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.
General maintenance worker responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real general maintenance worker resumes:
- 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.
- Operate small to mid-size equipment including mowers, string trimmers, blowers, chain saws, etc.
- Remove snow from sidewalks and parking lots using snow plows, snow blowers, or snow shovels.
- Home repair/Remodeling: painting, wall papering, caulking, installing fixtures, leveling floors and laminate flooring.
- Install and maintain landscaped areas, performing tasks such as mowing lawns, removing weeds, and planting shrubs.
- Provide general electrical, plumbing, painting, drywall and other maintenance duties in employee work areas and in physical plant.
- Perform other electrical and plumbing repairs.
- Perform scheduled maintenance services and unschedule maintenance repairs on HVAC equipment to sustain operation of equipment.
- Remove debris from stairs and side walks, rakes leaves, and mows lawns.
- Pick up and dispose of trash and debris using poker sticks, rakes and brooms.
General maintenance worker skills and personality traits
We calculated that 18% of General Maintenance Workers are proficient in General Maintenance, Plumbing, and Switches. They’re also known for soft skills such as Customer-service skills, Dexterity, and Troubleshooting skills.
We break down the percentage of General Maintenance Workers that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- General Maintenance, 18%
General Maintenance Worker Responsibilities include painting, remodeling, general maintenance and upkeep of the company's student housing properties
- Plumbing, 12%
Maintained and repaired machines, mechanical equipment, and buildings including their plumbing, electrical, and air and heating systems.
- Switches, 6%
Conducted electrical repairs to include replacing outlets, light switches, and fixture replacements.
- HVAC, 5%
Performed scheduled maintenance services and unscheduled maintenance repairs on HVAC equipment to sustain operation of equipment.
- Hand Tools, 5%
Operate lawn equipment such as riding mowers, weed eaters, and a variety of hand tools.
- Ladders, 4%
Wash all interior/exterior windows using extension poles and/or ladders.
"general maintenance," "plumbing," and "switches" are among the most common skills that general maintenance workers use at work. You can find even more general maintenance worker responsibilities below, including:
Customer-service skills. One of the key soft skills for a general maintenance worker to have is customer-service skills. You can see how this relates to what general maintenance workers do because "these workers interact with customers on a regular basis." Additionally, a general maintenance worker resume shows how general maintenance workers use customer-service skills: "developed customer service skills, flexibility and stress management helping customers and coworkers with long wait times"
Dexterity. Another essential skill to perform general maintenance worker duties is dexterity. General maintenance workers responsibilities require that "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." General maintenance workers also use dexterity in their role according to a real resume snippet: "replace standard and florescent lights using ladders and portable genie lifts. "
Troubleshooting skills. This is an important skill for general maintenance workers to perform their duties. For an example of how general maintenance worker 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 worker: "assisted lead mechanic with repair and troubleshooting hvac systems. ".
The three companies that hire the most general maintenance workers are:
- Sodexo Management, Inc.77 general maintenance workers jobs
- Peraton21 general maintenance workers jobs
- Troon17 general maintenance workers jobs
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Compare different general maintenance workers
General maintenance worker vs. Building maintenance technician
A building maintenance technician is an individual 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. The technicians need to familiarize the security of the buildings. They maintain buildings through repairs and safety checks. It is their job to care for industrial and commercial facilities and determine maintenance needs. Some of them are in charge of the landscape and perform primary janitorial work.
These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of a general maintenance worker are more likely to require skills like "general maintenance," "floor tile," "electrical receptacles," and "painting structures." On the other hand, a job as a building maintenance technician requires skills like "dexterity," "fire protection," "dollies," and "air compressors." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.
Building maintenance technicians tend to make the most money working in the manufacturing industry, where they earn an average salary of $42,815. In contrast, general maintenance workers make the biggest average salary, $44,500, in the energy industry.The education levels that building maintenance technicians earn slightly differ from general maintenance workers. In particular, building maintenance technicians are 0.4% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than a general maintenance worker. Additionally, they're 0.1% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.General maintenance worker vs. Maintenance technician
Maintenance 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. Maintenance technicians perform diagnostics and routine maintenance activities to ensure that everything in the office is running well. They immediately repair problems in fixtures or equipment to avoid any further damages or safety concerns. They should be familiar with occupational safety and health standards to ensure that the office is a safe place to work.
While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that general maintenance worker responsibilities requires skills like "general maintenance," "floor tile," "door locks," and "electrical receptacles." But a maintenance technician might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "industrial maintenance," "maintenance tasks," "plc," and "safety standards."
On average, maintenance technicians earn a higher salary than general maintenance workers. Some industries support higher salaries in each profession. Interestingly enough, maintenance technicians earn the most pay in the manufacturing industry with an average salary of $50,146. Whereas general maintenance workers have higher pay in the energy industry, with an average salary of $44,500.Average education levels between the two professions vary. Maintenance technicians tend to reach similar levels of education than general maintenance workers. In fact, they're 0.7% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.1% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.General maintenance worker vs. Maintenance specialist
A maintenance specialist is responsible for maintaining the company's technology equipment and machinery, as well as computer and network systems, and other related instruments to support the business operational functions, ensuring the highest client service and satisfaction. Maintenance specialists conduct preventive and repair maintenance, inspect defective lines and components, and perform troubleshooting to maintain optimal performance and service delivery. A maintenance specialist must have excellent knowledge of the technology industry, especially when assisting the end-users with their concerns and inquiries.
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 worker is likely to be skilled in "floor tile," "door locks," "electrical receptacles," and "painting structures," while a typical maintenance specialist is skilled in "preventive maintenance," "safety procedures," "work ethic," and "maintenance tasks."
Maintenance specialists make a very good living in the technology industry with an average annual salary of $57,768. On the other hand, general maintenance workers are paid the highest salary in the energy industry, with average annual pay of $44,500.Most maintenance specialists achieve a similar degree level compared to general maintenance workers. For example, they're 3.0% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.2% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.General maintenance worker vs. Building maintenance mechanic
A building maintenance mechanic is primarily in charge of maintaining mechanical systems and equipment in good condition. They conduct regular maintenance checks, performing repairs or replacements when necessary. They may also respond to issues and concerns, troubleshoot problems, install and upgrade systems, provide technical support and advice to staff, manage vehicles, monitor supply inventory, purchase supplies, and maintain records. Moreover, a building maintenance mechanic usually works in a team setting, which requires a clear communication line for a smooth and efficient workflow.
Even though a few skill sets overlap between general maintenance workers and building maintenance mechanics, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, a general maintenance worker might have more use for skills like "general maintenance," "floor tile," "osha," and "electrical receptacles." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of building maintenance mechanics require skills like "cleanliness," "boilers," "windows," and "kitchen equipment. "
In general, building maintenance mechanics earn the most working in the energy industry, with an average salary of $42,061. The highest-paying industry for a general maintenance worker is the energy industry.In general, building maintenance mechanics hold similar degree levels compared to general maintenance workers. Building maintenance mechanics are 0.2% more likely to earn their Master's Degree and 0.1% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Types of general maintenance worker
Updated January 8, 2025
