Maintenance Assistant Job Description, Skills, and Salary
Get to know about the duties, responsibilities, qualifications, and skills requirements of a maintenance assistant. Feel free to use our maintenance assistant job description template to produce your own. We also provide you with information about the salary you can earn as a maintenance assistant.
Who is a Maintenance Assistant?
A maintenance assistant is critical in ensuring that a facility remains clean, safe, and operational. This profession can be found in a variety of settings, including shopping malls, government buildings, and hospitals. Certain individuals will work third-shift hours after the majority of employees have left for the day, while others will work regular business hours. Regardless of the work environment, job duties are nearly universal. These responsibilities include emptying garbage cans, cleaning floors and restrooms, performing necessary repairs, and transporting heavy equipment.
Emptying garbage cans is one of this assistant’s most consistent job duties. To keep a facility clean, reduce odors, and adhere to sanitary regulations, waste must be removed and placed in a dumpster for pickup. This task is typically performed daily.
Maintaining clean floors is another critical job duty that is typically performed daily. Generally, this entails sweeping and mopping hardwood or tile floors, as well as vacuuming carpeted floors. This action removes debris and ensures the safety of other workers and the general public on the floor. Additionally, a maintenance assistant may polish non-carpeted floors with a floor buffer periodically to remove skid marks.
Cleaning restrooms is another frequent job duty. This action entails cleaning mirrors, mopping floors, replenishing soap and toilet paper, and disinfecting toilets and urinals. This practice, which is typically performed once or twice daily, is critical for maintaining health and safety standards.
Another aspect of working as a maintenance assistant is making necessary repairs promptly. For instance, if a bathroom develops plumbing problems, the assistant is responsible for repairs. If an electrical problem occurs in a facility, this individual may work on the breaker box to resolve the issue. In some instances, he will work alone, while in others, he will work alongside the maintenance supervisor. As a result, this position requires someone mechanically inclined and capable of resolving a variety of issues within a facility.
Additionally, a maintenance assistant is occasionally responsible for moving heavy equipment. For instance, if a maintenance assistant needs to transport a desk from one room to another, he or she will use a hand truck or pushcart. Due to the physical nature of the job, an individual must be in reasonable physical condition and capable of performing some light lifting on occasion.
A Maintenance Assistant’s primary responsibility is to keep various types of facilities clean and in good operating condition. Cleaning floors and restrooms, emptying garbage cans, and performing minor repairs in the areas of plumbing, lighting, and carpentry are all part of this occupation. Maintenance Assistants are also responsible for relocating equipment and furniture as needed for cleaning or renovation purposes.
Maintenance Assistant Job Description
Below are the maintenance assistant job description examples you can use to develop your resume or write a maintenance assistant job description for your employee. Employers can also use it to sieve out job seekers when choosing candidates for interviews.
The duties and responsibilities of a maintenance assistant include the following:
- Repairing doors, locks, door frames, and handles, as well as light bulbs, sockets, switches, and window glass.
- Conducting fundamental plumbing tasks, such as unclogging drains and repairing leaking faucets and toilets.
- Conducting routine cleaning tasks such as sweeping, dusting, mopping, and vacuuming.
- Maintaining all outdoor areas, including mowing, trimming, and edging the lawn and shoveling snow and ice as necessary.
- Inspecting control panels and electrical wiring to identify any problems that require immediate attention.
- Keeping an inventory of maintenance supplies and notifying the Supervisor when supplies are low or depleted.
- Responding to emergency repair and clean-up requests.
- Assuring the proper operation of all maintenance equipment.
- Disassembling damaged or broken equipment to make repair work easier, then reassemble pieces once repair work has been completed successfully.
- Maintaining our residents’ grounds and common areas to ensure they are functional, safe, and clean.
- Delivering tools, equipment, and supplies to workstations or other areas as directed by management.
- Maintaining or transferring tools, equipment, and parts to workers performing maintenance or repairs.
- Examining machinery to ensure proper operation and to detect defects in components or parts.
- Disconnecting, reconnecting, or adjusting tubing, wiring, and other components as necessary using hand or power tools.
- Processing receipt of work orders and determining required parts, equipment, and services for necessary maintenance and repair work.
- Keeping grounds in good condition by mowing lawns, clearing leaves, and gritting paths as needed
- Performing routine maintenance tasks
- Providing information and advice to clients and customers regarding maintenance issues
- Providing superior customer service
- Coordinating with contractors to ensure that projects are completed on time
- Painting and decorating or repairing flooring and other fixtures and fittings
- Assuring that rooms are kept clean and fully equipped
Other critical tasks include the following:
- Perform Minor Repairs
From changing light bulbs and ballasts to repairing leaking sinks and toilets, a Maintenance Assistant must be capable of performing minor repairs on a variety of equipment and facilities to ensure the facility’s continued operation. Additionally, this responsibility includes inspecting equipment and systems for preventive maintenance.
- Clean building facilities
Maintenance Assistants clean and maintain the building’s interior and exterior areas, including restrooms, lobby and hallway floors, windows, and grounds. These responsibilities may include mopping and waxing floors, cleaning windows, pruning shrubs, and painting the exterior or interior walls and structures as necessary.
