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The differences between industrial mechanics and facility maintenance technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become an industrial mechanic, becoming a facility maintenance technician takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, an industrial mechanic has an average salary of $53,333, which is higher than the $39,575 average annual salary of a facility maintenance technician.
The top three skills for an industrial mechanic include industrial maintenance, hand tools and PLC. The most important skills for a facility maintenance technician are plumbing, HVAC, and hand tools.
| Industrial Mechanic | Facility Maintenance Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $53,333 | $39,575 |
| Hourly rate | $25.64 | $19.03 |
| Growth rate | 14% | 5% |
| Number of jobs | 158,560 | 171,217 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 35% | Associate Degree, 31% |
| Average age | 48 | 47 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 4 |
An industrial mechanic maintains and repairs equipment and any other industrial types of machinery in a factory. Industrial mechanics manage the operation of machinery like production machinery, packaging equipment, and conveying systems. They need to use protective equipment like safety glasses and hardhats as well as follow safety precautions during operations. It is their responsibility to make sure that all industrial machines function well through preventive maintenance service and troubleshooting.
A facility maintenance technician is responsible for inspecting the safety and security of the facilities, including the operational tools, equipment, and machinery, to avoid potential hazards in the production area and maintain timely project deliverables. Facility maintenance technicians perform a regular check on the equipment, identifying glitches and inconsistencies, and repairing defective components to avoid delays in operation. They also install and assemble new machines, requiring them to have comprehensive knowledge of reading schematics and blueprints. A facility maintenance technician records incident reports and suggests immediate safety actions to management.
Industrial mechanics and facility maintenance technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Industrial Mechanic | Facility Maintenance Technician | |
| Average salary | $53,333 | $39,575 |
| Salary range | Between $39,000 And $72,000 | Between $29,000 And $52,000 |
| Highest paying City | Fremont, CA | Anchorage, AK |
| Highest paying state | West Virginia | Alaska |
| Best paying company | California Resources | The American Musical and Dramatic Academy |
| Best paying industry | Transportation | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between an industrial mechanic and a facility maintenance technician in terms of educational background:
| Industrial Mechanic | Facility Maintenance Technician | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 35% | Associate Degree, 31% |
| Most common major | Industrial Technology | Electrical Engineering Technology |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between industrial mechanics' and facility maintenance technicians' demographics:
| Industrial Mechanic | Facility Maintenance Technician | |
| Average age | 48 | 47 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 96.6% Female, 3.4% | Male, 95.6% Female, 4.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 7.7% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 18.0% Asian, 3.3% White, 65.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9% | Black or African American, 10.9% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 19.9% Asian, 4.5% White, 59.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 2% | 2% |