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What does a plant and maintenance technician do?

Updated January 8, 2025
7 min read

Plant and Maintenance Technicians are responsible for installing, maintaining, and repairing plant equipment and related facilities. Their duties include conducting preventive maintenance, documenting plant function records, organizing preventive maintenance schedules, and performing routine inspections. They are responsible for carrying out a performance test, troubleshooting plant equipment issues, and installing plant equipment and piping systems. Plant and Maintenance Technicians also maintain operational records, interpret blueprints, and operate heavy equipment such as cranes and forklifts. They ensure work practices comply with health and safety regulations.

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Plant and maintenance technician responsibilities

Here are examples of responsibilities from real plant and maintenance technician resumes:

  • Perform and manage routine building maintenance tasks, including carpentry, electrical, plumbing, and general maintenance.
  • Diagnose PLC unit, drives, and sensors throughout the plant.
  • Receive training and OSHA certification in confine space entry.
  • Adjust conveyor lines by modifying Allen Bradley PLC parameters.
  • Work involves climbing ladders, stairs and use of safety harnesses.
  • Repair and maintain equipment such as forklifts, HVAC systems and refrigeration systems.
  • Perform all maintenance and repairs for all HVAC equipment in plant and staff housing units.
  • Certify crane inspector; document safety/deficiencies in accordance with OSHA regulations.
  • Maintain equipment cleanliness during all process operations so as not to jeopardize product quality and/or purity.
  • Maintain, repair and upgrade CNC machine centers and automate welding machines.
  • Maintain repairs on lathes, milling machines, CNC machines, drill presses, and building maintenance
  • Perform preventative and unschedule equipment maintenance and document completion in associate work order in CMMS database.

Plant and maintenance technician skills and personality traits

We calculated that 9% of Plant And Maintenance Technicians are proficient in Perform Routine Maintenance, Industrial Maintenance, and Preventive Maintenance. They’re also known for soft skills such as Customer-service skills, Dexterity, and Troubleshooting skills.

We break down the percentage of Plant And Maintenance Technicians that have these skills listed on their resume here:

  • Perform Routine Maintenance, 9%

    Perform routine maintenance on coaxial network to prevent degradation of service.

  • Industrial Maintenance, 7%

    Grade III Industrial Maintenance Technician o Responsible for maintaining and repair of moderately complex mechanical, electrical and production equipment.

  • Preventive Maintenance, 6%

    Conducted preventive maintenance inspections and performed required preventative maintenance actions on process/production equipment as scheduled.

  • Plumbing, 5%

    Maintain and repair plant buildings' heating and ventilation units, pneumatic systems and plumbing.

  • Routine Maintenance, 5%

    Evaluated system performance and maintained equipment by performing routine maintenance essential for the safe operation and efficiency of the propulsion plant.

  • Production Equipment, 4%

    Diagnosed and repaired all systems breakdowns and performing all necessary preventative maintenance objectives on all production equipment.

Common skills that a plant and maintenance technician uses to do their job include "perform routine maintenance," "industrial maintenance," and "preventive maintenance." You can find details on the most important plant and maintenance technician responsibilities below.

Customer-service skills. To carry out their duties, the most important skill for a plant and maintenance technician to have is customer-service skills. Their role and responsibilities require that "these workers interact with customers on a regular basis." Plant and maintenance technicians often use customer-service skills in their day-to-day job, as shown by this real resume: "perform various maintenance requests as assigned in a timely manner to ensure guest satisfaction maintain swimming pool on a daily basis"

Dexterity. Another essential skill to perform plant and maintenance technician duties is dexterity. Plant and maintenance technicians responsibilities require that "many repair and maintenance tasks, such as repairing small devices, connecting or attaching components, and using hand tools, require a steady hand and good hand–eye coordination." Plant and maintenance technicians also use dexterity in their role according to a real resume snippet: "provided trouble shooting and preventive maintenance and repair of all mechanical and manufacturing equipment, hydraulics, fork lifts, electrical. "

Troubleshooting skills. This is an important skill for plant and maintenance technicians to perform their duties. For an example of how plant and maintenance technician responsibilities depend on this skill, consider that "workers find, diagnose, and repair problems." This excerpt from a resume also shows how vital it is to everyday roles and responsibilities of a plant and maintenance technician: "experience in mechanical and electrical troubleshooting and repair. ".

Most common plant and maintenance technician skills

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Plant And Maintenance Technician Resume
Plant And Maintenance Technician Resume
Plant And Maintenance Technician Resume
Plant And Maintenance Technician Resume
Plant And Maintenance Technician Resume
Plant And Maintenance Technician Resume
Plant And Maintenance Technician Resume
Plant And Maintenance Technician Resume
Plant And Maintenance Technician Resume
Plant And Maintenance Technician Resume
Plant And Maintenance Technician Resume
Plant And Maintenance Technician Resume
Plant And Maintenance Technician Resume
Plant And Maintenance Technician Resume
Plant And Maintenance Technician Resume
Plant And Maintenance Technician Resume

Compare different plant and maintenance technicians

Plant and maintenance technician vs. Maintenance engineer

A maintenance engineer is responsible for the maintenance of industrial machinery and inspects equipment defects for immediate troubleshooting or replacement as needed. Maintenance engineers install and upgrade system components to improve system optimization and perform diagnostic systems to locate any adjustments. They also conduct routine checks, assist clients with technical faults, and ensure that the equipment works safely for certain operations. A maintenance engineer must have excellent knowledge of the mechanical industry to address technical malfunctions immediately.

