How the national numbers differ
1Maintenance and Repair Workers, General has the edge on annual openings
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General is at 148,700 annual openings, compared with 13,600 annual openings for Helpers--Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers.
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General has the edge on median pay
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General is at $49,590, compared with $39,630 for Helpers--Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers.
Typical preparation differs.
Helpers--Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers: High school diploma or equivalent; One month or less of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing Maintenance and Repair Workers, General: High school diploma or equivalent; More than one month and up to 12 months of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing Preparation categories do not establish admission difficulty, calendar time, tuition, time without earnings, or licensing difficulty.
Helpers--Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers has the edge on projected growth
Helpers--Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers is at 5.3% projected growth, compared with 4.2% projected growth for Maintenance and Repair Workers, General.
55/ 100Helpers--Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers
vs
61.7/ 100Maintenance and Repair Workers, General
Each available metric is ranked from 0 to 100 against the careers on ChooseField. The weighted average uses this profile: pay 30%, growth 25%, openings 30%, preparation level 15%. Missing values are not scored as zero; their weights are redistributed across available metrics. Occupation size has zero weight: employment is not accessible vacancies. Preparation categories do not measure admission difficulty or years without earnings. The score summarizes national measures; local opportunities and personal fit still need separate consideration.
Detailed evidence
Helpers--Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers vs Maintenance and Repair Workers, General
| Dimension | Helpers--Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers | Maintenance and Repair Workers, General |
|---|
| Median pay (2025) | $39,630 | $49,590 |
|---|
| Pay percentile | 11.2 percentile | 31 percentile |
|---|
| Projected growth (2025–2035) | 5.3% | 4.2% |
|---|
| Annual openings (2025–2035) | 13,600 | 148,700 |
|---|
| 2025 employment | 97,100 | 1,621,800 |
|---|
| How you qualify | High school diploma or equivalent; One month or less of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing | High school diploma or equivalent; More than one month and up to 12 months of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing |
| O*NET preparation group | Job Zone 2 | Job Zone 3 |
| Related work experience | No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary. | No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary. |
| On-the-job training | One month or less of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing. | More than one month and up to 12 months of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing. |
The table reports national benchmarks and reviewed work descriptions. It does not rate personal suitability, job security, or physical safety.
