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Maintenance

Maintenance fitter

Maintenance fitters install, service and repair industrial machinery and equipment.

Annual Salary

£23,000 to £38,000

Average UK salary in 2023 was £34,963
(source Office for National Statistics)

Working hours

42 to 44 a week

You could work: evenings / weekends; on shifts

4.1%
Future employment

There will be 4.1% fewer Maintenance fitter jobs in 2027.

Day to day tasks

As a maintenance fitter, you could:

  • install pipework, valves, pumps and motors
  • carry out planned maintenance checks
  • find and fix faults
  • replace worn parts, reset instrument controls and clean machinery
  • respond to emergency breakdowns, for example on a factory production line

Working environment

You may need to wear protective clothing.

You could work in a factory or at a client's business.

You can get into this job through:

  • a college course
  • an apprenticeship
  • working towards this role
  • applying directly
College

You could take a college course to learn some of the skills you'll need. Useful subjects include:

  • Level 2 Certificate in Mechanical Engineering
  • Level 2 Diploma in Maintenance Engineering Technology
  • Level 3 Certificate in Fabrication and Welding Engineering Technology
  • T Level in Maintenance, Installation and Repair for Engineering and Manufacturing

Entry requirements

You may need:

  • 2 or more GCSEs at grades 9 to 3 (A* to D), or equivalent, for a level 2 course
  • 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, for a level 3 course
  • 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths for a T Level
For more information
  • equivalent entry requirements|https://www.gov.uk/what-different-qualification-levels-mean/list-of-qualification-levels
  • funding advice|https://www.gov.uk/further-education-courses/financial-help
  • guide to T Levels|https://www.tlevels.gov.uk/
  • search for courses|/find-a-course
Apprenticeship

You could do an Engineering Fitter Level 2 Intermediate Apprenticeship, or a Maintenance Operations Engineering Technician Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • some GCSEs, usually including English and maths, or equivalent, for an intermediate apprenticeship
  • 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship
For more information
  • equivalent entry requirements|https://www.gov.uk/what-different-qualification-levels-mean/list-of-qualification-levels
  • guide to apprenticeships|https://www.gov.uk/apprenticeships-guide
Work

You could start as an engineering operative or trainee craftsperson and do training on the job to become a fitter.

Direct application

You can apply directly for maintenance fitter jobs if you've got a qualifications and experience in maintenance, such as:

  • mechanical engineering
  • pipefitting
  • welding
  • electrical engineering

More information

Further information

You can find more about careers in engineering from the ECITB and Tomorrow's Engineers.

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You could do further training while you work to become an engineering technician or site supervisor.

Courses that could help you progress include:Level 3 (NVQ) Diploma in Engineering Maintenance; Level 3 Diploma in Installing Engineering Construction Plant and Systems - Mechanical Fitting; Level 3 Combined Diploma in Process Engineering Maintenance

Skills required and how your skills match up

What skills are required?

You'll need:

  • practical skills for repairing and maintaining equipment
  • the ability to work well with your hands
  • problem-solving skills
  • the ability to work on your own
  • the ability to make decisions about tools and equipment
  • to be thorough and pay attention to detail
  • the ability to work well with others
  • thinking and reasoning skills
  • to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device
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