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The differences between maintenance engineers and maintenance electricians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a maintenance engineer, becoming a maintenance electrician takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, a maintenance electrician has an average salary of $62,112, which is higher than the $47,133 average annual salary of a maintenance engineer.
The top three skills for a maintenance engineer include plumbing, HVAC and guest rooms. The most important skills for a maintenance electrician are electrical equipment, hand tools, and preventative maintenance.
| Maintenance Engineer | Maintenance Electrician | |
| Yearly salary | $47,133 | $62,112 |
| Hourly rate | $22.66 | $29.86 |
| Growth rate | 5% | 7% |
| Number of jobs | 97,957 | 92,944 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 48% | Associate Degree, 44% |
| Average age | 47 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 12 |
A maintenance engineer is responsible for the maintenance of industrial machinery and inspects equipment defects for immediate troubleshooting or replacement as needed. Maintenance engineers install and upgrade system components to improve system optimization and perform diagnostic systems to locate any adjustments. They also conduct routine checks, assist clients with technical faults, and ensure that the equipment works safely for certain operations. A maintenance engineer must have excellent knowledge of the mechanical industry to address technical malfunctions immediately.
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 engineers and maintenance electricians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Maintenance Engineer | Maintenance Electrician | |
| Average salary | $47,133 | $62,112 |
| Salary range | Between $29,000 And $74,000 | Between $46,000 And $83,000 |
| Highest paying City | New York, NY | Saint Paul, MN |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | Massachusetts |
| Best paying company | Halliburton | PBF Energy |
| Best paying industry | - | Automotive |
There are a few differences between a maintenance engineer and a maintenance electrician in terms of educational background:
| Maintenance Engineer | Maintenance Electrician | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 48% | Associate Degree, 44% |
| Most common major | Mechanical Engineering | Electrical Engineering Technology |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between maintenance engineers' and maintenance electricians' demographics:
| Maintenance Engineer | Maintenance Electrician | |
| Average age | 47 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 94.6% Female, 5.4% | Male, 96.8% Female, 3.2% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 10.4% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 19.9% Asian, 4.4% White, 59.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2% | Black or African American, 9.1% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 18.4% Asian, 2.3% White, 65.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9% |
| LGBT Percentage | 2% | 3% |