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How good is Facility Maintenance?
1. How good can the pay be, given enough experience?
2. Is it worth it in the long term?
3. How stressful is the work, both to body and mind?
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5 answers
Updated
Ed’s Answer
Hi, Drake. In addition to the information Carl and Gregg have provided, I would also recommend you consider a career in industrial maintenance.
Industrial maintenance is a field focused on ensuring the proper functioning and longevity of machinery, equipment, and infrastructure within manufacturing plants, factories, and other industrial settings. Professionals in this occupation, known as industrial maintenance technicians or mechanics, are responsible for troubleshooting, repairing, and maintaining various systems that are essential for production processes. Their work helps prevent equipment breakdowns, improves efficiency, and ensures workplace safety.
Key responsibilities often include:
Routine inspections: Conducting regular checks on machinery, electrical systems, and equipment to detect signs of wear and tear before they cause major issues.
Repairs and replacements: Fixing or replacing damaged components like motors, pumps, conveyors, HVAC systems, and electrical circuits.
Preventive maintenance: Performing scheduled maintenance to minimize downtime and extend the life of machinery, such as lubrication, calibration, and cleaning.
Troubleshooting: Identifying the root cause of mechanical, electrical, or pneumatic failures and using diagnostic tools to find and solve the problem.
Installation and setup: Assisting in the installation of new equipment or systems, ensuring they are set up properly and safely.
Safety compliance: Ensuring that all maintenance work follows industry standards and regulatory requirements for safety and environmental protection.
Documentation: Keeping detailed records of maintenance activities, repairs, and parts replaced for both operational efficiency and compliance.
Industrial maintenance can cover a broad range of specialized areas, such as electrical systems, hydraulics, pneumatics, welding, robotics, or HVAC systems. It requires technical knowledge, problem-solving skills, and the ability to work with complex machinery.
The role can be physically demanding and requires working in environments where noise, heat, or hazardous materials might be present. Maintenance workers may work in various industries, including manufacturing, construction, energy, and transportation.
Industrial maintenance is a field focused on ensuring the proper functioning and longevity of machinery, equipment, and infrastructure within manufacturing plants, factories, and other industrial settings. Professionals in this occupation, known as industrial maintenance technicians or mechanics, are responsible for troubleshooting, repairing, and maintaining various systems that are essential for production processes. Their work helps prevent equipment breakdowns, improves efficiency, and ensures workplace safety.
Key responsibilities often include:
Routine inspections: Conducting regular checks on machinery, electrical systems, and equipment to detect signs of wear and tear before they cause major issues.
Repairs and replacements: Fixing or replacing damaged components like motors, pumps, conveyors, HVAC systems, and electrical circuits.
Preventive maintenance: Performing scheduled maintenance to minimize downtime and extend the life of machinery, such as lubrication, calibration, and cleaning.
Troubleshooting: Identifying the root cause of mechanical, electrical, or pneumatic failures and using diagnostic tools to find and solve the problem.
Installation and setup: Assisting in the installation of new equipment or systems, ensuring they are set up properly and safely.
Safety compliance: Ensuring that all maintenance work follows industry standards and regulatory requirements for safety and environmental protection.
Documentation: Keeping detailed records of maintenance activities, repairs, and parts replaced for both operational efficiency and compliance.
Industrial maintenance can cover a broad range of specialized areas, such as electrical systems, hydraulics, pneumatics, welding, robotics, or HVAC systems. It requires technical knowledge, problem-solving skills, and the ability to work with complex machinery.
The role can be physically demanding and requires working in environments where noise, heat, or hazardous materials might be present. Maintenance workers may work in various industries, including manufacturing, construction, energy, and transportation.
This was super helpful, thank you!
Drake
Updated
Carl’s Answer
Facility maintenance is a great job. If you like variety, if you love a challenge, or if you like to save the day then it's your career. We are fixing a dishwasher one day and putting up shelves another. I feel it gives you an opportunity to learn several skills that you can keep. A little plumbing, electrical, painting, and carpentry.
The pay can be on the low side, but if you learn some skills you can always pick up cash jobs on the side.
It's definitely worth it long term. You can take these skills home and save money when you need repairs on your own place. You will never be replaced by A.I.
