How much does a Maintenance Operative make in the United States?
As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Maintenance Operative in the United States is $44,168 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $21.
However, a Maintenance Operative's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:
Top Earners (90th percentile): $53,325
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $38,155 to $48,961
Key Factors That Influence Maintenance Operative Salaries
A Maintenance Operative'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 Maintenance Operative Salaries?
Experience is a primary driver of a Maintenance Operative'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:
How Do Maintenance Operative Salaries Vary from State to State?
Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Maintenance Operatives. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
District of Columbia: $48,902.
California: $48,717.
Massachusetts: $48,068.
District of Columbia$48,902
California$48,717
Massachusetts$48,068
Washington$47,891
New Jersey$47,873
Alaska$47,811
Connecticut$47,202
New York$46,955
Hawaii$46,164
Rhode Island$45,793
Maryland$45,541
Minnesota$45,197
Colorado$45,064
Illinois$45,020
Oregon$44,852
Delaware$44,729
New Hampshire$44,651
Virginia$44,477
Pennsylvania$43,969
Nevada$43,713
North Dakota$43,629
Michigan$43,496
Wisconsin$43,448
Vermont$43,350
Texas$43,081
Maine$43,063
Arizona$43,037
Ohio$43,006
Georgia$42,600
Indiana$42,396
Wyoming$42,357
Utah$42,295
Iowa$42,268
Kansas$42,056
Louisiana$41,995
North Carolina$41,972
Missouri$41,964
Florida$41,791
Montana$41,699
Nebraska$41,610
Kentucky$41,562
South Carolina$41,385
Tennessee$41,275
Idaho$41,230
New Mexico$40,908
Oklahoma$40,837
Alabama$40,577
South Dakota$40,140
Arkansas$39,901
West Virginia$39,773
Mississippi$39,389
Top Paying Cities for Maintenance Operatives
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: $55,709
San Francisco: $55,099
Oakland: $53,937
San Jose, CA$55,709
San Francisco, CA$55,099
Oakland, CA$53,937
New York, NY$50,854
Paramus, NJ$50,236
Queens Village, NY$50,234
Passaic, NJ$50,192
Bergenfield, NJ$50,188
Stamford, CT$50,090
Huntington, NY$50,072
Newark, NJ$49,746
Bridgeport, CT$49,653
Vallejo, CA$49,565
New Brunswick, NJ$49,547
Petaluma, CA$49,521
Middlesex, NJ$49,437
Somerset, NJ$49,406
Santa Cruz, CA$49,348
Boston, MA$49,079
Monterey, CA$48,924
Seattle, WA$48,823
Santa Rosa, CA$48,814
Los Angeles, CA$48,801
Juneau, AK$48,686
Washington, DC$48,637
Orange, CA$48,480
Santa Ana, CA$48,364
Long Beach, CA$48,319
Anaheim, CA$48,311
Anchorage, AK$48,288
Santa Maria, CA$48,156
Everett, WA$48,147
Danbury, CT$47,992
Bremerton, WA$47,931
Tacoma, WA$47,772
New Suffolk, NY$47,771
Sacramento, CA$47,758
Santa Barbara, CA$47,710
Trenton, NJ$47,661
San Diego, CA$47,661
Brockton, MA$47,613
Fairbanks, AK$47,504
Lompoc, CA$47,392
Lowell, MA$47,356
Ventura, CA$47,348
Nashua, NH$47,339
Stockton, CA$47,334
Modesto, CA$47,012
Poughkeepsie, NY$46,915
Olympia, WA$46,831
Kennewick, WA$46,831
New Haven, CT$46,813
