Description

Maintenance technicians maintain and manage buildings, facilities, and equipment. Fixing basic mechanical, plumbing, or electrical issues, including those related to HVAC/R systems, is a crucial component of their work. Maintenance technicians also perform tasks related to general upkeep of a property.

Maintenance technicians conduct preventive maintenance and routine inspections of facilities. They need to be detail-oriented to avoid overlooking malfunctions or potentially dangerous issues. When those conditions do arise, they must apply strong troubleshooting and problem-solving skills to make needed repairs and remedy the situation. Specific tasks that a maintenance technician might perform related to HVAC/R systems include monitoring temperature controls, cleaning and maintaining equipment such as valves and boilers, and repairing damaged units. Workers may specialize in certain tasks (such as those that are HVAC/R-related) in larger facilities, whereas in smaller facilities maintenance technicians are more likely to perform a variety of general tasks that could include cleaning, painting, basic carpentry, grounds maintenance, and repairing walls, floors, and fixtures. 

Maintenance technicians’ work is physically demanding. They are on their feet most of the day and must climb ladders and stairs. They need the flexibility to bend and crouch in low spaces and stretch to reach equipment, and they must be strong enough to move objects weighing up to 100 pounds. Good vision is necessary to ensure inspections and repairs are completed properly, and manual dexterity is important, because maintenance technicians frequently use hand and power tools.

Maintenance technicians interact and collaborate with other team members and occupants of the properties they maintain, so it is critical that they have strong verbal and teamwork skills and a focus on providing good customer service. Maintenance technicians need to be organized and have the flexibility to handle shifting priorities given their variety of tasks. Some employers also require maintenance technicians to have basic computer skills and familiarity with building automation systems.

Maintenance technicians typically perform their job duties at worksites on a full-time basis. Work schedules can include evenings and weekends, and they may need to be on call for emergencies.

Job Outlook

According to the New York State Department of Labor, there are approximately 116,300 general maintenance and repair workers in New York State and opportunities for employment are expected to be favorable through 2028 – the Department projects this occupation to grow by 10,420 jobs between 2018 and 2028.

Entering the Field

A high school diploma or GED is typically the level of education needed to qualify for an entry-level position as a maintenance technician. Workers acquire many of the skills needed to perform their duties while learning on-the-job within their first year of employment. Some employers prefer hiring maintenance technicians with experience gained through past work, vocational training in property maintenance or a construction trade, or a two-year associate degree, and they may require some of those qualifications for senior positions.

Maintenance technicians do not generally need to be licensed, but some employers may prefer or require certain certifications for employees whose duties involve specialized work, including HVAC/R. A U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Section 608 Technician Certification is often required when job responsibilities involve maintaining HVAC/R systems, and a boiler operator license (issued by local government authorities) may be needed for some positions. In addition to certifications and licenses needed to meet specific job-demands, a driver’s license may be required by some employers.

Check the requirements of employers in your area and local government licensing regulations for more information regarding working as a maintenance technician.

Wages

In New York State, the median wage for general maintenance and repair workers is approximately $48,000. Entry-level workers earn about $32,800 and experienced workers earn about $59,000.

Annual Wage (Q1 2021 dollars, rounded to 100s) – Statewide and by Labor Market Region

Source: New York State Department of Labor, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics Survey, SOC Code 49-9071 (Maintenance and Repair Workers, General)

Employers

Real estate firms are the largest employer of maintenance technicians, and these workers are hired in a variety of other fields as well. Hotels, restaurants, schools, and governments are among the types of organizations that also employ many general maintenance workers or posted the most job advertisements online for these positions.

The top three employers with the most online job advertisements in each region in 2020 are listed below. Most openings were advertised with job titles that included “maintenance,” such as maintenance technician or maintenance worker, but some employers do advertise these jobs as engineers and may refer to them specifically as building engineers, mobile engineers, or maintenance engineers.

Note: these employers specifically referenced HVAC/R-related tasks in their online job ads. Check job posting boards or government websites for additional opportunities to gain employment as a maintenance and repair worker.

Capital Region

• Equity Lifestyle Properties
• Atria Senior Living
• Vail Resorts Management Company

Central New York

• Marriott International Incorporated
• McDonald’s
• Morgan Properties

Finger Lakes

• Morgan Properties
• Conifer Realty, LLC
• WinnCompanies

Hudson Valley

• McDonald’s
• Lincoln Property Company
• AvalonBay Communities Incorporated

Long Island

• McDonald’s
• Northwell Health
• AvalonBay Communities Incorporated

Mohawk Valley

• DePaul
• Marriott International Incorporated
• Millennia Housing Management

New York City

• Cushman & Wakefield
• Volunteers of America
• Marriott International Incorporated

North Country

• McDonald’s
• WinnCompanies
• Mirror Lake Inn

Southern Tier

• Conifer Realty, LLC
• McDonald’s
• Tompkins County

Western New York

• McDonald’s
• Amherst Venture, LLC
• Morgan Properties

Source: Burning Glass Technologies: Labor Insight™. 2021.

Labor Unions

There are several unions that represent building service workers in the private and public sectors. 32BJ, an affiliate of the Service Employees International Union, is active in New York and includes maintenance workers and building engineers among its members. The United Service Workers Union and United Public Service Employees Union are both affiliated with the International Union of Journeymen and Allied Trades, and they include members who work in HVAC, building services, and operations and maintenance. Contact these unions to verify their jurisdictions, or check with local companies or government agencies that employ maintenance technicians to see if they are affiliated with these unions or others.

Education and Training Programs

Several schools in New York offer formal training that would prepare people to work as maintenance technicians or possibly advance in the field. These schools, shown in the table below, have programs that teach multiple aspects of property maintenance. Other schools throughout the state offer trade-specific education that may also be beneficial to work as a maintenance technician. Check with local schools and job training programs to see if they offer relevant coursework.

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