Maintenance Planner
Career GuideKey Responsibilities
- Build weekly and daily maintenance schedules based on priority and resource availability
- Create detailed work orders with steps, time estimates, and required materials
- Coordinate with operations to plan downtime and reduce disruption
- Confirm parts, tools, and contractor support are available before work begins
- Maintain accurate equipment records and maintenance history in a maintenance system
- Track backlog, completion rates, and schedule compliance
- Support preventive maintenance planning to reduce breakdowns
- Review completed work and capture lessons learned for future plans
- Help standardize job plans to improve speed, quality, and safety
- Coordinate with purchasing and stores to manage critical spares
- Support maintenance shutdown and turnaround planning
- Promote safe work planning by ensuring permits and risk controls are considered
Top Skills for Success
Work Prioritization
Communication
Stakeholder Management
Time Management
Problem Solving
Attention to Detail
Preventive Maintenance Planning
Job Plan Development
Maintenance Scheduling
Maintenance Backlog Management
Spare Parts Planning
Maintenance System Proficiency
Blueprint Reading
Safety Compliance
Career Progression
Can Lead To
Maintenance Supervisor
Reliability Engineer
Maintenance Manager
Asset Management Specialist
Shutdown Planner
Transition Opportunities
Operations Planner
Facilities Manager
Project Coordinator
Production Scheduler
Supply Chain Planner
Common Skill Gaps
Often Missing Skills
Maintenance System ReportingJob Time EstimationSpare Parts OptimizationRoot Cause AnalysisReliability MetricsShutdown Planning
Development SuggestionsBuild comfort with maintenance system reporting, practice estimating labor and materials using past work history, and learn basic reliability methods. Ask to co-lead a weekly scheduling meeting and support one shutdown planning cycle to gain structured planning experience.
Salary & Demand
Median Salary Range
Entry Level$55,000 to $70,000 per year
Mid Level$70,000 to $90,000 per year
Senior Level$90,000 to $115,000 per year
Growth Trend
Steady demand, driven by aging assets, reliability focus, and increased use of maintenance planning systems. Hiring is strongest in manufacturing, utilities, and energy.Companies Hiring
Major Employers
SiemensGeneral ElectricHoneywellBoeingLockheed MartinToyotaFordChevronExxonMobilShellDuke EnergyVeolia
Industry Sectors
ManufacturingFood and BeveragePharmaceuticalsEnergy and UtilitiesMining and MetalsAerospace and DefenseTransportation and LogisticsFacilities ManagementWater and Wastewater
Recommended Next Steps
1
Learn one maintenance system at a working level and practice creating complete work orders2
Create a simple weekly scheduling routine that includes priorities, resources, and constraints3
Build job plans for top recurring work and validate steps with technicians4
Set up a basic backlog review with clear priority rules and aging visibility5
Partner with stores and purchasing to improve critical spares and lead times6
Track a small set of metrics such as backlog size, schedule compliance, and rework rate7
Take a safety planning refresher focused on permits and risk controls8
Request mentorship from a maintenance supervisor or reliability engineer to refine planning standards