Median hourly earnings of general maintenance and repair workers were $14.12 in 2002. The middle 50 percent earned between $10.61 and $18.48. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $8.25, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $22.78. Median hourly earnings in the industries employing the largest numbers of general maintenance and repair workers in 2002 are shown in the following tabulation:
| Local government | $14.83 |
| Elementary and secondary schools | 14.01 |
| Activities related to real estate | 11.79 |
| Lessors of real estate | 11.64 |
| Traveler accommodation | 10.58 |
Some general maintenance and repair workers are members of unions, including the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees and the United Automobile Workers.
Most craft workers specialize in one kind of work, such as plumbing or carpentry. General maintenance and repair workers, however, have skills in many different crafts. They repair and maintain machines, mechanical equipment, and buildings and work on plumbing, electrical, and air-conditioning and heating systems. They build partitions, make plaster or drywall repairs, and fix or paint roofs, windows, doors, floors, woodwork, and other parts of building structures. They also maintain and repair specialized equipment and machinery found in cafeterias, laundries, hospitals, stores, offices, and factories. Typical duties include troubleshooting and fixing faulty electrical switches, repairing air-conditioning motors, and unclogging drains. New buildings sometimes have computer-controlled systems, requiring workers to acquire basic computer skills. For example, new air-conditioning systems often can be controlled from a central computer terminal. In addition, light sensors can be electronically controlled to turn off lights automatically after a set amount of time.
General maintenance and repair workers inspect and diagnose problems and determine the best way to correct them, frequently checking blueprints, repair manuals, and parts catalogs. They obtain supplies and repair parts from distributors or storerooms. Using common hand and power tools such as screwdrivers, saws, drills, wrenches, and hammers, as well as specialized equipment and electronic testing devices, these workers replace or fix worn or broken parts, where necessary, or make adjustments to correct malfunctioning equipment and machines.
General maintenance and repair workers also perform routine preventive maintenance and ensure that machines continue to run smoothly, building systems operate efficiently, and the physical condition of buildings does not deteriorate. Following a checklist, they may inspect drives, motors, and belts, check fluid levels, replace filters, and perform other maintenance actions. Maintenance and repair workers keep records of their work.
Employees in small establishments, where they are often the only maintenance worker, make all repairs, except for very large or difficult jobs. In larger establishments, their duties may be limited to the general maintenance of everything in a workshop or a particular area.
.Job openings should be plentiful. General maintenance and repair is a large occupation with significant turnover, and many job openings should result from the need to replace workers who transfer to other occupations or stop working for other reasons.
Employment of general maintenance and repair workers is expected to grow about as fast as average for all occupations through 2012. Employment is related to the number of buildings—for example, office and apartment buildings, stores, schools, hospitals, hotels, and factories—and the amount of equipment needing maintenance and repair. However, as machinery becomes more advanced and requires less maintenance, the need for general maintenance and repair workers diminishes.
Many general maintenance and repair workers learn their skills informally on the job. They start as helpers, watching and learning from skilled maintenance workers. Helpers begin by doing simple jobs, such as fixing leaky faucets and replacing lightbulbs, and progress to more difficult tasks, such as overhauling machinery or building walls. Some learn their skills by working as helpers to other repair or construction workers, including carpenters, electricians, or machinery repairers.
Necessary skills also can be learned in high school shop classes and postsecondary trade or vocational schools. It generally takes from 1 to 4 years of on-the-job training or school, or a combination of both, to become fully qualified, depending on the skill level required. Because a growing number of new buildings rely on computers to control various of their systems, general maintenance and repair workers may need basic computer skills, such as how to log onto a central computer system and navigate through a series of menus. Usually, companies that install computer-controlled equipment provide on-site training for general maintenance and repair workers.
Graduation from high school is preferred for entry into this occupation. High school courses in mechanical drawing, electricity, woodworking, blueprint reading, science, mathematics, and computers are useful. Mechanical aptitude, the ability to use shop mathematics, and manual dexterity are important. Good health is necessary because the job involves much walking, standing, reaching, and heavy lifting. Difficult jobs require problem-solving ability, and many positions require the ability to work without direct supervision.
Many general maintenance and repair workers in large organizations advance to maintenance supervisor or become a craftworker such as an electrician, a heating and air-conditioning mechanic, or a plumber. Within small organizations, promotion opportunities are limited.
