Have you ever had a leaky ceiling or non-functional temperature controls threaten to ruin your day? Ever thought of your building maintenance person as nothing short of an unsung hero? Ever wished there was a simple way to start making a good living? Well, you aren’t alone, and you could be that hero for someone else—and your own finances. Here’s what you need to know about becoming a building maintenance technician—and how the right maintenance hands-on training can both start and advance your career.

What Does a Building Maintenance Technician Do?

If you enjoy working with your hands, fixing things, solving problems, and keeping systems working smoothly for yourself and those around you, a career as a building maintenance technician may be for you. These professionals clean, maintain, and make repairs to various kinds of buildings. They evaluate and anticipate the maintenance needs of various indoor systems, including identifying safety hazards and outsourcing repairs of an advanced nature as needed.

Training Opens Doors to Good Jobs—No College Degree Needed

The first and main reason to get training in building maintenance is, of course, to qualify for jobs in this field. Because related jobs typically require only a high school diploma or GED, a high-quality training program is a fast and straightforward way to jumpstart your career even if you don’t have a college degree. In just a few short months, you can go from an unemployed or underemployed high school graduate to an in-demand professional making a salary that pays your bills and supports yourself or your family.

To get started, you can look for building maintenance training courses at a trade school or career center near you. Be sure to find out the duration of each local program, what kinds of jobs it qualifies you for, and what tuition or fees are required.

Building Maintenance Careers Offer Solid Pay, Job Growth, and Other Perks

As of 2023, the average building maintenance technician salary was $43,180 per year, or $20.76 per hour. This general job sector is expected to grow by about 5% from 2021 to 2031, which is at least as fast as other industries in the US. If you live in the state of California, you’re in luck: the Golden State is one of the states with the highest employment level of maintenance and repair workers. It’s also one of the highest-paying states for this field, with an annual mean wage of $50,500, or $24.28 per hour, as of 2021.

In addition to solid pay and job growth, building maintenance technicians can enjoy the following benefits over the course of their career:

  • Flexible working locations (you won’t be stuck at a desk, cubicle, or any one place for long; you’ll be moving around your building)
  • Flexible job locations (you can work in any local residential, office, or similar type of building)
  • The ability to work independently and autonomously (you’ll have a fairly high level of control over how you work)
  • Task variety (you’ll be working with multiple system and equipment types, including HVAC systems, plumbing, electrical wiring, and appliances, as well as painting, carpentry, drywall, and cement)
  • The ability to branch out into other careers as desired and become a construction worker, carpenter, plumber, electrician, and more
  • The opportunity to have a direct positive impact on people’s living and working experiences in buildings
  • The chance to immediately see the positive results of your work and the satisfaction of solving problems
  • The ability to make some kinds of repairs in your own home without hiring a professional

Getting Trained and Certified Can Advance Your Career

Getting high-quality training in building maintenance won’t just help you start your career, but help you to grow in it. Training to specialize in a particular area and earn important certifications can help you land senior roles, better jobs, and higher pay. This is especially true if you’d like to teach courses on any aspect of maintenance or become a supervisor, trainer, or advisor.

Get FREE Building Maintenance Training With JobTrain

You can get the training you need to qualify for many rewarding careers in building maintenance and other skilled trades. If you live near Silicon Valley in northern California, you can visit one of JobTrain’s four affiliated centers to get free hands-on career training.

JobTrain is an accredited educational and training institution that transforms lives and communities in Silicon Valley. We help the Valley’s most in need reclaim their lives from poverty and unemployment by preparing them for successful, sustainable careers in high-demand and emerging fields. Check out our Building Maintenance Technician Training Program to get started on the path to a high-quality job in a field that excites you. Or explore JobTrain’s other career training programs.