Occupation · SOC 49-9012
Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door
Install, repair, and maintain mechanical regulating and controlling devices, such as electric meters, gas regulators, thermostats, safety and flow valves, and other mechanical governors.
Median wage
$74,690
$43,840–$109,050
Projected growth
—
—
Annual openings
—
per year
Employed (US)
46,920
Job Zone 3
Typical preparation
Medium preparation
Stackable credential programs
386 mapped
Core skills
Critical ThinkingRepairingTroubleshootingSpeakingQuality Control AnalysisOperations MonitoringMonitoringJudgment and Decision MakingEquipment MaintenanceActive ListeningWritingReading ComprehensionOperation and ControlCoordinationComplex Problem SolvingSocial PerceptivenessEquipment SelectionActive LearningTime ManagementService OrientationLearning StrategiesInstallationSystems AnalysisInstructingSystems EvaluationNegotiationMathematicsPersuasionManagement of Personnel ResourcesTechnology DesignManagement of Financial ResourcesScienceManagement of Material ResourcesProgrammingOperations Analysis
Knowledge areas
MechanicalEngineering and TechnologyPublic Safety and SecurityCustomer and Personal ServiceComputers and ElectronicsMathematicsDesignProduction and ProcessingBuilding and ConstructionEnglish LanguageAdministration and ManagementPhysicsEducation and TrainingAdministrativeChemistryLaw and GovernmentTelecommunicationsTransportationEconomics and AccountingPersonnel and Human ResourcesGeographyCommunications and MediaPsychologySales and MarketingBiologyMedicine and DentistryForeign LanguageTherapy and CounselingSociology and AnthropologyPhilosophy and TheologyHistory and ArcheologyFood ProductionFine Arts
Technology & tools
Autodesk AutoCADEmerson FIRSTVUE Value SizingGraphical user interface GUI design softwareIBM Maximo Asset ManagementLadder LogicMaintenance record softwareMicrosoft AccessMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft Office softwareMicrosoft OutlookMicrosoft PowerPointMicrosoft SharePointMicrosoft VisioMicrosoft WindowsMicrosoft WordOperating system softwareOracle Primavera Enterprise Project Portfolio ManagementProgrammable logic controller PLC softwareSAP softwareSpreadsheet softwareStructured query language SQLSupervisory control and data acquisition SCADA softwareWonderware softwareWord processing software
Representative tasks
Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical EquipmentInspecting Equipment, Structures, or MaterialsCommunicating with Supervisors, Peers, or SubordinatesMonitoring Processes, Materials, or SurroundingsGetting InformationMaking Decisions and Solving ProblemsEvaluating Information to Determine Compliance with StandardsUpdating and Using Relevant KnowledgeDocumenting/Recording InformationHandling and Moving ObjectsOperating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or EquipmentOrganizing, Planning, and Prioritizing WorkIdentifying Objects, Actions, and EventsPerforming General Physical ActivitiesProcessing InformationWorking with ComputersEstablishing and Maintaining Interpersonal RelationshipsAnalyzing Data or InformationTraining and Teaching OthersControlling Machines and ProcessesRepairing and Maintaining Electronic EquipmentJudging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or PeopleScheduling Work and ActivitiesEstimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or InformationThinking CreativelyCommunicating with People Outside the OrganizationDrafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and EquipmentGuiding, Directing, and Motivating SubordinatesAssisting and Caring for OthersInterpreting the Meaning of Information for OthersCoordinating the Work and Activities of OthersDeveloping Objectives and StrategiesCoaching and Developing OthersDeveloping and Building TeamsProviding Consultation and Advice to OthersResolving Conflicts and Negotiating with OthersMonitoring and Controlling ResourcesPerforming for or Working Directly with the PublicSelling or Influencing OthersPerforming Administrative Activities
Competency framework
Skill expectations by proficiency level.
emerging
Maintenance records — complete accurately under direct supervision after routine valve inspections on commercial or municipal job sites.Hand tools and power tools — identify and handle safely under close guidance during entry-level control device disassembly tasks.Lubricants and oils — apply to designated wearing surfaces of mechanical parts following written procedures on a supervised work order.Basic valve components — recognize and name correctly while assisting experienced technicians during equipment teardown in the field.Safety protocols and PPE requirements — follow consistently when working near pressurized control systems or using cutting torches.Work orders and technical manuals — read and interpret basic instructions to prepare materials before beginning an assigned repair task.Simple troubleshooting checklists — use step-by-step to identify obvious faults in thermostats or regulators under technician oversight.Oral instructions from lead technicians — listen actively and confirm understanding before performing assigned installation or maintenance steps.Material usage logs — record quantities of parts and supplies consumed during repair tasks into paper or digital maintenance forms.Basic hand-tool care and storage — perform after each shift to maintain readiness of wrenches, pliers, and cutting equipment on site.