.Some duties of general maintenance and repair workers are similar to those of carpenters; pipelayers, plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters; electricians; and heating, air-conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics. Other duties are similar to those of coin, vending, and amusement machine servicers and repairers; electrical and electronics installers and repairers; electronic home entertainment equipment installers and repairers; and radio and telecommunications equipment installers and repairers.
Information about job opportunities may be obtained from local employers and local offices of the State Employment Service.
Perform duties, such as furnishing tools, materials, and supplies to other workers; cleaning work area, machines, and tools; and holding materials or tools for other workers. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem. For example, a drywall installer might benefit from experience installing drywall, but an inexperienced person could still learn to be an installer with little difficulty. Job Training Employees in these occupations need anywhere from a few months to one year of working with experienced employees. Job Zone Examples These occupations often involve using your knowledge and skills to help others.
Summary of: http://online.onetcenter.org/link/summary/49-9098.00
Building Maintenance Workers Building maintenance workers keep buildings in good shape. They plan routine maintenance and schedule their work. Some of the maintenance they do occurs in almost every building. Those who work in hospitals or factories install machines, systems, and fixtures. This may involve cleaning and lubricating parts.
Summary of: http://www.iseek.org/sv/46001.jsp?id=499042
They plan routine maintenance and schedule their work. Some of the maintenance they do occurs in almost every building. Those who work in apartment buildings are more likely to fix walls, roofs, windows, doors, and floors. Maintenance workers take apart machines and fix them. They keep track of work orders and the repair jobs they complete.
Summary of: http://www.iseek.org/sv/13000.jsp?id=100259
Employment is projected to grow more slowly than average, but applicants with broad skills in machine repair and maintenance should have favorable job prospects. Unlike many other manufacturing occupations, these workers usually are not affected by seasonal changes in production. The most basic tasks in this process are performed by machinery maintenance workers. Maintenance workers may perform minor repairs, but major repairs are generally left to machinery mechanics. Industrial machinery mechanics, also called industrial machinery repairers or maintenance machinists, are highly skilled workers who maintain and repair machinery in a plant or factory.
Summary of: http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos191.htm
Assignments involve numerous trades and skills, such as rough and finished carpentry, plumbing, roofing, painting, and concrete/masonry. Assignments are varied and are received in the form of oral or written work orders and may be accompanied by sketches, penciled layouts, or blueprints. Communicate orally with customers, clients, or the public in face-to-face, one-on-one settings, in group settings or using a telephone. Comprehend and make inferences from written material. Make precise arm-hand positioning movements and maintains static arm-hand position to operate tools, such as electric hand drills, power hand saws, or radial arm saws.
Summary of: http://phoenix.gov/JOBSPECS/74830.html
Despite slower-than-average employment growth resulting from technological advancements in machinery, applicants with broad skills in machine repair should have favorable job prospects. These workers include industrial machinery mechanics, millwrights, and general maintenance and repair and machinery maintenance workers. Millwrights install, dismantle, or move machinery and heavy equipment according to layout plans, blueprints, or other drawings. To lift and move light machinery, industrial machinery installation, repair, and maintenance workers use rigging and hoisting devices, such as pulleys and cables. When repairing electronically controlled machinery, maintenance mechanics may work closely with electronic repairers or electricians who maintain the machine’s electronic parts.
Summary of: http://www.umsl.edu/services/govdocs/ooh20022003/ocos191.htm
Most workers are trained on the job; others learn by working as helpers to other repairers or to construction workers such as carpenters, electricians, or machinery repairers. General maintenance and repair workers, however, have skills in many different crafts. New buildings sometimes have computer-controlled systems, requiring workers to acquire basic computer skills. For example, new air-conditioning systems often can be controlled from a central computer terminal. Employees in small establishments, where they are often the only maintenance worker, make all repairs, except for very large or difficult jobs.
Summary of: http://www.collegegrad.com/careers/insta17.shtml
It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job. Job Training Employees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers. Job Zone Examples These occupations usually involve using communication and organizational skills to coordinate, supervise, manage, or train others to accomplish goals. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.
Summary of: http://online.onetcenter.org/link/summary/49-9042.00
Disputes regarding inclusion of any new classification and/or department in the bargaining unit may be initiated as a grievance at Step 3 of the Grievance Procedure.
Summary of: http://www.uhr.ohiou.edu/labor/Art_6.htm