Lawrence, MA$46,654
Hartford, CT$46,610
Riverside, CA$46,601
New Bedford, MA$46,557
Richland, WA$46,557
Bakersfield, CA$46,495
San Bernardino, CA$46,478
New Britain, CT$46,473
Atlantic City, NJ$46,473
New London, CT$46,455
Norwich, CT$46,442
Portsmouth, NH$46,433
Boulder, CO$46,340
Portland, OR$46,279
Worcester, MA$46,274
Minneapolis, MN$46,137
Philadelphia, PA$46,076
Honolulu, HI$45,930
Saint Paul, MN$45,909
Vineland, NJ$45,899
Providence, RI$45,771
Chicago, IL$45,643
Bellingham, WA$45,590
Springfield, MA$45,554
Baltimore, MD$45,541
Chico, CA$45,431
Pittsfield, MA$45,312
Manchester, NH$45,228
Spokane, WA$45,033
Denver, CO$45,029
Albany, NY$44,821
Troy, NY$44,804
Nassau, NY$44,756
Schenectady, NY$44,711
Wilmington, DE$44,676
Burlington, VT$44,614
Salem, OR$44,596
Portland, ME$44,459
Yakima, WA$44,415
Rochester, MN$44,278
Reno, NV$44,256
Fresno, CA$44,256
Milwaukee, WI$44,216
Detroit, MI$44,172
Ann Arbor, MI$44,165
Allentown, PA$44,159
Colorado Springs, CO$44,084
Syracuse, NY$44,062
Carson City, NV$44,062
Houston, TX$44,000
Eugene, OR$43,978
Gary, IN$43,925
Springfield, OR$43,889
Bismarck, ND$43,881
Galveston, TX$43,850
Medford, OR$43,783
Fort Collins, CO$43,766
Concord, NH$43,744
Austin, TX$43,730
Mesa, AZ$43,638
Reading, PA$43,633
Phoenix, AZ$43,629
Dallas, TX$43,616
Saint Cloud, MN$43,573
Madison, WI$43,514
Utica, NY$43,395
Rochester, NY$43,324
Des Moines, IA$43,320
Raleigh, NC$43,315
Atlanta, GA$43,249
Battle Creek, MI$43,236
Salt Lake City, UT$43,222
Lancaster, PA$43,156
Harrisburg, PA$43,094
Kansas City, MO$43,050
Champaign, IL$43,041
Kansas City, KS$43,041
Fort Worth, TX$43,037
Columbus, OH$43,029
Boca Raton, FL$43,019
Pittsburgh, PA$43,002
Richmond, VA$42,984
Indianapolis, IN$42,975
Cleveland, OH$42,971
Las Vegas, NV$42,918
Cincinnati, OH$42,918
Petersburg, VA$42,851
Huntsville, AL$42,785
Lansing, MI$42,756
Lebanon, PA$42,750
Pueblo, CO$42,745
Appleton, WI$42,732
Buffalo, NY$42,714
Dayton, OH$42,701
Racine, WI$42,692
Charlotte, NC$42,688
Saint Louis, MO$42,675
York, PA$42,648
Elkhart, IN$42,648
Gastonia, NC$42,640
Billings, MT$42,629
Beaumont, TX$42,617
Lorain, OH$42,608
Benton Harbor, MI$42,600
Toledo, OH$42,591
Binghamton, NY$42,569
Rock Hill, SC$42,564
Rockford, IL$42,542
Springfield, IL$42,525
Elyria, OH$42,520
Fargo, ND$42,520
Flagstaff, AZ$42,489
Fort Lauderdale, FL$42,463
Duluth, MN$42,436
Miami, FL$42,436
Cheyenne, WY$42,405
Grand Forks, ND$42,405
Bangor, ME$42,308
Cedar Rapids, IA$42,260
Durham, NC$42,241
Louisville, KY$42,237
Grand Rapids, MI$42,229
Hialeah, FL$42,224
Casper, WY$42,162
Scranton, PA$42,109
New Orleans, LA$42,096
Virginia Beach, VA$42,092
Akron, OH$42,070
Peoria, IL$42,012
Sarasota, FL$42,003
Nashville, TN$41,972
Omaha, NE$41,972
Green Bay, WI$41,972
Baton Rouge, LA$41,950
Charleston, SC$41,942
Jamestown, NY$41,919
Davenport, IA$41,919
Tucson, AZ$41,897
Saint Petersburg, FL$41,871
Tampa, FL$41,862
Evansville, IN$41,836
Port Arthur, TX$41,836
Bradenton, FL$41,818
Santa Fe, NM$41,738
Orlando, FL$41,659
Clearwater, FL$41,646
Canton, OH$41,553
La Crosse, WI$41,553
Albuquerque, NM$41,526
