Facilities maintenance jobs in DFW: pay, Texas licenses and how to get hired

Apartment communities, hotels, hospitals, schools, plants and office buildings across Dallas–Fort Worth all need someone who can fix what breaks. Here is what maintenance techs earn, which Texas licenses and certifications matter, and how to get hired.

What maintenance techs earn

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median annual wage of $49,590 (May 2025) for general maintenance and repair workers - about $23.84 an hour. The lowest 10% earned under $35,350 and the top 10% over $77,180. In Texas, the May 2025 median was $46,670 (about $22.44 an hour), with about 140,580 people working in the job statewide.

Where you work matters. National medians by industry were $61,500 in manufacturing, $51,160 in government, $48,500 in healthcare, $48,360 in real estate and rental (including apartment communities) and $39,590 in hotels and food service. BLS projects 4% growth from 2025 to 2035, about as fast as average, with about 148,700 openings a year nationwide.

Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, General Maintenance and Repair Workers (May 2025 wage data, 2025–35 projections); BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 state estimates for Texas (SOC 49-9071).

Licenses and certifications in plain words

• No license to start: BLS notes most maintenance techs need a high school diploma or equivalent and learn on the job, starting with simple tasks and moving up to bigger repairs.
• Air conditioning work: in Texas, anyone who assists a licensed air conditioning and refrigeration contractor with AC or refrigeration maintenance or repair must hold a TDLR technician registration. You must be at least 16, pass a background check and pay a $20 fee; no exam or experience is required, and it is valid for one year. The voluntary Certified Technician designation requires age 18, a training program or 24 months of supervised experience, and an exam.
• Refrigerant (EPA 608): federal rules require anyone who attaches gauges, adds or removes refrigerant, or otherwise opens a refrigerant circuit to hold EPA Section 608 certification (Type I, II, III or Universal). The certification does not expire.
• Electrical work: unless an exemption applies, electrical work in Texas requires a TDLR license. The Maintenance Electrician license takes 8,000 hours of on-the-job training under a master or maintenance electrician plus an exam, and lets you do electrical maintenance under the general supervision of a master electrician.

What DFW facilities work looks like

• Work orders: leaks, doors and locks, drywall, paint, lighting, appliances and AC calls.
• Apartment make-readies between tenants, plus on-call nights and weekends for emergencies.
• Preventive maintenance on HVAC units, pumps, boilers and plant equipment in hospitals, schools, warehouses and factories.
• Heat on roofs and in attics in summer, and freeze calls for pipes and irrigation in winter storms.

Questions to ask in the interview

• How is on-call scheduled, and is it paid even when I'm not called out?
• Will you pay for EPA 608 certification or a TDLR registration?
• Do I use company tools, or bring my own? Is there a tool allowance?
• Is there a path from tech to lead tech or maintenance supervisor, and what does it pay?

Related: facilities and maintenance jobs · HVAC technician guide · electrician guide · apprentice to journeyman · DFW trade pay questions.

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FAQ

Do I need a license to be a maintenance tech in Texas?

Not for general repairs like doors, drywall, paint and fixtures. AC and refrigeration work done for a licensed contractor needs a TDLR technician registration, opening a refrigerant circuit needs EPA Section 608 certification, and electrical work generally needs a TDLR license such as Maintenance Electrician.

How much do maintenance techs make in Texas?

BLS reports a Texas median of $46,670 a year (about $22.44 an hour) for general maintenance and repair workers in May 2025. The national median was $49,590, and the top 10% nationally earned over $77,180.

Which facilities maintenance jobs pay the most?

Nationally, BLS reports the highest median among the top employers in manufacturing at $61,500 a year, compared with $48,360 in real estate and rental and $39,590 in hotels and food service (May 2025).