Maintenance Jobs

Maintenance jobs are a diverse class of work. Some maintenance crews devote themselves entirely to cleaning and are properly described as janitorial. Other maintenance workers are adept at making simple household repairs that do not involve electrical issues. Employers often refer to these tasks as handymen jobs. Some maintenance workers are very skilled and may perform repairs on hi-tech machinery.

Many people are attracted to this line of work because they typically offer on-the-job-training, do not require higher education on an application or resume, and can sometimes lead to higher paying jobs within a corporation. This last is especially true when the maintenance jobs require technical skills. However, each class of maintenance work has different possibilities.

Janitor

Employment in janitorial work requires the least amount of qualifications. This is an entry-level job which has minimal expectations from a worker, beyond punctuality, honesty and other basic requirements. The job description is primarily that of a cleaner. Some janitorial jobs also oblige workers to engage in repair work and some preventive maintenance.

The average annual salary for a janitor in the United States is $29,000. The actual pay for an individual janitor depends on experience, employer and the skills that an employee brings to the job. Advancement opportunity is limited to management positions within the janitorial crew.

Handyman

Some maintenance jobs split the responsibilities between cleaning and repairs. Holders of the former jobs are called janitors and the holders of the latter jobs can be referred to as handymen. These workers can make repairs to tools or other items belonging to their employer. This includes some construction repair but generally does not extend to actually building anything from scratch.

The average annual salary of a handyman is $32,000, a little higher than that of a janitor. The disparity is due to the additional skills that a handyman has. Unless a handyman acquires some sort of certification or college level education in more advanced repair skills, he is unlikely to advance beyond a position providing oversight over his fellow handymen.

Caretakers

This is another one of the many maintenance jobs that requires few certified skills. A caretaker is a person to whom the owner of an estate or other property has assigned the role of monitoring its status and preventing damage as much as possible. Caretakers may engage in some repairs and cleaning services, like janitors or handymen. However, part of this job also requires them to search for and analyze problems before contacting specialists to handle repairs or other work that are beyond their skills.

The annual salary for a caretaker can vary widely. This is an entry-level position that does not require more than basic repair skills. You can expect to earn somewhere between $25,000 and $35,000 on average in such a position.

Manufacturing Maintenance Jobs

Maintenance technician jobs are the highest class of maintenance work. While handymen may have some of the skills required to maintain and repair electrical equipment, those jobs are generally reserved for manufacturing maintenance technicians who have earned licenses or certifications in their line of repair. Increasingly, workers in this field need to understand computer software in order to interact with and repair the machinery assigned to their care.

There are diverse certifications available for people interested in this kind of work. As an example, a worker in automotive repair would probably want to earn Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) certification in order to acquire a job or advance from his or her present position.

The salaries vary for these sorts of maintenance jobs. They depend mostly on the type of machinery that is to be maintained. The demand for workers with these skills also varies.

The Top Five Earners in Maintenance Occupations

• Electrical Repairers earn nearly $62,000 per year working at powerhouses and electrical substations and relays. This is an average and the exact amount depends on the employer and experience. The elevated level of pay, compared to that of handymen, is due to the highly skilled work. The states with the most demand for this sort of worker are Delaware, Wyoming and Vermont. California pays its electrical repairers an average of $74,000 annually.
• First-Line Supervisors are the managers of auto mechanics and installers. On average they earn about $60,000 per year. Local governments and automobile dealers have a great demand for these maintenance jobs. The oil and gas industry pays them better than anyone else – more than $80,000 on average. In Alaska they earn an average yearly salary of $76,000.
• Commercial divers don scuba gear and display their skills in underwater repair work. They need to understand the requirements of underwater work as well as have welding skills. They are in high demand wherever construction may involve water as an obstacle. On average, they make $58,000 per year. Employers in New Jersey pay them an average salary of $82,000.
• Electrical power-line installers can make an average of $55,000 annually. These maintenance jobs are in high demand with local governments and utilities. Oregon is one of the top paying states for these workers. There they earn annual salaries averaging about $74,000.
• Installers of telecommunications equipment make nearly $53,000 as an average salary per year. They are primarily responsible for installing communications equipment in central offices. As of now, the natural gas industry shows a high demand for these maintenance jobs. They make an average of $57,000 when they work in Alaska.