Facilities Managers
Median wage · national
$106,660
Range: $82K – $139K
Employed
156K
Openings/yr
13K
Typically: bachelor's degree
TRADES
Maintenance & Repair Worker
Maintenance & Repair Worker earn $49,590 nationally at the median. The middle 50% of workers fall between $40,840 and $62,620. Where you land depends on specialization, employer, and experience.
About Maintenance & Repair Worker
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.
- Median Wage
- $49,590
- Employed Nationally
- 1.5M
- Openings / Year
- 159,800
- Entry Education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Job Zone
- Zone 3: Medium Preparation
Also known as:
Apartment Maintenance Tech (Apartment Maintenance Technician)
Apartment Maintenance Worker
Bench Repair Technician
Building Engineer
Building Maintenance Engineer
How Much Do Maintenance & Repair Workers Make?
Maintenance & Repair Worker earn $49,590 nationally, below average for bachelor's degree holders. The middle 50% of earners fall between $40,840 and $62,620. Actual pay varies by employer, specialization, and location.
$49,590
National Median (Annual)
Below average for bachelor's degree holders.
$41K–$63K
Middle 50% Range
25th to 75th percentile. Most workers earn within this band.
Earnings Range
$40,840
Entry-level
$49,590
Median
$62,620
Experienced
What Do Maintenance & Repair Workers Do?
O*NET data identifies 5 core activities and 5 measurable skills for Maintenance & Repair Worker roles. Use this section to judge whether the day-to-day reality aligns with what you actually want to spend time doing.
What You'll Do
- Perform routine maintenance, such as inspecting drives, motors, or belts, checking fluid levels, replacing filters, or doing other preventive maintenance actions.
- Inspect, operate, or test machinery or equipment to diagnose machine malfunctions.
- Adjust functional parts of devices or control instruments, using hand tools, levels, plumb bobs, or straightedges.
- 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.
- Order parts, supplies, or equipment from catalogs or suppliers.
Core Skills Employers Look For
Equipment Maintenance
Repairing
Troubleshooting
Critical Thinking
Active Learning
Who Thrives Here
R
Realistic
Hands-on tasks, physical activity, or working with tools and real materials are central parts of the daily work here.
C
Conventional
Success depends on precision and structured processes, where detail-oriented people who work consistently within established systems perform best.
I
Investigative
This career demands analytical thinking: researching problems, interpreting data, and applying logical reasoning to find practical solutions.
Where Do Maintenance & Repair Workers Work?
What the physical and mental conditions of this job actually look like day to day, based on O*NET Work Context data collected from people working in this occupation.
Work Setting
Mixed
Split between indoor and outdoor or field settings.
Physical Demands
Light
Mix of sitting and movement throughout the day.
Stress Level
Moderate
Moderate pressure. Regular deadlines exist but are generally manageable with experience.
What Is the Job Outlook for Maintenance & Repair Workers?
The BLS projects +3.8% employment change for Maintenance & Repair Worker through 2034, below the national average of +5%. About 159,800 openings per year keep the field accessible to new entrants.
↗ +3.8%
10-Year Growth (2024–2034)
About as fast as average.
159,800
Annual Openings
New positions plus replacements for retirees and career-changers.
1.5M
Currently Employed
Total US employment as of BLS May 2024.
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034 and Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2024.
Where the Jobs Are
The five states below employ the most Maintenance & Repair Worker professionals nationwide. State-level wages can differ significantly from the $49,590 national median. Research your specific market before committing to a program.
| # | State | Jobs | Median Wage | vs. National |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Texas | 139,310 | $44,940 | -9.4% |
| 2 | California | 132,250 | $56,030 | +13.0% |
| 3 | New York | 124,640 | $56,180 | +13.3% |
| 4 | Florida | 112,590 | $45,000 | -9.3% |
| 5 | Illinois | 71,100 | $54,220 | +9.3% |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024. Employment figures rounded. Read our methodology →
How to Get Here
Most Maintenance & Repair Worker positions require a high school diploma or equivalent to qualify. The program below is the most common academic pathways into this field, ranked by how many graduates they produce each year.
Typical Entry Education
High school diploma or equivalent
Job Zone
Zone 3: Medium Preparation
A medium amount of preparation is required, often an associate degree, certificate program, or apprenticeship, plus some related experience.
