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What is a maintenance supervisor and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
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A maintenance supervisor oversees the maintenance of buildings, equipment, and facilities. They manage a team of maintenance workers, assign tasks, and ensure that work is completed efficiently. They also develop maintenance plans, schedules, and budgets, as well as order necessary supplies. They are responsible for maintaining compliance with safety regulations and ensuring work is on time and within budget. Good communication skills are essential as they communicate with other departments and management.

ScoreMaintenance SupervisorUS Average
Salary
4.5

Avg. Salary $57,674

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
9.3

Growth rate 5%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
2.5
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 1.24%

Asian 2.11%

Black or African American 8.33%

Hispanic or Latino 15.89%

Unknown 4.51%

White 67.92%

Gender

female 4.98%

male 95.02%

Age - 50
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 50
Stress level
9.3

Stress level is very high

7.1 - high

Complexity level
9.4

Complexity level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work life balance
2.6

Work life balance is poor

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being a maintenance supervisor?

Pros

  • Hands-on work with a variety of tools and equipment

  • High demand for skilled maintenance supervisors

  • Good salary and benefits

  • Opportunity for career advancement

  • Job stability in many industries

Cons

  • Physical demands of lifting heavy equipment and standing for long periods

  • Exposure to hazardous materials or chemicals

  • Pressure to meet tight deadlines and budgets

  • Difficulties dealing with difficult team members or customers

  • Potential for conflict or tension with other departments or stakeholders.

Maintenance supervisor career paths

Key steps to become a maintenance supervisor

  1. Explore maintenance supervisor education requirements

    Most common maintenance supervisor degrees

    Bachelor's

    27.4 %

    High School Diploma

    27.0 %

    Associate

    26.6 %
  2. Start to develop specific maintenance supervisor skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Plumbing10.22%
    HVAC10.11%
    Customer Service7.83%
    OSHA6.19%
    Ladders3.09%
  3. Complete relevant maintenance supervisor training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 3-6 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New maintenance supervisors learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a maintenance supervisor based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real maintenance supervisor resumes.
  4. Gain additional maintenance supervisor certifications

    Maintenance supervisor certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific maintenance supervisor certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

    The most common certifications for maintenance supervisors include EPA Amusement Operators Safety Certification (EPA) and OSHA Safety Certificate .

    More About Certifications
  5. Research maintenance supervisor duties and responsibilities

    • Maintain OEE on all equipment to achieve run performance goals and to produce 500MM pounds of finish product a year.
    • Complete plumbing, electrical, general maintenance and re-key requirements.
    • Complete preventative maintenance and repair of electrical and plumbing systems.
    • Control all maintenance relate documentation including work orders and preventative maintenance, utilizing MP2 CMMS software.
  6. Prepare your maintenance supervisor resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your maintenance supervisor resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a maintenance supervisor resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose from 10+ customizable maintenance supervisor resume templates

    Build a professional maintenance supervisor resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your maintenance supervisor resume.
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  7. Apply for maintenance supervisor jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a maintenance supervisor job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How did you land your first maintenance supervisor job

Matthew Lima

Maintenance Supervisor

My journey in maintenance began immediately following high school, when I started my career
as an automotive technician. At that time, with limited earnings, I frequently searched Craigslist
for cars and small-engine machines in need of repair, which I could refurbish and sell for a profit.
Many of these items were in disrepair or missing parts due to neglect, presenting both a
challenge and an opportunity for me.
Leveraging my technical knowledge and hands-on experience, I pursued further education and
achieved ASE certifications, eventually becoming a Master Certified Automotive Technician.
This accomplishment significantly enhanced my expertise, increased my earning potential, and
elevated my value to both current and prospective employers.
After twelve years in the automotive industry, however, I experienced professional burnout.
Fortunately, I was presented with an opportunity to transition into a new role as part-owner and
service manager at an industrial equipment and wastewater engineering firm. Over the following
five years, this position exposed me to a new realm of preventive maintenance, leadership, and
program planning. I found these responsibilities immensely fulfilling and they rekindled my
passion for the maintenance industry. .
Recently, my career has taken another exciting turn. I accepted a position as Maintenance
Supervisor at an electronics manufacturing company, where I am responsible for designing and
implementing a corporate asset preventive maintenance system for the plant and its facilities.
This role leverages my extensive experience in maintenance and my keen interest in identifying
underlying causes of issues.In the beginning of 2024, I decided to venture into consulting, our
firm specializes in maintenance planning and asset maintenance auditing with a main focus on
minimizing downtime through data analysis and predictive planning.
Most Importantly, throughout my career I have always pursued industry-recognized certifications
and licenses which have bolstered my qualifications and increased my employability, all without
a college degree. These certifications have positioned me to fulfill my aspiration of being a
leader in the maintenance industry.

Average maintenance supervisor salary

The average maintenance supervisor salary in the United States is $57,674 per year or $28 per hour. Maintenance supervisor salaries range between $41,000 and $79,000 per year.

Average maintenance supervisor salary
$57,674 Yearly
$27.73 hourly

What am I worth?

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How do maintenance supervisors rate their job?

3/5

Based on 1 ratings

5 stars

4 stars

3 stars

2 stars

1 star

Maintenance supervisor reviews

profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Jan 2021
Pros

Making sure things get done the right way the first time.... keeping a happy crew

Cons

Working a hundred hours a week


profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Apr 2020
Pros

Flexibility

Cons

I have more to offer than n various task. My resume spells out my duties.


profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Apr 2020
Pros

You always give the best for the residential, give the best of you to solve any preventive maintenance

Cons

Any emergency is tough situation, is likely unknown faulty until you get to the place.


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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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