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.
Maintenance and Repair Worker, General Salary (2026): Data, Outlook & How to Become One
The median pay for Maintenance and Repair Workers, General is $49,590 a year ($23.84/hr), according to BLS OEWS, May 2025. Employment is projected to grow 3.8% through 2034, with about 159,800 openings a year (BLS EP, 2024–2034). Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.
SOC 49-9071Installation, Maintenance, and RepairLast updated August 23, 2026
- Median pay
- $49,590
- Projected growth
- +3.8%
- Openings a year
- 159,800
- Typical education
- High school
BLS OEWS, May 2025
BLS EP, 2024–2034
BLS EP, 2024–2034
BLS EP, 2024–2034
Also advertised as: Building Mechanic, Equipment Engineering Technician, Facilities Technician, Maintenance Engineer, Maintenance Journeyman, Maintenance Man.
How much do Maintenance and Repair Workers, General make?
10th percentile$35,350
Entry / lowest-paid tenth
25th percentile$40,840
Lower quartile
Median (50th)$49,590
Half earn more, half earn less
75th percentile$62,620
Upper quartile
90th percentile$77,180
Top-paid tenth
| 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 $60,460, this is 18% 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 27% of the 923 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.
Which states pay Maintenance and Repair Workers, General the most?
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $60,310 | $54,877 | 4,860 |
| Alaska | $60,270 | $58,881 | 4,590 |
| Minnesota | $59,200 | $60,028 | 29,660 |
| Washington | $59,160 | $55,283 | 32,450 |
| Massachusetts | $58,320 | $55,145 | 29,830 |
| Hawaii | $57,960 | $52,714 | 8,030 |
| New York | $57,790 | $53,548 | 119,650 |
| Connecticut | $57,620 | $55,612 | 11,700 |
| California | $57,000 | $51,481 | 143,060 |
| Illinois | $56,720 | $56,744 | 66,600 |
Is Maintenance and Repair Worker, General a growing career?
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General3.8%
All US occupations3.1%
+3.8% projected growth vs 3.1% for all occupations.
About as fast as average
BLS projects employment of Maintenance and Repair Workers, General to change 3.8% over 2024–2034, against 3.1% projected for all occupations. That is 62,400 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 159,800 openings are projected each year, 9.8% of the 1,629,700 jobs that existed in 2024. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
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.
Maintenance and repair workers will continue to be needed to improve and renovate residential and nonresidential properties, such as apartment buildings, commercial offices, and public buildings. This is especially true for older structures, which typically require more maintenance or repair.
How to become a Maintenance and Repair Worker, General
There is no licence for a maintenance technician, and BLS records a high school diploma or equivalent as typical. The thing to understand about this job is that the licences do not attach to the role, they attach to the tasks. The moment your work crosses into electrical or plumbing, someone else's state or local licensing law applies to you, and BLS says exactly that: for more complex tasks, workers may need to be licensed or certified in a particular specialty. Handling refrigerant is the same story at federal level.
The credential path, step by step
- Get the diploma and, if you can, the shop classes
BLS records a high school diploma or equivalent as typically required, and notes many general maintenance and repair workers learn basic skills in high school technical education classes, postsecondary trade or vocational schools, or community colleges.
- Learn from skilled workers on the job
BLS describes workers starting by watching and learning from skilled maintenance workers, doing simple tasks such as fixing leaky faucets and replacing lightbulbs, then moving to more difficult work such as overhauling machinery or building walls. Some learn by assisting machinery repairers, carpenters or electricians. Those with prior work experience or a vocational-technical programme in a related trade may have a shorter period of on-the-job training.
- Consider a registered apprenticeship
BLS notes some workers complete an apprenticeship programme combining paid on-the-job training with technical instruction, and points to apprenticeship.gov. A registered apprenticeship measured by time requires at least 2,000 hours of on-the-job learning under federal standards, with 144 hours of related technical instruction per year recommended rather than required, and ends with a nationally recognized Certificate of Completion of Apprenticeship.
