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

Maintenance Workers, Machinery fall under the Installation, Maintenance, and Repair category in the U.S. occupational classification. Maintenance Workers, Machinery earn a median salary of $60,500 per year, ranking in the top 47% of all U.S. occupations. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects -2.8% job growth through 2034, projected to lose jobs through 2034. 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 workers, machinery earn?

The median annual wage for maintenance workers, machinery is $60,500. That puts maintenance workers, machinery at #384 on the BLS ranked list of all U.S. occupations by median pay. This salary is above the U.S. median for individual workers and reflects a stable, credentialed occupation. 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 workers, machinery a growing career?

The 10-year outlook for maintenance workers, machinery is -2.8%, projected to lose jobs through 2034. Employment is projected to move from approximately 57K positions in 2024 to 55K in 2034, a net change of -2K. A declining outlook does not mean the field is disappearing; it means automation, demographics, or substitution effects are shrinking the pool of openings. Students entering a declining field should plan for adjacent skills that transfer to growing roles.

What do maintenance workers, machinery do every day?

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

1. 1.Reassemble machines after the completion of repair or maintenance work.
2. 2.Collaborate with other workers to repair or move machines, machine parts, or equipment.
3. 3.Replace, empty, or replenish machine and equipment containers such as gas tanks or boxes.
4. 4.Clean machines and machine parts, using cleaning solvents, cloths, air guns, hoses, vacuums, or other equipment.
5. 5.Replace or repair metal, wood, leather, glass, or other lining in machines, or in equipment compartments or containers.
6. 6.Record production, repair, and machine maintenance information.
7. 7.Read work orders and specifications to determine machines and equipment requiring repair or maintenance.
8. 8.Remove hardened material from machines or machine parts, using abrasives, power and hand tools, jackhammers, sledgehammers, or other equipment.

Top skills for maintenance workers, machinery

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 workers, machinery?

Maintenance Workers, Machinery 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 workers, machinery