Maintenance Electrician Jobs in Canada
Sector: Manufacturing & Maintenance · Typical gross pay: 28–54 CAD/hour · Typical locations: Ontario, Quebec, Alberta, British Columbia
Maintenance Electricians keep industrial sites running: you troubleshoot faults, restore production safely, and prevent repeat downtime with structured preventive maintenance. This page explains a realistic “day-one” baseline for Canada and what employers usually expect.
Role snapshot
A Maintenance Electrician (often “industrial electrician – maintenance”) supports production uptime in manufacturing, logistics, processing plants, and large commercial facilities. Your focus is safe troubleshooting, reliable repairs, and preventing repeat breakdowns.
Typical gross pay in Canada (brutto)
Pay is influenced by province, union/non-union environment, licensing status, shift premiums, and overtime. The table below is an indicative gross hourly band used for realistic expectations (actual offers vary by employer and site).
| Region | Low (CAD/h) | Median (CAD/h) | High (CAD/h) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canada (indicative) | 28 | 42 | 54 |
| Ontario (indicative) | 29 | 40.5 | 48 |
Notes: Overtime and premiums may apply depending on employer policy and site schedule. Always confirm the exact pay structure in your offer.
CV-first process: shortlisting is CV-basedDay-to-day duties (maintenance + troubleshooting)
In many Canadian industrial sites, “maintenance electrician” means you’re the person called when a line stops, a motor trips, or a panel alarm repeats. Employers value calm fault-finding, clean workmanship, and correct documentation.
Typical responsibilities
- Diagnose electrical faults using schematics, meter readings and isolation methods.
- Repair or replace components: sensors, contactors, relays, breakers, drives, motors and wiring.
- Perform preventive maintenance (PM): inspections, torque checks, thermal/visual checks, test runs.
- Support production changeovers and safe start-ups after maintenance windows.
- Record work in CMMS or maintenance logs (fault, fix, parts used, follow-up actions).
- Coordinate with mechanical maintenance, operators, and supervisors to minimize downtime safely.
Systems you may encounter
- Motor controls (MCC), starters, overloads, basic control circuits.
- VFDs/soft starters, basic parameter checks, fault interpretation.
- Panels, distribution, breakers, grounding/bonding basics.
- Sensors, interlocks, safety circuits (site-dependent).
- PLC-adjacent work: reading I/O status and collaborating with automation staff (varies by plant).
Scope varies by employer. Some sites separate “electrician” and “controls/automation”; others combine duties.
Hiring story (why employers open these roles)
A common scenario is a plant running extended hours where downtime is expensive: frequent nuisance trips, aging panels, or inconsistent sensor feedback. Maintenance Electricians are hired to stabilize production—fix root causes, standardize repairs, and bring order to preventive maintenance.
Requirements & credentials
Core requirements (typical)
- Industrial maintenance experience (troubleshooting under production pressure).
- Ability to read electrical drawings/schematics and work cleanly in panels.
- Comfort with meters, testing, safe isolation, and systematic fault-finding.
- Basic English for safety communication (briefings, signs, permits, radio calls).
- Reliability, punctuality, and readiness for shifts when required.
Nice-to-have
- VFD experience, motor alignment awareness, basic instrumentation familiarity.
- Experience in food processing / packaging / distribution automation environments.
- CMMS discipline: documenting faults and suggesting preventive actions.
- Leadership traits: mentoring apprentices, supporting shutdown planning.
Licensing / Red Seal (site-dependent)
Many employers prefer or require recognized trade status (province-dependent). A Red Seal endorsement may be relevant for industrial electricians and can support portability across provinces. Requirements vary by role, province and whether the work is regulated for that scope.
