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My company is currently drafting a role for a Reliability Technician. I'm curious about the typical pay range for this position compared to other maintenance roles. For instance, would the salary be similar to that of a Senior Mechanic or Electrician? How does it compare to a Planner or Scheduler? Any insights or input would be greatly appreciated. The summary of the role: Responsible for creating and supporting the execution of preventive and predictive maintenance plans to ensure equipment/facility reliability. This role involves working closely with operations and maintenance teams to implement asset care strategies based on RCM and FMEA, as well as identifying required training and new technologies to enhance OEE. Reporting to either the Reliability Engineer. The technician plays a key role in continuous improvement initiatives aimed at increasing throughput, lowering costs, and boosting product quality and safety

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Jon Salomon
Reliability Mgr
Pharmavite, LLC
San Fernando CA
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I've seen the pay scale work multiple ways. In a couple of places the reliability technician was the same pay rate as the rest of the mechanics, so the attraction was that he received specialized training and an easier, more prestigious job. The drawback of this arrangement is that, after all the expense and effort of training, the technician may decide he feels like going back to a maintenance role. There is no financial incentive to stay. (In one case the technician actually missed out on a $10,000 shift premium to be in the reliability group.)

In another place, the reliability technician is a job grade above the highest shop job grade. This makes it clear that it is a step up, attracts the best talent, and incentivizes people to stay put. 

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Dale Nicholson, PE, CMRP, CRL
Reliability Engineering Mgr
Evonik Corp
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Original Message:
Sent: 09-30-2024 12:24 PM
From: Jon Salomon
Subject: Reliability Technician Role - Market Salary

My company is currently drafting a role for a Reliability Technician. I'm curious about the typical pay range for this position compared to other maintenance roles. For instance, would the salary be similar to that of a Senior Mechanic or Electrician? How does it compare to a Planner or Scheduler? Any insights or input would be greatly appreciated. The summary of the role: Responsible for creating and supporting the execution of preventive and predictive maintenance plans to ensure equipment/facility reliability. This role involves working closely with operations and maintenance teams to implement asset care strategies based on RCM and FMEA, as well as identifying required training and new technologies to enhance OEE. Reporting to either the Reliability Engineer. The technician plays a key role in continuous improvement initiatives aimed at increasing throughput, lowering costs, and boosting product quality and safety

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Jon Salomon
Reliability Mgr
Pharmavite, LLC
San Fernando CA
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I've seen the pay scale from same as top maintenance tech pay to the highest paid maintenance hourly rate.  I've seen it at the same rate as an hourly planner as well.  I've also seen it made a salary job which was at a lower end reliability engineer rate.

What sets the pay rate and the real question is what is the scope of the role?  Reliability technician really doesn't mean the same for every company.  For some it is a lube tech with some reliability duties maybe including looking over a condition monitoring system.  Maybe they oversee basic care or PM systems?  For others it may be a first tier reliability engineer type role reporting to a reliability manager or reliability engineer executing classic reliability elements.

IMO industry and the reliability filed has not done a good job defining reliability roles.  Years ago when I was on the job market, every company I interviewed with had reliability engineer and manager jobs but no one could really define the roles.  If they did, much of it had nothing to do with reliability.  

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Randy Riddell, CMRP, PSAP, CLS
Reliability Manager
Essity
Cherokee AL
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Original Message:
Sent: 09-30-2024 12:24 PM
From: Jon Salomon
Subject: Reliability Technician Role - Market Salary

My company is currently drafting a role for a Reliability Technician. I'm curious about the typical pay range for this position compared to other maintenance roles. For instance, would the salary be similar to that of a Senior Mechanic or Electrician? How does it compare to a Planner or Scheduler? Any insights or input would be greatly appreciated. The summary of the role: Responsible for creating and supporting the execution of preventive and predictive maintenance plans to ensure equipment/facility reliability. This role involves working closely with operations and maintenance teams to implement asset care strategies based on RCM and FMEA, as well as identifying required training and new technologies to enhance OEE. Reporting to either the Reliability Engineer. The technician plays a key role in continuous improvement initiatives aimed at increasing throughput, lowering costs, and boosting product quality and safety

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Jon Salomon
Reliability Mgr
Pharmavite, LLC
San Fernando CA
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