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The differences between industrial mechanics and preventive 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 preventive maintenance technician takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, an industrial mechanic has an average salary of $53,333, which is higher than the $40,935 average annual salary of a preventive maintenance technician.
The top three skills for an industrial mechanic include industrial maintenance, hand tools and PLC. The most important skills for a preventive maintenance technician are customer service, hand tools, and HVAC.
| Industrial Mechanic | Preventive Maintenance Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $53,333 | $40,935 |
| Hourly rate | $25.64 | $19.68 |
| Growth rate | 14% | 5% |
| Number of jobs | 158,560 | 170,517 |
| 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 preventive maintenance technician performs routine facility maintenance to prevent possible mechanical failure. The technicians change worn out machine parts before they can cause mechanical damage. They keep the facility operating. It is their job to conduct quality assessments, maintain inventory, and schedule repairs. Also, they see to it that machines are up and running at all times. They are expected to be equipped with skills in customer service, problem-solving, reading comprehension, business operation, and mechanical aptitude.
Industrial mechanics and preventive maintenance technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Industrial Mechanic | Preventive Maintenance Technician | |
| Average salary | $53,333 | $40,935 |
| Salary range | Between $39,000 And $72,000 | Between $31,000 And $52,000 |
| Highest paying City | Fremont, CA | Owatonna, MN |
| Highest paying state | West Virginia | Alaska |
| Best paying company | California Resources | Kiewit |
| Best paying industry | Transportation | Automotive |
There are a few differences between an industrial mechanic and a preventive maintenance technician in terms of educational background:
| Industrial Mechanic | Preventive Maintenance Technician | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 35% | Associate Degree, 31% |
| Most common major | Industrial Technology | Automotive Technology |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between industrial mechanics' and preventive maintenance technicians' demographics:
| Industrial Mechanic | Preventive Maintenance Technician | |
| Average age | 48 | 47 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 96.6% Female, 3.4% | Male, 91.8% Female, 8.2% |
| 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, 11.3% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 19.4% Asian, 4.6% White, 59.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 2% | 2% |