How much does a maintenance technician make per hour?

Anytime a question regarding hourly wages arises, I think it’s important to consider how you view compensation. Do you see it as a cost that needs to be minimized? Or do you view it as an investment in the future of your company? Understanding your own perspective on employee compensation can help you make smarter decisions in the long run.

Maintenance technicians operate as the workhorses of successful maintenance departments. These individuals keep all the critical functions of a facility up and running, ensuring that the business as a whole can focus on its core mission.

Tip: If you can attract and retain reliable, experienced talent, even at a higher wage per hour, you may save your company a great deal of money down the road with fewer maintenance issues, emergencies, and oversights.

Wages

Although maintenance technicians earn an average of $16 per hour, entry-level technicians start around $11 per hour with more experienced technicians bringing in more than $22 per hour.

I think organizations need to consider a technician’s background, experience, and certifications to set an appropriate hourly wage. For instance, an entry-level maintenance technician who performs janitorial duties and can manage basic repairs should be paid less than a well-seasoned technician who can handle plumbing, electrical, and carpentry duties.

Other Compensation

When it comes to compensation, I believe it’s important to have multiple tiers available for recognizing strong performance and extra effort. Maintenance managers should promote technicians who go the extra mile to earn HVAC certification or award bonuses to maintenance workers who put in overtime on an emergency project.

Depending on the structure of the company, I’d suggest offering profit-sharing benefits to maintenance workers as well, based on merit, performance, or service years.

Tip: By implementing a multi-tiered compensation package, you may be significantly more attractive as an employer. That means cream-of-the-crop maintenance technicians will want to work for and stay with your facility for the long run.

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