We looked at the average plant and maintenance technician salary and compared it with the wages of a maintenance engineer. Generally speaking, maintenance engineers are paid $2,955 lower than plant and maintenance technicians per year.While their salaries may differ, the common ground between plant and maintenance technicians and maintenance engineers are a few of the skills required in each roleacirc;euro;trade;s responsibilities. In both careers, employee duties involve skills like perform routine maintenance, industrial maintenance, and end loaders.

While similarities exist, there are also some differences between plant and maintenance technicians and maintenance engineer. For instance, plant and maintenance technician responsibilities require skills such as "preventive maintenance," "routine maintenance," "safety procedures," and "loaders." Whereas a maintenance engineer is skilled in "guest rooms," "maintenance tasks," "boilers," and "kitchen equipment." This is part of what separates the two careers.

On average, maintenance engineers reach similar levels of education than plant and maintenance technicians. Maintenance engineers are 3.3% more likely to earn a Master's Degree and 0.2% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Plant and maintenance technician vs. Maintenance helper

A maintenance helper performs basic support tasks to assist maintenance technicians in installing and repairing machines and equipment. Their responsibilities typically include gathering and handing tools, changing fixtures such as light bulbs and faucets, preparing workspaces, and cleaning work areas and equipment. They may also liaise with vendors or suppliers, build positive relationships with clients, and handle calls and correspondence. Moreover, maintenance helper must utilize their experiences to learn more complex tasks and gain industry insight.

On average, maintenance helpers earn a $19,264 lower salary than plant and maintenance technicians a year.Only some things about these jobs are the same. Take their skills, for example. Plant and maintenance technicians and maintenance helpers both require similar skills like "perform routine maintenance," "industrial maintenance," and "preventive maintenance" to carry out their responsibilities.

While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that plant and maintenance technician responsibilities requires skills like "production equipment," "plant equipment," "plc," and "loaders." But a maintenance helper might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "mowing," "maintenance tasks," "grounds maintenance," and "grass."

Maintenance helpers earn a lower average salary than plant and maintenance technicians. But maintenance helpers earn the highest pay in the energy industry, with an average salary of $37,360. Additionally, plant and maintenance technicians earn the highest salaries in the energy with average pay of $54,500 annually.Average education levels between the two professions vary. Maintenance helpers tend to reach similar levels of education than plant and maintenance technicians. In fact, they're 2.1% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.2% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Plant and maintenance technician vs. Maintenance operator

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.

On average, maintenance operators earn lower salaries than plant and maintenance technicians, with a $14,668 difference per year.Using the responsibilities included on plant and maintenance technicians and maintenance operators resumes, we found that both professions have similar skill requirements, such as "perform routine maintenance," "industrial maintenance," and "end loaders.rdquo;

The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, plant and maintenance technicians are more likely to have skills like "preventive maintenance," "production equipment," "gearboxes," and "building equipment." But a maintenance operator is more likely to have skills like "cdl," "preventative maintenance," "mowing," and "dump truck."

Maintenance operators make a very good living in the energy industry with an average annual salary of $41,741. On the other hand, plant and maintenance technicians are paid the highest salary in the energy industry, with average annual pay of $54,500.Most maintenance operators achieve a similar degree level compared to plant and maintenance technicians. For example, they're 1.5% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.2% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Plant and maintenance technician vs. Maintenance internship

A maintenance intern has a variety of duties and responsibilities with the organization he/she or she is working for. Typical duties that you will likely perform for this job include assisting in plant improvement project management, interact with senior leadership of the company, and assisting with moving furniture for remodeling projects. In addition, as a maintenance intern, you will have the opportunity to experience and learn the company's mission and values, gain technical knowledge, and participate in training.

Maintenance interns tend to earn a lower pay than plant and maintenance technicians by an average of $16,257 per year.According to resumes from plant and maintenance technicians and maintenance interns, some of the skills necessary to complete the responsibilities of each role are similar. These skills include "perform routine maintenance," "industrial maintenance," and "plumbing. "

Even though a few skill sets overlap between plant and maintenance technicians and maintenance interns, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, a plant and maintenance technician might have more use for skills like "preventive maintenance," "end loaders," "ladders," and "osha." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of maintenance interns require skills like "customer service," "preventative maintenance," "maintenance intern," and "c++. "

In general, maintenance interns earn the most working in the energy industry, with an average salary of $44,441. The highest-paying industry for a plant and maintenance technician is the energy industry.The average resume of maintenance interns showed that they earn similar levels of education compared to plant and maintenance technicians. So much so that theyacirc;euro;trade;re 2.7% more likely to earn a Master's Degree and more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree by 0.1%.

Types of plant and maintenance technician

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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