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How to hire a maintenance operator

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

  • There are a total of 7,424 maintenance operators in the US, and there are currently 142,679 job openings in this field.
  • The median cost to hire a maintenance operator is $1,633.
  • Small businesses spend $1,105 per maintenance operator on training each year, while large companies spend $658.
  • It takes between 36 and 42 days to fill the average role in the US.
  • It takes approximately 12 weeks for a new employee to reach full productivity levels.
  • HR departments typically allocate 15% of their budget towards recruitment efforts.
  • Ontario, CA, has the highest demand for maintenance operators, with 6 job openings.

How to hire a maintenance operator, step by step

To hire a maintenance operator, you should clearly understand the skills and experience you are looking for in a candidate, and allocate a budget for the position. You will also need to post and promote the job opening to reach potential candidates. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to hire a maintenance operator:

Here's a step-by-step maintenance operator 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 operator job description
  • Step 5: Post your job
  • Step 6: Interview candidates
  • Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new maintenance operator
  • Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a maintenance operator do?

Maintenance operators are skilled technicians who use a variety of small equipment and tools to perform and assist in the maintenance activities of a business establishment. These operators are required to assist the equipment manager in preparing preventative maintenance procedures so that they can increase productivity and reduce downtime of equipment. They must enforce safety rules and regulations and ensure that staff members are following them to prevent accidents in the facility. Maintenance operators must also train maintenance employees in performing proper preventative maintenance.

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

    Before you post your maintenance operator job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find a maintenance operator for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

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

    A maintenance operator's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, maintenance operators from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

    This list presents maintenance operator salaries for various positions.

    Type of Maintenance OperatorDescriptionHourly rate
    Maintenance OperatorGeneral 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.$12-22
    Operations And Maintenance TechnicianOperations and maintenance technicians are skilled professionals who are responsible for conducting preventive maintenance of all equipment used in the operation of an organization. These technicians are required to ensure that their facilities are always operational by performing inspections and documenting the operating conditions of their equipment... Show more$18-35
    Preventive Maintenance TechnicianA 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... Show more$14-25
  2. Create an ideal candidate profile

    Common skills:
    • Hand Tools
    • CDL
    • Preventative Maintenance
    • Mowing
    • Safety Procedures
    • Dump Truck
    • DOT
    • Equipment Operation
    • Blowers
    • Safety Rules
    • Loaders
    • Snow Removal
    • Ladders
    • Shovels
    Check all skills
    Responsibilities:
    • Perform daily checks of pumps, gas blowers, conveyor systems, and gas quality.
    • Ensure a neat and orderly work area following OSHA standards to promote a safe work environment.
    • Maintain hydraulic systems, pneumatic systems, electrical systems, gas equipment, HVAC and AC/DC systems.
    • Maintain proper storage area for all equipment and chemicals used for park maintenance according to appropriate OSHA standards.
    • Repair PVC plumbing, motors, electric actuators, pH probes, ultrasonic level controls, and chemical injection systems.
    • Refurbish office equipment and plumbing fixtures.
    More maintenance operator duties
  3. Make a budget

    Including a salary range in your maintenance operator job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A maintenance operator can vary based on:

    • Location. For example, maintenance operators' average salary in florida is 42% less than in alaska.
    • Seniority. Entry-level maintenance operators 45% less than senior-level maintenance operators.
    • Certifications. A maintenance operator with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
    • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a maintenance operator's salary.

    Average maintenance operator salary

    $35,420yearly

    $17.03 hourly rate

    Entry-level maintenance operator salary
    $26,000 yearly salary
    Updated December 22, 2025

    Average maintenance operator salary by state

    RankStateAvg. salaryHourly rate
    1Hawaii$40,514$19
    2California$37,686$18
    3New York$37,580$18
    4Washington$37,495$18
    5Massachusetts$37,219$18
    6New Jersey$36,940$18
    7Oregon$36,291$17
    8Nevada$36,004$17
    9Nebraska$35,343$17
    10Kentucky$34,625$17
    11Colorado$33,776$16
    12Minnesota$32,913$16
    13Tennessee$32,748$16
    14Utah$32,616$16
    15Michigan$32,195$15
    16North Carolina$32,081$15
    17Ohio$31,897$15
    18Virginia$31,678$15
    19Oklahoma$28,917$14
    20Georgia$27,188$13

