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6 Work Benefits Maintenance Technicians Enjoy
Attracting and retaining a quality workforce has been particularly challenging for US industries in recent years, especially maintenance technicians.
According to one estimate, the semiconductor industry alone is looking at a shortage of 90,000 skilled workers by 2030. Similar shortages exist across numerous other industries, from automotive to renewable energy.
The situation has left employers clamoring to attract the best available talent.
Here are six irresistible benefits maintenance technicians enjoy as a result.
1. High Pay
As of December 2024, the average annual salary of a maintenance technician in the US is $69,226. It ranges from $61,167 at the lower end to $78,372 at the higher. That is almost $10,000 more than the average annual salary for all professions, which stands at $59,428. The higher pay is a reflection of the growing demand for maintenance technicians given the surge in robotics and industrial automation. This field is the perfect opportunity for those considering career options or looking to change jobs. While this is optimistic news on the whole, it’s worth pointing out that actual salaries can vary depending on several factors, including job location, skill level, experience, specialization, the state of the local economy, and other factors. The high pay is usually in addition to an attractive package of benefits that include paid time off, health and wellness benefits, work-life balance, medical insurance, sick leave, and others. Once again, the exact benefits depend on the employer’s policies, years spent at the organization, employee value, management discretion, and other factors.
2. Job Security
Few other jobs come close to maintenance technicians when it comes to job security. The status of high job security is based on factors that we’ve already discussed but which merit reiterating:
- Range of Skills: A combination of deep knowledge, hard and soft skills, physical and mental prowess, and the ability to solve problems on the go.
- Variety of Tasks: Responsible for multiple tasks - from inspections and repairs to predictive maintenance and troubleshooting - with a low margin for errors.
- Talent Shortage: Not enough maintenance technicians are available in the US right now to fill open positions. The situation is likely to worsen in the years ahead.
These three factors incentivize employers to do all they can to attract the relatively small population of eligible maintenance technicians and retain them with competitive pay and benefits. With the US Bureau of Labor Statistics estimating a 17.2% job growth rate for industrial machinery mechanics from 2022 to 2032, job security in this profession is as good as it gets! As long as they’re doing their job right, nobody in the US is letting go of maintenance technicians right now.
3. Benefits Package
Maintenance technicians are privy to a wide range of perks and benefits, some of which are unparalleled in most other lines of work. Let’s get the standard benefits out the way first, which include:
- Health Insurance: Access to healthcare coverage to support overall fitness and well-being.
- Dental Insurance: Coverage for dentist visits, routine checkups, and other dental procedures.
- Accident Insurance: Compensation for injuries sustained at the workplace.
- Life Insurance: Financial protection for your immediate family in the event of a tragic incident.
- Paid Time Off: For vacations, sick days, personal needs, and other circumstances.
- Professional Development: Continuous education and skill development for career growth.
While these benefits are common to most professions, maintenance technicians enjoy some that are not. For instance:
- Rotational Schedules: Workers in oil rigs and remote locations work rotational schedules, usually two weeks on-site followed by two weeks off.
- Accommodation: On-site workers can receive free or highly subsidized accommodation when working in remote or far-flung locations.
Free Meals: A common benefit for maintenance techs in some industries because of remote workplace locations and other logistics issues.