- Find out where the licensed work starts in your state
BLS states that for more complex tasks, workers may need to be licensed or certified in a particular specialty such as electrical or plumbing work, and that requirements vary by state and locality. This is the single most useful thing to establish before taking a maintenance job: some jurisdictions allow an in-house maintenance employee to do minor electrical or plumbing work on the employer's own property without a trade licence, and some do not. The exemption, where it exists, is usually narrow and often stops at anything requiring a permit.
- Get EPA section 608 certification if you touch refrigerant
This one is federal and does not vary. EPA regulations under section 608 of the Clean Air Act require anyone who maintains, services, repairs or disposes of equipment that could release refrigerants to be certified, by passing an EPA-approved test administered by an EPA-approved certifying organisation. Certification comes in four types (Type I small appliances, Type II high and very high pressure, Type III low pressure, and Universal) and the credentials do not expire. Apprentices are exempt provided they are closely and continually supervised by a certified technician. Attaching and detaching hoses and gauges to measure pressure in an appliance is enough on its own to make you a technician under the rule.
- Decide whether to specialise or to manage
BLS describes two directions of travel: training into one specific trade to become an electrician, heating and air-conditioning mechanic or plumber, or moving into supervision, management or your own repair business. Some management roles such as facilities manager or construction manager may require a college degree.
Licensing and state variation
Not a state license
The job itself is unlicensed in every state. The tasks are not, and that is where the variation lives. Electrical and plumbing licensing is set by states and often by cities and counties on top, with different thresholds for what counts as licensed work, different apprenticeship hour requirements, and different rules about whether a business can employ an unlicensed person to do minor work on its own property. Elevator, boiler, backflow prevention, pool operation and asbestos or lead work all carry their own separate credentials in many jurisdictions. BLS simply says licensing requirements vary by state and locality and points you to your own licensing board, which is the honest answer.
Who governs the credential
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) — Requires section 608 certification of anyone who maintains, services, repairs or disposes of equipment that could release refrigerants, including maintenance staff working on building HVAC and refrigeration equipment. The four certification types never expire; closely supervised apprentices are exempt.
- Apprenticeship.gov (US Department of Labor Office of Apprenticeship) — Registers apprenticeship programmes, lists openings, and issues the nationally recognized Certificate of Completion of Apprenticeship through the Office of Apprenticeship or a State Apprenticeship Agency.
Credential detail for maintenance and repair worker, generals is researched by hand from the bodies that issue it, not derived from BLS or O*NET. Sources last checked August 23, 2026. Requirements change: confirm with your own state board before enrolling in anything.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook — General Maintenance and Repair Workers, How to Become One · checked August 23, 2026
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency — Section 608 Technician Certification Requirements · checked August 23, 2026
- eCFR, 29 CFR 29.5 — Standards of apprenticeship (2,000 hour time-based minimum; 144 hours of related instruction per year recommended) · checked August 23, 2026
- Apprenticeship.gov — What will I receive after I complete a Registered Apprenticeship Program? · checked August 23, 2026
What the federal data says
General maintenance and repair workers typically need a high school diploma or equivalent. They usually learn their skills on the job or in apprenticeships or training programs.
| Typical entry-level education | High school diploma or equivalent |
|---|---|
| Preparation needed (O*NET job zone) | Some preparation |
| Work experience in a related occupation | None |
| Typical on-the-job training | Moderate-term on-the-job training |
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 Certificate63.0%
- High School Diploma24.9%
- Some College Courses6.6%
- Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree)2.9%
- Master's Degree1.2%
What does a Maintenance and Repair Worker, General do?
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.
General maintenance and repair workers fix and maintain machines, mechanical equipment, and buildings. They paint, repair flooring, and work on plumbing, electrical, and air-conditioning and heating systems.
Day-to-day tasks
- Repair machines, equipment, or structures, using tools such as hammers, hoists, saws, drills, wrenches, or equipment such as precision measuring instruments or electrical or electronic testing devices.
