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How to hire a maintenance assistant

Maintenance assistant hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring maintenance assistants in the United States:

  • The median cost to hire a maintenance assistant is $1,633.
  • It takes between 36 and 42 days to fill the average role in the US.
  • HR departments typically allocate 15% of their budget towards recruitment efforts.
  • Small businesses spend $1,105 per maintenance assistant on training each year, while large companies spend $658.
  • It takes approximately 12 weeks for a new employee to reach full productivity levels.
  • There are a total of 846,508 maintenance assistants in the US, and there are currently 95,815 job openings in this field.
  • Indianapolis, IN, has the highest demand for maintenance assistants, with 19 job openings.

How to hire a maintenance assistant, step by step

To hire a maintenance assistant, you need to identify the specific skills and experience you want in a candidate, allocate a budget for the position, and advertise the job opening to attract potential candidates. To hire a maintenance assistant, you should follow these steps:

Here's a step-by-step maintenance assistant hiring guide:

  • Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
  • Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
  • Step 3: Make a budget
  • Step 4: Write a maintenance assistant job description
  • Step 5: Post your job
  • Step 6: Interview candidates
  • Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new maintenance assistant
  • Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a maintenance assistant do?

A maintenance assistant is responsible for maintaining the company's facilities' cleanliness, ensuring that all the equipment and machinery are in working condition, and escalating high defective items for repair. Maintenance assistants should adhere to the organization's safety standards at all times to prevent hazards in operations. They also assist with monitoring inventories and requesting office supplies, inspect electrical wirings and systems for inconsistencies, respond to cleaning and repair requests, and assist guests to the correct departments.

Learn more about the specifics of what a maintenance assistant does
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  1. Identify your hiring needs

    First, determine the employments status of the maintenance assistant you need to hire. Certain maintenance assistant roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

    Determine employee vs contractor status
    Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

    Hiring the perfect maintenance assistant also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

    This list presents maintenance assistant salaries for various positions.

    Type of Maintenance AssistantDescriptionHourly rate
    Maintenance AssistantGeneral maintenance and repair workers fix and maintain machines, mechanical equipment, and buildings. They paint, repair flooring, and work on plumbing, electrical, and air-conditioning and heating systems.$11-19
    Groundskeeping MaintenanceA Groundskeeping Maintenance Worker performs several skilled and semi-skilled tasks in grounds keeping and building trade areas. They maintain turf places, including weed control and Integrated Pest Management... Show more$11-18
    Janitorial Maintenance WorkerA janitorial maintenance worker is one of the busiest employees in a company. They are responsible for inspecting all the office's rooms and equipment daily... Show more$9-14
  2. Create an ideal candidate profile

    Common skills:
    • Plumbing
    • HVAC
    • Customer Service
    • Patients
    • Electrical Equipment
    • Maintenance Tasks
    • GRASS
    • OSHA
    • Ladders
    • Hand Tools
    • Snow Removal
    • Fire Protection
    • Work Ethic
    • Cleanliness
    Check all skills
    Responsibilities:
    • Manage long-term working relationships with many local service providers including professional septic, plumbing, electrical and HVAC providers.
    • Program and adjust PLC systems and associate communications.
    • Coordinate inspection and verify work of roofing vendors.
    • Conduce control testing on PLC's for crane trolleys.
    • Change grease for fryers and occasionally cook on the grill.
    • Maintain the integrity and dexterity of the hospital's appearance.
    More maintenance assistant duties
  3. Make a budget

    Including a salary range in the maintenance assistant job description is a good way to get more applicants. A maintenance assistant salary can be affected by several factors, such as the location of the job, the level of experience, education, certifications, and the employer's prestige.

    For example, the average salary for a maintenance assistant in Mississippi may be lower than in Hawaii, and an entry-level engineer typically earns less than a senior-level maintenance assistant. Additionally, a maintenance assistant with lots of experience in the field may command a higher salary as a result.

