How to Become a Maintenance Technician?
Are you thinking of becoming a Maintenance Technician or already started your career and planning the next step? Learn how to become a Maintenance Technician, what skills you need to succeed, how to advance your career and get promoted, and what levels of pay to expect at each step on your career path. Explore new Maintenance Technician job openings and options for career transitions into related roles.
Steps to Become a Maintenance Technician
If you're considering starting your Maintenance Technician career path, it's important to note the skills, qualifications, and time it takes to become a professional Maintenance Technician and how to advance your career path. Below are the steps generally required to begin and advance your Maintenance Technician career.Contents
1
Earn a Degree
To begin your Maintenance Technician career path, a Associate's Degree in electronics or a related field is usually necessary in order to remain a competitive option for employers. Focus on industry-specific skill development during your education in order to be properly equipped when applying for entry-level positions and entering the job force. A Maintenance Technician internship may be required to earn your Associate's Degree and acquire necessary on-the-job skills before entering the workforce.What type of degree should you pursue to become a Maintenance Technician?
42% of people working as a Maintenance Technician earned a Associate's Degree
What skills do you need to be a Maintenance Technician?
- PLC
- English Language
- Exhaust Systems
- Written Communication
- Excellent Customer Service
- Windows
- Exhaust
- Requests
2
Choose a Specialty in Your Field
As an Maintenance Technician, you may be required to choose a specialty within your field. Determine which part of the Maintenance Technician field you feel strongest in, and continue taking active steps toward growing in your chosen Maintenance Technician specialty.3
Get an Entry-Level Position as a Maintenance Technician
Once you've acquired a Associate's Degree in electronics or a related field, you'll typically begin your career as an entry-level Maintenance Technician. In general, you can become a Maintenance Technician after completing your 3 year Associate's Degree in a related discipline. Depending on the type of Maintenance Technician role you’re pursuing, you may want to explore certification in certified maintenance technician.4
Advance in Your Maintenance Technician Career
Following entry-level, there are several Maintenance Technician career path levels to advance into. It can take 2 years as an entry-level Maintenance Technician to progress to the senior maintenance technician position. Each advanced Maintenance Technician position requires approximately 2 years of experience at each level to advance in your Maintenance Technician career path. It may be necessary to receive additional education, an advanced degree such as a Master's Degree in a related field, or special certifications in order to advance your Maintenance Technician career path.5
Continued Education for Your Maintenance Technician Career Path
Not all industries and companies require continued education to advance your Maintenance Technician career path. However, earning this degree may help you advance to higher-earning positions more quickly. Earning a Graduate Degree in electronics can take 4 years to complete. People that have earned their Graduate Degree typically make $63,961 compared to $31,317 for those without that type of degree.Maintenance Technician Career Path
Maintenance Technician
2 - 4Years of Experience
$47K - $64K /yrMost Likely Range
Senior Maintenance Technician
2 - 4Years of Experience
$59K - $91K /yrMost Likely Range
Maintenance Technician IV
5 - 7Years of Experience
$53K - $74K /yrMost Likely Range
Total Pay Trajectory
Maintenance Technician Career Path
Summer Maintenance Technician
Maintenance Technician
Assistant Manager of Maintenance
Senior Maintenance Technician
Maintenance Technician Manager
Maintenance Technician IV
Maintenance Technician V
Director of Maintenance
Senior Director of Maintenance
$40K
$82K
$124K
$166K
$250K
Are you paid fairly? Get a free, personalized salary estimate based on today's job market
Related Careers in the Skilled Labor & Manufacturing Industry
Interested in other Skilled Labor & Manufacturing careers? Below are occupations that have high affinity with Maintenance Technician skills. Discover some of the most common Maintenance Technician career transitions, along with skills overlap.