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How to hire a Maintenance Worker

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

  • HR departments typically spend 15% of their expenses on recruitment.
  • It usually takes about 12 weeks for a new employee to reach full productivity levels.
  • It typically takes 36-42 days to fill a job opening.
  • The median cost to hire a maintenance worker is $1,633.
  • Small businesses spend an average of $1,105 per maintenance worker on training each year, while large companies spend $658.
  • There are currently 350,087 maintenance workers in the US and 115,130 job openings.
  • New York, NY, has the highest demand for maintenance workers, with 120 job openings.
  • New York, NY has the highest concentration of maintenance workers.

How to hire a maintenance worker, step by step

To hire a maintenance worker, 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 worker, you should follow these steps:

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

What does a Maintenance Worker do?

Maintenance workers are employees assigned to oversee the equipment, furniture, and fixtures in the office. They ensure that these items work correctly by doing routine check-ups, identifying any problems, anticipating challenges, sourcing for spare parts, and repairing problems. They also ensure that all the equipment, furniture, and fixtures are clean and always ready for use. They should be familiar with all the official instructions and procedures to ensure that they can adequately care for these items. They may also handle the installation of any new equipment.

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

    The maintenance worker hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

    Determine Employee vs Contractor Status
    Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

    Hiring the perfect maintenance worker 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.

    The following list breaks down different types of maintenance workers and their corresponding salaries.

    Type Of Maintenance WorkerDescriptionHourly Rate
    Maintenance WorkerGeneral 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.$12-24
    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
    Electrical Maintenance TechnicianAn electrical maintenance technician is primarily in charge of installing and repairing electrical systems. Their responsibilities often revolve around liaising with clients to identify their needs, examining electrical damages or defects on houses or establishments, troubleshooting, and performing fixes and replacements as needed... Show More$22-36
  2. Create an ideal candidate profile

    Common Skills:
    • Plumbing
    • GRASS
    • General Maintenance
    • Hand Tools
    • Building Maintenance
    • Mowing
    • HVAC
    • Customer Service
    • Snow Removal
    • Maintenance Tasks
    • Cleanliness
    • OSHA
    • Safety Procedures
    • Flower Beds
    Check All Skills
    Responsibilities:
    • Clean windows or mirrors, using cleaners, and squeegees.
    • Promote and enforce safety procedures; render first aid and CPR.
    • Conduct electrical repairs to include replacing outlets, light switches, and fixture replacements.
    • Identify safety hazards; respond to accidents and emergencies and administers first aid and CPR.
    • Mow, edge, trim and rake fields; operate riding mowers, light duty vehicles, blowers, edger.
    • Respond to service requests including custodial work, preventative maintenance and assessment of roofing, HVAC, furnace and electrical systems.
    More Maintenance Worker duties
  3. Make a budget

    Including a salary range in your maintenance worker job description helps attract top candidates to the position. A maintenance worker salary can be affected by several factors, such as geography, experience, seniority, certifications, and the prestige of the hiring company.

    For example, the average salary for a maintenance worker in Louisiana may be lower than in Alaska, and an entry-level maintenance worker usually earns less than a senior-level maintenance worker. Additionally, a maintenance worker with certifications may command a higher salary, and working for a well-known company or start-up may also impact an employee's pay.

    Average maintenance worker salary

    $36,132yearly

    $17.37 hourly rate

    Entry-level maintenance worker salary
    $25,000 yearly salary
    Updated January 17, 2025

    Average maintenance worker salary by state

    RankStateAvg. SalaryHourly Rate
    1California$48,779$23
    2Washington$45,867$22
    3Minnesota$43,240$21
    4New Hampshire$40,933$20
    5New York$40,739$20
    6Oregon$39,466$19
    7Iowa$38,876$19
    8New Jersey$38,581$19
    9Colorado$37,340$18
    10Illinois$37,158$18
    11Utah$36,485$18
    12Montana$36,180$17
    13Pennsylvania$35,966$17
    14Ohio$35,598$17
    15Maine$33,601$16
    16Arizona$33,229$16
    17Missouri$33,227$16
    18New Mexico$32,689$16
    19Virginia$32,622$16
    20Kansas$31,233$15

    Average maintenance worker salary by company

  4. Writing a Maintenance Worker Job Description

    A good maintenance worker job description should include a few things:

    • Summary of the role
    • List of responsibilities
    • Required skills and experience

    Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of a maintenance worker job description:

    Maintenance Worker job description example

    Schedule:
    Monday - Friday (40 hrs/wk)
    8:00 AM - 4:30 PM

    Department: Facilities - 111

    Primary Purpose:

    Provides professional installation skills related to installing system office furniture, system laboratory furniture, and to assist the Facilities staff in providing a professional and safe work environment for employees. Assists with Laboratory and office furniture installations and equipment moves.

