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The differences between mechanical technicians and 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 a maintenance technician takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a mechanical technician has an average salary of $51,367, which is higher than the $43,293 average annual salary of a maintenance technician.
The top three skills for a mechanical technician include preventive maintenance, hand tools and electro-mechanical. The most important skills for a maintenance technician are plumbing, HVAC, and hand tools.
| Mechanical Technician | Maintenance Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $51,367 | $43,293 |
| Hourly rate | $24.70 | $20.81 |
| Growth rate | 2% | 5% |
| Number of jobs | 106,997 | 178,450 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4.25 |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 38% | High School Diploma, 34% |
| 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.
Maintenance technicians are technicians who specialize in the preservation of office facilities. They have in-depth knowledge of how various office equipment or fixtures work so that they can immediately identify how to repair them in case of breakdowns. Maintenance technicians perform diagnostics and routine maintenance activities to ensure that everything in the office is running well. They immediately repair problems in fixtures or equipment to avoid any further damages or safety concerns. They should be familiar with occupational safety and health standards to ensure that the office is a safe place to work.
Mechanical technicians and maintenance technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Mechanical Technician | Maintenance Technician | |
| Average salary | $51,367 | $43,293 |
| Salary range | Between $38,000 And $68,000 | Between $31,000 And $59,000 |
| Highest paying City | Oakland, CA | Richmond, CA |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | Rhode Island |
| Best paying company | Meta | Anheuser-Busch |
| Best paying industry | Energy | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between a mechanical technician and a maintenance technician in terms of educational background:
| Mechanical Technician | Maintenance Technician | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 38% | High School Diploma, 34% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Electrical Engineering Technology |
| Most common college | Purdue University | - |
Here are the differences between mechanical technicians' and maintenance technicians' demographics:
| Mechanical Technician | Maintenance Technician | |
| Average age | 45 | 47 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 94.4% Female, 5.6% | Male, 95.7% Female, 4.3% |
| 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, 11.4% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 18.2% Asian, 4.6% White, 60.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 2% |