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Installation, Maintenance, and Repair

Maintenance and Repair Workers, General

Perform work involving the skills of two or more maintenance or craft occupations to keep machines, mechanical equipment, or the structure of a building in repair. Duties may involve pipe fitting; HVAC maintenance; insulating; welding; machining; carpentry; repairing electrical or mechanical equipment; installing, aligning, and balancing new equipment; and repairing buildings, floors, or stairs.

Visual summary of pay, outlook, skills, interests, and preparation for Maintenance and Repair Workers, General
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Median pay

$48,620
Median annual pay for Maintenance and Repair Workers, General.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024
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10-year growth

3.8%
Projected employment growth from 2024 to 2034.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024–2034 projections
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Annual openings

159,800
Projected annual openings, including growth and replacement demand.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024–2034 projections
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Employment

1,629,700
Estimated U.S. employment for Maintenance and Repair Workers, General in 2024.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024
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Jobs added or lost

+62,400
Projected numeric employment change from 2024 to 2034.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024–2034 projections
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Entry preparation

High school diploma or equivalent
Typical additional preparation: Moderate-term on-the-job training.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024 profile
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O*NET occupation profile

What the work involves

Strongest O*NET signals first.

Essential skills

  1. 1Critical Thinking
  2. 2Active Learning
  3. 3Monitoring
  4. 4Active Listening
  5. 5Reading Comprehension
  6. 6Speaking

Knowledge areas

  1. 1Mechanical
  2. 2English Language
  3. 3Building and Construction
  4. 4Mathematics
  5. 5Production and Processing
  6. 6Customer and Personal Service

Abilities

  1. 1Arm-Hand Steadiness
  2. 2Information Ordering
  3. 3Manual Dexterity
  4. 4Near Vision
  5. 5Problem Sensitivity
  6. 6Control Precision

Career interests

  1. 1Realistic
  2. 2Conventional
  3. 3Investigative
  4. 4Social
  5. 5Enterprising
  6. 6Artistic

Work styles

  1. 1Dependability
  2. 2Attention to Detail
  3. 3Cautiousness
  4. 4Perseverance
  5. 5Integrity
  6. 6Adaptability

Work activities

  1. 1Making Decisions and Solving Problems
  2. 2Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials
  3. 3Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
  4. 4Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment
  5. 5Getting Information
  6. 6Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment

Work context

  1. 1Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
  2. 2Contact With Others
  3. 3Telephone Conversations
  4. 4Health and Safety of Other Workers
  5. 5E-Mail
  6. 6Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls

Representative tasks

  • Perform routine maintenance, such as inspecting drives, motors, or belts, checking fluid levels, replacing filters, or doing other preventive maintenance actions.
  • Inspect, operate, or test machinery or equipment to diagnose machine malfunctions.
  • Adjust functional parts of devices or control instruments, using hand tools, levels, plumb bobs, or straightedges.
  • Repair machines, equipment, or structures, using tools such as hammers, hoists, saws, drills, wrenches, or equipment such as precision measuring instruments or electrical or electronic testing devices.
  • Order parts, supplies, or equipment from catalogs or suppliers.
  • Diagnose mechanical problems and determine how to correct them, checking blueprints, repair manuals, or parts catalogs, as necessary.
  • Design new equipment to aid in the repair or maintenance of machines, mechanical equipment, or building structures.
  • Assemble, install, or repair wiring, electrical or electronic components, pipe systems, plumbing, machinery, or equipment.

Software and tools

Microsoft Office software · in demandApple macOS · hot technologySAP software · hot technologyOracle Primavera Enterprise Project Portfolio Management · hot technologyMicrosoft Word · hot technologyMicrosoft Windows · hot technologyMicrosoft Project · hot technologyMicrosoft PowerPoint · hot technologyMicrosoft Outlook · hot technologyMicrosoft Excel · hot technologyYardi software · hot technologyGoogle Docs · hot technology

Sources

BLS provides national pay, employment, and projections. O*NET provides skills, interests, preparation, tasks, work context, and tools.

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