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What is a preventive maintenance technician and how to become one
A preventive maintenance technician is an individual who ensures that machinery and equipment used by a company or an organization are in working order, and they perform duties that seek to prevent machine failure. Preventative maintenance technicians work in a variety of industries, including manufacturing, retail, automotive, and construction, and are responsible for the maintenance and repair of facility machines and equipment. These professionals fix and change out worn machine parts, maintain quality checks, process inventory, and schedule repairs.
Although an advanced degree is not needed to land a position as a preventative maintenance technician, most employers require at least a High School Diploma or equivalent. Also, many of these individuals have an associate's degree or a certificate in building management or preventive maintenance. A preventative maintenance technician should possess excellent communication, analytical, mechanical, and troubleshooting skills.
Many preventative maintenance technicians can make up to $14,000 per year, and the career field is expected to grow 6% by 2028.
Avg. Salary $40,935
Avg. Salary $59,228
Growth rate 5%
Growth rate 0.3%
American Indian and Alaska Native 1.18%
Asian 4.61%
Black or African American 11.34%
Hispanic or Latino 19.40%
Unknown 4.26%
White 59.21%
Genderfemale 8.23%
male 91.77%
Age - 49American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%
Asian 7.00%
Black or African American 14.00%
Hispanic or Latino 19.00%
White 57.00%
Genderfemale 47.00%
male 53.00%
Age - 49Stress level is high
7.1 - high
Complexity level is intermediate
7 - challenging
Work life balance is fair
6.4 - fair
Preventive maintenance technician career paths
Key steps to become a preventive maintenance technician
Explore preventive maintenance technician education requirements
Start to develop specific preventive maintenance technician skills
Skills Percentages Customer Service 17.65% Hand Tools 8.24% HVAC 7.98% Dishwashers 5.66% Plumbing 5.06% Complete relevant preventive maintenance technician training and internships
Accountants spend an average of 1-3 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New preventive maintenance technicians learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a preventive maintenance technician based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real preventive maintenance technician resumes.Gain additional preventive maintenance technician certifications
More About CertificationsPreventive maintenance technician certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific preventive maintenance technician certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.
The most common certifications for preventive maintenance technicians include EPA Amusement Operators Safety Certification (EPA) and Preventive Medicine.
Research preventive maintenance technician duties and responsibilities
- Initiate and implement first preventative maintenance program for CNC, mills and lathes for the maintenance dept.
- Control circuit and PLC installation and programming.
- Climb poles, ladders and other structures as needed.
- Train and knowledgeable of OSHA's rules and regulations.
Prepare your preventive maintenance technician resume
When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your preventive maintenance technician resume.
You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a preventive maintenance technician resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.
Choose from 10+ customizable preventive maintenance technician resume templates
Build a professional preventive maintenance technician resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your preventive maintenance technician resume.
Apply for preventive maintenance technician jobs
Now it's time to start searching for a preventive maintenance technician job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:
- Browse job boards for relevant postings
- Consult your professional network
- Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
- Watch out for job scams
How did you land your first preventive maintenance technician job
Are you a preventive maintenance technician?
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Average preventive maintenance technician salary
The average preventive maintenance technician salary in the United States is $40,935 per year or $20 per hour. Preventive maintenance technician salaries range between $31,000 and $52,000 per year.
What am I worth?
How do preventive maintenance technicians rate their job?
Preventive maintenance technician reviews
Flexibility
I have more to offer than n various task. My resume spells out my duties.
Challenging, technical, always something new, part of a team.
The hours, the low pay, high expectations to perform and exceed, expectation to always be on call, low budget for repairs.
I like the technicality, reasoning and the calculative nature of the job
I can't really say, because I love been maintenance technician
Updated January 8, 2025
