Cleans, inspects and repairs chimneys, fireplaces, wood stoves and venting systems to prevent chimney fires and carbon monoxide hazards. BLS does not publish separate figures for maintenance and repair workers, general; it counts them within maintenance and repair worker, general (SOC 49-9071), whose median pay is $49,590 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.
- SOC 49-9071
- Installation, Maintenance, and Repair
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Chimney Sweep in four numbers
- Median pay
- $49,590a year, or $23.84/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $35KTop 10% $77K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- +4.2%About as fast as averageBLS EP, 2025–2035This career+4.2%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career +4.2% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 148,7001,621,800 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 20251.6M
- Projected 20351.7M
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 1.6M Projected 2035 1.7M - Typical education
- High schoolneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
- Less than high school1.1%
- High school24.9%
- Certificate63%
- Some college6.6%
- Associate's2.9%
- Master's1.2%
Highest education held by maintenance and repair workers, general Segment Value Less than high school 1.1% High school 24.9% Certificate 63% Some college 6.6% Associate's 2.9% Master's 1.2%
Also advertised as: Certified Chimney Sweep, Chimney Technician, Chimney Inspector, Chimney Service Technician, Chimney Repair Specialist.
Pay
How much do Maintenance and Repair Workers, General make?
Every chimney sweep in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$49,590
Middle half earn $40,840 to $62,620
- 10th
- $35,350
- 25th
- $40,840
- 75th
- $62,620
- 90th
- $77,180
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $35,350 |
| 25th | $40,840 |
| Median | $49,590 |
| 75th | $62,620 |
| 90th | $77,180 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $49,590
- Median hourly wage
- $23.84/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $53,780
- People employed
- 1,529,700
Versus all US occupations
At $49,590, Maintenance and Repair Workers, General earn 3% below the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $1,390 a year.
Versus installation, maintenance, and repair occupations
Inside the Installation, Maintenance, and Repair group, where the middle occupation pays $61,150, this is 19% below the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $77,180 or more while the bottom 10% earn $35,350, a gap of 2.2×. That is a typical spread for a US occupation.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 20% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Cost of living
District of Columbia posts the highest raw median ($60,310), but once local prices are taken into account Minnesota leads at $60,028 in national-average dollars.
Pay by state
Which states pay Maintenance and Repair Workers, General the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1District of Columbia | $60,310 | $54,877 | 4,860 |
| 2Alaska | $60,270 | $58,881 | 4,590 |
| 3Minnesota | $59,200 | $60,028 | 29,660 |
| 4Washington | $59,160 | $55,283 | 32,450 |
| 5Massachusetts | $58,320 | $55,145 | 29,830 |
| 6Hawaii | $57,960 | $52,714 | 8,030 |
| 7New York | $57,790 | $53,548 | 119,650 |
| 8Connecticut | $57,620 | $55,612 | 11,700 |
| 9California | $57,000 | $51,481 | 143,060 |
| 10Illinois | $56,720 | $56,744 | 66,600 |
Job outlook
Is Chimney Sweep a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
About as fast as average. +4.2% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Maintenance and Repair Workers, General | +4.2% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
About as fast as average
BLS projects employment of Maintenance and Repair Workers, General to change 4.2% over 2025–2035, against 3.5% projected for all occupations. That is 68,600 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 148,700 openings are projected each year, 9.2% of the 1,621,800 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Getting in
How to become a Chimney Sweep
No degree is required. Many sweeps learn on the job at an established chimney company. The Chimney Safety Institute of America offers the CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep credential, earned through study of its manual and codes and an exam, with continuing education to keep it current.
The National Chimney Sweep Guild provides training and industry education, and the National Fireplace Institute certifies hearth appliance installers. Some states and localities require contractor licenses for repair work. Comfort on ladders and roofs and good customer communication are important.
- 1
Typical entry-level education
High school diploma or equivalent
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
None
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
Moderate-term on-the-job training
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Some preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as maintenance and repair workers, general.
- Post-Secondary Certificate63%
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)24.9%
- Some College Courses6.6%
- Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree2.9%
- Master's Degree1.2%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Post-Secondary Certificate | 63% |
| High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) | 24.9% |
| Some College Courses | 6.6% |
| Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree | 2.9% |
| Master's Degree | 1.2% |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
The work
What does a Chimney Sweep do?
Chimney sweeps clean soot and creosote from chimneys, fireplaces, wood stoves, furnace flues and dryer vents so they vent safely. Using brushes, rods, vacuums and video cameras, they remove buildup that can cause chimney fires and check for blockages such as nests that can push carbon monoxide into a home.
Modern sweeps are also inspectors and repair technicians. They perform inspections to the levels defined in NFPA 211, inspect chimneys for home sales and insurance claims, install stainless steel liners and chimney caps, repair crowns and flashing, rebuild smoke chambers and install new stoves and inserts.
Day-to-day tasks
- Sweep chimneys, flues and wood stoves to remove soot and creosote
- Inspect chimneys with video cameras to NFPA 211 levels
- Remove blockages such as nests and debris
- Install chimney liners, caps and dampers
- Repair chimney crowns, flashing and masonry
- Install wood stoves and fireplace inserts
- Clean dryer vents and appliance flues
- Explain inspection findings and repair options to homeowners
Typical tasks, researched by NueCareer from the sources below.