Stress is definitely something you will need to control. You can't eliminate it. Proper lifting techniques, knee pads, face masks are all important items. Don't take your work home with you. When you get home enjoy your family and remember tomorrow is a new day.
Watch some home repair YouTube videos
The pay can be on the low side, but if you learn some skills you can always pick up cash jobs on the side.
It's definitely worth it long term. You can take these skills home and save money when you need repairs on your own place. You will never be replaced by A.I.
Stress is definitely something you will need to control. You can't eliminate it. Proper lifting techniques, knee pads, face masks are all important items. Don't take your work home with you. When you get home enjoy your family and remember tomorrow is a new day.
Carl recommends the following next steps:
Thank you so much, Carl!
Drake
Updated
Dr’s Answer
Hey Drake!
Facility maintenance is one of those careers that flies under the radar, but it’s actually pretty awesome if you’re into hands-on work and problem-solving. Carl made a great point—this job gives you a swiss-army knife of skills: plumbing, electrical, carpentry, and even some HVAC knowledge. Basically, you become the go-to person who can fix just about anything.
Let’s talk money:
The pay can start off a little low, but as you gain experience and certifications, it gets better—especially if you specialize (think HVAC, electrical, or industrial maintenance). And the best part? You can always pick up side gigs fixing stuff for people or even start your own business.
Long-term benefits? Absolutely.
You’ll always be in demand. Buildings, factories, and facilities will always need maintenance, and as Carl said, you’ll never be replaced by AI. Robots might beat us at chess, but they’re not fixing your busted AC anytime soon. Plus, learning these skills means you save money at home—no more paying someone $200 to unclog a drain when you can do it yourself.
Well the stress level? Okay, it’s physical work, so your body will feel it, especially if you’re lifting heavy stuff or working in awkward spaces. Good gear is key—knee pads, gloves, proper lifting techniques. Mentally, it can get stressful if you’re juggling a bunch of tasks or dealing with urgent repairs, but like Carl said, the trick is to leave work at work and not take stress home with you.
Ed mentioned industrial maintenance, which is a solid step up if you’re into working on machinery and factory equipment. Gregg also pointed out that you can transition into more specialized roles like HVAC tech, electrician, or food service equipment repair. These paths usually pay more and give you a ton of career flexibility.
Anyways Drake, if you love fixing things and don’t mind a little grease on your hands, this is a great career. It’s stable, practical, and keeps you active. And let’s be real—there’s a certain kind of superhero feeling when you walk into a place and make things work again.
Hope that helps! Let me know if I missed anythin, all the best buddy.
Get certified in HVAC, electrical, or OSHA safety—then negotiate your pay. More skills = more value. When they say, "No budget for raises," remind them you're saving the company thousands. Boom—pay bump.
Shadow a facility maintenance tech for a day. See the real work, ask questions, and get a feel for the job—no better way to know if it’s for you!
Try learning basic troubleshooting skills now—fix a leaky faucet, change an outlet, or repair something small at home. Hands-on experience will give you a head start!
Facility maintenance is one of those careers that flies under the radar, but it’s actually pretty awesome if you’re into hands-on work and problem-solving. Carl made a great point—this job gives you a swiss-army knife of skills: plumbing, electrical, carpentry, and even some HVAC knowledge. Basically, you become the go-to person who can fix just about anything.
Let’s talk money:
The pay can start off a little low, but as you gain experience and certifications, it gets better—especially if you specialize (think HVAC, electrical, or industrial maintenance). And the best part? You can always pick up side gigs fixing stuff for people or even start your own business.
Long-term benefits? Absolutely.
You’ll always be in demand. Buildings, factories, and facilities will always need maintenance, and as Carl said, you’ll never be replaced by AI. Robots might beat us at chess, but they’re not fixing your busted AC anytime soon. Plus, learning these skills means you save money at home—no more paying someone $200 to unclog a drain when you can do it yourself.
Well the stress level? Okay, it’s physical work, so your body will feel it, especially if you’re lifting heavy stuff or working in awkward spaces. Good gear is key—knee pads, gloves, proper lifting techniques. Mentally, it can get stressful if you’re juggling a bunch of tasks or dealing with urgent repairs, but like Carl said, the trick is to leave work at work and not take stress home with you.
