What does a maintenance electrician do?

A maintenance electrician is responsible for monitoring the electrical systems of a building, inspecting the wiring and cables for any malfunctions, and perform preventive maintenance as needed to ensure its safety and efficiency. Maintenance electricians upgrade electrical network systems for optimal performance and replacing faulty wiring, as well as installing new equipment in the building as the management advises. They also analyze schematics and blueprints for electrical line placements and running diagnostic tests to identify possible defects for immediate resolution. A maintenance electrician must have excellent knowledge of the electrical industry, especially on recording maintenance reports and solutions.
Maintenance electrician responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real maintenance electrician resumes:
- Calibrate emission transmitters, gas leak detectors and O2 analyzers.
- Change any bad solenoids on machines.
- Maintain and repair machinery operate on high voltage DC.
- Maintain CMMS program and obtain data for continuous improvement.
- Train in the safe operation and use of ladders and scaffolding!
- Measure devices, including analyzers, amp meters and volt-ohm meters.
- Attend Allen-Bradley courses for extensive training in the development and operation of Logix programs.
- Train, qualify, and frequently work with voltages ranging from 24vDC- 13.8kv AC.
- Install new electric (high and low ac voltage) for new and existing machinery.
- Perform preventive maintenance on all DC motors from checking brushes to cleaning commentators when need.
- Calibrate PH probes, strain gauges, load cells, install and repair flow meters.
- Adhere to all OSHA safety requirements while working at the plant location and report unsafe conditions.
- Assist with fire protection system involving pull stations, smoke detectors, tamper switches on fire valves and fire equipment.
- Diagnose and repair systems such as PLC, variable speed AC/DC drives, I/O, pneumatic, hydraulic and sensor technology.
- Install new conduit runs (EMT, PVC coat rigid, rigid, PVC underground) using clock and hand benders.
Maintenance electrician skills and personality traits
We calculated that 7% of Maintenance Electricians are proficient in Electrical Equipment, Hand Tools, and Preventative Maintenance. They’re also known for soft skills such as Manual dexterity, Mechanical skills, and Color vision.
We break down the percentage of Maintenance Electricians that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Electrical Equipment, 7%
Developed and installed wiring circuits for robotic systems, utilizing blueprints and schematics, responsible for troubleshooting and repairing electrical equipment.
- Hand Tools, 7%
Assembled, installed, tested and maintained electrical wiring, equipment, apparatus and fixtures using hand tools and power tools.
- Preventative Maintenance, 6%
Performed weekly/monthly preventative maintenance schedules on all facility/manufacturing equipment.
- Electrical Systems, 5%
Maintained all electrical systems Serviced and programmed several types of PLC lighting and machine systems Troubleshoot electrical problems Installed new machinery lines
- Ladders, 4%
Worked from ladders, scaffolds, and roofs to install, maintain or repair electrical wiring, equipment, and fixtures.
- Production Equipment, 3%
Repair and installation and modification of electrical and mechanical production equipment in the process, packaging and distribution of confection products.
"electrical equipment," "hand tools," and "preventative maintenance" are among the most common skills that maintenance electricians use at work. You can find even more maintenance electrician responsibilities below, including:
Color vision. This is an important skill for maintenance electricians to perform their duties. For an example of how maintenance electrician responsibilities depend on this skill, consider that "electricians must identify electrical wires by color." This excerpt from a resume also shows how vital it is to everyday roles and responsibilities of a maintenance electrician: "work with mitsubishi plc logic, fanuc & kawasaki robotics, okuma lathes and cognex vision systems. ".
