General Maintenance and Repair Worker Career
A career in trade is trending as a viable option for many students and young professionals across the globe. Trade work has proven a great route for those without the time, money, or resources to complete a full load of coursework. General maintenance and repair work is a highly respected field and a great route for anyone who loves staying busy and helping others.
General maintenance and repair workers fix and maintain machines, mechanical equipment and homes or buildings. Their work helps improve processes for increased efficiency and comfort. They may also assist with more aesthetic tasks like painting, floor and tile repair, and cleaning.
General Maintenance and Repair Worker Career Snapshot
Maintenance and repair employees work in a wide variety of settings and have a ton of flexibility when it comes to work environment. Repairs may take place inside or outside in the elements. Maintenance workers are pretty dynamic and will move around from job to job throughout the day. In addition, these workers have the opportunity to pursue business ownership where they can set their own schedule from day to day.
Further details on a career as a maintenance and repair worker are listed below (statistics from the May 2015 Bureau of Labor Statistics and Onet Online):
is the average yearly salary for general maintenance and repair workers.
increase in employment between 2014 and 2024.
have a High school diploma or equivalent while 30% have a Post-secondary certificate.
Education
Typically, maintenance work requires a high school diploma and long-term on the job training. Recent studies have shown that 30 percent of workers in this field have a post-secondary certificate and 15 percent have less than a high school degree. There are not usually any formal education requirements for this line of work. Many workers will serve in apprenticeships where they can learn the skills required to work independently.
Job Duties
Day-to-day maintenance workers might engage in mechanical repairs like plumbing or electrical work. They might also assist with more aesthetic fixes like painting or tiling in a home or office building.
Salaries
The median salary for this line of work sits around $36,600 with the highest 10 percent of workers earning around $60,060 and the lowest 10 percent earning around $21,700 according to the BLS.gov May 2015 statistics. Business owners tend to earn more than the median. Many workers will get paid hourly with the average hourly rate landing around $17.00.
Job Outlook
Jobs in the maintenance field are expected to increase approximately six percent over the next decade. The job outlook will continue to improve as the real estate market picks up and home repairs become more prevalent.
General Maintenance and Repair Worker Skills & Traits
| Skill Set: | Required Abilities: | Tools Used: | Typical Work Activities: |
|---|---|---|---|
| • Equipment Maintenance • Repairing • Troubleshooting • Critical Thinking • Equipment Selection | • Arm-Hand Steadiness • Manual Dexterity • Near Vision • Information Ordering • Problem Sensitivity | • Drain Augers • Pipe Cutters • Power Drills • Power Saws • Bearing Pullers | • Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Material • Handling and Moving Objects • Performing General Physical Activities • Getting Information |
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