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The differences between plant technicians and maintenance lead technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a plant technician and a maintenance lead technician. Additionally, a maintenance lead technician has an average salary of $50,662, which is higher than the $46,164 average annual salary of a plant technician.
The top three skills for a plant technician include preventive maintenance, ladders and data collection. The most important skills for a maintenance lead technician are preventative maintenance, customer service, and plumbing.
| Plant Technician | Maintenance Lead Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $46,164 | $50,662 |
| Hourly rate | $22.19 | $24.36 |
| Growth rate | 5% | 5% |
| Number of jobs | 146,543 | 143,296 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 2 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 40% | Associate Degree, 33% |
| Average age | 47 | 47 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
A plant technician is in charge of overseeing plant operations, ensuring everything runs smoothly and efficiently. Their responsibilities include installing and upgrading machines and equipment, identifying the strengths and weaknesses of existing systems, implementing solutions to vulnerable or problem areas, and developing strategies to optimize plant operations. They must also perform regular maintenance checks, conducting corrective measures and adjustments as needed. Furthermore, a plant technician must provide technical support to employees, all while implementing the company's policies and regulations.
A maintenance lead technician oversees the daily maintenance operations of a department or establishment. Their duties revolve around conducting inspections and regular maintenance checks on facilities and equipment, performing repairs as necessary. They are also responsible for troubleshooting issues, fixing and replacing components, cleaning different areas, installing fixtures, and providing technical support to employees. Additionally, a maintenance lead technician guides and trains junior technicians while implementing the company's policies and safety standards for a smooth and efficient workflow.
Plant technicians and maintenance lead technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Plant Technician | Maintenance Lead Technician | |
| Average salary | $46,164 | $50,662 |
| Salary range | Between $31,000 And $67,000 | Between $37,000 And $68,000 |
| Highest paying City | Kent, WA | Roseville, MN |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | Massachusetts |
| Best paying company | BP America Inc | Anheuser-Busch |
| Best paying industry | Utilities | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between a plant technician and a maintenance lead technician in terms of educational background:
| Plant Technician | Maintenance Lead Technician | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 40% | Associate Degree, 33% |
| Most common major | Business | Electrical Engineering |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between plant technicians' and maintenance lead technicians' demographics:
| Plant Technician | Maintenance Lead Technician | |
| Average age | 47 | 47 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 75.4% Female, 24.6% | Male, 96.2% Female, 3.8% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 11.5% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 17.9% Asian, 4.6% White, 60.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2% | Black or African American, 11.8% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 17.5% Asian, 4.7% White, 60.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 2% | 2% |