Working conditions and hours
Chimney sweeps work at customers' homes and businesses, on roofs and ladders and inside dusty fireplaces and attics. They wear respirators and protective gear around soot. Work is busiest in fall and early winter before heating season, and most sweeps work for small local companies or run their own businesses.
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayOutdoors in all weather
NeverEvery dayOutdoors in all weather at least weekly.
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeStanding
NeverAlmost all the timeOn their feet more than half the working day.
Bending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the timeRegular bending or twisting.
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantConstant contact with other people.
Face-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayFace-to-face discussions every day.
Dealing with the public
Not importantExtremely important
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayConflict situations
NeverEvery dayCost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely serious
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lotA lot of freedom to make decisions without checking first.
Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Critical Thinking3.3
- Active Learning3.1
- Monitoring3.1
- Reading Comprehension3.0
- Active Listening3.0
- Speaking3.0
- Writing2.9
- Mathematics2.4
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Critical Thinking | 3.3 |
| Active Learning | 3.1 |
| Monitoring | 3.1 |
| Reading Comprehension | 3.0 |
| Active Listening | 3.0 |
| Speaking | 3.0 |
| Writing | 2.9 |
| Mathematics | 2.4 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Equipment Maintenance3.9
- Repairing3.9
- Troubleshooting3.8
- Complex Problem Solving3.1
- Operations Monitoring3.1
- Operation and Control3.1
- Quality Control Analysis3.1
- Coordination3.0
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Equipment Maintenance | 3.9 |
| Repairing | 3.9 |
| Troubleshooting | 3.8 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.1 |
| Operations Monitoring | 3.1 |
| Operation and Control | 3.1 |
| Quality Control Analysis | 3.1 |
| Coordination | 3.0 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Computer aided design CAD software · in demand
- Data base user interface and query software · in demand
- Electronic mail software · in demand
- Enterprise resource planning ERP software · in demand
- Office suite software · in demand
- Operating system software · in demand
- Presentation software · in demand
- Project management software · in demand
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Web page creation and editing software · in demand
- Word processing software · in demand
- Calendar and scheduling software
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
Personality fit
What personality type suits a Chimney Sweep?
NueCareer estimate (Holland code RC) built on O*NET's Maintenance and Repair Worker, General profile, scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Chimney Sweep |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 7 |
| Investigative | 3 |
| Artistic | 1 |
| Social | 2 |
| Enterprising | 2 |
| Conventional | 5 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors, combined with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data.
- Realistic7.0
- Conventional4.8
- Investigative2.5
- Social1.8
- Enterprising1.5
- Artistic1.2
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
Careers related to Chimney Sweep
O*NET related occupations
- Installation, Maintenance, and Repair
- Installation, Maintenance, and Repair
- Production
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$65,380median a year
Most earn $47K to $108K
−5.6%High school - Construction and Extraction
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More installation, maintenance, and repair careers
Median annual pay, with maintenance and repair workers, general highlighted
- Aircraft Mechanic$79,870
- Millwright$65,700
- Industrial Machinery Mechanic$64,520
- Bus and Truck Mechanic and Diesel Engine Specialist$61,770
- Medical Equipment Repairer$61,660
- Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanic and Installer$61,010
- Automotive Body and Related Repairer$54,890
- Automotive Service Technician and Mechanic$50,620
- Chimney Sweep$49,590
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Aircraft Mechanic | $79,870 |
| Millwright | $65,700 |
| Industrial Machinery Mechanic | $64,520 |
| Bus and Truck Mechanic and Diesel Engine Specialist | $61,770 |
| Medical Equipment Repairer | $61,660 |
| Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanic and Installer | $61,010 |
| Automotive Body and Related Repairer | $54,890 |
| Automotive Service Technician and Mechanic | $50,620 |
| Chimney Sweep | $49,590 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lists Chimney Sweep appears on
Questions
Chimney Sweep: frequently asked questions
How much do Maintenance and Repair Workers, General make?
BLS does not publish a separate wage for maintenance and repair workers, general. It counts them within maintenance and repair worker, general, whose median pay is $49,590 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of that occupation earn between $40,840 and $62,620, and the top 10% earn $77,180 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a Chimney Sweep?
No. A bachelor's degree is not the norm: BLS reports a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education for Maintenance and Repair Workers, General. BLS also lists moderate-term on-the-job training as typical on-the-job training. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 63.0% hold post-secondary certificate.
Is Chimney Sweep a growing career?
It is stable rather than fast-growing: employment is projected to change 4.2% over 2025–2035, about the same as the 3.5% projected across all occupations (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 148,700 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a Chimney Sweep do?
Chimney sweeps clean soot and creosote from chimneys, fireplaces, wood stoves, furnace flues and dryer vents so they vent safely. A typical task: sweep chimneys, flues and wood stoves to remove soot and creosote. Employers most often ask for Computer aided design CAD software, Data base user interface and query software, Electronic mail software.
Which states pay Maintenance and Repair Workers, General the most?
The highest state medians for Maintenance and Repair Workers, General are District of Columbia ($60,310), Alaska ($60,270), Minnesota ($59,200) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Adjusted for local prices using BEA Regional Price Parities, Minnesota moves to the top at $60,028.
What personality type suits a Chimney Sweep?
O*NET scores Maintenance and Repair Workers, General highest on the Realistic and Conventional interest areas, so the work mixes hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping that lines up most closely with ISTJ personalities. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.