    About ARUP:

    ARUP Laboratories is a national clinical and anatomic pathology reference laboratory and an enterprise of the University of Utah and its Department of Pathology. Based in Salt Lake City, Utah.

    ARUP proudly hires top talent to create a work environment of diversity, professional growth and continuous development. Our workforce is committed to the important service we provide to over one million patients each month. We always strive for excellence and have a strong desire to have involvement with the advances in medicine and the role laboratory services plays within each patient's life. We never forget that there is a patient behind every specimen we receive.

    We are looking for individuals who want to contribute to ARUP's culture of accountability, integrity, service, and excellence. Consider joining our dynamic team.

    Essential Functions:

    Layout and installation of system office furniture, system laboratory furniture, and movable wall systems.

    Reconfiguration and moving systems furniture and case goods.

    Assemble inventory and communicate changes.

    Install such items as partition electrical raceways and ergonomic tools.

    Oversee contract installers on large projects.

    Assist on physical moves.

    Manage inventory of furniture in storage as well as new furniture orders.

    Work independently.

    Continually work with and assist other tradesmen.

    Read and interpret blueprints.

    Recording and keeping an electronic inventory.

    Performs special projects as directed by the Facilities Manager.

    Must work effectively with all levels of management, contractors, government officials, and ARUP employees.

    Other duties as assigned.

    Physical and Other Requirements:

    Stooping: Bending body downward and forward by bending spine at the waist.

    Reaching: Extending hand(s) and arm(s) in any direction.

    Mobility: The person in this position needs to occasionally move between work sites and inside the office to access file cabinets, office machinery, etc.

    Communicate: Frequently and effectively communicate with others.

    PPE: Biohazard laboratory environment that requires use of personal protective equipment in accordance with CDC and OSHA regulations and company policies.

    ARUP Policies and Procedures: To conduct self in compliance with all ARUP Policies and Procedures.

    Medium Work: Exerting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 30 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects.

    Fine Motor Control: Picking, pinching, typing or otherwise working, primarily with fingers rather than with the whole hand as in handling.

    Must be 21 years old.

    Valid Utah Driver's License: 1) No moving violations within the previous two years 2) No alcohol/drug-related violations on record with the Driver's License Division


    Qualifications
    Education
    Required

    High School Diploma or Equivalent or better.

    Preferred

    Technical/Other Training or better.

    Experience
    Required

    One year of experience in Facility Maintenance and Repairs
    Demonstrated skill in the use of hand and power tools (e.g., drills, saws, grinders)
    Preferred

    Plumbing experience
    Vocational training in Carpentry, Systems Furniture Installation, or plumbing
    Basic handyperson skills, carpentry, plumbing, mechanical aptitude, systems furniture installation
    Licenses & Certifications
    Required

    Driver License
    Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities

    The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor's legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c)


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  5. Post your job

    To find the right maintenance worker 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 workers they would recommend.
    • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit maintenance workers 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 worker job on Zippia to find and recruit maintenance worker candidates who meet your exact specifications.
    • Use field-specific websites.
    • Post a job on free websites.
  6. Interview candidates

    To successfully recruit maintenance workers, 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. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

    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 worker

    Once you've selected the best maintenance worker candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.

    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.

    After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new maintenance worker. 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 worker?

Hiring a maintenance worker comes with both the one-time cost per hire and ongoing costs. The cost of recruiting maintenance workers involves promoting the job and spending time conducting interviews. Ongoing costs include employee salary, training, benefits, insurance, and equipment. It is essential to consider the cost of maintenance worker recruiting as well the ongoing costs of maintaining the new employee.

The median annual salary for maintenance workers is $36,132 in the US. However, the cost of maintenance worker hiring can vary a lot depending on location. Additionally, hiring a maintenance worker for contract work or on a per-project basis typically costs between $12 and $24 an hour.

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