Degree Programs That Lead Here
| # | Program | Graduates/yr | 4yr Median | Colleges |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Building/Construction Finishing | 6,049 | $90,924 | 376 |
Top Colleges for Aspiring Maintenance & Repair Workers
Colleges offering the degree programs that lead to this career, ranked by UCD Score. A strong program plus solid outcomes is a good place to begin your search.
| # | College | UCD Score | Net Price | Salary 10yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Victor Valley College Victorville, CA | 90 | $1,947 | $36,119 |
| 2 | Chipola College Marianna, FL | 88 | $1,133 | $37,378 |
| 3 | Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Murfreesboro Murfreesboro, TN | 86 | $6,631 | $40,869 |
| 4 | Imperial Valley College Imperial, CA | 86 | $1,115 | $34,487 |
| 5 | Manatee Technical College Bradenton, FL | 85 | $1,808 | $38,129 |
| 6 | New Castle School of Trades New Castle, PA | 85 | $8,361 | $44,814 |
Plan Your Path
Once you've sized up Maintenance & Repair Worker, these tools turn the numbers into a plan. Estimate the real cost of a degree that leads here, weigh the long-term payoff, compare specific colleges side-by-side, and find programs that match your profile.
College ROI Calculator
See if the degree that leads to Maintenance & Repair Worker pays off. Weighs each college's cost against the earnings graduates see.
College Cost Calculator
Enter a budget and see the colleges whose net price fits, with the out-of-pocket cost and likely loan load for each.
Compare Colleges
Put any 2–4 colleges side-by-side. Admissions, cost, outcomes, and earnings, all on one screen, no tab-hopping.
College Match Quiz
Answer six quick questions and see your best-fit colleges ranked by budget, field of study, and what matters most to you.
Maintenance & Repair Worker Pros & Cons
The data on Maintenance & Repair Worker shows 3 measurable strengths and 1 real trade-offs. All points are drawn from BLS wage data, employment projections, and IPEDS program completions.
PROS
- Large, established field 1.5M people work in this occupation nationally, creating a broad job market with openings spread across every region and industry.
- Strong annual demand 159,800 job openings per year creates consistent hiring volume even in slower economic cycles. Entry-level candidates have real options throughout the year.
- Accessible entry path The typical entry requirement is a high school diploma or equivalent, lower than many comparable-paying careers. This creates a shorter path from training to first paycheck.
CONS
- Modest median salary At $49,590 median, this career lags STEM and business fields. High-cost degree programs may be difficult to justify on salary alone.
Maintenance & Repair Worker Frequently Asked Questions
How much do Maintenance & Repair Worker professionals earn?
The national median annual wage for Maintenance & Repair Worker is $49,590, below the national median, program ROI depends heavily on keeping tuition costs low. The middle 50% of earners fall between $40,840 and $62,620. Pay varies by employer size, industry sector, specialization, and geography. National figures are a starting point, not a guarantee.
Is Maintenance & Repair Worker a good career?
Maintenance & Repair Worker involves trade-offs worth understanding before committing. At $49,590 median, programs with high tuition are difficult to justify on salary return alone. Prioritize in-state public schools or employer-sponsored pathways. Job growth is projected at +3.8% through 2034. Genuine interest in the work, not just the salary, matters most here.
How do I become a Maintenance & Repair Worker?
Most Maintenance & Repair Worker positions require a high school diploma or equivalent as the minimum credential. a medium amount of preparation is required, often an associate degree, certificate program, or apprenticeship, plus some related experience. Programs like Building/Construction Finishing are common starting points.
What is the job outlook for Maintenance & Repair Worker?
The BLS projects +3.8% employment change for Maintenance & Repair Worker through 2034, about as fast as average compared to all occupations. About 159,800 job openings per year are projected, including new positions and replacements for workers who retire or change careers. 1.5M people currently work in this occupation nationwide (BLS May 2024).
What skills do Maintenance & Repair Worker professionals need?
O*NET data identifies the core skills employers consistently prioritize for Maintenance & Repair Worker roles: Equipment Maintenance, Repairing, Troubleshooting, Critical Thinking, and Active Learning. These develop through formal education and hands-on work. Programs with internship or co-op requirements give you a meaningful head start on the ones that take time to build.
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- Job outlook
- Career change
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