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Maintenance and Repair Workers, General

General Information

Description

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.

Business Breakdown

People in this career work in these sectors.

  1. Private, for profit74.07%
  2. State and local government9.27%
  3. Federal government7.00%
  4. Private, not for profit5.10%
  5. Self-employed4.19%

Workplace at a Glance

What you can expect to experience while on the job

  • Responsibility
  • Exposure to job hazards
  • Physical activity
  • Decision making
  • Repetitiveness
  • Level of competition
  • Time pressure

Industry areas

  • Manufacturing

Job Outlook

Employment of general maintenance and repair workers is projected to grow 5 percent from 2021 to 2031, about as fast as the average for all occupations. About 160,100 openings for general maintenance and repair workers are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.

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Job Outlook

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Employment of general maintenance and repair workers is projected to grow 5 percent from 2021 to 2031, about as fast as the average for all occupations. About 160,100 openings for general maintenance and repair workers are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.

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    • Weapon Repair Officers
      • Weapon repair and maintenance officers manage the activities and personnel engaged in the maintenance and repair of the Military’s weapons, from small arms to nuclear missiles, and their associated equipment. They oversee inspections, inventory, check-out procedures, and shop operations. These officers must have expert knowledge in the design, operation, and safe shipment and employment of military weapons. Navigate to Military Career Page
    • Seamen
      • Seamen are responsible for the smooth operation of the majority of occurrences above deck. They are capable of performing and supervising almost any task in connection with deck maintenance, small boat operations, and navigation. They have a working knowledge of all programs performed in, or related to, the marine environment. They must establish and maintain knowledge of ropes and cables, including different uses, stresses, strains, and proper stowing. They facilitate upkeep of ships' external structures, riggings, deck equipment, and lifeboats. Navigate to Military Career Page
    • Ship Electricians
      • Ship electricians operate and repair electrical systems on ships. They keep electrical power plants, wiring, and machinery in working order; maintain and repair shipboard elevator systems; and interpret electrical sketches, diagrams, and blueprints. Navigate to Military Career Page
    • Ship Engineers
      • Ship engineers maintain machinery and equipment for various parts of the fleet and are responsible for the overall operation, maintenance, and repair of engines, deck machinery, heating, power generation, and electrical wiring aboard a ship. They also respond to emergency situations such as leaks and fires, and conduct safety operations. Navigate to Military Career Page
    • Survival Equipment Specialists
      • Survival equipment specialists in the Military inspect, fit, maintain, and repair survival equipment, such as parachutes, aircraft life support equipment, search and rescue equipment, and air-sea rescue equipment, along with survival kits, medical kits, flight clothing, protective wear, night vision equipment, aircrew oxygen systems, liquid oxygen converters, anti-exposure suits, and G-suits. Navigate to Military Career Page
    • Vehicle Drivers
      • Vehicle drivers in the Military operate a multitude of vehicles in direct support of mission requirements. They operate all-wheeled vehicles and equipment over varied terrain to transport personnel and cargo. Military vehicle drivers operate and perform preventive maintenance on light and heavy-duty vehicles such as buses, trucks and semi-trailer combinations, forklifts, and wrecker/recovery vehicles. Navigate to Military Career Page
    • Water and Sewage Treatment Plant Operators
      • Military bases operate their own water treatment plants, which provide drinking water and safely dispose of sewage when public facilities cannot be used. Water and sewage treatment plant operators control processes and equipment that remove pollutants from the water so that it is safe to drink and can be returned safely to natural areas or be reused. Water and sewage treatment plant operators run the equipment, control the processes, and monitor the plants that treat the water. Navigate to Military Career Page
    • Automotive and Heavy Equipment Mechanics
      • After ensuring adequate manpower, supplies, and workspace are available, automotive and heavy equipment mechanics maintain and repair various vehicles and systems. They determine the overall mechanical condition of vehicles and heavy equipment, diagnose malfunctions, and initiate restorative actions related to equipment in their area of responsibility. Navigate to Military Career Page
    • Heavy Equipment Mechanics
      • Heavy equipment mechanics specialize in the maintenance and repair of heavy equipment, such as tanks and other combat vehicles. They maintain and repair construction equipment, including equipment used for earthmoving, grading and compaction, lifting and loading, quarrying and rock crushing, asphalt/concrete mixing and surfacing, and water pumping, as well as special purpose equipment, including power generation equipment and air conditioning/refrigeration systems. They also supervise and perform diagnostic troubleshooting to determine maintenance repair criteria. Navigate to Military Career Page
