Maintenance and Repair Worker
Salary, job outlook, education and requirements
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.
Also called: Building Mechanic · Equipment Engineering Technician · Facilities Technician · Maintenance Engineer · Maintenance Journeyman · Maintenance Man · Maintenance Mechanic · Maintenance Specialist
O*NET-SOC 49-9071.00 (Maintenance and Repair Workers, General)
Maintenance and Repair Worker salary
Wages for maintenance and repair workers, general across all employers, 2025 data. The 10th percentile is typical entry-level pay; the 90th percentile reflects the most experienced and highest-paid workers.
National median hourly wage: $23.84.
Maintenance and Repair Worker pay by state
Ten largest states by population, annual wages.
| State | 10th percentile | Median | 90th percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $38,810 | $57,000 | $82,710 |
| Texas | $30,950 | $46,670 | $74,220 |
| Florida | $34,200 | $46,060 | $67,680 |
| New York | $37,010 | $57,790 | $83,570 |
| Pennsylvania | $34,960 | $49,290 | $75,220 |
| Illinois | $36,120 | $56,720 | $80,740 |
| Ohio | $35,320 | $53,420 | $76,270 |
| Georgia | $33,920 | $47,680 | $72,480 |
| North Carolina | $33,630 | $47,910 | $70,640 |
| Michigan | $35,050 | $47,580 | $70,570 |
Maintenance and Repair Worker job outlook
- Employment is projected to go from 1,621,800 jobs in 2025 to 1,690,500 in 2035 (4% change).
- About 148,700 openings are projected each year, including jobs that open up as workers retire or change occupations.
- CareerOneStop outlook rating: Bright (Numerous Job Openings).
How to become a maintenance and repair worker
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Work experience
- No work experience
- On-the-job training
- 1 to 12 months on-the-job training
Education level of current workers
- Less than high school diploma12%
- High school diploma or equivalent43.3%
- Some college, no degree24.9%
- Associate's degree11.4%
- Bachelor's degree6.8%
- Master's degree1.2%
- Doctoral or professional degree.3%
Related training programs
- Building/Property Maintenance
What does a maintenance and repair worker do?
Common 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.
- Perform routine maintenance on boilers, such as replacing burners or hoses, installing replacement parts, or reinforcing structural weaknesses to ensure optimal boiler efficiency.
- 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.
- Clean or lubricate shafts, bearings, gears, or other parts of machinery.
Most important skills
- Equipment Maintenance
- Planning and doing the basic maintenance on equipment.
- Repairing
- Repairing machines or systems using the right tools.
- Troubleshooting
- Figuring out what is causing equipment, machines, wiring, or computer programs to not work.
- Critical Thinking
- Thinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.
- Complex Problem Solving
- Noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it.
- Operations Monitoring
- Watching gauges, dials, or display screens to make sure a machine is working.
- Quality Control Analysis
- Testing how well a product or service works.
- Monitoring
- Keeping track of how well people and/or groups are doing in order to make improvements.
Maintenance and Repair Worker certifications
8 of 18 certifications CareerOneStop maps to this occupation. Requirements vary by employer and state.
- Smoke Control Systems Contractor (SCS-C)International Certification Board · Advanced
- International Certification Board · Advanced
- Society for Maintenance & Reliability Professionals · Core · In demand
- Duct Air Leakage Testing Technician (DALT-T)International Certification Board · Advanced
- Snap-on Industrial · Core
- Pneumatic Troubleshooting 1 (C-304)Smart Automation Certification Alliance · Product/Equipment
- International Certification Board · Advanced
- International Certification Board · Advanced
See all 18certifications in CareerOneStop's Certification Finder
Maintenance and Repair Worker jobs
Current federal openings from USAJOBS. For more skilled trades & maintenance jobs, including private-sector listings, see the Skilled Trades & Maintenance jobs hub.
Job data from USAJOBS.gov. Careers.org is not affiliated with or endorsed by OPM.
Related careers
- Millwrights
- Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers
- Plumber
- Helpers--Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers
- Industrial Machinery Mechanics
- Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines
- Boilermakers
- Hydroelectric Plant Technicians
- Engine and Other Machine Assemblers
- Farm Equipment Mechanics and Service Technicians
More skilled trades & maintenance careers
This page includes information from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (DOLETA), and the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED).
Source: CareerOneStop occupation profile for Maintenance and Repair Workers, General. Wages are from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program; projections are national long-term projections.