Ed mentioned industrial maintenance, which is a solid step up if you’re into working on machinery and factory equipment. Gregg also pointed out that you can transition into more specialized roles like HVAC tech, electrician, or food service equipment repair. These paths usually pay more and give you a ton of career flexibility.
Anyways Drake, if you love fixing things and don’t mind a little grease on your hands, this is a great career. It’s stable, practical, and keeps you active. And let’s be real—there’s a certain kind of superhero feeling when you walk into a place and make things work again.
Hope that helps! Let me know if I missed anythin, all the best buddy.
Dr recommends the following next steps:
Updated
Cory’s Answer
Hope you are doing well.
I don’t want to add or take away from anything said. The repair component of this job is everything as described below.
However the jobs are starting to turn into quasi-engineering jobs. With this transformation facility maintenance isn’t always a repair driven role and responsibility for a hotel or office complex.
Some of these positions (though not common) can pay above $100,000 but will include some level of professional engineering and contract management of repair service providers. Some of these positions even may include the oversight of construction to expand or build facilities.
It’s these latter roles that I have seen titled facility maintenance engineers and will include the repair component as previously described.
The jobs will tend to be as stable as the brand you are working for. Keep in mind that your payroll comes out of the profit of the business so I wouldn’t want to contact maintenance for a startup or franchise. I don’t know what’s best for you here so just use some common sense and don’t get carried away in the imagination about the job.
I am not addressing the stress component because every job has stress and every person copes/manages stress differently. Some people get quiet some people challenge and some don’t notice it. As for your question you will need to know that when the AC doesn’t work the room is hot. Scale that up to multiple floors for an office building and the number of complaints you will deal with. If the customer service aspect and conflict resolution give you a headache I would advise to really consider what you want and what you do in this role.
The biggest oversight in a job like this would be who is giving the orders, how are they delivered to you and how are they closed out. The stress in this job seems both mental and physical but having to do some customer service with attendants and not building owner seems like a lot IMO.
Good luck. Hope you sort out what you are looking for.
I don’t want to add or take away from anything said. The repair component of this job is everything as described below.
However the jobs are starting to turn into quasi-engineering jobs. With this transformation facility maintenance isn’t always a repair driven role and responsibility for a hotel or office complex.
Some of these positions (though not common) can pay above $100,000 but will include some level of professional engineering and contract management of repair service providers. Some of these positions even may include the oversight of construction to expand or build facilities.
It’s these latter roles that I have seen titled facility maintenance engineers and will include the repair component as previously described.
The jobs will tend to be as stable as the brand you are working for. Keep in mind that your payroll comes out of the profit of the business so I wouldn’t want to contact maintenance for a startup or franchise. I don’t know what’s best for you here so just use some common sense and don’t get carried away in the imagination about the job.
I am not addressing the stress component because every job has stress and every person copes/manages stress differently. Some people get quiet some people challenge and some don’t notice it. As for your question you will need to know that when the AC doesn’t work the room is hot. Scale that up to multiple floors for an office building and the number of complaints you will deal with. If the customer service aspect and conflict resolution give you a headache I would advise to really consider what you want and what you do in this role.
The biggest oversight in a job like this would be who is giving the orders, how are they delivered to you and how are they closed out. The stress in this job seems both mental and physical but having to do some customer service with attendants and not building owner seems like a lot IMO.
Good luck. Hope you sort out what you are looking for.
Thanks, can't wait to put this advice into action!
Drake
Updated
Carl "Gregg"’s Answer
Consider pursuing in-house maintenance positions! There's a big demand for skilled trades, and these roles are ideal for developing your skills. You can either advance within the company or branch out as a field service technician in various industries. Keep in mind that stress levels can vary based on your supervisor, organization, and personal factors. It's advisable to avoid hotel or motel maintenance roles.
Once you gain experience, you can explore careers such as:
- HVAC/R Technician
- Food Service Equipment Repair Technician
- Electrician/Electrical Service Technician
With these skills, you can shape your career path and choose where you want to go.
Once you gain experience, you can explore careers such as:
- HVAC/R Technician
- Food Service Equipment Repair Technician
- Electrician/Electrical Service Technician
With these skills, you can shape your career path and choose where you want to go.
Thank you for the insight!
Drake