Lead industrial cleaning technician job description
A lead industrial cleaning technician leads the hands-on cleaning at each plant job, choosing how each machine gets cleaned and doing the hardest parts themselves. They train technicians and helpers, check the results before the plant sees them, and keep the pressure washers, pumps and burners running.
By the HireBus team · Updated · Pay data: BLS, May 2025
Median pay, building services companies · BLS, May 2025
Industrial Cleaning & Degreasing - Lead Technician
Company Name:
[INSERT COMPANY NAME HERE]
Department:
Operations
Reports to:
[Field Supervisor]
Location:
[INSERT LOCATION HERE]
1. Position Summary
The Lead Technician is responsible for overseeing advanced industrial cleaning and degreasing operations while maintaining superior quality standards. This role will drive operational excellence through the implementation of innovative cleaning methods, comprehensive staff training, and rigorous quality control practices that directly contribute to the company’s reputation for excellence and customer satisfaction.
2. Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Oversee the implementation of advanced cleaning methods to ensure efficient and safe operations.
Train and mentor cleaning staff to uphold high-quality standards and efficient work practices.
Monitor and maintain quality assurance processes for all cleaning and degreasing operations.
Collaborate with management and team members to continuously improve cleaning procedures and operational outcomes.
Troubleshoot and resolve technical issues related to industrial cleaning equipment.
3. Key Tasks / Daily Activities
Conduct daily inspections of equipment and work areas to ensure operational safety and efficiency.
Deliver on-the-job training and refresher sessions for staff on advanced cleaning techniques.
Execute scheduled cleaning tasks while ensuring adherence to quality guidelines and safety protocols.
Maintain accurate logs of cleaning operations, equipment maintenance, and performance metrics.
Coordinate with supervisors and other departments to address and resolve any operational challenges.
4. Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
Customer Satisfaction Rating: >4.8 stars.
Callback Percentage: <5%.
Equipment Downtime: <2% per month.
Training Completion Rate: 100% of scheduled sessions completed annually.
5. Required Qualifications and Skills
High school diploma or equivalent; relevant technical certifications are an asset.
Minimum of 3 years’ experience in industrial cleaning or a related field.
Demonstrated expertise in using advanced cleaning and degreasing equipment.
Strong leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills.
6. Preferred Experience
Experience working in industrial cleaning, degreasing, or heavy-duty maintenance environments.
Familiarity with safety regulations and standards within industrial operations.
Proven track record in training and mentoring staff in a high-demand setting.
7. Physical Requirements
Ability to lift up to 50 lbs.
Extended periods of standing, walking, and occasional climbing.
Ability to work in various industrial environments, including confined spaces.
Exposure to temperature variations and industrial cleaning chemicals.
8. Work Environment and Schedule
Typical work hours: Monday – Friday, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM.
Occasional weekend or evening shifts may be required.
Must adhere to stringent safety protocols in an industrial setting.
Potential on-call duty during critical operational incidents.
9. Compensation and Benefits
Salary Range: $50,000 – $65,000 USD per annum.
Performance-based bonus opportunities.
Comprehensive Health, Dental, and Vision benefits.
401(k) plan with company matching and additional fringe benefits.
Paid time off and ongoing company-sponsored training programs.
10. Company Culture and Overview
At [INSERT COMPANY NAME HERE], we foster an environment that champions innovation, personal development, and teamwork. We believe in empowering our employees with the tools and training they need to excel, while maintaining a strong commitment to customer satisfaction and operational excellence. Our inclusive culture embraces creativity, accountability, and growth, ensuring that every team member is valued and has the opportunity to advance their career.
11. How to Apply
If you meet the above criteria and want to be part of a growth-oriented company focused on customer satisfaction, please send your resume to [INSERT EMAIL HERE] or apply online at [INSERT WEBSITE LINK HERE].
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What changes for a lead technician in industrial cleaning
The lead is the person closest to the machines and the chemistry. In plant work that means watching the air, the equipment and the finished surface, not just the crew.
Engines stay outside the building
NIOSH tells employers to avoid running gasoline engines or tools inside buildings or partly enclosed areas. Place them outside, at least 20 feet from doors, windows and other openings. Carbon monoxide can reach deadly levels within minutes, even where a space seems well ventilated. In a warehouse or plant bay, the lead parks the washer outside and runs hose in. Source: NIOSH: About carbon monoxide.
Keep heated units away from solvent work
The operator's manual for Hotsy's 871SS, an oil-fired washer, says not to run it indoors or in an enclosed area unless a flue carries the exhaust outside. It also says never to run it where flammable vapors, such as gasoline or solvents, may be present. When the job includes solvent wiping or an open solvent tank nearby, the lead sets the burner unit well away or switches that area to cold water. Source: Hotsy: Model 871SS operating instructions and parts manual.
A cooler rinse can mean scale in the coil
The same Hotsy manual says scale builds up inside the heating coil in hard water areas, cuts the water temperature rise and can clog the coil. When a unit stops reaching its usual temperature, the lead checks for scale, fuel and burner problems before blaming the cleaner, and logs it so the shop can descale on schedule. Source: Hotsy: Model 871SS operating instructions and parts manual.