Newport News, VA$41,522
High Point, NC$41,509
Ogden, UT$41,491
Corpus Christi, TX$41,456
Norfolk, VA$41,429
Laramie, WY$41,429
Rock Island, IL$41,403
Saginaw, MI$41,394
Jacksonville, FL$41,389
Salisbury, NC$41,381
Boise, ID$41,372
Moline, IL$41,350
Fort Myers, FL$41,336
Memphis, TN$41,328
Tulsa, OK$41,306
Waterloo, IA$41,279
Spartanburg, SC$41,235
Lincoln, NE$41,213
Fort Wayne, IN$41,204
Provo, UT$41,200
Cedar Falls, IA$41,147
San Antonio, TX$41,129
Greensboro, NC$41,111
South Bend, IN$41,107
Savannah, GA$41,058
Muskegon, MI$41,041
Birmingham, AL$41,036
Winston Salem, NC$41,014
Lake Charles, LA$40,908
Anderson, IN$40,899
Lexington, KY$40,886
Augusta, GA$40,873
Greenville, SC$40,873
Lima, OH$40,837
Wichita, KS$40,833
Tuscaloosa, AL$40,833
Columbia, SC$40,793
Springfield, OH$40,784
Asheville, NC$40,714
Bloomington, IN$40,683
Knoxville, TN$40,524
Shreveport, LA$40,519
Wilmington, NC$40,462
Roanoke, VA$40,462
Topeka, KS$40,382
Frankfort, KY$40,378
Oklahoma City, OK$40,347
Chillicothe, OH$40,329
Longview, TX$40,325
Melbourne, FL$40,321
Sioux Falls, SD$40,250
Mobile, AL$40,246
Terre Haute, IN$40,228
Altoona, PA$40,201
Amarillo, TX$40,170
Killeen, TX$40,157
Fayetteville, AR$40,122
Chattanooga, TN$40,109
Sioux City, IA$40,069
Idaho Falls, ID$40,060
Lynchburg, VA$40,025
Gainesville, FL$39,967
Portsmouth, OH$39,945
Little Rock, AR$39,936
Lafayette, LA$39,919
Youngstown, OH$39,919
Daytona Beach, FL$39,892
Clarksville, TN$39,888
Pensacola, FL$39,883
Temple, TX$39,880
Hopkinsville, KY$39,751
Erie, PA$39,742
Florence, SC$39,724
Charleston, WV$39,654
Great Falls, MT$39,632
Macon, GA$39,570
Tallahassee, FL$39,565
Fayetteville, NC$39,557
Waco, TX$39,548
Helena, MT$39,517
Pine Bluff, AR$39,500
Vincennes, IN$39,446
Lubbock, TX$39,428
Alamogordo, NM$39,402
Twin Falls, ID$39,362
Rapid City, SD$39,349
Jackson, MS$39,269
Huntington, WV$39,266
Greenville, MS$39,265
Parkersburg, WV$39,220
Montgomery, AL$39,212
Wichita Falls, TX$39,168
Springfield, MO$39,168
Biloxi, MS$39,146
Monroe, LA$39,102
Johnstown, PA$39,071
Sumter, SC$39,053
Columbus, GA$39,049
Pascagoula, MS$38,965
Abilene, TX$38,965
Kingsport, TN$38,850
Albany, GA$38,850
Gulfport, MS$38,837
Alexandria, LA$38,691
Fort Smith, AR$38,580
El Paso, TX$38,461
Las Cruces, NM$38,262
Harlingen, TX$38,150
Pocatello, ID$38,143
Florence, AL$38,086
Brownsville, TX$38,077
Mcallen, TX$37,984
Dothan, AL$37,922
Columbus, MS$37,660
Altus, OK$37,454
Lawton, OK$37,370
Pierre, SD$37,211
What Skills Can Increase a Maintenance Operative'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.
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 a Maintenance Operative'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%.
Maintenance Operative Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors
For Maintenance Operative 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, Maintenance Operative positions in Transportation or Retail & Wholesale typically offer lower base pay,
as these industries often view Maintenance Operative as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.
