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Helpers–Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers: Career Overview
Help installation, maintenance, and repair workers in maintenance, parts replacement, and repair of vehicles, industrial machinery, and electrical and electronic equipment. 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.
What Tasks Do Helpers–Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers Take On?
Typical responsibilities of helpers–installation, maintenance, and repair workers cover:
- Install or replace machinery, equipment, and new or replacement parts and instruments, using hand or power tools.
- Examine and test machinery, equipment, components, and parts for defects to ensure proper functioning.
- Tend and observe equipment and machinery to verify efficient and safe operation.
- Adjust, connect, or disconnect wiring, piping, tubing, and other parts, using hand or power tools.
- Clean or lubricate vehicles, machinery, equipment, instruments, tools, work areas, and other objects, using hand tools, power tools, and cleaning equipment.
- Hold or supply tools, parts, equipment, and supplies for other workers.
- Diagnose electrical problems and install and rewire electrical components.
- Disassemble broken or defective equipment to facilitate repair and reassemble equipment when repairs are complete.
What Helpers–Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers Need to Know
Effective helpers–installation, maintenance, and repair workers rely on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Top Skills
These are the skills most important for this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Top Knowledge Areas
Types of Helpers–Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers Jobs
This career also goes by job titles like:
- Air Conditioner Installer Helper (AC Installer Helper)
- Air Conditioner Installer Servicer Helper (AC Installer Servicer Helper)
- Airframe and Power Plant Mechanic Helper
- Armature Winder Repair Helper
- Automobile Body Repairer Helper
- Automobile Mechanic Helper
- Automotive Electrical Helper
- Blacksmith Assistant
How Many Helpers–Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers Are There?
There are roughly 511,897 helpers–installation, maintenance, and repair workers working in the United States today. Demand is forecast to grow by +4.0% over the projection horizon.
Helpers–Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers Pay
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $44,896 |
| Hourly median | $21.58 |
| 10th percentile | $25,781 |
| 25th percentile | $35,338 |
| 75th percentile | $54,453 |
| 90th percentile | $64,011 |
Pay can vary substantially based on experience, location, and industry.
Pay by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $61,780 |
| Hawaii | $51,980 |
| New York | $47,310 |
| Washington | $45,840 |
| Minnesota | $45,760 |
| Colorado | $45,240 |
| Alaska | $44,520 |
| Maine | $44,480 |
| Arizona | $43,270 |
| California | $42,700 |
| Vermont | $42,520 |
| Connecticut | $42,360 |
| New Hampshire | $41,810 |
| Utah | $41,760 |
| Massachusetts | $41,620 |
| Idaho | $41,550 |
| Oregon | $41,300 |
| Tennessee | $40,980 |
| North Dakota | $40,920 |
| Pennsylvania | $39,790 |
| Nevada | $39,610 |
| Ohio | $39,430 |
| Maryland | $39,180 |
| South Carolina | $39,080 |
| Indiana | $38,920 |
| Michigan | $38,890 |
| Florida | $38,340 |
| New Jersey | $38,120 |
| Iowa | $38,120 |
| Virginia | $37,840 |
| Missouri | $37,840 |
| Montana | $37,690 |
| North Carolina | $37,660 |
| West Virginia | $37,470 |
| Delaware | $37,440 |
| Wisconsin | $37,420 |
| New Mexico | $37,100 |
| Kentucky | $36,970 |
| Texas | $36,680 |
| Louisiana | $36,130 |
| Rhode Island | $35,540 |
| Wyoming | $35,360 |
| Georgia | $35,210 |
| Alabama | $35,160 |
| Illinois | $35,100 |
| Arkansas | $35,050 |
| Nebraska | $33,890 |
| Mississippi | $33,790 |
| Oklahoma | $33,560 |
| Kansas | $31,770 |
| Guam | $24,680 |
| Puerto Rico | $22,110 |
Where Helpers–Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers Earn the Most
Earnings for helpers–installation, maintenance, and repair workers shift depending on where you work. Top regions by median wage:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Far Western US | $42,978 | 15.6% | 1.04 |
| Middle Atlantic | $42,240 | 13.9% | 1.03 |
| Rocky Mountains | $42,105 | 2.8% | 0.74 |
| New England | $41,719 | 3.7% | 0.83 |
| Plains States | $39,073 | 4.0% | 0.69 |
| Great Lakes | $38,129 | 7.3% | 0.62 |
| Southeast | $37,346 | 31.9% | 1.47 |
| Southwest | $37,086 | 18.4% | 1.53 |
Highest-Paying Metro Areas for Helpers–Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wheeling, WV-OH | WV | $64,810 | 50 |
| Longview-Kelso, WA | WA | $63,360 | 40 |
| Columbus, IN | IN | $60,990 | 50 |
| Kahului-Wailuku, HI | HI | $55,400 | 60 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | CA | $51,380 | 480 |
| Twin Falls, ID | ID | $50,260 | 70 |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | WA | $49,780 | 60 |
| Urban Honolulu, HI | HI | $48,130 | 290 |
Which Industries Hire Helpers–Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers
Most helpers–installation, maintenance, and repair workers are concentrated in the following sectors:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Construction | 32,610 | $38,810 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) | 19,860 | $36,340 |
| Retail Trade | 8,870 | $36,510 |
| Manufacturing | 5,770 | $43,070 |
| Wholesale Trade | 5,230 | $41,290 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 5,030 | $38,510 |
| Transportation and Warehousing | 4,930 | $39,180 |
| Real Estate and Rental and Leasing | 2,390 | $40,240 |
The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.
Software Helpers–Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers Use
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Electronic mail software: Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Presentation software: Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Operating system software: Microsoft Windows (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Enterprise resource planning ERP software: SAP software (hot technology)
What the Workplace Is Like
The on-the-job environment of helpers–installation, maintenance, and repair workers reflects the following characteristics:
- Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Indoors, Not Environmentally Controlled
- Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team
- Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls
How to Become Helpers–Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers
Entry-level helpers–installation, maintenance, and repair workers positions require a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education. This occupation sits in Some Preparation Needed (Job Zone 2), reflecting the level of preparation typically expected.
Other Careers to Consider
Similar Occupations
- Boilermakers (Supplemental)
- Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters (Supplemental)
- Helpers–Brickmasons, Blockmasons, Stonemasons, and Tile and Marble Setters (Primary-Long)
- Helpers–Carpenters (Primary-Short)
- Helpers–Electricians (Primary-Short)
- Helpers–Painters, Paperhangers, Plasterers, and Stucco Masons (Primary-Long)
- Helpers–Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters (Primary-Short)
- Helpers–Extraction Workers (Primary-Short)
About the Data
Statistics shown above are sourced from the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 49-9098.00 (Helpers–Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers).
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