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Career overview · SOC 49-9098

Helpers--Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers

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.

Also called: HVAC Helper (Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning Helper) · HVAC Installation Helper (Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning Installation Helper) · Maintenance Aide · Maintenance Helper · Mechanic Helper · Mechanic Repair Helper

Median pay (national)
$38,860
$28,770–$54,650 (10th–90th)
Employed (US)
97,540
BLS OEWS, May 2024
Outlook 2024–34
+2.3%
~11,800 openings/yr
Typical entry
High school diploma or equivalent

What the numbers say

Refit analysis ·Pay for helpers--installation, maintenance, and repair workers shows a broad range: the top 10% earn $54,650 versus $28,770 at the bottom 10% — 1.9x. The median of $38,860 leaves roughly 41% of headroom to the 90th percentile, which is where seniority, specialization, and the skills below tend to pay off.
Refit analysis ·Employment is projected to change +2.3% from 2024 to 2034 — about as fast as the 3% all-occupation average. Even so, BLS projects about 11,800 openings a year, mostly to replace workers who retire or change careers.
Refit analysis ·Where you work moves the number a lot. Across the 52 states with released data, District of Columbia pays the most for this role (median $61,780, +59% vs the national median), while Puerto Rico sits lowest at $22,110 — a 179% spread for the same job title.
Refit analysis ·O*NET rates Active Listening, Critical Thinking, Monitoring as the highest-importance skills here — so a resume aimed at this role should lead with evidence of those, not a generic skills list.

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Top skills employers ask for

Ranked by O*NET importance for this occupation.

  • Active Listening
  • Critical Thinking
  • Monitoring
  • Speaking
  • Reading Comprehension
  • Active Learning
  • Learning Strategies
  • Writing
  • Mathematics
  • Science

What they actually do

Core O*NET tasks for this role.

  • Examine and test machinery, equipment, components, and parts for defects to ensure proper functioning.
  • Clean or lubricate vehicles, machinery, equipment, instruments, tools, work areas, and other objects, using hand tools, power tools, and cleaning equipment.
  • Transfer tools, parts, equipment, and supplies to and from work stations and other areas.
  • Order new parts to maintain inventory.
  • Design, weld, and fabricate parts, using blueprints or other mechanical plans.
  • Install or replace machinery, equipment, and new or replacement parts and instruments, using hand or power tools.
  • 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.
  • Diagnose electrical problems and install and rewire electrical components.
  • Disassemble broken or defective equipment to facilitate repair and reassemble equipment when repairs are complete.

Tools & technology

  • Microsoft Windows
  • SAP software
  • Atlas Construction Business Forms
  • Building automation software
  • Data logging software
  • Facility energy management software
  • HVAC tools software
  • Microsoft Excel
  • Microsoft Office software
  • Microsoft Outlook
  • Microsoft PowerPoint
  • Microsoft Word

Knowledge areas

  • Mechanical
  • Building and Construction
  • Customer and Personal Service
  • Public Safety and Security
  • English Language
  • Engineering and Technology
  • Mathematics
  • Design