Maintenance Technician Job Description (2026): Duties, Skills and Salary
A maintenance technician keeps machines, buildings and systems running. They do preventive maintenance on a schedule, troubleshoot breakdowns, repair or replace worn parts, and keep records of what was done and why. The job mixes mechanical, electrical and sometimes plumbing or HVAC skills, depending on the site.
Maintenance technicians work in manufacturing plants, warehouses, hospitals, schools and office buildings, so the equipment varies: conveyors and production lines in a factory, chillers and elevators in a building, pumps and compressors in a utility. Most jobs involve some physical work, a rotating on-call schedule, and a CMMS to log tickets and parts.
Maintenance Technician job description template
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Maintenance Technician
[Company] · [City and office days, or remote with the countries or time zones you hire in] · [Full-time]
About [Company]
[Two or three sentences on what your company does, who it serves and why this team matters now.]
About the role
[Company] is hiring a maintenance technician to keep [equipment / facility] running at [site]. You'll handle preventive maintenance, respond to breakdowns, and help reduce downtime for [team].
What you'll do
- Perform preventive maintenance on [equipment, e.g. conveyors, HVAC units, pumps] on a set schedule.
- Diagnose and repair mechanical, electrical and [plumbing / hydraulic] issues as they come up.
- Respond to breakdowns and prioritize repairs to minimize downtime.
- Order and track spare parts, and keep the parts room organized.
- Log work orders, parts used and hours in the CMMS.
- Follow lockout/tagout and other safety procedures on every job.
- Support installation of new equipment and minor facility projects.
- Train junior technicians or operators on basic troubleshooting.
What you'll bring
- [X]+ years as a maintenance technician or in a similar hands-on trade.
- Working knowledge of mechanical, electrical and [plumbing / hydraulic] systems.
- Comfortable reading schematics, manuals and wiring diagrams.
- Experience with hand and power tools, and basic welding or fabrication is a plus.
- Ability to lift [50] lbs, climb ladders and work in [tight spaces / at heights].
- Willingness to be on an on-call rotation for after-hours breakdowns.
- Safety-first habits: lockout/tagout, PPE and reporting hazards.
Nice to have
- Forklift or aerial lift certification.
- PLC troubleshooting or basic automation knowledge.
- HVAC or refrigeration certification (EPA 608).
- Experience with a CMMS such as [UpKeep, Fiix or Maximo].
What we offer
- [Pay range: e.g. $X–$Y base salary, plus bonus or equity if offered]
- [Tool allowance, shift differential pay, uniform and boot allowance]
- [Health cover, retirement or pension plan, paid time off, parental leave]
- [Work authorization: whether you can sponsor a visa or hire through an employer of record]
[Our process: a phone screen, a skills or troubleshooting assessment, a site walkthrough with the facilities manager, and a reference check.]
[Your equal opportunity statement, and how candidates can ask for adjustments during the process]
Put the pay range in the ad. Several US states, including California, Colorado, New York and Washington, require it in job postings, and the EU Pay Transparency Directive gives applicants the right to know the starting pay or its range before the interview.
Maintenance Technician duties by seniority
What the job usually looks like at each level. Pitch the ad at one level and say which in the title.
Junior
- Handles routine preventive maintenance and simple repairs under guidance.
- Learns the site's equipment and safety procedures.
- Logs work orders accurately and asks for help on unfamiliar jobs.
Mid-level
- Diagnoses and repairs most equipment issues independently.
- Plans preventive maintenance schedules and orders parts ahead of need.
- Takes on-call shifts and handles breakdowns under time pressure.
Senior
- Leads complex repairs and troubleshoots issues others can't solve.
- Improves maintenance procedures and trains newer technicians.
- Works with engineering on equipment upgrades and reliability projects.
Maintenance Technician career path
- Maintenance Technician I
- Maintenance Technician II
- Senior Maintenance Technician
- Maintenance Supervisor or Facilities Manager
Maintenance technician is usually entered through a trade school, an apprenticeship, military mechanical experience or years of hands-on tinkering, often starting as a helper or junior tech. From there, people specialize into a trade like electrical or HVAC, or move up into supervising maintenance teams or managing a facility.
Similar roles
- Electrician job description
Specializes in electrical systems rather than general equipment repair.
- HVAC Technician job description
Focuses on heating, cooling and ventilation systems specifically.
- Facilities Manager job description
Oversees the building and the maintenance team rather than doing the repairs.
- Production Supervisor job description
Manages the production line the technician keeps running.
Maintenance Technician job description FAQ
What does a maintenance technician do?
Performs preventive maintenance and repairs on equipment or facilities, troubleshoots breakdowns, orders parts and logs work orders. The exact mix of mechanical, electrical and plumbing work depends on the site.
What skills should a maintenance technician job description require?
Hands-on mechanical and electrical troubleshooting, tool use, and the physical ability to lift, climb and work in tight spaces. Specific certifications like forklift or EPA 608 are better listed as nice-to-have unless the role truly requires them.
Does a maintenance technician need a degree?
Usually not. Most employers look for trade school training, an apprenticeship or direct experience rather than a four-year degree. Relevant certifications matter more than formal education for this role.