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The differences between plant technicians and preventive maintenance 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 preventive maintenance technician. Additionally, a plant technician has an average salary of $46,164, which is higher than the $40,935 average annual salary of a preventive maintenance technician.
The top three skills for a plant technician include preventive maintenance, ladders and data collection. The most important skills for a preventive maintenance technician are customer service, hand tools, and HVAC.
| Plant Technician | Preventive Maintenance Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $46,164 | $40,935 |
| Hourly rate | $22.19 | $19.68 |
| Growth rate | 5% | 5% |
| Number of jobs | 146,543 | 170,517 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 40% | Associate Degree, 31% |
| 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 preventive maintenance technician performs routine facility maintenance to prevent possible mechanical failure. The technicians change worn out machine parts before they can cause mechanical damage. They keep the facility operating. It is their job to conduct quality assessments, maintain inventory, and schedule repairs. Also, they see to it that machines are up and running at all times. They are expected to be equipped with skills in customer service, problem-solving, reading comprehension, business operation, and mechanical aptitude.
Plant technicians and preventive maintenance technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Plant Technician | Preventive Maintenance Technician | |
| Average salary | $46,164 | $40,935 |
| Salary range | Between $31,000 And $67,000 | Between $31,000 And $52,000 |
| Highest paying City | Kent, WA | Owatonna, MN |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | Alaska |
| Best paying company | BP America Inc | Kiewit |
| Best paying industry | Utilities | Automotive |
There are a few differences between a plant technician and a preventive maintenance technician in terms of educational background:
| Plant Technician | Preventive Maintenance Technician | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 40% | Associate Degree, 31% |
| Most common major | Business | Automotive Technology |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between plant technicians' and preventive maintenance technicians' demographics:
| Plant Technician | Preventive Maintenance Technician | |
| Average age | 47 | 47 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 75.4% Female, 24.6% | Male, 91.8% Female, 8.2% |
| 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, 11.3% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 19.4% Asian, 4.6% White, 59.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 2% | 2% |