Prove the surface is clean
A thin oil film doesn't always show. Agree on a check with the plant before starting, such as a white cloth wipe or watching rinse water sheet evenly instead of beading on bare metal. The lead runs the check on each area and shows the plant's contact before calling it done.
Log the chemical, the strength and the area
Plants sometimes ask weeks later what touched a machine. A short daily log of each area cleaned, the product and strength used, the water temperature, and anything unusual answers that question and helps the lead spot a crew member who needs more coaching.
How much lead industrial cleaning technicians make
The closest BLS group for lead industrial cleaning technicians is cleaners of vehicles and equipment. Cleaners of vehicles and equipment who work for building and home services companies earned a median of $19.11 an hour ($39,740 a year) in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. That’s above the $35,830 median for cleaners of vehicles and equipment in all industries. About 11,630 of the 380,430 cleaners of vehicles and equipment in that survey work for building services companies.
The template pays a salary; some companies pay leads hourly with overtime instead. BLS has no separate lead code, so these figures cover cleaners of vehicles and equipment, the technicians' group. The template's range sits above nearly all the pay BLS reports for that group at building services firms.
Building services companies
$39,740$39,740 median Middle half $36,660–$45,220 10th–90th $32,850–$49,200
All industries
$35,830$35,830 median Middle half $30,420–$41,040 10th–90th $27,380–$47,610
$20k$30k$40k$50k$60k
10th–90th percentileMiddle halfMedianAnnual pay, May 2025. Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
Annual pay by percentile
Group
10th
25th
Median
75th
90th
Building services companies
$32,850
$36,660
$39,740
$45,220
$49,200
All industries
$27,380
$30,420
$35,830
$41,040
$47,610
BLS doesn’t publish pay for industrial cleaning companies on their own. These figures cover services to buildings and dwellings, which include them. Post a real range for your market in the ad.
The pay line in the template above is an example from our Role Blueprint. Set yours from these figures and what local companies pay.
Skills to hire for, and what you can teach
Hire for these
Has cleaned plant machinery with heated washers, steam and foam
Finds pump, unloader and burner faults and fixes the simple ones
Shows a trainee the step, then has them do it while watching
Checks their own work before anyone asks
Knows which parts and surfaces can't take direct spray
Teach these on the job
Your written methods for each type of plant equipment
Your logbook and job ticket app
Each plant's permit, lockout and sign-off steps
Coaching and feedback for leading former peers
Your company's cleaners and strength test kits
Leads work with the crew's washers, both heated and cold, plus steam cleaners, foam and chemical applicators and wet vacuums, and carry hand tools and spare parts for basic pump and burner repairs. Naming your equipment in the ad lets candidates tell you which models they've used.
Lead industrial cleaning technician interview questions
Two of the 6 questions we'd ask, and what a strong answer sounds like. Ask every candidate the same questions, and rate each answer on your own before you compare notes.
Situational · Gas hazard response
Your crew smells gas while degreasing near a plant's boiler room. What do you do?
A strong answer: Stops work, avoids switching anything on or off, moves people out, alerts the plant contact and doesn't return until cleared.
Behavioral · Adapting plans
Tell me about a job where the plan changed once you got on site. What did you do?
A strong answer: Stopped, reassessed hazards, updated the plan and told the supervisor.
How do the physical lines in the lead technician template play out on a job?
Lifting up to 50 pounds means hoses, pumps, pails and spare parts. Standing and walking cover long stretches on plant floors and catwalks, and occasional climbing means ladders to tank tops and mezzanines. The confined space line means entering tanks or pits under an entry permit. The temperature and chemical lines mean hot and cold plant areas and caustic or acid cleaners handled in PPE. Put the tasks in plain words in the ad, and handle accommodation requests one candidate at a time.
How much does a lead industrial cleaning technician make?
Cleaners of vehicles and equipment who work for building and home services companies earned a median of $19.11 an hour ($39,740 a year) in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The middle half earned between $36,660 and $45,220 a year. Pay also depends on your local market, experience and overtime.
What should a lead do if the crew damages plant equipment?
Stop that part of the work, make the area safe, and tell the field supervisor and the plant contact right away, before anyone tries a fix. Take photos, write down what happened and who was there, and keep the damaged part if it comes off. An early, honest report keeps the plant's trust better than damage they find on their own.
The cleaner isn't cutting the grease. What should the lead try first?
Check the basics first: mix strength with the test kit, water temperature, how long the cleaner sat, and whether the crew is brushing where spray can't reach. Only then call the production manager about a stronger or different product. A new product needs training and a fresh look at PPE before the crew uses it, so don't borrow one from the plant's shelf.
Which checks should happen before the crew pulls out of the shop?
Run each washer and pump long enough to see pressure and temperature, count hoses, nozzles and spare parts against the job list, confirm every chemical container is labeled, and check that each person has PPE in the right size. A short check in the shop beats finding a broken unloader at the plant gate.