Skill matrix (what your CV should show)
| Area | Examples |
|---|---|
| Troubleshooting | Root-cause approach, schematics, meter work, safe isolation |
| Industrial controls | Motor starters, relays, interlocks, VFD basics |
| Maintenance | PM routines, shutdown tasks, documentation discipline |
| Safety | LOTO, permits, hazard awareness, PPE compliance |
Tip: list specific equipment (VFD brands, MCC work, panels) and measurable outcomes (downtime reduced, repeat faults eliminated).
Work conditions in Canada (what to expect)
Schedule & overtime
- Common patterns: days/afternoons/nights, rotating shifts, weekend coverage.
- Overtime may occur during shutdowns, peak season, or urgent breakdowns.
- Some sites include on-call rotation; confirm expectations before accepting.
Tools & PPE
- Employers usually provide site PPE rules; you may be expected to bring basic hand tools (site-dependent).
- Safety practices are strict: isolation, permits, and documented procedures.
- If hazardous products are present, employers typically require WHMIS awareness/training (site rules apply).
Site types
- Manufacturing plants and processing facilities
- Warehousing and distribution centres
- Large commercial/industrial facilities with in-house maintenance
Deductions (general)
Deductions can include statutory items (taxes and social contributions) and, depending on arrangement, optional items such as benefits or accommodation. Terms depend on province, employer policy and contract.
Documents to work legally in Canada (overview)
Employers must hire people who can work legally in Canada. The exact path depends on your status (citizen/PR/temporary resident) and employer’s hiring program. The points below are general and intentionally neutral (no promises).
Typical document expectations
- Identity documents (passport; additional IDs if required by employer).
- Work authorization (e.g., a work permit) consistent with the employer and role conditions.
- Resume/CV and proof of skills (certificates, references, employment letters, project list).
- Background checks may be requested for some sites (policy-driven).
Work permit concepts (high level)
- Employer-specific authorization: tied to the employer/role conditions (where applicable).
- Open authorization: not tied to one employer (available only in specific situations).
Licensing and trade recognition can be separate from immigration status. Always confirm employer requirements for the province and site.
Candidate portrait
You are a good fit if you…
- Enjoy fault-finding and can explain your troubleshooting logic clearly.
- Work safely under pressure and never skip isolation steps.
- Can read schematics and keep panel work tidy and documented.
- Are comfortable with shifts, shutdowns, and occasional overtime.
- Know basic motor control and are willing to learn site-specific systems quickly.
- Respect procedures (permits, lockout/tagout, housekeeping, PPE).
- Can communicate in English enough for safety briefings and coordination.
This role is not for you if you…
- Prefer only residential “service calls” and do not want industrial environments.
- Struggle with shift work or cannot respond to urgent breakdowns when scheduled.
- Dislike documentation and systematic troubleshooting.
- Cut corners on safety steps or ignore site procedures.
- Expect guaranteed hours/locations without flexibility (projects can vary).
How to apply
- Create or upload your CV: mavial.pl/en/cv.html
- Include your experience (industries, systems), certifications/licenses, and preferred provinces.
- Submit your application — we contact shortlisted candidates based on CV matching.
Pay ranges are indicative (gross). Actual pay depends on province, union/non-union environment, overtime, shift premiums, licensing, experience and employer policy.
Related roles in Manufacturing & Maintenance
Internal links to similar vacancies
FAQ
Is a CV required for Maintenance Electrician roles?
Yes. Candidates without a CV are not considered. Use mavial.pl/en/cv.html.
Is the pay shown net or gross?
All pay ranges on this page are shown as gross (brutto). Net pay depends on deductions and your situation.
Do I need a license or Red Seal?
It depends on the province, employer and scope of work. Some sites require recognized trade status; others accept strong experience with site assessment.
What industries hire Maintenance Electricians most often?
Manufacturing, processing, packaging, distribution centres, and facilities with 24/7 operations frequently hire maintenance electricians.
What should I highlight on my CV?
Industrial troubleshooting examples, systems you worked with (MCC, VFD, panels), preventive maintenance routines, safety discipline (LOTO), and measurable impact (repeat faults reduced, uptime improved).