    Average maintenance assistant salary

    $15.34hourly

    $31,915 yearly

    Entry-level maintenance assistant salary
    $24,000 yearly salary
    Updated January 1, 2026

    Average maintenance assistant salary by state

    RankStateAvg. salaryHourly rate
    1Nevada$36,308$17
    2California$35,475$17
    3New York$34,891$17
    4Massachusetts$34,848$17
    5Washington$34,272$16
    6New Jersey$33,947$16
    7Minnesota$33,608$16
    8Illinois$32,745$16
    9Maryland$32,464$16
    10Oregon$32,452$16
    11Wisconsin$31,941$15
    12Georgia$31,121$15
    13Colorado$31,100$15
    14Virginia$30,642$15
    15Pennsylvania$30,597$15
    16North Carolina$30,506$15
    17Ohio$30,490$15
    18Nebraska$30,460$15
    19Indiana$30,109$14
    20Texas$30,085$14

    Average maintenance assistant salary by company

    RankCompanyAverage salaryHourly rateJob openings
    1Brigham and Women's Hospital$51,561$24.791
    2University of California-Berkeley$49,658$23.87
    3The University of Chicago$48,900$23.516
    4UC Santa Barbara$48,299$23.22
    5Las Vegas Valley Water District$47,080$22.63
    6Pro Football Hall of Fame$46,491$22.35
    7Washington County$46,227$22.222
    8New Hanover County$45,887$22.06
    9Eaton$45,856$22.0524
    10Martin Midstream GP$44,818$21.551
    11Wabash Valley Power Alliance$44,781$21.53
    12avanti$44,628$21.464
    13UC Merced$44,583$21.43
    14Harnett County$44,470$21.38
    15Via of the Lehigh Valley$43,922$21.12
    16Cornell University$43,829$21.072
    17Madison County$43,522$20.92
    18RSL$43,513$20.921
    19North Shore Healthcare$43,375$20.851
    20Milwaukee County$43,220$20.78
  4. Writing a maintenance assistant job description

    A maintenance assistant job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. To help get you started, here's an example of a maintenance assistant job description:

    Maintenance assistant job description example

    We're JLL-a leading professional services and investment management firm specializing in real estate. We have operations in over 80 countries and a workforce of over 98,000 individuals around the world who help real estate owners, occupiers and investors achieve their business ambitions. As a global Fortune 500 company, we also have an inherent responsibility to drive sustainability and corporate social responsibility. That's why we're committed to our purpose to shape the future of real estate for a better world. We're using the most advanced technology to create rewarding opportunities, amazing spaces and sustainable real estate solutions for our clients, our people and our communities.

    Our core values of teamwork, ethics and excellence are also fundamental to everything we do and we're honored to be recognized with awards for our success by organizations both globally and locally.

    Creating a diverse and inclusive culture where we all feel welcomed, valued and empowered to achieve our full potential is important to who we are today and where we're headed in the future. And we know that unique backgrounds, experiences and perspectives help us think bigger, spark innovation and succeed together.

    If this job description resonates with you, we encourage you to apply even if you don't meet all of the requirements below. We're interested in getting to know you and what you bring to the table!

    • Building Maintenance Assistant

    The Building Maintenance Assistant (BMA) has a primary job function of flushing/collecting samples from the WFI and Purified Water systems to deliver to the Quality Control Department for appropriate testing. Working knowledge of SOPs, EHS requirements, and application of cGMP/GDP is required.

    Essential Job Functions

    Maintains regular and consistent attendance and punctuality

    Performs all work using proper safety equipment and in a safe manner

    Maintains service documentation via Computerized Maintenance Management System (CMMS)

    Ability to communicate with customers, management, colleagues on work orders and projects

    Maintains tools, parts, equipment and supplies in clean and safe condition

    Willingness to work in a multi-skilled team environment

    Ensures all work orders are completed and closed with all appropriate documentation within the time constraints of the request

    May support the activities of JLL sub-contractors working within assigned areas

    Acts as a resource for all partners in equipment and service maintenance

    Perform escorting of contractors

    Handle preventative maintenance tasks and Non-Routine activities as needed

    Willingness to be a team player and assist other members of facilities team when needed

    Education and Experience

    HS diploma or GED equivalent

    Certifications and Licenses

    Valid state driver s license

    Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

    • Ability to lift 20lbs frequently

    Excellent English verbal and written communication skills

    Excellent computer skills, including a working knowledge of Word and Excel

    Proven record of superior internal/external customer service

    Ability to work in a fast-paced, demanding environment and the ability to master new skill sets quickly

    Work Environment Conditions

    Will be required to work in a clean room environment, utility yard, and office setting

    May be required to work overtime/Holidays to meet deadlines

    Required to work Saturday or Sunday

    Ability to Understand SOP's (Standard Operating Procedures)

    Benefits:

    Our benefits are a good reason to come to JLL.

