What is the salary and career path for a maintenance technician?
Maintenance technicians are reported under Maintenance and Repair Workers, General (SOC 49-9071), a close match covering building and equipment generalists across all settings. The occupation shows a median of $49,590/yr ($23.84/hr) in the BLS OEWS May 2025 estimates, with $35,350 at the 10th percentile and $77,180 at the 90th. BLS Employment Projections show 3.8% growth 2024-2034 with roughly 159,800 openings a year, one of the largest openings counts in the trades because the occupation is very large. Pay tracks specialisation: technicians who add EPA 608 refrigerant certification, boiler licences or industrial equipment skills sit well above the median.
- Maintenance technicians are reported under Maintenance and Repair Workers, General (SOC 49-9071), a close match, with a national median of $49,590/yr ($23.84/hr) (BLS OEWS May 2025); the top 10% clear $77,180.
- The role is defined by breadth - plumbing, electrical, HVAC, carpentry and appliance repair - bounded by the point at which local code requires a licensed contractor and a permit.
- EPA Section 608 certification is legally required to handle regulated refrigerants and is the highest-value credential for the role; CAMT, boiler licensure and CPO are common additions.
- BLS projects 3.8% growth 2024-2034 with roughly 159,800 openings a year - one of the largest openings counts in the trades, reflecting the sheer size of the occupation.
Career Path
How do you become a maintenance technician?
Maintenance helper / porter
Basic repairs, unit turns, filter changes and grounds tasks while learning the building systems; entry pay sits near the SOC 49-9071 10th percentile of $35,350.
Maintenance technician
Handling routine plumbing, electrical, HVAC and appliance repair independently across a property or portfolio; around the BLS national median of $49,590.
Lead / HVAC-certified technician
Holding EPA 608 and taking on refrigeration, boiler and controls work plus scheduling preventive maintenance; tracks toward the 75th percentile of $62,620.
Maintenance supervisor / facilities manager
Running a maintenance department with budget, vendor and compliance responsibility reaches the 90th percentile at $77,180.
BLS Salary Data
Which state pays maintenance technicians the most in 2026?
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025, SOC 49-9071. National median: $49,590. Full salary guide →
Pay Comparison
How does maintenance technician pay compare to related roles?
Head-to-head against the roles maintenance technicians most often weigh against. BLS OEWS May 2025 medians.
Takeaway: maintenance technicians rank 3 of 4 on median pay among the comparable roles above, with a projected +3.8% employment change 2024–34 (BLS Employment Projections). Pay position and projected demand together are what determine how quickly maintenance technicians clear offers across the GlobalCybers placement network.
Methodology & Sources
How this guide is sourced and reviewed
Wages (BLS): All median and percentile figures are BLS OEWS May 2025, SOC 49-9071 (maintenance technicians) and the matching SOC codes for each comparison role. OEWS is sampled on a rolling 3-year basis and published ~10 months after collection, so treat it as a firm anchor rather than a spot rate.
Job growth: Projected 2024–34 employment change, and the average annual openings figure, are from the BLS Employment Projections program, by occupation. Openings are a per-year average over the projection decade, not a decade total.
Licensing & credentials:Requirements are drawn from the issuing state licensing boards and the certifying body behind each credential — not from third-party aggregators.
Demand signal:Any statement about how quickly this role clears offers reflects GlobalCybers placement request volume across the trailing 12 months — our own network data, offered as a directional real-world indicator alongside BLS, not a market-wide survey.
Credentials
What licences and certifications do maintenance technicians need?
Federally required under the Clean Air Act to service, maintain or dispose of equipment containing regulated refrigerants; Type I covers small appliances, Type II high-pressure, Type III low-pressure, and Universal all three. See all state licences →
A National Apartment Association credential covering the multi-family maintenance scope - plumbing, electrical, HVAC, appliances and interior/exterior repair - widely recognised by property management employers.
Required in many jurisdictions to operate heating plant above a certain capacity in institutional and commercial buildings; a distinct licence class with its own examination.
General industry safety training under 29 CFR 1910, including energy control (lockout/tagout) procedures required before servicing powered equipment.
Tools & Software
What tools and software do maintenance technicians use on the job?
⚙️ Core Tools & Equipment
📊 BLS Employment Data, SOC 49-9071
Salary Levers
How do maintenance technicians earn above the $49,590 BLS median?
EPA 608 and HVAC capability
A technician who cannot legally touch refrigerant sits near the $35,350 10th percentile; adding EPA 608 and real HVAC service ability is the fastest route toward the $62,620 75th percentile.
Setting - industrial and healthcare versus residential
Manufacturing plants, hospitals and data centres pay materially above apartment maintenance for the same job title, because downtime is expensive and equipment is more complex.
Boiler or stationary engineer licensure
A licensed boiler operator or stationary engineer credential converts a generalist into a licensed plant operator, an established path toward the $77,180 90th percentile.
On-call and supervision
On-call rotations carry premiums, and moving into maintenance supervision adds budget and vendor responsibility with a salaried step up.
This Route vs. College
Is becoming a maintenance technician worth it vs. a 4-year degree?
The entry route into this role, set against a four-year degree. Same starting line, side by side.
Entry-level (10th percentile) and all-level median wages: BLS OEWS May 2025, SOC 49-9071. Student-debt figure: median federal borrower balance for bachelor's-degree completers. Starting-salary comparison is illustrative and varies by field and region.
FAQ
Maintenance Technician Career, Frequently Asked Questions
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