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Entry General Maintenance Worker Salary in the United States

How much does an Entry General Maintenance Worker make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for an Entry General Maintenance Worker in the United States is $46,500 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $22.

However, an Entry General Maintenance Worker's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $55,861
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $40,800 to $51,400
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $35,610

Key Factors That Influence Entry General Maintenance Worker Salaries

An Entry General Maintenance Worker's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Entry General Maintenance Worker Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Entry General Maintenance Worker's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Entry General Maintenance Worker (0-1 years): $46,442
  • Intermediate General Maintenance Worker (1-3 years): $51,705
  • Maintenance Helper III (3-5 years): $59,240
  • Lead General Maintenance Worker (5-7 years): $76,594
  • Maintenance Supervisor (7+ years): $83,830
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
Entry General Maintenance Worker0-1 years$46,442
Intermediate General Maintenance Worker1-3 years$51,705
Maintenance Helper III3-5 years$59,240
Lead General Maintenance Worker5-7 years$76,594
Maintenance Supervisor7+ years$83,830

Top Paying Cities for Entry General Maintenance Workers

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $58,600
  • San Francisco: $58,000
  • Oakland: $56,800

What Skills Can Increase an Entry General Maintenance Worker's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Troubleshooting (Mentioned in 5.08% Job Postings): Troubleshooting is a form of problem solving, often applied to repair failed products or processes on a machine or a system. It is a logical, systematic search for the source of a problem in order to solve it, and make the product or process operational again. Troubleshooting is needed to identify the symptoms. Determining the most likely cause is a process of elimination—eliminating potential causes of a problem. Finally, troubleshooting requires confirmation that the solution restores the product or process to its working state. In general, troubleshooting is the identification or diagnosis of "trouble" in the management flow of a system caused by a failure of some kind. The problem is initially described as symptoms of malfunction, and troubleshooting is the process of determining and remedying the causes of these symptoms. A system can be described in terms of its expected, desired or intended behavior (usually, for artificial systems, its purpose). Events or inputs to the system are expected to generate specific results or outputs. (For example, selecting the "print" option from various computer applications is intended to result in a hardcopy emerging from some specific device). Any unexpected or undesirable behavior is a symptom. Troubleshooting is the process of isolating the specific cause or causes of the symptom. Frequently the symptom is a failure of the product or process to produce any results. (Nothing was printed, for example). Corrective action can then be taken to prevent further failures of a similar kind.
  • Preventative Maintenance (Mentioned in 6.32% Job Postings): Developing and implementing maintenance strategies to increase equipment life expectancy and avoid unplanned downtime.
  • Repairing (Mentioned in 2.77% Job Postings): To put something that is damaged, broken, or not working correctly, back into good condition or make it work again.
Skills Demand Percentage
Troubleshooting 5.08%
Preventative Maintenance 6.32%
Repairing 2.77%

What skills can make your compensation higher?

Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on an Entry General Maintenance Worker's salary.

  • Coaching: Can increase your salary by up to 11%.
  • Collaboration: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
  • Property Management: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Coaching $51,615
11%
Collaboration $49,290
6%
Property Management $49,290
6%

Entry General Maintenance Worker Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Entry General Maintenance Worker salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $51,966. While startup companies pay approximate $43,958.

Entry General Maintenance Worker Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $43,958
Growth Stage 51~500 $46,490
Established 501~5000 $50,180
Enterprise 5000+ $51,966

Entry General Maintenance Worker Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Entry General Maintenance Worker roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 40% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Energy & Utilities and Pharmaceuticals sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 20% above the average. In contrast, Entry General Maintenance Worker positions in Transportation or Retail & Wholesale typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Entry General Maintenance Worker as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for an Entry General Maintenance Worker

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Energy & Utilities$55,800$27.020%
Pharmaceuticals$55,800$27.020%
Biotechnology$53,475$26.015%
Financial Services$53,475$26.015%
Software & Networking$53,475$26.015%

How Education impacts an Entry General Maintenance Worker's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Entry General Maintenance Workers enter the field with a No Diploma degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for an Entry General Maintenance Worker with a No Diploma is between $44,700 and $48,900).

Entry General Maintenance Worker Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Entry General Maintenance Worker
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 5.3%
High School 72.7%
Associates 12.0%
Bachelors 9.3%
Masters 0.7%
Doctorate 0.0%

Entry General Maintenance Worker Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Entry General Maintenance Worker's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on September 01, 2026
$40,800
Average $46,500/year
$51,400
$3,400
Average $3,875/month
$4,283
$785
Average $894/week
$988
$20
Average $22/hour
$25
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $51,400 $4,283 $988 $25
Average $46,500 $3,875 $894 $22
25th Percentile $40,800 $3,400 $785 $20

Entry General Maintenance Worker Salary Growth & Career Path

For an Entry General Maintenance Worker, the most direct path to higher earnings is advancing to the Intermediate General Maintenance Worker role. This promotion typically comes with a significant pay increase, bringing the average annual salary to $51,710 - a projected growth of 11% over your current level.

Most common benefits for Entry General Maintenance Worker

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Entry General Maintenance Worker

Here are companies hiring for Entry General Maintenance Worker and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Entry General Maintenance Worker

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Entry General Maintenance Worker?

The Energy & Utilities industry offers the highest average compensation for Entry General Maintenance Worker roles, with salaries approximately 20% above the market median.

2. How much do Dollar General workers make an hour?

As of January 27, 2025, the salary for an Entry General Maintenance Worker ranges from $45,300 to $60,500 annually. This translates to an hourly wage between approximately $21.77 and $29.05, depending on experience and specific job responsibilities. The average salary is around $52,000 per year, or about $25.00 per hour.

3. What is the lowest job salary in USA?

The salary for an Entry General Maintenance Worker in the USA ranges from a minimum of $45,300 to a maximum of $60,500, with a midpoint salary of $52,000. This reflects the compensation for this role, which is significantly higher than the federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour.

4. How much is a cleaner paid per hour in US?

As of January 27, 2025, the average hourly pay for an Entry General Maintenance Worker in the United States ranges from approximately $21.77 to $29.05, based on an annual salary of $45,300 to $60,500. The majority of workers earn around $25.00 per hour, reflecting the varying levels of experience and responsibilities in the role.

5. What is the highest paying maintenance job?

The highest paying maintenance jobs include positions like Reliability Manager, with salaries ranging from $94,500 to $140,000 per year. Other lucrative roles are Maintenance and Engineering Manager, Manufacturing Maintenance Manager, and Equipment Maintenance Engineer. For entry-level General Maintenance Workers, salaries range from $45,300 to $60,500 annually.

6. What is the salary of an Entry Level job in the US?

As of now, the salary for an Entry General Maintenance Worker in the United States ranges from $45,300 to $60,500 annually, with a median salary of $52,000. This reflects the current market for entry-level positions in this field, providing a competitive wage for new workers.

7. Why is entry-level pay so low?

Entry-level pay can seem low due to various factors, including the required skills and education. For example, an Entry General Maintenance Worker earns between $45,300 and $60,500, with a median salary of $52,000. These wages reflect the job's skill requirements and the local cost of living, as well as industry demand for such positions.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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