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The differences between mechanical technicians and industrial maintenance technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 4-6 years to become a mechanical technician, becoming an industrial maintenance technician takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a mechanical technician has an average salary of $51,367, which is higher than the $50,649 average annual salary of an industrial maintenance technician.
The top three skills for a mechanical technician include preventive maintenance, hand tools and electro-mechanical. The most important skills for an industrial maintenance technician are industrial maintenance, hand tools, and PLC.
| Mechanical Technician | Industrial Maintenance Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $51,367 | $50,649 |
| Hourly rate | $24.70 | $24.35 |
| Growth rate | 2% | 5% |
| Number of jobs | 106,997 | 169,569 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4 |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 38% | Associate Degree, 42% |
| Average age | 45 | 47 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 4 |
The primary job of mechanical technicians is to help mechanical engineers design, develop, test, and manufacture mechanical devices such as machines and engines. They typically do varied tasks, including evaluating design sketches for new and changing tools, discussing changes with colleagues, and reviewing blueprints and instructions for projects. As a mechanical technician, you are also responsible for estimating equipment life, plant space, and labor costs. To become successful in this role, you need to have an associate degree in mechanical engineering technology, excellent communication skills, and mechanical skills.
An industrial maintenance technician is responsible for installing, maintaining, and repairing commercial and industrial machinery in a building or a manufacturing plant. You will perform typical duties that include ensuring all machines function properly through preventative maintenance service, conducting tests to ensure production machinery functions properly, and performing safety checks and routine maintenance. Other duties include collaborating with the production team, preparing maintenance reports, and instructing and guiding new employees. An industrial maintenance technician also assesses the machinery's functionality and fabricates parts for machine upgrades and repair.
Mechanical technicians and industrial maintenance technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Mechanical Technician | Industrial Maintenance Technician | |
| Average salary | $51,367 | $50,649 |
| Salary range | Between $38,000 And $68,000 | Between $38,000 And $66,000 |
| Highest paying City | Oakland, CA | Richmond, CA |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Meta | Boehringer Ingelheim |
| Best paying industry | Energy | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between a mechanical technician and an industrial maintenance technician in terms of educational background:
| Mechanical Technician | Industrial Maintenance Technician | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 38% | Associate Degree, 42% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Industrial Technology |
| Most common college | Purdue University | - |
Here are the differences between mechanical technicians' and industrial maintenance technicians' demographics:
| Mechanical Technician | Industrial Maintenance Technician | |
| Average age | 45 | 47 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 94.4% Female, 5.6% | Male, 96.5% Female, 3.5% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.6% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 16.9% Asian, 7.8% White, 60.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% | Black or African American, 11.7% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 14.6% Asian, 4.7% White, 63.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 2% |