and Values. Specifically, we look for demonstration of these Values:

    • Hospitality - We're passionate about delivering exceptional guest experiences.
    • Integrity - We do the right thing all the time.
    • Leadership - We're leaders in our industry and our communities.
    • Teamwork - We're team players in everything we do.
    • Ownership - We're the owners of our actions and decisions.
    • Now - We operate with a sense of urgency and discipline

    In addition, we look for the demonstration of the following key attributes:

    • Quality
    • Productivity
    • Dependability
    • Customer Focus
    • Adaptability

    What will it be like to work for Hilton?

    Hilton is the leading global hospitality company, spanning the lodging sector from luxurious full-service hotels and resorts to extended-stay suites and mid-priced hotels. Hilton has offered business and leisure travelers the finest in accommodations, service, amenities, and value for nearly a century. Hilton is dedicated to continuing its tradition of providing exceptional guest experiences across its global brands. Our vision to fill the earth with the light and warmth of hospitality unites us as a team to create remarkable hospitality experiences around the world every day. And our outstanding Team Members are at the heart of it all!

    Benefits

    * Competitive Pay

    * Global Hospitality Training

    * Health Insurance

    * Paid Time Off

    * 401(k)

    * Worldwide Employee Hotel Room Discount

    EOE/AA/Disabled/Veterans

  5. Post your job

    To find the right general maintenance worker for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

    • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
    • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with general maintenance workers they would recommend.
    • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit general maintenance workers who meet your education requirements.
    • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.
    Post your job online:
    • Post your general maintenance worker job on Zippia to find and recruit general maintenance worker candidates who meet your exact specifications.
    • Use field-specific websites.
    • Post a job on free websites.
  6. Interview candidates

    Recruiting general maintenance workers requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

    Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to the technical interview.

    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 general maintenance worker

    Once you have selected a candidate for the general maintenance worker 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 equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

    Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new general maintenance worker. Human Resources should complete Employee Action Forms and ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc. They should also ensure that new employee files are created for internal recordkeeping.

  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.)
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How much does it cost to hire a general maintenance worker?

Hiring a general maintenance worker comes with both the one-time cost per hire and ongoing costs. The cost of recruiting general maintenance workers 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 general maintenance worker recruiting as well the ongoing costs of maintaining the new employee.

You can expect to pay around $36,917 per year for a general maintenance worker, 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 general maintenance workers in the US typically range between $12 and $24 an hour.

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