Helpers--Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers

Architecture and ConstructionO*NET 49-9098.00United States

Help installation, maintenance, and repair workers in maintenance, parts replacement, and repair of vehicles, industrial machinery, and electrical and electronic equipment. Perform duties such as furnishing tools, materials, and supplies to other workers; cleaning work area, machines, and tools; and holding materials or tools for other workers.

COMING SOON See related ASU learning
Median annual earnings
$39,594

50th percentile, United States

Projected change
+6.2%

2025 to 2035

Typical education
High school diploma or less

34% of the workforce

Employment
96.01K jobs

Growing to 101.95K by 2035

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Compare nationwide estimates with state or county job-market data.

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Build the skills

ASU learning related to this career

These courses and certificates are connected through catalog career relationships and Lightcast skill tags.

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The work

What helpers--installation, maintenance, and repair workers do

Tasks reported for this occupation, ordered by how often they come up in the role.

  • Examine and test machinery, equipment, components, and parts for defects to ensure proper functioning.
  • Install or replace machinery, equipment, and new or replacement parts and instruments, using hand or power tools.
  • Tend and observe equipment and machinery to verify efficient and safe operation.
  • Adjust, connect, or disconnect wiring, piping, tubing, and other parts, using hand or power tools.
  • Clean or lubricate vehicles, machinery, equipment, instruments, tools, work areas, and other objects, using hand tools, power tools, and cleaning equipment.
  • Hold or supply tools, parts, equipment, and supplies for other workers.
  • Diagnose electrical problems and install and rewire electrical components.
  • Disassemble broken or defective equipment to facilitate repair and reassemble equipment when repairs are complete.
  • Transfer tools, parts, equipment, and supplies to and from work stations and other areas.
  • Position vehicles, machinery, equipment, physical structures, and other objects for assembly or installation, using hand tools, power tools, and moving equipment.
  • Adjust, maintain, and repair tools, equipment, and machines, and assist more skilled workers with similar tasks.
  • Order new parts to maintain inventory.
  • Apply protective materials to equipment, components, and parts to prevent defects and corrosion.
  • Design, weld, and fabricate parts, using blueprints or other mechanical plans.

Pay and outlook

What the job pays and where it is heading

Annual earnings range

Reported earnings by percentile, United States

10th percentile
$29,255
25th percentile
$34,857
50th percentile
$39,594
75th percentile
$46,909
90th percentile
$55,991

The gold marker shows the median. Half earn more than $39,594 and half earn less.

Employment outlook

2025 to 2035 projection

+6.2%faster than average
202596,007 jobs
2035 projected101,947 jobs

5,940 more positions over the decade, before replacement hiring.

Preparation

Education levels

What people currently working in the career hold. These are not entry requirements.

High school diploma or less
34%
Associate degree
25.1%
Certificate
23.5%
Some college
17.3%
Bachelor's degree
0%

Skills

Skills employers ask for

Technical skills appearing most often in job postings for this occupation.

  • Plumbing
  • Painting
  • Carpentry
  • HVAC
  • Lifting Ability
  • Mowing
  • Construction
  • Power Tool Operation
  • Landscaping
  • Hand Tools
  • Facility Repair And Maintenance
  • Preventive Maintenance
  • Machinery
  • Furniture Cleaning
  • Snow Removal
  • Good Driving Record
  • Heavy Equipment
  • Irrigation (Landscaping And Agriculture)
  • Housekeeping
  • Safety Procedures

How the work gets done

Core competencies

Broad capabilities associated with strong performance in this occupation.

Repairing
Repairing machines or systems using the needed tools.
Equipment Maintenance
Performing routine maintenance on equipment and determining when and what kind of maintenance is needed.
Troubleshooting
Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.
Operations Monitoring
Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
Operation and Control
Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
Active Listening
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Critical Thinking
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
Monitoring
Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Quality Control Analysis
Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
Coordination
Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Speaking
Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Judgment and Decision Making
Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Time Management
Managing one's own time and the time of others.
Equipment Selection
Determining the kind of tools and equipment needed to do a job.
Active Learning
Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
Complex Problem Solving
Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
Reading Comprehension
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
Social Perceptiveness
Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Learning Strategies
Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.
Installation
Installing equipment, machines, wiring, or programs to meet specifications.

In the market

Job titles and employers

Recent job postings in United States

Common job titles

  1. 01Maintenance Workers15,219 postings
  2. 02Maintenance Assistants8,878 postings
  3. 03Highway Maintenance Workers2,047 postings
  4. 04General Maintenance Workers1,725 postings
  5. 05Maintenance Helpers1,608 postings
  6. 06Building Maintenance Workers1,188 postings
  7. 07Maintenance Laborers1,176 postings
  8. 08Facilities Maintenance Workers1,081 postings
  9. 09Parks Maintenance Workers1,053 postings
  10. 10Maintenance People1,008 postings
  11. 11Maintenance Specialists812 postings
  12. 12Maintenance Apprentices806 postings
  13. 13Grounds Maintenance Workers749 postings
  14. 14Street Maintenance Workers732 postings
  15. 15Maintenance Staff568 postings
  16. 16Public Works Maintenance Workers557 postings
  17. 17Maintenance Technicians547 postings
  18. 18Maintenance Associates522 postings
  19. 19Maintenance Leads507 postings
  20. 20Maintenance Supervisors474 postings

Top employers

  1. 01McDonald's1,359 postings
  2. 02State of South Carolina769 postings
  3. 03Costco678 postings
  4. 04Walmart530 postings
  5. 05Marriott International376 postings
  6. 06Commonwealth Of Pennsylvania368 postings
  7. 07State of Missouri364 postings
  8. 08State of Nebraska333 postings
  9. 09Aerotek324 postings
  10. 10Sodexo322 postings
  11. 11State of California284 postings
  12. 12Aramark260 postings
  13. 13Mhc Property Management240 postings
  14. 14Hilton229 postings
  15. 15Equity Lifestyle Properties223 postings
  16. 16National Park Service206 postings
  17. 17U.S National Park Service182 postings
  18. 18Hotel Management And Consulting174 postings
  19. 19Nys Department Of Civil Service156 postings
  20. 20United States Department of Transportation155 postings

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