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Helpers--Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers

Typical education: Certificate or apprenticeshipModerate pressure

What they do

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.

Kinds of work

  • Realistic: Hands-on work with tools, machines, plants or animals, often outdoors.
  • Conventional: Organizing information, following clear procedures and working with data and details.

Moderate pressure: How much pressure workers in this job report: deadlines, conflict, dealing with upset people, the cost of mistakes, responsibility for others' safety, competition and long hours. It varies a lot from one employer to the next. Source: U.S. Department of Labor worker surveys.

Pay, tasks and more

Salary

United States $39,630 Median per year · $19.05/hr Most earn $29,310–$55,890

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025.

What you might do

  • Adjust, maintain, and repair tools, equipment, and machines, and assist more skilled workers with similar tasks.
  • Disassemble broken or defective equipment to facilitate repair and reassemble equipment when repairs are complete.
  • Examine and test machinery, equipment, components, and parts for defects to ensure proper functioning.
  • Diagnose electrical problems and install and rewire electrical components.
  • Disassemble broken or defective equipment to facilitate repair and reassemble equipment when repairs are complete.
  • Adjust, connect, or disconnect wiring, piping, tubing, and other parts, using hand or power tools.

Job outlook

United States
5% more jobs by 2035, faster than average · about 13,600 openings a year

Openings include new jobs and jobs left by workers who retire or change careers. Projections: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Bright Outlook": U.S. Department of Labor.

Where they work

  • Plumbing, heating, and air-conditioning contractors26.1%
  • Automotive body, paint, interior, and glass repair7.2%
  • Automotive mechanical and electrical repair and maintenance7.2%
  • Local government, excluding education and hospitals4.5%
  • Automobile dealers4.1%

Share of all workers in this career. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Employment Matrix.

Experience before this job: 1 to 2 years

Some people start through an apprenticeship: paid training on the job, often with classes. Search apprenticeships on Apprenticeship.gov (opens in a new tab) ↗

Career path

How people usually get into this career, from school to their first job and beyond.

Typical education: Certificate or apprenticeshipExperience before this job: 1 to 2 years

This is an entry-level helper job, but employers usually expect some training and 1 to 2 years of hands-on work experience before you start. Most people get there in about 2 to 3 years after high school, including a certificate or apprenticeship and some shop experience.

  1. High school diploma

    4 years

    Build strong math, reading, and shop or technical skills, which are used in every repair and maintenance job.

  2. Certificate or apprenticeship in maintenance or repair

    About 1 year

    Hands-on training in areas like industrial maintenance, auto repair, or electrical work teaches you tools, safety rules, and how equipment works.

  3. Production Helper

    About 1 year

    Working as a helper in a shop or factory gives you real experience around machines, tools, and cleanup, which employers look for.

  4. Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Helper

    Ongoing

    You assist repair and maintenance workers by handing them tools and parts, cleaning work areas, and holding materials, while learning the trade.

Where it can lead

  1. Maintenance Worker, Machinery

    1-2 years of experience first

    You take on more independent maintenance and repair of industrial machines, with less supervision and more responsibility for keeping equipment running.

  2. Millwright

    1-2 years of experience first

    You install, move, and repair large machinery and plant equipment, which requires broader mechanical skills and reading blueprints.

  3. Electric Motor, Power Tool, and Related Repairer

    2-4 years of experience first

    You specialize in diagnosing and repairing electric motors and power tools, which needs advanced technical knowledge and experience.

What you can do now

Ideas for high school and college students.

In high school

  • Take shop, auto, electronics, or drafting classesThese classes teach hands-on skills and tool safety that apply directly to repair and maintenance work.
  • Take math and physicsMeasuring, reading gauges, and understanding how machines work all rely on these subjects.
  • Join a technical or robotics clubBuilding and fixing things in a team builds practical problem-solving and teamwork skills.
  • Look for a summer or part-time job at a shop, garage, warehouse, or farmAny job where you help with equipment, cleaning, or tools gives you early experience with a work environment like this one.
  • Ask about career and technical education (CTE) programsMany high schools offer trade programs that count toward certificates or apprenticeships after graduation.

In college

  • Enroll in an industrial maintenance, mechanical, or electrical technology programA certificate or associate program covers the technical knowledge employers expect for this career.
  • Apply for a campus job in facilities or the maintenance shopHelping keep buildings and equipment working gives you real hands-on experience while you study.
  • Look for a paid internship or co-op at a manufacturer or repair companyWorking alongside technicians teaches you workplace routines and helps you build a work record.
  • Earn a safety certification such as OSHA 10 or a forklift certification if availableSafety credentials are often requested in job postings for helper and maintenance roles.
  • Join a skilled trades or engineering student clubClubs offer hands-on projects, networking with people in the trades, and a chance to learn from peers.

Tips for getting started

  • Ask a local repair shop, factory, or school shop teacher whether you can shadow them or work a summer job. Real shop time matters a lot for this career.
  • Get comfortable with basic hand tools, safety rules, and reading simple diagrams. These skills make you a useful helper from day one.
  • Keep a simple record of the tools you've used and the jobs you've helped with. It makes applications and apprenticeship interviews much stronger.

Related jobs that often lead here

Related jobs a step up

Education, experience and related careers: U.S. Department of Labor. The step-by-step path, where it can lead and what you can do now were written by AI as typical examples; many people take other ways.

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