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The differences between plant utilities engineers and maintainers 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 utilities engineer and a maintainer. Additionally, a maintainer has an average salary of $51,259, which is higher than the $51,200 average annual salary of a plant utilities engineer.
The top three skills for a plant utilities engineer include ventilation, plant utilities and loaders. The most important skills for a maintainer are hydraulic systems, suspension systems, and test equipment.
Plant utilities engineers must have basic knowledge of commercial electrical systems and testing equipment, high temperature water distribution, and HVAC control systems. Qualifications will vary depending on the company; they range from a high school diploma or GED to associate degrees in plant utilities technology or completion of a trade school program. Those who choose this career will be expected to maintain and operate the mechanical equipment in a utilities plant.
A maintainer serves as a time tracker that oversees and monitors the tasks of employees. They are the one who facilitates and reviews all the work, ensuring it is done according to specifications. Depending on what industry they work in, their function is to troubleshoot, repair, test, document, and review data that is needed.
Plant utilities engineers and maintainers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Plant Utilities Engineer | Maintainer | |
| Average salary | $51,200 | $51,259 |
| Salary range | Between $35,000 And $74,000 | Between $31,000 And $82,000 |
| Highest paying City | Waipahu, HI | New York, NY |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | Bristol-Myers Squibb | Parsons |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Technology |
There are a few differences between a plant utilities engineer and a maintainer in terms of educational background:
| Plant Utilities Engineer | Maintainer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 34% | High School Diploma, 31% |
| Most common major | Mechanical Engineering | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between plant utilities engineers' and maintainers' demographics:
| Plant Utilities Engineer | Maintainer | |
| Average age | 47 | 47 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 88.7% Female, 11.3% | Male, 89.0% Female, 11.0% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.6% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 14.6% Asian, 5.4% White, 64.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.3% | Black or African American, 11.0% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 19.2% Asian, 4.6% White, 59.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 2% | 2% |