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The differences between utility workers and maintenance engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a utility worker and a maintenance engineer. Additionally, a maintenance engineer has an average salary of $47,133, which is higher than the $30,429 average annual salary of a utility worker.
The top three skills for a utility worker include customer service, safety procedures and cleanliness. The most important skills for a maintenance engineer are plumbing, HVAC, and guest rooms.
| Utility Worker | Maintenance Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $30,429 | $47,133 |
| Hourly rate | $14.63 | $22.66 |
| Growth rate | 5% | 5% |
| Number of jobs | 31,038 | 97,957 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 50% | Bachelor's Degree, 48% |
| Average age | 47 | 47 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
A utility worker is an entry-level position who is responsible for the cleanliness and maintenance of company premises and equipment. Utility workers take verbal and written instructions from managers and maintenance officers about the assigned work areas inside and outside of the property. Some employers may require their utility workers to have a commercial driver's license because they will be operating maintenance equipment and vehicles. Although a bachelor's degree is not required, utility workers must be in good physical condition and also be able to read written work orders.
A maintenance engineer is responsible for the maintenance of industrial machinery and inspects equipment defects for immediate troubleshooting or replacement as needed. Maintenance engineers install and upgrade system components to improve system optimization and perform diagnostic systems to locate any adjustments. They also conduct routine checks, assist clients with technical faults, and ensure that the equipment works safely for certain operations. A maintenance engineer must have excellent knowledge of the mechanical industry to address technical malfunctions immediately.
Utility workers and maintenance engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Utility Worker | Maintenance Engineer | |
| Average salary | $30,429 | $47,133 |
| Salary range | Between $23,000 And $38,000 | Between $29,000 And $74,000 |
| Highest paying City | Seattle, WA | New York, NY |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | UGI | Halliburton |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | - |
There are a few differences between a utility worker and a maintenance engineer in terms of educational background:
| Utility Worker | Maintenance Engineer | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 50% | Bachelor's Degree, 48% |
| Most common major | Business | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between utility workers' and maintenance engineers' demographics:
| Utility Worker | Maintenance Engineer | |
| Average age | 47 | 47 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 83.1% Female, 16.9% | Male, 94.6% Female, 5.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 11.6% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 16.2% Asian, 4.7% White, 62.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2% | Black or African American, 10.4% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 19.9% Asian, 4.4% White, 59.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 2% | 2% |