Physical strength. Another crucial skill for a maintenance electrician to carry out their responsibilities is "physical strength." A big part of what maintenance electricians relies on this skill, since "electricians need to be strong enough to move heavy components, which may weigh up to 50 pounds." How this skill relates to maintenance electrician duties can be seen in an example from a maintenance electrician resume snippet: "general maintenance of physical plant electrical systems, telephone system, fire alarms and patient monitoring equipment. "
Troubleshooting skills. While "troubleshooting skills" is last on this skills list, don't underestimate its importance to maintenance electrician responsibilities. Much of what a maintenance electrician does relies on this skill, seeing as "electricians find, diagnose, and repair problems." Here is a resume example of how this skill is used in the everyday duties of maintenance electricians: "air compressors, air dryers, various pumps and related devices, electrical controls, troubleshooting, preventive maintenance and installations. "
The three companies that hire the most maintenance electricians are:
- Nexus Staffing Solutions102 maintenance electricians jobs
- The Cincinnati Insurance Companies60 maintenance electricians jobs
- Aerotek29 maintenance electricians jobs
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Maintenance electrician vs. Electrical foreman
An electrical foreman is an individual who is responsible for supervising power linesmen and electricians in the installation, repair, and maintenance of electrical power lines or electrical systems. Electrical foremen conduct periodic inspections at a construction site to ensure that materials and supplies are available. They must enforce safety regulations, rules, and working conditions among the employees due to their hazardous work setting. They also supervise the operation of an electrical repair shop and train personnel in the safe operation of equipment and tools.
While similarities exist, there are also some differences between maintenance electricians and electrical foreman. For instance, maintenance electrician responsibilities require skills such as "hand tools," "ladders," "production equipment," and "switches." Whereas a electrical foreman is skilled in "work ethic," "transformers," "pet," and "renewable energy." This is part of what separates the two careers.
Electrical foremen earn the highest salaries when working in the construction industry, with an average yearly salary of $57,314. On the other hand, maintenance electricians are paid more in the automotive industry with an average salary of $70,114.electrical foremen tend to reach similar levels of education than maintenance electricians. In fact, electrical foremen are 1.3% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.1% more likely to have a Doctoral Degree.Maintenance electrician vs. Electrician technician
The main duties of an electrical technician involve the assembly, evaluation, testing, and maintenance of electronic or electrical wiring and equipment. Sometimes, electrical technicians can take the role of electrical engineers or electricians. They may perform the duties of residential, telecommunications, and inside electricians. They may also work on-site for the efficient functionality of specialty equipment and machinery. The technicians are expected to have mechanical aptitude, reading comprehension, problem-solving skills, and customer service skills.
While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that maintenance electrician responsibilities requires skills like "preventative maintenance," "allen-bradley," "ladder logic," and "programmable logic controllers." But an electrician technician might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "preventive maintenance," "capacitors," "pc," and "support equipment."
Electrician technicians may earn a lower salary than maintenance electricians, but electrician technicians earn the most pay in the energy industry with an average salary of $61,264. On the other hand, maintenance electricians receive higher pay in the automotive industry, where they earn an average salary of $70,114.electrician technicians earn similar levels of education than maintenance electricians in general. They're 0.8% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.1% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Maintenance electrician vs. Commercial and industrial electrician
A commercial electrician is different from an industrial electrician since both perform in different environments and have distinct training. Commercial electricians are responsible for ensuring that the electrical components and wiring of the structure are working safely and efficiently. They commonly work on basic electrical installations and repairs of particular equipment. On the other hand, industrial electricians have more specialized and extensive education. Their duties require them to have an in-depth knowledge of their field since accuracy is very crucial in their line of work. They may operate issues relating to extraordinary high voltage systems and micro-control currents of electricity.
The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, maintenance electricians are more likely to have skills like "preventative maintenance," "production equipment," "industrial maintenance," and "cranes." But a commercial and industrial electrician is more likely to have skills like "run conduit," "work ethic," "pvc," and "emt conduit."
Commercial and industrial electricians earn the best pay in the construction industry, where they command an average salary of $48,295. Maintenance electricians earn the highest pay from the automotive industry, with an average salary of $70,114.commercial and industrial electricians typically earn similar educational levels compared to maintenance electricians. Specifically, they're 0.6% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.1% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Maintenance electrician vs. Electrical technician
An electrical technician is responsible for managing the electrical systems of an establishment, ensuring the safety of the network and cables to support daily operations. Electrical technicians analyze schematics and specifications to construct electrical systems, run diagnostic tests, and perform repairs for any defects and inconsistencies. They assemble electrical equipment, replace malfunctioning components, upgrading systems, and advising management of high-quality electrical supplies. An electrical technician must have excellent knowledge of the electrical and mechanical industry, especially with supervising electricians on their duties, as well as responding to the clients' inquiries and concerns.
Types of maintenance electrician
Updated January 8, 2025