developing
Maintenance and test result documentation — prepare completely and accurately in enterprise resource planning or spreadsheet software following routine service calls.Mechanical control devices and valves — disassemble, inspect, and reassemble independently using power tools, hand tools, and cutting torches on standard repair assignments.Wearing surfaces of mechanical parts — lubricate systematically using appropriate oils or lubricants based on manufacturer specifications during scheduled preventive maintenance.Equipment malfunctions in regulators and hydrants — diagnose using deductive reasoning and troubleshooting techniques with reduced oversight in municipal utility settings.Operations monitoring data — review and interpret instrumentation readings to detect abnormal conditions in control system performance during routine shifts.Quality control checks — conduct on completed valve repairs to verify that system pressures and component tolerances meet established standards before return to service.Technical reports and maintenance logs — write clearly to communicate repair outcomes and part replacements to supervisors and facility records systems.Coordination with other trades and crew members — exercise during multi-craft installation projects to sequence work and avoid conflicts on active job sites.CAD drawings and engineering diagrams — read and apply when installing or replacing control components in accordance with approved system layouts.Customer and stakeholder inquiries — respond to with clear, professional verbal communication regarding service timelines and equipment status in field or facility environments.
proficient
Complex valve and control device failures — troubleshoot autonomously across the full range of regulator, thermostat, and hydrant types using advanced diagnostic reasoning in high-pressure utility or industrial environments.Comprehensive maintenance records including test results and material usage — manage and audit using ERP or database software to ensure accuracy and regulatory compliance across multiple work orders.Non-routine disassembly and repair situations — resolve independently, selecting optimal tool combinations including cutting torches and precision hand tools when standard procedures are insufficient.Preventive and corrective lubrication programs — design and execute for mechanical control systems to extend service life and reduce unplanned downtime in large facility or distribution network settings.Quality control analyses — perform on repaired and newly installed control systems, interpreting test data to certify readiness and document findings for regulatory or client reporting.Judgment calls on equipment replacement versus repair — make independently by evaluating component condition, cost, and system criticality under time-sensitive field conditions.Critical thinking during emergency system failures — apply to assess risk, isolate affected zones, and restore safe operation of control valves in public safety or industrial environments.Project management software and analytical tools — use to plan, schedule, and track complex valve installation or replacement projects from scope definition through closeout.Inductive reasoning across recurring failure patterns — apply to identify systemic equipment or installation deficiencies and recommend corrective actions to engineering or management teams.Training and technical guidance — provide informally to apprentices and junior technicians during field repairs, demonstrating correct technique for disassembly, lubrication, and documentation.
advanced
Organizational maintenance strategy for control and valve systems — develop and implement across an entire service territory or facility portfolio to optimize reliability, safety, and regulatory compliance.Technical standards and quality control frameworks — establish for valve installation, repair, and documentation practices, setting benchmarks used across all crews and subcontractors.Workforce development programs — design and lead for apprentices through journeyman-level technicians, incorporating hands-on repair, troubleshooting, and documentation competencies aligned to industry certifications.Cross-functional engineering and operations teams — coordinate at the organizational level to align control system upgrade projects with public safety requirements and capital planning cycles.Enterprise resource planning and data systems — oversee configuration and use for maintenance tracking, ensuring that test results, material usage, and repair histories support data-driven decision making.Complex problem-solving initiatives — lead when systemic valve or regulator failures threaten service continuity, directing diagnosis, resource mobilization, and stakeholder communication at the executive level.Procurement and vendor evaluation processes — guide for control devices, lubricants, and specialized tooling by applying deep mechanical and engineering technology knowledge to specification and selection decisions.Safety culture and risk management policies — champion across the organization, embedding cautiousness, integrity, and attention to detail into standard operating procedures and crew accountability systems.Regulatory and public safety compliance audits — direct and represent the organization during external inspections of valve and control system programs, resolving findings and implementing corrective action plans.Operational performance metrics for maintenance programs — define, monitor, and report to senior leadership, using analytical software and trend data to drive continuous improvement across installation and repair functions.
Also known as
83 alternate job titles map to this occupation.
Air Valve MechanicAir Valve RepairerAutomation and Controls SpecialistAutomation Controls TechnicianCertification TechnicianControl Panel Technician (Control Panel Tech)Control SpecialistControl Systems Technician (Control Systems Tech)Control Valve MechanicControl Valve TechnicianControls Service Technician (Controls Service Tech)Controls SpecialistControls TechnicianElectric Meter InstallerElectric Meter RepairerElectric Meter SetterElectric Meter TechnicianElectrical Controls Tech (Electrical Controls Technician)Electrical TechnicianElectro-Mechanical Technician (E/M Technician)Fare Register RepairerField Mechanical Meter TesterFire Extinguisher RepairerGas Meter InstallerGas Meter MechanicGas Meter ProverGas Pit WorkerGas Regulator RepairerGas TechnicianGas Utility WorkerIndustrial Control TechnicianIndustrial Controls Tech (Industrial Controls Technician)Industrial Gas ServicerInside Meter TesterInstrument and Controls TechnicianInstrument and Electrical Technician (I and E Technician)Instrument Control and Electrical Technician (ICE Technician)Instrument TechnicianInstrumentation TechnicianLubrication Equipment Servicer