- Transport Equipment
At times, Maintenance Assistants are required to move furniture and equipment as directed. They must be able to perform these tasks with the assistance of hand trucks, forklifts, and other tools, while adhering to safety guidelines for lifting, pushing, and pulling heavy objects.
- Keep Track of Reports
Maintenance Assistants are responsible for maintaining accurate and up-to-date records on repair and cleaning schedules. Additionally, they are responsible for stocking necessary parts, cleaning supplies, and other materials to perform their job duties.
Qualifications
- A high school diploma or a GED is required.
- Solid understanding of the fundamentals of plumbing, carpentry, and electrical wiring.
- Proven experience in general maintenance.
- Capable of operating hand and power tools, as well as cleaning equipment, safely.
- Capacity to lift large objects.
Essential Skills
It’s beneficial to acquire a variety of maintenance skills when seeking employment as a maintenance assistant. Numerous types of maintenance skills can contribute to your success as a maintenance assistant, including the following:
- Technical abilities
Technical abilities enable you to repair and maintain equipment, machines, structures, and their environs. You could apply your knowledge of various types of machines and equipment, as well as the use of specialized tools, to repair or maintain them.
- Personality and communication abilities
These abilities enable you to communicate and collaborate with clients, supervisors, and coworkers. Interpersonal and communication skills required of a maintenance worker include effective verbal, non-verbal, and written communication, customer service, the ability to follow directions precisely, and excellent teamwork skills. Having effective communication and interactions with coworkers, supervisors, and clients can result in increased opportunities for advancement and leadership.
- Detail-oriented
Attending to details is critical to being a skilled maintenance assistant, as technical work is frequently extremely precise, leaving little room for error. Additionally, maintenance work is frequently fast-paced, necessitating someone quick enough to troubleshoot a problem and restore normal operation.
- Problem Solving Skills
Maintenance assistants must be able to make quick decisions and resolve issues effectively and efficiently. Certain repairs may be more complicated than others. It is critical to work on honing your diagnostic abilities and preparing yourself to offer more unconventional solutions when necessary.
- Organizational and management skills
Maintenance assistants are occasionally required to assist with administrative tasks such as billing clients, completing repair paperwork, ordering materials, obtaining permits, and scheduling. Additionally, you may be in charge of developing plans for routine maintenance. Organization can assist you in staying on task and organizing your schedule and records. Maintenance assistants can use their organizational skills to keep client information current, ensure they arrive on time for appointments, and ensure they have easy access to the necessary tools or materials.
- Physical prowess
Maintenance assistants, in general, must be physically fit to perform their jobs effectively. As a maintenance assistant, you may be required to enter restricted spaces, walk on elevated platforms, work in hazardous environments, lift heavy objects, and work long or irregular shifts. If you want to work in the maintenance industry, it’s a good idea to increase your endurance and get or stay healthy.
- Versatility and adaptability
As a maintenance assistant, being adaptable and versatile requires rapid adaptation, a willingness to change, and a diverse skillset capable of accomplishing a wide variety of tasks.
- Adaptability
The responsibilities and priorities of a maintenance assistant can vary from day to day. You may need to repair drywall one day and assess damage to a specific piece of equipment the next. Additionally, some days may be more hands-on, while others may be spent filling out paperwork or scheduling clients. Being adaptable during these shifts can increase your productivity and job satisfaction.
- Advanced skills
If you want to gain an edge in the maintenance industry, you can specialize in one area of expertise. This can help you advance from routine maintenance to being the go-to person for a particular skill set.
How to Become a Maintenance Assistant
Individuals interested in pursuing a career as a maintenance assistant have a variety of options. If you are interested in this field, there are numerous opportunities available, as maintenance assistants are needed in a variety of industries. While education is beneficial, it is not always necessary, as much training occurs on the job and informally. Licensure and certification requirements vary by state and by type of work performed.
Maintenance assistants are employed in virtually every industry, repairing and cleaning a variety of areas and items. Consider a career as a maintenance assistant by searching for positions in an industry that interests you. Simply contacting an organization and completing the application process may result in you being hired. To be hired, you must have a few references and possibly a resume detailing your previous work experience and skills. After submitting your initial application for the position, you will be interviewed; therefore, prepare for the interview by dressing professionally and arriving on time.
To work as a maintenance assistant, you do not need a formal education in the field. Knowledge of maintenance procedures is primarily acquired through observation of others while on the job. While some organizations require a high school diploma to hire a maintenance assistant, this is not always the case. There are some formal education programs available in certain areas of maintenance, such as airplanes, so if this is an area of interest, you might consider enrolling in classes at a technical institution.
Those interested in becoming maintenance assistants should attempt to take classes in the field during their senior year of high school. This provides a valuable experience that employers value and can help your application stand out from the crowd. High schools frequently offer courses in woodworking, metalworking, and auto mechanics, which can be beneficial in a maintenance assistant position.
It is possible to become a certified or licensed maintenance assistant in certain circumstances. This typically occurs after a certain number of hours on the job, but this varies by industry and type of work. Once hired, inquire about certification and licensure opportunities in your field of work to determine if this is possible.
Where to Work as a Maintenance Assistant
Schools, hospitals, apartment complexes, office buildings, private residences, and retirement homes employ maintenance assistants to perform general maintenance and cleaning tasks.
Maintenance Assistant Salary Scale
In the United States, the average annual salary for a Maintenance Assistant is $39,889
