Maintenance Technician labor category
Maintenance Technician is a government contracting labor category with levels I through IV. GSA ceiling rates run about $52–$113/hr depending on level. That's what the government pays the contractor, not your salary.
Updated Oct 21, 2026 · Data: GSA CALC+
What a Maintenance Technician does
This role is essential for minimizing downtime and extending the lifecycle of hardware and infrastructure. Career levels are typically determined by a combination of relevant technical certifications, formal trade education, and years of experience. Level I technicians usually handle routine inspections and minor repairs, while Level II and Level III professionals tackle complex troubleshooting, system overhauls, and oversight of safety compliance. As you transition from the military, your expertise in operational readiness and hands-on maintenance directly translates to these roles. Whether you are working on industrial machinery, building climate systems, or specialized government equipment, your ability to follow technical documentation and execute precise repairs makes you a valuable asset to contractors supporting federal agencies.
Typical Maintenance Technician duties
- Perform scheduled preventative maintenance on critical hardware and facilities to ensure continuous mission support.
- Diagnose technical malfunctions using diagnostic tools and apply corrective repairs to restore operational status.
- Maintain detailed logs of all maintenance activities and parts usage to ensure compliance with federal reporting standards.
- Adhere to strict workplace safety protocols and environmental regulations while handling specialized equipment.
- Collaborate with project managers to identify long-term repair needs and resource requirements for future budget cycles.
Maintenance Technician levels, requirements, and GSA CALC+ rates
Levels map to years of relevant experience. A degree can substitute for years (about 2 years per step).
| Level | Experience | Most common education | GSA ceiling rate, 25th–75th ($/hr) | GSA ceiling rate, median ($/hr) | Rough salary estimate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level I | 0–3 yrs | High School | $52/hr – $90/hr | $70/hr | $61k–$81k |
| Level II | 4–7 yrs | High School | $71/hr – $113/hr | $84/hr | $73k–$97k |
| Level III | 8–12 yrs | High School | Not enough data | Not enough data | — |
| Level IV | 13+ yrs | High School | Not enough data | Not enough data | — |
- Most common education
- High School
- GSA ceiling, 25th–75th
- $52/hr – $90/hr
- GSA ceiling, median
- $70/hr
- Rough salary estimate
- $61k–$81k
- Most common education
- High School
- GSA ceiling, 25th–75th
- $71/hr – $113/hr
- GSA ceiling, median
- $84/hr
- Rough salary estimate
- $73k–$97k
- Most common education
- High School
- GSA ceiling, 25th–75th
- Not enough data
- GSA ceiling, median
- Not enough data
- Rough salary estimate
- —
- Most common education
- High School
- GSA ceiling, 25th–75th
- Not enough data
- GSA ceiling, median
- Not enough data
- Rough salary estimate
- —
GSA ceiling rate: what the government pays the contractor, not your salary. It includes overhead, benefits, and profit. Source: GSA CALC+, current contract year, synced Oct 25, 2026, 170 rates.
Common certifications: OSHA 10-Hour General Industry, FAA Airframe and Powerplant (A&P) License, Certified Composite Technician (CCT), Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) Level II, Six Sigma Yellow Belt, OSHA 30-Hour General Industry, Certified Generator Technician, NFPA 70E Electrical Safety
Clearance for this labor category
About 7% of Maintenance Technician GSA rates require a clearance. Put your clearance on the very first line of your resume, under your name and contact info. Level and status only. Never list program names, SCI caveats, or classified details. Use the free Clearance Formatter.
Military codes that map to Maintenance Technician
Sample Maintenance Technician resume bullets
Public-safe, quantified examples. Replace the numbers with your own.
- Reduced equipment downtime by 25% over a two-year period by implementing a proactive maintenance schedule for 150+ mission-critical assets.
- Managed a $500K annual maintenance budget for facility infrastructure, consistently completing repairs 15% under projected cost estimates.
- Led a team of 5 technicians to support site operations, ensuring 99.9% uptime for equipment serving 1,000+ daily government personnel.
What level Maintenance Technician are you?
Enter your years, education, certifications, and clearance. Get your likely level, the GSA rate range for that level, and what would move you up.
