How to become a maintenance and repair worker, 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.

Steps to get there

Most employers expect most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree..Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.

What maintenance and repair workers, general do

• Adjust functional parts of devices or control instruments, using hand tools, levels, plumb bobs, or straightedges.
• Design new equipment to aid in the repair or maintenance of machines, mechanical equipment, or building structures.
• Fabricate or repair counters, benches, partitions, or other wooden structures, such as sheds or outbuildings.
• Inspect, operate, or test machinery or equipment to diagnose machine malfunctions.
• Align and balance new equipment after installation.
• 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.

Skills that matter most

• Critical Thinking
• Active Learning
• Monitoring
• Reading Comprehension
• Active Listening
• Speaking
• Writing
• Mathematics

Is maintenance and repair worker, general a good career?

On the numbers, this job is close to the average across occupations. Median pay is 3% below the all-occupation median. Whether it fits you depends on the work itself, the schooling you are willing to do and where you want to live.

Where it pays most

• District of Columbia $60,310
• Alaska $60,270
• Minnesota $59,200
• Washington $59,160
• Massachusetts $58,320

Maintenance and Repair Workers, General salary by state and city

Sources: O*NET® 31.0 (CC BY 4.0, USDOL/ETA) and BLS Employment Projections 2025–35. Pay: BLS OEWS May 2025.