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Maintenance and Repair Workers, General

Architecture and ConstructionO*NET 49-9071.00United States

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.

COMING SOON See related ASU learning
Median annual earnings
$49,443

50th percentile, United States

Projected change
+7.3%

2025 to 2035

Typical education
Certificate

63% of the workforce

Employment
1.68M jobs

Growing to 1.81M by 2035

Explore this career by location

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 maintenance and repair workers, general do

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

  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Adjust functional parts of devices or control instruments, using hand tools, levels, plumb bobs, or straightedges.
  • Order parts, supplies, or equipment from catalogs or suppliers.
  • Design new equipment to aid in the repair or maintenance of machines, mechanical equipment, or building structures.
  • Diagnose mechanical problems and determine how to correct them, checking blueprints, repair manuals, or parts catalogs, as necessary.
  • Assemble, install, or repair wiring, electrical or electronic components, pipe systems, plumbing, machinery, or equipment.
  • Maintain or repair specialized equipment or machinery located in cafeterias, laundries, hospitals, stores, offices, or factories.
  • Estimate costs to repair machinery, equipment, or building structures.
  • Record type and cost of maintenance or repair work.
  • Clean or lubricate shafts, bearings, gears, or other parts of machinery.
  • Align and balance new equipment after installation.
  • Dismantle machines, equipment, or devices to access and remove defective parts, using hoists, cranes, hand tools, or power tools.
  • Plan and lay out repair work, using diagrams, drawings, blueprints, maintenance manuals, or schematic diagrams.
  • Install equipment to improve the energy or operational efficiency of residential or commercial buildings.
  • Perform general cleaning of buildings or properties.
  • Set up and operate machine tools to repair or fabricate machine parts, jigs, fixtures, or tools.
  • Train or manage maintenance personnel or subcontractors.
  • Fabricate or repair counters, benches, partitions, or other wooden structures, such as sheds or outbuildings.
  • Paint or repair roofs, windows, doors, floors, woodwork, plaster, drywall, or other parts of building structures.

Pay and outlook

What the job pays and where it is heading

Annual earnings range

Reported earnings by percentile, United States

10th percentile
$34,990
25th percentile
$40,591
50th percentile
$49,443
75th percentile
$62,646
90th percentile
$77,983

The gold marker shows the median. Half earn more than $49,443 and half earn less.

Employment outlook

2025 to 2035 projection

+7.3%faster than average
20251,684,007 jobs
2035 projected1,806,589 jobs

122,582 more positions over the decade, before replacement hiring.

Preparation

Education levels

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

Certificate
63%
High school diploma or less
26%
Some college
6.6%
Associate degree
2.9%
Master's or Professional degree
1.2%
Bachelor's degree
0.4%

Skills

Skills employers ask for

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

  • Plumbing
  • HVAC
  • Preventive Maintenance
  • Carpentry
  • Lifting Ability
  • Painting
  • Machinery
  • Power Tool Operation
  • Hand Tools
  • Facility Repair And Maintenance
  • Electrical Systems
  • Field Service Management
  • Good Driving Record
  • Hydraulics
  • Safety Standards
  • Drywall (Installation And Repair)
  • Construction
  • Equipment Repair
  • Blueprinting
  • 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.
Critical Thinking
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
Quality Control Analysis
Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
Monitoring
Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Active Learning
Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
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.
Complex Problem Solving
Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
Installation
Installing equipment, machines, wiring, or programs to meet specifications.
Reading Comprehension
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
Coordination
Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
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.
Equipment Selection
Determining the kind of tools and equipment needed to do a job.
Speaking
Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Time Management
Managing one's own time and the time of others.
Judgment and Decision Making
Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Writing
Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Social Perceptiveness
Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.

In the market

Job titles and employers

Recent job postings in United States

Common job titles

  1. 01Maintenance Technicians122,709 postings
  2. 02Field Service Technicians25,792 postings
  3. 03Maintenance Mechanics16,108 postings
  4. 04Facilities Maintenance Technicians9,622 postings
  5. 05Handymen9,051 postings
  6. 06Floor Technicians8,946 postings
  7. 07Apartment Maintenance Technicians6,931 postings
  8. 08Industrial Maintenance Technicians3,603 postings
  9. 09Facilities Technicians3,461 postings
  10. 10Building Maintenance Technicians2,460 postings
  11. 11Hotel Maintenance Engineers2,333 postings
  12. 12Restoration Technicians2,204 postings
  13. 13Maintenance Engineers2,138 postings
  14. 14Service Technicians2,064 postings
  15. 15General Maintenance Technicians1,936 postings
  16. 16Property Maintenance Technicians1,903 postings
  17. 17Facilities Maintenance Specialists1,737 postings
  18. 18Field Service Representatives1,687 postings
  19. 19Garage Door Technicians1,635 postings
  20. 20Maintenance Handymen1,627 postings

Top employers

  1. 01Aerotek10,363 postings
  2. 02Walmart2,868 postings
  3. 03Whole Foods2,154 postings
  4. 04Healthcare Services Group1,843 postings
  5. 05GPAC1,771 postings
  6. 06Marriott International1,665 postings
  7. 07Intersolutions1,621 postings
  8. 08Love's1,399 postings
  9. 09CBRE1,284 postings
  10. 10Hilton1,284 postings
  11. 11Greystar Management Services1,200 postings
  12. 12Greystar1,175 postings
  13. 13ManpowerGroup1,113 postings
  14. 14Asset Living1,082 postings
  15. 15Randstad990 postings
  16. 16ABM Industries953 postings
  17. 17JLL928 postings
  18. 18Cargill892 postings
  19. 19Cushman & Wakefield889 postings
  20. 20Honeywell International845 postings

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