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Property Management & Real Estate
Greystar, CBRE, Cushman & Wakefield
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General
General maintenance and repair workers fix the everyday problems that keep buildings, equipment, and small structures from falling out of service. The work stands out because it mixes mechanical troubleshooting with hands-on patching, adjusting, and rebuilding, so no two days look the same. The main tradeoff is that you need to be a jack-of-all-trades: broad enough to handle many problems, but often without the pay or specialization of licensed trades.
Also known as Maintenance TechnicianFacilities Maintenance TechnicianBuilding Maintenance TechnicianGeneral Maintenance WorkerMaintenance Worker
Median Salary
$48,620
Mean $52,430
U.S. Workforce
~1.5M
159.8K openings per year
10-Year Growth
+3.8%
1629.7K to 1692.1K
Entry Education
High school diploma or equivalent
+ None experience
What This Role Looks Like in Practice
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General sits in the Trades category. In practical terms, this role combines day-to-day execution, cross-team coordination, and consistent decision-making under real business constraints.
U.S. employment is currently about ~1.5M workers, with a median annual pay of $48,620 and roughly 159.8K openings each year. Based on BLS projections, total employment is expected to grow from 1629.7 K in 2024 to 1692.1K in 2034.
Most hiring paths start with Post-Secondary Certificate, and employers typically expect none of related experience. Many careers in this track begin around Maintenance Helper and can progress toward Maintenance Supervisor. High-value skills usually include Equipment Maintenance, Repairing, and Troubleshooting, paired with soft skills such as Critical Thinking, Complex Problem Solving, and Active Learning.
Core Responsibilities
- Check machines and equipment to spot problems, then run tests to confirm what is broken.
- Figure out why something failed by using manuals, blueprints, parts lists, and hands-on inspection.
- Take apart equipment, replace worn or damaged parts, and put everything back together.
- Line up, balance, and fine-tune newly installed machines so they run properly.
Keep exploring: more Trades careers or browse all job titles.
A Day in the Life
01 Check machines and equipment to spot problems, then run tests to confirm what is broken.
02 Figure out why something failed by using manuals, blueprints, parts lists, and hands-on inspection.
03 Take apart equipment, replace worn or damaged parts, and put everything back together.
04 Line up, balance, and fine-tune newly installed machines so they run properly.
05 Repair simple building features and small wood structures such as counters, benches, partitions, or sheds.
06 Estimate how much a repair will cost and what materials or parts will be needed.
Industries That Hire
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Manufacturing
Ford, 3M, General Electric
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Healthcare
HCA Healthcare, Mayo Clinic, Kaiser Permanente
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Hospitality & Lodging
Marriott International, Hilton, MGM Resorts International
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Facilities Services & Contract Management
Aramark, Sodexo, Compass Group
Pros and Cons
Advantages
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You can enter the field without a long degree path: BLS lists a high school diploma or equivalent, no prior work experience, and moderate-term on-the-job training.
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There is a lot of demand for hands-on repair work, with about 1.53 million jobs now and 159.8 thousand annual openings projected.
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The work is varied, so a shift can include diagnosing a machine, fixing a door closer, adjusting equipment, and patching woodwork.
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Pay is steady for a job that does not usually require college, with a median annual wage of $48,620 and a mean of $52,430.
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It can be a good stepping-stone into more specialized trades or into a lead or supervisor role once you build a track record.
Challenges
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The pay ceiling is fairly modest for the amount of physical labor involved, and the median of $48,620 may not stretch far in high-cost areas.
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Growth is only 3.8% through 2034, so this is not a fast-expanding field and better-paying openings can be competitive.
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The work is often hard on your body: lifting, climbing, working in tight spaces, and using power tools are routine parts of the job.
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Repairs can be urgent and inconvenient, which means nights, weekends, or on-call shifts are common in many settings.
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Because the work can be split among electricians, plumbers, HVAC techs, and outside contractors, general maintenance workers can hit a career ceiling unless they specialize or move into supervision.
Career Progression
Maintenance Helper
0-2 years
$30K-$39K
You handle basic cleanup, material hauling, and simple fixes while learning how to use tools safely and follow repair procedures.
Maintenance and Repair Worker, General
2-5 years
$40K-$56K
You diagnose everyday problems, make routine repairs, and handle a mix of building, equipment, and small fabrication tasks on your own.
Lead Maintenance Technician THIS ROLE
5-9 years
$57K-$74K
You take on harder repairs, coach newer workers, and help decide which problems can be fixed in-house and which need a specialist.
Maintenance Supervisor
9+ years
$75K-$96K
You schedule crews, manage budgets and vendors, and make sure the building or site stays safe, functional, and cost-effective.
Education Paths
Post-Secondary Certificate
The most common path, held by 62.97% of workers in the O*NET distribution, usually combines shop-based instruction with hands-on repair practice.
High School Diploma or GED
A substantial share, 24.94%, entered with a high school diploma or equivalent and learned the rest through on-the-job training.
Some College or Associate Degree
A smaller group came in with some college coursework (6.62%) or an associate's degree (2.85%), often to build a stronger base in mechanics, electricity, or facilities work.
Employer Training or Short-Term Credential
A practical alternative is a short certificate or employer-led training program in facilities maintenance, carpentry, or industrial repair, which fits the role’s moderate-term on-the-job training model.
Key Skills
Technical
Equipment Maintenance 78%
Repairing 78%
Troubleshooting 75%
Hand & Power Tools 64%
Blueprints, Repair Manuals & Parts Catalogs 64%
Monitoring 62%
Operation and Control 62%
Basic Electrical & Mechanical Systems 58%
CMMS Software (IBM Maximo, Fiix, UpKeep) 55%
Soft Skills
Critical ThinkingComplex Problem SolvingActive LearningAttention to DetailCommunicationTime Management Job Outlook and Trends
+3.8%
Projected growth (2024-2034)
159.8K
Annual job openings
Employment is projected to rise from 1629.7K to 1692.1 K over the next decade, representing 3.8% growth. Around 159.8 K openings per year include both newly created roles and replacement hiring from turnover.
Remote availability is currently Rare. Demand remains strongest where employers need practical domain knowledge plus modern workflow and data skills.