Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers, All Other
SOC Code: 49-9099.00
Installation, Maintenance & RepairInstallation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers encompass a diverse group of skilled tradespeople who keep equipment, systems, and infrastructure operating smoothly across countless industries. With a median salary of $48,640, these versatile professionals handle specialized maintenance tasks that don't fit neatly into other trade classifications. Their work is essential to preventing costly equipment failures and ensuring that businesses, facilities, and systems function reliably day after day.
Salary Overview
Median
$48,640
25th Percentile
$40,700
75th Percentile
$61,090
90th Percentile
$77,150
Salary Distribution
Job Outlook (2024–2034)
Growth Rate
+2.4%
New Openings
21,500
Outlook
Slower than average
Key Skills
Knowledge Areas
What They Do
- Monitor and adjust operations of geothermal power plant equipment or systems.
- Prepare and maintain logs, reports, or other documentation of work performed.
- Collect and record data associated with operating geothermal power plants or well fields.
- Determine whether emergency or auxiliary systems will be needed to keep properties heated or cooled in extreme weather conditions.
- Perform pre- and post-installation pressure, flow, and related tests of vertical and horizontal geothermal loop piping.
- Identify equipment options, such as compressors, and make appropriate selections.
- Identify and correct malfunctions of geothermal plant equipment, electrical systems, instrumentation, or controls.
- Adjust power production systems to meet load and distribution demands.
Tools & Technology
★ = Hot Technology (in-demand)
Education Requirements
Typical entry-level education: High School Diploma
Related Careers
Top Career Pivot Targets
View all 4 →Careers with the highest skill compatibility from Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers, All Other.
A Day in the Life
A typical day for these workers begins with reviewing work orders, maintenance schedules, and any urgent repair requests that came in overnight or during previous shifts. Morning activities often involve performing preventive maintenance routines, inspecting equipment for wear and potential issues, and documenting the condition of systems they service. Much of the day is spent diagnosing malfunctions using technical manuals, diagnostic tools, and hands-on troubleshooting techniques developed through experience. Repairs may involve replacing worn components, adjusting mechanical assemblies, rewiring electrical connections, or calibrating instruments to specification. Workers frequently travel between job sites, carrying tools and parts to locations where equipment needs attention, whether within a facility or across a service territory. Afternoon work might include installing new equipment, training operators on proper use and basic maintenance, or coordinating with vendors for specialized repairs beyond their expertise. Documentation is an ongoing requirement, with workers logging completed tasks, parts used, equipment conditions, and recommendations for future maintenance in computerized maintenance management systems. The day concludes with restocking tool kits, ordering replacement parts, and preparing for the next day's scheduled maintenance activities.
Work Environment
Work environments vary dramatically depending on the specific maintenance specialization, ranging from climate-controlled indoor facilities to outdoor settings exposed to all weather conditions. Physical demands are significant, with workers regularly lifting heavy equipment, working in cramped spaces, climbing ladders, and spending extended periods on their feet. Safety hazards are present in many settings, including exposure to electricity, moving machinery, heights, chemical substances, and confined spaces that require strict adherence to safety protocols. Many positions follow standard business hours, but on-call responsibilities and emergency repair situations are common, particularly for workers maintaining critical infrastructure or equipment. Travel between work sites is frequent, with some positions requiring workers to cover service territories spanning multiple cities or regions. The work often requires problem-solving under pressure, as equipment failures can halt production lines, disrupt services, or create safety concerns that demand immediate resolution. Tool proficiency is essential, as workers use everything from basic hand tools to sophisticated diagnostic equipment, welding apparatus, and computerized testing instruments. Many workers operate independently with minimal direct supervision, requiring self-motivation, good judgment, and strong time management skills.
Career Path & Advancement
Entry into this field typically requires a high school diploma combined with vocational training, an apprenticeship, or relevant military experience in equipment maintenance and repair. Many workers begin as maintenance helpers or assistants, learning specific equipment and systems under the guidance of experienced technicians during on-the-job training periods. Technical certificates from community colleges or trade schools in areas like industrial maintenance, electromechanical technology, or HVAC provide structured education that accelerates career development. Industry-specific certifications vary widely, but credentials from manufacturers, trade associations, or organizations like OSHA demonstrate competence and commitment to professional development. After several years of experience, workers advance to senior technician or lead maintenance positions with greater responsibility and higher compensation. Supervisory roles including maintenance supervisor, facilities manager, or maintenance planner follow for those who develop leadership and organizational skills. Some professionals transition into specialized technical roles such as controls technician, reliability engineer, or equipment specialist that command premium pay. Further advancement may require additional education, with bachelor's degrees in facilities management, industrial technology, or engineering opening doors to management and engineering positions.