The top paying industries for a Maintenance Operative
Industry Sector
Average Annual Salary
Average Hourly Rate
Pay vs.Avg
Energy & Utilities
$53,001
$25.0
20%
Pharmaceuticals
$53,001
$25.0
20%
Biotechnology
$50,793
$24.0
15%
Financial Services
$50,793
$24.0
15%
Software & Networking
$50,793
$24.0
15%
How Education impacts a Maintenance Operative's Salary?
Your level of education can impact your salary potential.
While many Maintenance Operatives 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 a Maintenance Operative with a No Diploma is between
$44,861
and $49,079).
Maintenance Operative Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay
Understanding how a Maintenance Operative'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.
Hourly
Monthly
Weekly
Yearly
Table View
Last Updated on September 01, 2026
$38,155
Average$44,168/year
$48,961
$3,180
Average$3,681/month
$4,080
$734
Average$849/week
$942
$18
Average$21/hour
$24
Annual Salary
Monthly Pay
Weekly Pay
Hourly Wage
75th Percentile
$48,961
$4,080
$942
$24
Average
$44,168
$3,681
$849
$21
25th Percentile
$38,155
$3,180
$734
$18
Salaries of Jobs related to Maintenance Operative
Pre-Operative Nurse$120,108
RN Pre Operative$90,472
Logistics Operative$87,645
Maintenance Supervisor$83,900
Production Operative$60,514
Waste Operative$55,514
Hygiene Operative$53,451
Maintenance$50,856
Assembly Operative$43,925
Warehouse Operative$37,135
Stockroom Operative$28,367
Salary Trends for Maintenance Operative
Salaries for a Maintenance Operative can change over time,
reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy.
The median salary decreased from $38,634 in 2023
to around $38,526 in 2025,
reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy.
For a detailed analysis of Maintenance Operative salary trends,
.
Average Annual Salary of Maintenance Operative Over Time
$???
$38,634
$38,866
$38,526
$???
$???
2022
2023
2024
2025
2026
2027
Year
Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023
$38,634
2024
$38,866
2025
$38,526
2026
View More
2027
View More
Most common benefits for Maintenance Operative
Social Security
401 (k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
Common company salaries for Maintenance Operative
Here are companies hiring for Maintenance Operative and their salaries, click below for more details.
C$128,509/per year
C R Bard IncBiotechnologythe United States
H$124,697/per year
Henry Schein CanadaBiotechnologythe United States
N$123,899/per year
Nordex IncBiotechnologythe United States
N$120,416/per year
Nipro CorpBiotechnologythe United States
E$115,870/per year
EnovisBiotechnologythe United States
A$114,553/per year
Advanced Research Projects Agency - EnergyBiotechnologythe United States
M$112,110/per year
MiniMed IncBiotechnologythe United States
L$111,500/per year
Labcorp Drug DevelopmentBiotechnologythe United States
L$110,229/per year
Life Technologies CorpBiotechnologythe United States
Z$106,224/per year
Zimmer BiometBiotechnologythe United States
P$103,077/per year
Promontory TherapeuticsBiotechnologythe United States
S$102,181/per year
Steris PLCBiotechnologythe United States
G$97,274/per year
Gavin Conferences Pty LtdBiotechnologythe United States
E$94,764/per year
Endeavor BioMedicinesBiotechnologythe United States
R$94,402/per year
Replay Holdings LLCBiotechnologythe United States
P$94,235/per year
Pleno IncBiotechnologythe United States
S$93,666/per year
Simulaids IncBiotechnologythe United States
N$88,880/per year
NOIRLab/CASBiotechnologythe United States
O$86,468/per year
Onward TechnologyBiotechnologythe United States
L$84,895/per year
LED Medical Diagnostics IncBiotechnologythe United States
E$84,682/per year
Eyeco LtdBiotechnologythe United States
P$84,523/per year
PaerosolBiotechnologythe United States
I$83,525/per year
IONIQ Sciences IncBiotechnologythe United States
S$82,815/per year
Stateside PPEBiotechnologythe United States
D$82,041/per year
Digi BioBiotechnologythe United States
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FAQ about Maintenance Operative
1. What industry pays the highest salary for Maintenance Operative?
The Energy & Utilities industry offers the highest average compensation for Maintenance Operative roles,
with salaries approximately 20% above the market median.
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.
