Career comparison
Industrial Maintenance Technician vs. Maintenance Supervisor
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Maintenance supervisors earn more at the median ($79,860 vs. $64,520), while industrial maintenance technicians usually get to work faster (1–4 years of training). Industrial maintenance technicians keep factory machinery running with mechanical, electrical and PLC troubleshooting. Maintenance supervisors lead the mechanics and technicians who keep equipment running.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Industrial Maintenance Technician | Maintenance Supervisor | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $64,520 ($31.02/hr) | $79,860 ($38.39/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $46,120 – $95,170 | $49,600 – $126,790 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +17.8% (much faster than average) | +4.1% (about as fast as average) |
| Openings per year | 44,400 | 48,900 |
| Typical entry education | High school diploma or equivalent | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Training time | 1–4 years | Several years of hands-on experience |
| Key credential | CMRT (SMRP) | CMRP |
| Work setting | Technicians work in manufacturing plants, warehouses, food processing facilities and utilities. | Supervisors work in plants, shops, fleet garages and facilities.. |
What each job does
Industrial Maintenance Technician
- Perform preventive and predictive maintenance on equipment
- Troubleshoot mechanical, electrical, hydraulic and pneumatic problems
- Repair or replace bearings, belts, motors, pumps and gearboxes
- Read schematics, prints and PLC ladder logic
- Align shafts and adjust machinery
Maintenance Supervisor
- Assign work orders
- Plan preventive maintenance
- Supervise technicians
- Order parts
- Troubleshoot complex problems
How they’re similar
Both careers involve hands-on work, problem-solving, and teamwork. Both are part of the mechanics, maintenance & manufacturing field, so many skills transfer between them.
Which should you choose?
Choose industrial maintenance technician if…
- I like figuring out how machines work and why they break
- I’m comfortable with both mechanical and electrical work
- I can stay calm when production is down
Choose maintenance supervisor if…
- I’m a skilled technician
- I like leading crews
- I solve tough problems
Still torn? Take the Industrial Maintenance Technician fit quiz and the Maintenance Supervisor fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, industrial maintenance technician or maintenance supervisor?
Maintenance Supervisors earn more at the median: $79,860 versus $64,520 for industrial maintenance technicians, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Industrial Maintenance Technicians typically train faster (1–4 years) than maintenance supervisors (Several years of hands-on experience).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects industrial maintenance technicians to grow +17.8% from 2025–35, compared with +4.1% for maintenance supervisors.