    Average maintenance operator salary by company

    RankCompanyAverage salaryHourly rateJob openings
    1Continental Resources$57,132$27.4711
    2Calpine$55,459$26.664
    3General Dynamics$50,834$24.4438
    4Precision Castparts$49,096$23.6060
    5Rust-Oleum$48,054$23.102
    6Aqua$48,008$23.083
    7Avid$47,548$22.86
    8Harvard University$47,525$22.85
    9Michigan State University$46,836$22.523
    10University of Nebraska at Omaha$44,866$21.572
    11ADM$44,734$21.51160
    12Kodak$44,542$21.414
    13Lane County Engineer$43,376$20.85
    14Energy Northwest$43,220$20.782
    15Credit Suisse$42,529$20.45
    16Chevron$42,299$20.344
    17West Covina USD$41,979$20.181
    18International Paper$41,446$19.93121
    19J.F. Shea Co$41,389$19.90
    20Imagine Communications$40,652$19.54
  4. Writing a maintenance operator job description

    A maintenance operator 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 operator job description:

    Maintenance operator job description example

    • Perform plant maintenance duties (plumbing, pipe fitting, valve repair/replacements, pump and motor repair/replacements, cooling equipment repair, custom fabrication, search and order needed parts) in Water and/or Wastewater plants, pumping stations, and other water facilities in the Eastern Division. This includes the service areas of Anthem, Chaparral, Paradise Valley, Rio Verde, Tubac, Lake Havasu City and Mohave Valley.
    • Involvement in projects through completion and demonstrates ability to resolve issues independently.
    • Reads and interprets mechanical drawings/plans, documents and OEM manuals, abide by Epcor Standards on safety, attendance, and policies.
    What's required to be successful
    • Minimum of one (1) year hands-on experience in Water or Wastewater maintenance operations with a focus on maintenance and repair. ADEQ certifications in Wastewater Treatment, Water Treatment, Wastewater Collections, Water Distribution.
    • Knowledge of all aspects of maintenance associated with water production and water/wastewater treatment operations. Knowledge of safety practices in the operation of mechanical and electrical equipment used in water and wastewater facilities. Strong trouble shooting knowledge, pipe fitting, plumbing, metal fabrication, valve maintenance, and pump and motor skills a plus.

      Required Skills

      Effectively works with team safely during completion of assigned projects. Ability to plan, schedule, and manage multiple projects, simultaneously, while completing tasks on time and within budget. Maintain effective working relationships with team, supervisors, managers, external vendors, and members of the general public. Effectively communicates issues and providing recommendations for resolution. Maintain accurate and updated maintenance documentation, utilizing computer programs such as CMMS (Ivara) and Microsoft Office programs such as Word & Excel. Perform preventative maintenance on all equipment when required including repairs and replacements. Ensure time entry is accurate before approval. Recognize proper tool safety and application. Perform hydraulic and pneumatic equipment repairs or services. Repair/install piping systems through pipe-fitting, welding, or solder. Ability to operate heavy equipment, forklifts, all overhead fixed or truck mounted cranes.

      Physical Requirements

      Ability to lift and move materials of varying degrees in weight, particularly the ability to move 55 -gallon drums and chlorine cylinders weighing 150 pounds. Ability to perform heavy maneuvers, stand, bend, stoop, and to climb up and down stairs. Ability to operate company motor vehicles and equipment. Ability to work outdoors under all weather conditions including summer heat.

      Required Experience/Education

      Minimum of one (1) year hands-on experience in Water or Wastewater maintenance operations with a focus on maintenance and repair. ADEQ certifications in Wastewater Treatment, Water Treatment, Wastewater Collections, Water Distribution. High school diploma or equivalent.

      Other Requirements

      Ability to be on-call weekends, nights and holidays. Willing to travel to other designated facilities located hours away. Operate company vehicles in a safe manner. Maintain a valid Arizona driver's license and a good driving record with the ability to obtain an Arizona Class A or B CDL license, with Hazmat Endorsement. Position has the potential for exposure to dust, pollen, chemicals, fumes, sewage matter and potable/unpotable water.

  5. Post your job

    To find the right maintenance operator for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

    • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
    • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with maintenance operators they would recommend.
    • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit maintenance operators who meet your education requirements.
    • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.
    Post your job online:
    • Post your maintenance operator job on Zippia to find and recruit maintenance operator candidates who meet your exact specifications.
    • Use field-specific websites.
    • Post a job on free websites.
  6. Interview candidates

    To successfully recruit maintenance operators, 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.

    It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match your ideal candidate profile. If you think a candidate is good enough for the next step, you 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 operator

    Once you've decided on a perfect maintenance operator candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your agreement with a contract.

    You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

    After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new maintenance operator. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are 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.)
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How much does it cost to hire a maintenance operator?

Before you start to hire maintenance operators, it pays to consider both the one-off costs like recruitment, job promotion, and onboarding, as well as the ongoing costs of an employee's salary and benefits. While most companies that hire maintenance operators pay close attention to the initial cost of hiring, ongoing costs are much more significant in the long run.

The median annual salary for maintenance operators is $35,420 in the US. However, the cost of maintenance operator hiring can vary a lot depending on location. Additionally, hiring a maintenance operator for contract work or on a per-project basis typically costs between $12 and $22 an hour.

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