- Adjust functional parts of devices or control instruments, using hand tools, levels, plumb bobs, or straightedges.
- Inspect, operate, or test machinery or equipment to diagnose machine malfunctions.
- Dismantle machines, equipment, or devices to access and remove defective parts, using hoists, cranes, hand tools, or power tools.
- Plan and lay out repair work, using diagrams, drawings, blueprints, maintenance manuals, or schematic diagrams.
- Assemble, install, or repair wiring, electrical or electronic components, pipe systems, plumbing, machinery, or equipment.
- Order parts, supplies, or equipment from catalogs or suppliers.
- Clean or lubricate shafts, bearings, gears, or other parts of machinery.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Working conditions and hours
Most general maintenance and repair workers work full time. They may need to be on call outside normal business hours, such as during evenings and weekends, for emergency repairs.
Where the work happens
- Outdoors in all weather at least weekly
Physical demands
- On their feet more than half the working day
- Regular bending or twisting
Working with people
- Constant contact with other people
- Face-to-face discussions every day
Autonomy
- A lot of freedom to make decisions without checking first
Schedules: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2024–2034 edition. Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey, showing only the signals people in the job report decisively one way or the other.
Where maintenance and repair workers, general work
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 20% |
|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 13% |
| Government, excluding state and local education and hospitals | 12% |
| Accommodation and food services | 8% |
| Educational services; state, local, and private | 8% |
BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2024–2034 edition.
Core skills
- Critical Thinking3.3/5
- Active Learning3.1/5
- Monitoring3.1/5
- Reading Comprehension3.0/5
- Active Listening3.0/5
- Speaking3.0/5
- Writing2.9/5
- Mathematics2.4/5
Transferable skills
- Equipment Maintenance3.9/5
- Repairing3.9/5
- Troubleshooting3.8/5
- Complex Problem Solving3.1/5
- Operations Monitoring3.1/5
- Operation and Control3.1/5
- Quality Control Analysis3.1/5
- Coordination3.0/5
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.
What personality type suits a Maintenance and Repair Worker, General?
Interest profile: O*NET Occupational Interests, scored 1–7
Realisticprimary7.0
Investigative2.5
Artistic1.2
Social1.8
Enterprising1.5
Conventionalprimary4.2
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.
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.
Maintenance and Repair Worker, General: frequently asked questions
How much do Maintenance and Repair Workers, General make?
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General earn a median of $49,590 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025), 3% below the $50,980 median for all US occupations. That works out at $23.84/hr. The middle half earn between $40,840 and $62,620. The top 10% earn $77,180 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a Maintenance and Repair Worker, General?
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 Maintenance and Repair Worker, General a growing career?
It is stable rather than fast-growing: employment is projected to change 3.8% over 2024–2034, about the same as the 3.1% projected across all occupations (BLS EP, 2024–2034). BLS still projects about 159,800 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a Maintenance and Repair Worker, General do?
General maintenance and repair workers fix and maintain machines, mechanical equipment, and buildings. A core O*NET task: repair machines, equipment, or structures, using tools such as hammers, hoists, saws, drills, wrenches, or equipment such as precision measuring instruments or electrical or electronic testing devices. 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 Maintenance and Repair Worker, General?
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 923 occupations in the bank.
Do you need a license to work as a Maintenance and Repair Worker, General?
Not a state license. The job itself is unlicensed in every state. The tasks are not, and that is where the variation lives. Electrical and plumbing licensing is set by states and often by cities and counties on top, with different thresholds for what counts as licensed work, different apprenticeship hour requirements, and different rules about whether a business can employ an unlicensed person to do minor work on its own property. Elevator, boiler, backflow prevention, pool operation and asbestos or lead work all carry their own separate credentials in many jurisdictions. BLS simply says licensing requirements vary by state and locality and points you to your own licensing board, which is the honest answer.