Careers Finding a Job Maintenance Job Titles and Descriptions Jobs in Trades, Facilities Management, and More Share PINTEREST Email Print KatarzynaBialasiewicz / Getty Images Finding a Job Job Searching Career Advice Skills & Keywords Resumes Salary & Benefits Letters & Emails Job Listings Job Interviews Cover Letters Best Jobs Work-From-Home Jobs Internships Table of Contents Expand High-Paying Maintenance Jobs Jobs With High Occupational Growth Join an Apprenticeship Program Maintenance Job Titles and Duties Repair Fixtures and Equipment Routine Maintenance Cleaning Management and Executive Roles By Alison Doyle Updated on 09/17/20 Things break; maintenance workers fix them and keep them from breaking in the future. And while “maintenance jobs” might call to mind handyman services or janitorial work, those are only some of the career paths available in this field. So, if you’ve always been able to fix just about anything—and you’re eager to learn a few new skills as well—you could have a satisfying and lucrative career with one of these maintenance job titles. How to Get a High-Paying Maintenance Job Know What Matters to You You are more than just the sum of your work experience. To choose a career that’s right for you, consider your interests, personality type, aptitudes, and values. There is a lot of potential for growth in a maintenance career, and ambition, experience, and hard work can result in a supervisory or management position. Target Jobs With High Occupational Growth In the Occupational Outlook Handbook, the Bureau of Labor Statistics forecasts how fast jobs will grow over the next decade. Maintenance job titles are expected to grow 3% overall during that time, but some will expand more than others. For example, the BLS expects employment for wind turbine technicians to increase 61% between 2019 and 2029. Currently, windtechs earn a median annual salary of $52,910. Join an Apprenticeship Program According to the U.S. Department of Labor, workers who complete an apprenticeship program earn an average starting salary of $70,000 per year—and many apprentices earn while they’re training. Use the DOL’s Apprenticeship Finder at Apprenticeship.gov to learn more. Maintenance Job Titles and Duties Maintenance workers handle a wide range of tasks that vary by industry and employer. They work in a variety of settings: some work in a single building (such as a hotel or hospital), while others are responsible for multiple buildings (such as a college campus or housing complex). There are many other maintenance job titles, but this is a helpful list that can give you a sense of what’s out there. Repair Fixtures and Equipment Maintenance workers have many of the same skills as construction workers. On any given day they may be painting a hallway, replacing a toilet, or fixing a sink. In a manufacturing plant they might be replacing a worn machinery part, and in an office they might be installing or fixing a lighting fixture. Maintenance workers have the basic skills of a carpenter, electrician, plumber, painter, mechanic, and HVAC technician all rolled into one. It's also their job to call on a licensed professional with proper expertise when needed. BrazerBricklayerCarpenterConcrete FinisherCutterElectric/Electronics TechnicianElectric Home Appliance and Power Tool RepairerElectric Meter Installer and RepairerElectric Motor AssemblerElectrical Powerline Installer/RepairerElectrical Utility Trouble ShooterElevator Installer/RepairerGrinderHVAC MechanicJig and Fixture BuilderLinemanLocksmithMasonMechanicMillwrightPainterPest Control TechnicianPipefitterPipeline DirectorPipeline Maintenance ManagerPipelines ManagerPipeline Operations ManagerPipeline TechnicianPowerhouse SupervisorResteel ironworkerSoldererSteamfitterStructural AssemblerStructural IronworkerWelder Routine Maintenance Maintenance workers also perform a certain amount of upkeep, both to keep a building looking ship shape and to maintain a safe environment. This could involve anything from cleaning and replacing air conditioner filters to fixing a broken tile or a light that's burned out. Building maintenance workers also perform inspections to figure out what issues need attention. In industrial work, maintenance workers might have set duties involving procedures to perform on machinery and equipment. Aviation Maintenance WorkerDairy Processing Equipment RepairerGeneral Maintenance WorkerGreenskeeperGrounds Maintenance WorkerGroundskeeperGroundskeeping WorkerHandymanIndustrial Machinery MechanicInterior Aircraft Assembly WorkerLandscaperLandscaping WorkerMachinery Maintenance WorkerMaintenance PainterMaintenance PlannerPesticide HandlerPrunerSafety TechnicianTree Trimmer and Pruner Cleaning Some maintenance workers will have cleaning duties as part of their job. This might involve cleaning as needed as the result of an issue. For instance, if a pipe bursts, the maintenance worker would clean up the area after a flood or deal with damaged floors or carpeting. Additionally, the work may involve regular cleaning tasks like cleaning floors, windows, and carpets. Cleaning Crew Construction Painter Custodian General Laborer Housekeeper Housekeeping Dispatcher Industrial Cleaner Janitor Laundry Attendant Vehicle Washer/Equipment Cleaner Management and Executive Roles Companies and businesses, especially those with larger or multiple facilities, will often offer the opportunity for management and executive roles in their maintenance department. Assembly SupervisorBuilding and Grounds SupervisorBuilding Maintenance ManagerBuilder Operations ManagerCampus Maintenance ManagerClinical Facilities Planning ManagerCustodial ManagerDistrict Technical Service ManagerElectrical SuperintendentEstimating ManagerFacilities DirectorFacilities Management ExecutiveFacility ManagerFacilities PlannerFacilities SupervisorField Operations ExecutiveField OperatorField Service CoordinatorFloor TechnicianHead of HousekeepingHousekeeping ManagerHousekeeping SupervisorInstallation & Maintenance ExecutiveInstallation & Maintenance Technician DirectorLawn Service ManagerMaintenance and Service ManagerMaintenance SupervisorOperations ManagerPipeline ExecutiveProduction SupervisorProperty ManagerSecurity DirectorSpares CoordinatorWastewater Treatment Plant Manager Featured Video