Industrial Maintenance

 

Career and Major Information
Earnings
Related Occupations
Related Web Sites

 

Career and Major Information:

Walters State's two-semester Technical Certificate program in Industrial Maintenance is designed to prepare successful graduates for entry-level positions geared toward the support and maintenance of industrial systems including computer-controlled electrical and mechanical production equipment, material processing and material handling equipment, general maintenance, and facility support systems.    Specific duties may include regular inspections of buildings, grounds, and facilities to identify and resolve problems or potential problems, cleaning and lubricating machinery, testing and replacement of electrical switches, sockets, and plugs, or deteriorated pipes, and repair of floorings, railings, and appliances.  Some jobs may also require more common tasks such as painting, basic plumbing, and fixing broken windows, doors, and locks.  More employer-specific work may include the installation, alignment, and balance of new equipment.

Jobs may be found primarily in production and manufacturing in industries such as food processing, textile mills, chemicals, fabricated metal products, motor vehicles, and primary metals.  Other areas for jobs are government agencies, public utilities, mining companies, and other establishments in which industrial machinery is used.

There is no minimum educational requirement, but as in many other industrial fields, applicants with postsecondary education are favored.  Slower than average growth is expected through the year 2012, but applicants with broad skills in machine repair and maintenance should have more favorable job prospects.

 

Earnings:

The Tennessee Career Information Delivery System website lists the salary range for a beginning-level position in this field in Tennessee as $18,280 to $19,635 annually.  With experience, the range increases to $28,050 to $44,150.  The national average is higher by less than $1,000 per year.  Salary figures quoted are based on national figures. Local or regional salaries may be lower.

 

Related Occupations:

Automotive Service Technician

Small Engine Mechanic

Machinist

Heavy Vehicle and Mobile Equipment Service Technician

Heating, Air-conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanic

Diesel Service Technician

 

Related Web Sites:

United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America

            http://www.carpenters.org

National Tooling and Machining Association

            http://www.ntma.org

 

Much of the above information was collected from the 2004-2005 Occupational Outlook Handbook published by the U.S. Department of Labor.  For additional information on these and many other careers, please visit the following web sites:

 

Occupational Outlook Handbook - U.S. Department of Labor

www.bls.gov/oco/

 

Tennessee Career Information Delivery System (TCIDS)

http://tcids.tbr.edu/.

 

 

For information regarding specific degree program requirements, curriculum, or faculty, please see the department website at http://www.ws.edu/teched/default.asp.