    We are committed to hiring the best, most talented people in our industry, and then empowering them with the resources and support to enhance their health, financial and personal well-being. Our underlying benefits philosophy is this: be fair to our people, and provide opportunities for those who take advantage of our programs and resources to lower their health costs and increase their personal and financial security.

    Benefits to eligible employees, include:

    • 401(k) plan with matching company contributions
    • Medical, Dental & Vision Care
    • 6 weeks of paid parental leave at 100% of salary
    • Paid Time Off and Company Holidays
    • Flexible Work Arrangements may be available
    • Executive Benefits

    What you can expect from us

    We succeed together and believe the best inspire the best, so we invest in supporting each other, learning together and celebrating our success.

    Our Total Rewards program reflects our commitment to helping you achieve your career ambitions, recognizing your contributions, investing in your well-being and providing competitive benefits and pay.

    We can't wait to see where your ambitions take you at JLL. Apply today!

    JLL Privacy Notice

    Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL), together with its subsidiaries and affiliates, is a leading global provider of real estate and investment management services. We take our responsibility to protect the personal information provided to us seriously. Generally the personal information we collect from you are for the purposes of processing in connection with JLL's recruitment process. We endeavour to keep your personal information secure with appropriate level of security and keep for as long as we need it for legitimate business or legal reasons. We will then delete it safely and securely.

    For more information about how JLL processes your personal data, please view our Candidate Privacy Statement.

    For additional details please see our career site pages for each country.

    For employees in the United States, please see a fully copy of our Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action policy here.

    This position may require you to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. If required, you'll be asked to provide proof that you're fully vaccinated upon your start date. You're considered fully vaccinated two weeks after you receive the second dose of a two-dose vaccine series (e.g., Pfizer or Moderna) or two weeks after a single-dose vaccine (e.g., Johnson & Johnson/Janssen). Failure to provide proof of vaccination may result in termination.

    Jones Lang LaSalle (“JLL”) is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation because of a disability for any part of the employment process - including the online application and/or overall selection process - you may contact us at Accommodation Requests. This email is only to request an accommodation. Please direct any other general recruiting inquiries to our Contact Us page > I want to work for JLL.

  5. Post your job

    There are various strategies that you can use to find the right maintenance assistant for your business:

    • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
    • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
    • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
    • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.
    Post your job online:
    • Post your maintenance assistant job on Zippia to find and recruit maintenance assistant candidates who meet your exact specifications.
    • Use field-specific websites.
    • Post a job on free websites.
  6. Interview candidates

    To successfully recruit maintenance assistants, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.

    Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to the technical interview.

    The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

  7. Send a job offer and onboard your new maintenance assistant

    Once you've found the maintenance assistant candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

    It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

    To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is created.

  8. Go through the hiring process checklist

    • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
    • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
    • Define job responsibilities and requirements
    • Establish budget and timeline
    • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
    • Write job description
    • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
    • Promote the job internally
    • Process applications through applicant tracking system
    • Review resumes and cover letters
    • Shortlist candidates for screening
    • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
    • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
    • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
    • Conduct background checks on top candidates
    • Check references of top candidates
    • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
    • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
    • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
    • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
    • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
    • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)
    Sign up to download full list

How much does it cost to hire a maintenance assistant?

Recruiting maintenance assistants involves both the one-time costs of hiring and the ongoing costs of adding a new employee to your team. Your spending during the hiring process will mostly be on things like promoting the job on job boards, reviewing and interviewing candidates, and onboarding the new hire. Ongoing costs will obviously involve the employee's salary, but also may include things like benefits.

You can expect to pay around $31,915 per year for a maintenance assistant, as this is the median yearly salary nationally. This can vary depending on what state or city you're hiring in. If you're hiring for contract work or on a per-project basis, hourly rates for maintenance assistants in the US typically range between $11 and $19 an hour.

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