Maintenance and Repair Workers, General: Salary, Job Outlook & How to Become One (2026 Parent Guide)

Maintenance and Repair Workers, General fall under the Installation, Maintenance, and Repair category in the U.S. occupational classification. Maintenance and Repair Workers, General earn a median salary of $48,620 per year, ranking in the top 67% of all U.S. occupations. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects +3.8% job growth through 2034, projected to grow at roughly the US average. Entry into this field typically requires an apprenticeship, technical certification, or postsecondary training, with specific licensing or certification depending on the state and employer. For parents whose teenager is exploring this path, the most actionable step is mapping the education requirements to specific colleges and majors before junior year — not waiting until application season.

What do maintenance and repair workers, general earn?

The median annual wage for maintenance and repair workers, general is $48,620. That puts maintenance and repair workers, general at #540 on the BLS ranked list of all U.S. occupations by median pay. This salary is around or below the U.S. median for individual workers, so career growth often depends on advancement into supervisory roles, specialization, or additional credentials. Actual pay varies meaningfully by state, employer type, and years of experience — entry-level salaries are typically 30–40% below the median, while top-decile earners often exceed it by 50% or more.

Is maintenance and repair workers, general a growing career?

The 10-year outlook for maintenance and repair workers, general is +3.8%, projected to grow at roughly the US average. Employment is projected to move from approximately 1.6M positions in 2024 to 1.7M in 2034, a net change of 63K. Average growth signals a healthy, resilient occupation that mirrors broader U.S. employment trends. Job availability tends to track regional economic conditions.

What do maintenance and repair workers, general do every day?

According to O*NET task surveys of working maintenance and repair workers, general, these are the core responsibilities most professionals perform. This is what your teen would actually be doing in this role.

1. 1.Inspect, operate, or test machinery or equipment to diagnose machine malfunctions.
2. 2.Order parts, supplies, or equipment from catalogs or suppliers.
3. 3.Design new equipment to aid in the repair or maintenance of machines, mechanical equipment, or building structures.
4. 4.Plan and lay out repair work, using diagrams, drawings, blueprints, maintenance manuals, or schematic diagrams.
5. 5.Fabricate or repair counters, benches, partitions, or other wooden structures, such as sheds or outbuildings.
6. 6.Perform routine maintenance, such as inspecting drives, motors, or belts, checking fluid levels, replacing filters, or doing other preventive maintenance actions.
7. 7.Adjust functional parts of devices or control instruments, using hand tools, levels, plumb bobs, or straightedges.
8. 8.Record type and cost of maintenance or repair work.

Top skills for maintenance and repair workers, general

O*NET ranks these as the most important skills for this occupation, on a 1–5 importance scale derived from worker surveys.

What education does my child need to become maintenance and repair workers, general?

Maintenance and Repair Workers, General typically enter the field through a formal apprenticeship, technical certification, or vocational training program — a strong fit for teens who prefer hands-on learning over traditional college. For parents helping a teen prepare, the highest-leverage step before junior year is identifying colleges and programs that feed reliably into this occupation — Solyo's college search lets parents filter by major and admissions data side by side.

Related careers your child might also consider

• Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay
  $100,940 median
• Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers
  $92,560 median
• Signal and Track Switch Repairers
  $83,600 median
• Electrical and Electronics Installers and Repairers, Transportation Equipment
  $82,730 median
• Avionics Technicians
  $81,390 median
• Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians
  $78,680 median

Common questions parents ask about maintenance and repair workers, general