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The differences between industrial mechanics and 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 maintenance technician takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, an industrial mechanic has an average salary of $53,333, which is higher than the $43,293 average annual salary of a maintenance technician.
The top three skills for an industrial mechanic include industrial maintenance, hand tools and PLC. The most important skills for a maintenance technician are plumbing, HVAC, and hand tools.
| Industrial Mechanic | Maintenance Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $53,333 | $43,293 |
| Hourly rate | $25.64 | $20.81 |
| Growth rate | 14% | 5% |
| Number of jobs | 158,560 | 178,450 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4.25 |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 35% | High School Diploma, 34% |
| 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.
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.
Industrial mechanics and maintenance technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Industrial Mechanic | Maintenance Technician | |
| Average salary | $53,333 | $43,293 |
| Salary range | Between $39,000 And $72,000 | Between $31,000 And $59,000 |
| Highest paying City | Fremont, CA | Richmond, CA |
| Highest paying state | West Virginia | Rhode Island |
| Best paying company | California Resources | Anheuser-Busch |
| Best paying industry | Transportation | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between an industrial mechanic and a maintenance technician in terms of educational background:
| Industrial Mechanic | Maintenance Technician | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 35% | High School Diploma, 34% |
| Most common major | Industrial Technology | Electrical Engineering Technology |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between industrial mechanics' and maintenance technicians' demographics:
| Industrial Mechanic | Maintenance Technician | |
| Average age | 48 | 47 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 96.6% Female, 3.4% | Male, 95.7% Female, 4.3% |
| 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, 11.4% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 18.2% Asian, 4.6% White, 60.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 2% | 2% |