Are you a machine lover? Do you love everything about machines and the way they work, from the smallest parts to the complex systems that make them work?
If you love machines, whether they be mechanical, electrical, or any other type, then pursuing a maintenance technician degree is the best decision for you. After all, what better way to further your career than by learning all about the machines that fascinate you?
With a maintenance tech degree, you’ll be able to take on jobs that require knowledge of how machines work. You could even use it as a way to improve your current job or find a new one. If this sounds like something you’re interested in, read on to learn more about why pursuing a maintenance tech degree is perfect for someone who loves machines.
Bright Job Prospects
With a maintenance tech degree, you’ll learn how to repair and maintain equipment in a variety of settings, including industrial plants and commercial facilities. The skills that you learn through this program can be applied in many different industries, which means that your job prospects are broad and growing.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that between 2021 and 2031, the total number of industrial machinery mechanics, machinery maintenance workers, and millwrights will increase by 14%. That is substantially faster than the average for all occupations. Over the next 10 years, there are expected to be, on average, 53,200 opportunities for industrial machinery mechanics, equipment maintenance professionals, and millwrights.
This is great news for graduates who have been searching for jobs after graduation, as well as those who are looking to expand their skill set with an advanced degree.
Another reason why there are so many opportunities for maintenance technicians is that many companies need help maintaining their facilities and equipment. For example, if you work at an oil refinery or petrochemical plant, there will be plenty of machinery and equipment that needs regular maintenance checkups and repairs.
Variety of Work Environments
If you’re a machine lover, then you know that the best part of machines is how varied they are. They can be anything from simple to complex, and they can be used for so many different tasks.
If you’re thinking about going into maintenance tech, then you’ll get to work on all kinds of machines, from planes to robots, trains to cars. You’ll get to work in all kinds of environments, too – factories, warehouses, offices, and others.
According to the BLS, manufacturing (53%), wholesale trade (12%), commercial and industrial machinery and equipment (except automotive and electronic), repair and maintenance (10%), and construction (6%) were the industries that employed the most industrial machinery mechanics, machinery maintenance workers, and millwrights in 2021.
When you graduate with your maintenance tech degree, you’ll have the skills needed to work in a wide range of industries. You could work at a manufacturing plant or an office building where you might be responsible for maintaining the machines that run their daily operations.
Opportunity to Solve Complex Problems Related to Different Machines
As a maintenance tech, you will be responsible for maintaining and repairing machines. This includes troubleshooting issues with the machine and replacing or repairing parts that are broken. You’ll learn how to repair, maintain and troubleshoot industrial equipment like HVAC systems, refrigeration units, pumps, compressors, and more. You’ll also learn how to operate manufacturing machinery like lathes, milling machines, and welding equipment.
Along with these duties, you can even get an opportunity to work on electrical systems that power large industrial plants or facilities. It can be very rewarding to know that you have helped to keep a company running smoothly by providing this kind of support.
To clarify it further, the BLS highlights some crucial duties of industrial machinery mechanics, machinery maintenance workers, and millwrights:
- Read the technical manuals to comprehend the controls and equipment
- Fix or replace any defective or broken components
- Run trials and initial batches to verify that the machine is functioning properly
- Identify small issues by simple diagnostic procedures
- Inspect faulty equipment to see if significant repairs are required
The maintenance technician is responsible for keeping machinery in good working condition so that equipment runs efficiently and produces products without interruption. This position requires a lot of hands-on work, so you need to be comfortable with using tools and other materials in order to complete your tasks.
Wrapping Up
This article should have given you an idea of what it is like to be a maintenance technician. If you’re at all interested in this exciting field, then a maintenance technician degree might be right for you.
As long as there are machines and devices around us, there will always be a need for technicians who can keep them running smoothly. Maintenance technicians are not just repairmen – they are problem-solvers and innovators who help keep our lives running smoothly every day. On top of this, these technicians earn handsome
salary – with an annual average salary of $50,764.