With 0 years of relevant experience and a no degree, your effective experience is about 0 years. Under the common GSA CALC+ rule that a degree step substitutes for roughly 2 years, that maps to Level I. Verify against the specific contract.
Move up · To reach Level II, add about 4 more years of relevant experience, or earn a certification the contract requires (e.g. Security+, PMP) that the contract requires.
GSA ceiling rate: what the government pays the contractor, not your salary. It includes overhead, benefits, and profit. Source: GSA CALC+, current contract year, synced Oct 25, 2026, 101 rates.
No account needed. Opens the free translator prefilled with Maintenance Technician. Share link encodes only your selections, no names.
Maintenance Technician labor category: quick answers
Do I need a college degree to be a Maintenance Technician in government contracting?
Most positions prioritize technical certifications, trade school diplomas, and hands-on experience over four-year academic degrees.
How does my military maintenance experience translate to these roles?
Your military experience in preventative maintenance and troubleshooting is highly valued, as it mirrors the core requirements of federal service contracts.
Are these positions usually subject to security clearance requirements?
Only about 7% of these roles require a security clearance, though some positions in high-security facilities may mandate a standard background check.
What is the typical pay progression for this career path?
Pay scales increase significantly as you move from entry-level inspection roles to advanced technician levels that involve complex diagnostics and supervisory duties.
Reviewed by the Good to Go team · Last updated 2026-10-21 · Sources: GSA CALC+, O*NET
More about this roleShow
This role is essential for minimizing downtime and extending the lifecycle of hardware and infrastructure. Career levels are typically determined by a combination of relevant technical certifications, formal trade education, and years of experience. Level I technicians usually handle routine inspections and minor repairs, while Level II and Level III professionals tackle complex troubleshooting, system overhauls, and oversight of safety compliance. As you transition from the military, your expertise in operational readiness and hands-on maintenance directly translates to these roles. Whether you are working on industrial machinery, building climate systems, or specialized government equipment, your ability to follow technical documentation and execute precise repairs makes you a valuable asset to contractors supporting federal agencies.
Each contract defines its own labor categories and levels, so confirm the fit against the posting. Pay figures here are estimates from GSA CALC+ ceiling rates, not a guarantee.
Find your Maintenance Technician level
Enter your years, education, certifications, and clearance. Get your likely level and the GSA rate range for it.
Open the Level Calculator- 2A7X1 Aircraft Structural Maintenance
- 3E0X1 Electrical Power Production
- 3E1X1 Electrical Systems
- PR Aircrew Survival Equipmentman
- AO Aviation Ordnanceman
- 12B Combat Engineer
- 12N Crane Operator
- 88K Watercraft Operator
- 0856 Electronics Technician
- GM Gunner's Mate
- IC Interior Communications Electrician
- EM Electrician's Mate
- GSE Gas Turbine System Technician Electrical
- GSM Gas Turbine System Technician Mechanical
- EN Engineman
- HT Hull Technician
- DC Damage Controlman
- MR Machinery Repairman
- MM Machinist's Mate
- AD Aviation Machinist's Mate
- AM Aviation Structural Mechanic
- AE Aviation Electrician's Mate
- 2A6X1 Aircraft Electrical and Environmental Systems
- 2A5X1 Aircraft Mechanic
- 3D1X3 RF Transmission Systems
- 3D1X1 Client Systems
- 2141 Assault Amphibious Vehicle Repairer
- 0411 Maintenance Management Specialist
- 91P Artillery Mechanic
- 91M Fighting Vehicle Systems Maintainer
- 91K Armament Repairer
- 91E Metal and Fabrication Worker
- 91L Construction Equipment Repairer
- 91D Power Generation Equipment Repairer
- 91C Utilities Equipment Repairer
- 91B Wheeled Vehicle Mechanic
- 88M Motor Transport Operator
- 92W Water Treatment Specialist
- 92F Petroleum Supply Specialist
- 25P Microwave Systems Operator-Maintainer
- 25Q Radio Operator-Maintainer
- 0631 Network Administrator
- 35T Military Intelligence (MI) Systems Maintainer/Integrator
- CTM Cryptologic Technician Maintenance
- ET Electronics Technician
- AT Aviation Electronics Technician
- FC Fire Controlman
- CTT Cryptologic Technician Technical
- 25U Signal Operations Support Specialist