Specializations
Facility maintenance technicians specialize in the upkeep of commercial buildings, managing everything from HVAC systems and plumbing to electrical panels and fire suppression equipment. Amusement ride and attraction maintenance workers ensure the safety and operation of rides at theme parks, carnivals, and entertainment venues through rigorous inspection and repair protocols. Coin, vending, and amusement machine servicers and repairers install, maintain, and collect revenue from automated dispensing machines in various locations. Bicycle repairers specialize in the maintenance and repair of bicycles, including both traditional and electric models at shops or mobile repair services. Musical instrument tuners and repairers combine technical skill with artistic sensibility to maintain and restore instruments to proper playing condition. Manufactured building and mobile home installers set up prefabricated structures on foundations, connecting utilities and ensuring compliance with building codes. Riggers install and maintain the cables, ropes, and pulleys used to lift and move heavy objects at construction sites, shipyards, and manufacturing facilities. Signal and track switch repairers maintain railroad signal systems and switching mechanisms to ensure safe and efficient train operations.
Pros & Cons
Advantages
- ✓Strong job security as equipment and infrastructure always require maintenance regardless of economic conditions
- ✓Hands-on problem-solving work that provides tangible satisfaction from fixing things
- ✓Diverse work with different challenges each day preventing monotony
- ✓Accessible entry requirements without need for a four-year degree
- ✓Growing demand due to skilled trades labor shortages and aging infrastructure
- ✓Independence and autonomy in daily work with minimal direct supervision
- ✓Opportunities to develop specialized skills that command higher compensation
Challenges
- ✗Physical demands including heavy lifting, awkward positions, and extended standing
- ✗Median salary of $48,640 is moderate, though specialization can increase earnings significantly
- ✗On-call responsibilities and emergency repairs can disrupt personal time and schedules
- ✗Exposure to safety hazards including electricity, heights, chemicals, and moving machinery
- ✗Outdoor work in extreme weather conditions is required for some positions
- ✗Carrying and maintaining a personal tool collection can represent a significant investment
- ✗Limited remote work potential as the job inherently requires physical presence at equipment locations
Industry Insight
The maintenance field is being transformed by predictive maintenance technologies that use sensors, IoT devices, and data analytics to identify potential equipment failures before they occur. This shift from reactive to proactive maintenance is creating demand for technicians who can work with smart sensors, interpret data dashboards, and understand condition-based maintenance strategies. The aging infrastructure across the United States, including buildings, utilities, and transportation systems, requires increasing maintenance investment and skilled workers to perform it. Labor shortages in the skilled trades continue to intensify as experienced workers retire without sufficient replacement from younger generations entering the field. Automation and robotics are creating new maintenance specializations rather than eliminating jobs, as someone must install, program, troubleshoot, and repair these advanced systems. Sustainability initiatives are driving demand for technicians who understand energy-efficient systems, renewable energy equipment, and green building maintenance practices. The gig economy and mobile service models are changing how some maintenance services are delivered, creating opportunities for independent contractors with specialized skills. Compensation is trending upward in most maintenance specializations as the supply-demand imbalance intensifies and employers compete for qualified talent.
How to Break Into This Career
Starting in general maintenance helper or custodial positions at manufacturing plants, commercial properties, or institutions provides fundamental exposure to building systems and equipment maintenance. Completing a vocational program in industrial maintenance, electrical technology, or mechanical systems provides structured training that many employers value over equivalent work experience alone. Military service in maintenance-related specialties provides excellent training, and veterans are often highly sought by employers for their disciplined approach and broad technical skills. Earning OSHA safety certifications, first aid training, and basic equipment operation credentials makes candidates more attractive and demonstrates professionalism. Developing a broad base of mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and troubleshooting skills through DIY projects, volunteer work, or community college courses builds versatile capabilities. Apprenticeship programs offered by trade unions, equipment manufacturers, and large employers provide structured learning paths that combine classroom instruction with paid hands-on experience. Networking with maintenance professionals through trade associations and local vocational schools can reveal unadvertised opportunities and provide mentorship connections. Building comfort with computerized maintenance management systems (CMMS) and basic computer skills is increasingly important as maintenance operations become more technology-driven.
Career Pivot Tips
Construction workers bring physical stamina, tool proficiency, and understanding of building systems that translate directly into facility maintenance and repair roles. Manufacturing production workers who have operated and performed basic maintenance on production equipment understand machinery fundamentals and can transition into dedicated maintenance positions. Military veterans with any technical MOS bring disciplined troubleshooting approaches, equipment familiarity, and maintenance documentation habits that employers highly value. Automotive mechanics possess diagnostic thinking, mechanical aptitude, and tool skills that apply broadly across many installation and repair specializations. IT support technicians can leverage their troubleshooting methodology and systems thinking into roles maintaining increasingly computerized and networked equipment. Farmers and agricultural workers develop extraordinary mechanical resourcefulness and broad repair skills that transfer well into general maintenance positions. Warehouse and logistics workers familiar with material handling equipment, conveyor systems, and facility operations can move into related maintenance roles. DIY enthusiasts and hobbyists with strong mechanical, electrical, or woodworking skills who document their projects can demonstrate the practical abilities that maintenance employers seek.