    • Construction Equipment Operators
      • Construction equipment operators control or manage the use of bulldozers, cranes, graders, drilling rigs, and other heavy equipment in military construction. They manage daily activities devoted to the construction and maintenance of concrete and asphalt runways, structural systems and wooden, masonry, metal, and concrete buildings, aircraft parking aprons, and roads. They direct and coordinate the efforts of crews in the use of earth moving, quarrying, well digging, mixing, asphalt batching, and paving equipment. They also oversee demolition efforts and ensure adherence to environmental regulations. Navigate to Military Career Page
    • Construction Specialists
      • Construction specialists perform and manage the construction of buildings, bridges, foundations, utility systems, dams, and bunkers. They manage, construct, repair, and modify structural systems and wooden, masonry, metal, and concrete buildings. They also oversee bridge building, rafting, and river crossing operations to coordinate the building of structures during combat. Construction specialists must have a working knowledge of carpentry and masonry. Navigate to Military Career Page
    • Electrical Instrument and Equipment Repairers
      • Electrical instrument and equipment repairers install, maintain, and repair instruments and equipment, including communications equipment, radar and sonar systems, tactical data systems, and computers. They use a variety of approaches to troubleshoot and replace faulty components, subassemblies, and assemblies to restore instruments and equipment to optimum operating condition. Navigate to Military Career Page
    • Fleet Maintenance Managers
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    • Fuel Supply Specialists
      • Fuel supply specialists receive, store, account and care for, dispense, issue, and ship various fuel products including petroleum, alternate fuel, and cryogenic products. They manage, maintain, and operate fuel support equipment used for base and tactical operations. They are responsible for ensuring compliance with all safety and environmental regulations. They perform analyses to ensure quality of fuels and lubricants. Navigate to Military Career Page
    • Heating and Cooling Mechanics
      • Heating and cooling mechanics are responsible for providing the Military with technical and mechanical services regarding heating, cooling, and related systems. They install, operate and perform inspections, testing, troubleshooting, and repairs on malfunctioning systems. They perform maintenance and quality control functions, ensuring compliance with safety and environmental regulations. They supervise and provide guidance to subordinates and they provide recommendations regarding installations and repairments of HVAC/R and related systems. Navigate to Military Career Page
    • Marine Equipment Mechanics
      • Marine engine mechanics repair, inspect, test, and maintain gasoline and diesel engines on ships, boats, and other watercraft. They also repair shipboard mechanical and electrical equipment, including refrigeration, hydrojet propulsion, and air conditioning systems. Specialized tools help them make accurate diagnoses and estimate how long a part will be reliable before it should be replaced. Navigate to Military Career Page
    • Plumbers and Pipefitters
    • Power Plant Electricians
      • Power plant electricians in the Military maintain and repair electricity-generating equipment in mobile and stationary power plants. They may work in power generation plants on land or aboard ships and submarines. They maintain different types of electrical power-generating equipment, such as transmission lines and receiving structures, and hydraulic-electric systems that support reactor plant operation. They also diagnose and repair circuit boards that validate accurate electricity readings. Navigate to Military Career Page
    • Power Plant Mechanics
      • Power plant mechanics install, maintain, and repair mechanical equipment in power-generating stations. They maintain various types of power-generating equipment on land, ships, and submarines. They also support the mobile utility equipment that the Military provides as portable, temporary sources of electricity. Navigate to Military Career Page
No Information for this section

Salary

Average Salary

Salary

$43,180

State-by-state Salary

Gray states indicate no data available

$48,130
$18,090
No Information for this section

Education

Most Common Education Levels

People in this career achieve this level of education.

  • Post-secondary certificate 62%
  • High school 24%
  • Some college 6%
  • Associate's degree 2%
  • Master's degree 1%
  • Less than high school 1%
  • Doctoral degree 0%
  • Bachelor's degree 0%
  • Post baccalaureate 0%
  • Post-doctoral training 0%
  • Post-master's certificate 0%
  • First professional degree 0%

Related College Majors

Select major to see colleges that offer it

Knowledge

  • Building and Construction
  • Mechanical
  • English Language
  • Production and Processing
  • Customer and Personal Service

Skills at a Glance

Skills helpful in this career

  • Verbal skills
  • Critical thinking & problem solving
  • Equipment operation & maintenance
  • Math & science skills
  • Technology design & control
  • Leadership
No Information for this section

* Military pay may be higher based on specialty pays or bonuses. Learn more about Military benefits.

Data supplied by Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Center of Education Statistics, Defense Manpower Data Center (View our update schedule). Contact any business, college or military service branch to answer additional questions.