How to become a General Maintenance and Repair Worker

Official title: Maintenance and Repair Workers, General

Also called: Building Mechanic, Equipment Engineering Technician, Facilities Technician, Maintenance Engineer, Maintenance Journeyman, Maintenance Man, Maintenance Mechanic, Maintenance Specialist, Maintenance Technician, Maintenance Worker

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.

Main 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.
• 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.

How to become one

General maintenance and repair workers typically need a high school diploma or equivalent. They usually learn their skills on the job while working alongside more experienced workers. Some may enter the occupation through apprenticeships or training programs.

Typical education to start: High school diploma or equivalent

Read the full guide from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Ways in

• Apprenticeship: Building Maintenance Repairer (Ex. Title: Maintenance Repairer, Building).
• Apprenticeship: Industrial Maintenance Repairer.
• Apprenticeship: Marine Services Technician.

Pay · Outlook · AI and this job

• Median pay: $49,590 a year The middle half earn $40,840 to $62,620.
• About 1,621,800 people work in this job now, and about 1,690,500 are projected by 2035. (+4.2%)
• People use generative AI for relatively little of this work so far. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as low.

Related jobs

• Mechanical Door Repairers
• Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door
• Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers
• Home Appliance Repairers
• Industrial Machinery Mechanics
• Maintenance Workers, Machinery

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Questions people ask

How do I become a General Maintenance and Repair Worker?

General maintenance and repair workers typically need a high school diploma or equivalent. They usually learn their skills on the job while working alongside more experienced workers. Some may enter the occupation through apprenticeships or training programs.

How much does a General Maintenance and Repair Worker earn in the US?

Median full-time pay is $49,590 a year (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). The middle half earn $40,840 to $62,620.

Is a General Maintenance and Repair Worker a growing career in the US?

Yes. Employment is projected to grow 4% by 2035, from about 1,621,800 to about 1,690,500 people (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Do you need a degree to become a General Maintenance and Repair Worker?

Usually not. Only 8% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Ways in include: Building Maintenance Repairer (Ex. Title: Maintenance Repairer, Building).

Will AI change the work of a General Maintenance and Repair Worker?

People use generative AI for relatively little of this work so far. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as low.

Sources

• Microsoft Research: Working with AI: AI applicability by occupation (2025-12-22 (built on O*NET 29.0)), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Employment Projections (2025-35 (released 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook (2025-35 edition (published 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS); photographs excluded, retrieved 2026-10-03
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03

Updated 2026-10-03

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.