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The differences between plant utilities engineers and maintenance lead people 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 lead person. Additionally, a maintenance lead person has an average salary of $53,120, 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 maintenance lead person 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.
The primary job of a maintenance lead person involves painting, asbestos removal, resolving emergencies, plumbing, and welding. Workers in this position lead a team composing maintenance engineers or technicians. They work along with managers and support teams. It is their duty to construct and repair structures and equipment. They consistently promote quality standards by personal roll and example. Also, they support those demands from the customers.
Plant utilities engineers and maintenance lead people have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Plant Utilities Engineer | Maintenance Lead Person | |
| Average salary | $51,200 | $53,120 |
| Salary range | Between $35,000 And $74,000 | Between $39,000 And $71,000 |
| Highest paying City | Waipahu, HI | Saint Paul, MN |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Bristol-Myers Squibb | Eli Lilly and Company |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Automotive |
There are a few differences between a plant utilities engineer and a maintenance lead person in terms of educational background:
| Plant Utilities Engineer | Maintenance Lead Person | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 34% | High School Diploma, 32% |
| Most common major | Mechanical Engineering | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between plant utilities engineers' and maintenance lead people' demographics:
| Plant Utilities Engineer | Maintenance Lead Person | |
| Average age | 47 | 47 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 88.7% Female, 11.3% | Male, 94.8% Female, 5.2% |
| 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, 10.7% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 20.5% Asian, 4.5% White, 58.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 2% | 2% |