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The differences between handymen and maintenance engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a handyman and a maintenance engineer. Additionally, a maintenance engineer has an average salary of $47,133, which is higher than the $44,648 average annual salary of a handyman.
The top three skills for a handyman include plumbing, customer service and drywall repair. The most important skills for a maintenance engineer are plumbing, HVAC, and guest rooms.
| Handyman | Maintenance Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $44,648 | $47,133 |
| Hourly rate | $21.47 | $22.66 |
| Growth rate | 5% | 5% |
| Number of jobs | 3,371 | 97,957 |
| Job satisfaction | 4.5 | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 41% | Bachelor's Degree, 48% |
| Average age | 47 | 47 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
A handyman can perform various repair and maintenance tasks involving electricity, carpentry, plumbing, and even appliance installation. Most handymen work independently, but they can also choose to be part of a company. Furthermore, a handyman must also discuss the extent of repairs to clients, even sharing insights on maintaining facilities in good condition. There are instances when a handyman may be required to work in a group setting, which requires an active line of communication and coordination.
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.
Handymen and maintenance engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Handyman | Maintenance Engineer | |
| Average salary | $44,648 | $47,133 |
| Salary range | Between $32,000 And $61,000 | Between $29,000 And $74,000 |
| Highest paying City | Silver Spring, MD | New York, NY |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | The American Musical and Dramatic Academy | Halliburton |
| Best paying industry | Construction | - |
There are a few differences between a handyman and a maintenance engineer in terms of educational background:
| Handyman | Maintenance Engineer | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 41% | Bachelor's Degree, 48% |
| Most common major | Business | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between handymen' and maintenance engineers' demographics:
| Handyman | Maintenance Engineer | |
| Average age | 47 | 47 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 95.8% Female, 4.2% | Male, 94.6% Female, 5.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.5% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 22.4% Asian, 4.3% White, 58.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1% | Black or African American, 10.4% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 19.9% Asian, 4.4% White, 59.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 2% | 2% |