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The differences between plant utilities engineers and maintenance assistants 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 maintenance assistant. Additionally, a plant utilities engineer has an average salary of $51,200, which is higher than the $31,915 average annual salary of a maintenance assistant.
The top three skills for a plant utilities engineer include ventilation, plant utilities and loaders. The most important skills for a maintenance assistant are plumbing, HVAC, and customer service.
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 maintenance assistant is responsible for maintaining the company's facilities' cleanliness, ensuring that all the equipment and machinery are in working condition, and escalating high defective items for repair. Maintenance assistants should adhere to the organization's safety standards at all times to prevent hazards in operations. They also assist with monitoring inventories and requesting office supplies, inspect electrical wirings and systems for inconsistencies, respond to cleaning and repair requests, and assist guests to the correct departments.
Plant utilities engineers and maintenance assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Plant Utilities Engineer | Maintenance Assistant | |
| Average salary | $51,200 | $31,915 |
| Salary range | Between $35,000 And $74,000 | Between $24,000 And $41,000 |
| Highest paying City | Waipahu, HI | Las Vegas, NV |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | Bristol-Myers Squibb | Brigham and Women's Hospital |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Government |
There are a few differences between a plant utilities engineer and a maintenance assistant in terms of educational background:
| Plant Utilities Engineer | Maintenance Assistant | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 34% | High School Diploma, 35% |
| Most common major | Mechanical Engineering | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between plant utilities engineers' and maintenance assistants' demographics:
| Plant Utilities Engineer | Maintenance Assistant | |
| Average age | 47 | 47 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 88.7% Female, 11.3% | Male, 86.6% Female, 13.4% |
| 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, 10.4% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 20.3% Asian, 4.4% White, 59.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 2% | 2% |