Occupation · 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.
Median wage
$38,860
$28,770–$54,650
Projected growth
+2.3%
Slower than average
Annual openings
220
per year
Employed (US)
97,540
Job Zone 2
Typical preparation
Some preparation
Stackable credential programs
8 mapped
Core skills
MonitoringOperations MonitoringOperation and ControlActive ListeningCritical ThinkingEquipment MaintenanceTroubleshootingRepairing
Knowledge areas
MechanicalBuilding and ConstructionCustomer and Personal ServicePublic Safety and SecurityEnglish Language
Technology & tools
Word processing softwareIndustrial control softwareComputer aided design CAD softwareData base user interface and query softwareFacilities management software
Representative tasks
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.Position vehicles, machinery, equipment, physical structures, and other objects for assembly or installation, using hand tools, power tools, and moving equipment.Transfer tools, parts, equipment, and supplies to and from work stations and other areas.Adjust, maintain, and repair tools, equipment, and machines, and assist more skilled workers with similar tasks.Order new parts to maintain inventory.Apply protective materials to equipment, components, and parts to prevent defects and corrosion.Design, weld, and fabricate parts, using blueprints or other mechanical plans.Assemble and maintain physical structures, using hand or power tools.Prepare work stations for use by mechanics and repairers.
Competency framework
Skill expectations by proficiency level.
emerging
Hand tools and basic power tools — identify and handle correctly under direct supervision on a commercial or industrial job site.Replacement parts and equipment supplies — retrieve and deliver to lead technicians during scheduled installation tasks in a maintenance shop setting.Machinery and equipment surfaces — clean and lubricate using approved cleaning agents and hand tools following a written checklist on the shop floor.Wiring, piping, and tubing components — hold securely in position while a senior technician connects or disconnects them during repair work.Equipment and machinery operation — observe and report obvious irregularities such as unusual sounds or leaks to a supervising technician during routine rounds.Disassembled equipment parts — sort, label, and stage in the correct order under direct instruction to support efficient reassembly after repair.Basic safety and public-safety protocols — follow consistently when entering mechanical or electrical work areas on a maintenance crew.Verbal instructions from lead technicians — listen actively and confirm understanding before performing assigned helper tasks in a busy repair environment.Simple inspection checklists — complete accurately for components and instruments being reviewed by a journeyman during a quality-control walkthrough.Electronic mail and office suite software — use to receive daily work orders and document basic task completion notes in a facilities management system.
developing
Hand and power tools — select and apply appropriately when installing or replacing moderate-complexity machinery parts with limited oversight on an industrial site.Equipment components and instruments — examine and perform basic functional tests to detect common defects before returning equipment to service in a maintenance facility.Electrical wiring and components — diagnose straightforward faults and rewire simple circuits following standard diagrams with occasional check-ins from a lead technician.Piping, tubing, and hose connections — adjust, connect, or disconnect correctly using appropriate hand or power tools during routine service calls across multiple equipment types.Machinery performance data — monitor via industrial control software panels and flag readings outside accepted parameters to the supervisor during shift operations.Broken or defective equipment — disassemble methodically and prepare for repair, then reassemble and verify function following manufacturer procedures in a workshop environment.Lubrication and preventive maintenance schedules — execute independently for assigned equipment within a planned maintenance program at a commercial or institutional facility.Work progress and task sequencing — coordinate with fellow helpers and journeyman technicians to keep multi-step repair tasks on schedule in a team-based maintenance environment.Facilities management software — enter completed maintenance records, parts usage, and equipment status updates accurately after each service task.Quality-control observations — document and communicate clearly to supervisors using structured verbal reports and spreadsheet logs following equipment inspections.
proficient
Machinery and equipment installations — plan and execute end-to-end replacement or new-installation tasks autonomously, selecting proper tools and verifying correct function on complex industrial systems.Electrical fault diagnosis — troubleshoot and resolve non-routine wiring and component failures by applying deductive reasoning and schematic interpretation across varied equipment types on a commercial site.Multi-system equipment inspections — design and carry out comprehensive examination and testing routines that identify latent defects before equipment failure occurs in a production or facilities environment.Wiring, piping, and tubing configurations — reconfigure or adapt connections to meet revised specifications or non-standard conditions, ensuring code-compliant outcomes without supervisory direction.Equipment disassembly and reassembly cycles — manage complete overhaul sequences for complex machinery, maintaining parts integrity and verifying performance benchmarks after reassembly.Preventive and corrective maintenance programs — execute and refine scheduled maintenance protocols for a broad equipment portfolio, reducing downtime in a high-demand maintenance operation.Safety and operational hazard assessments — evaluate work-site conditions independently and implement corrective measures to maintain public safety and regulatory compliance during repair activities.Maintenance data and trend analysis — interpret equipment history stored in database and facilities management software to prioritize repairs and anticipate failures before they impact operations.Cross-trade coordination — collaborate effectively with electricians, plumbers, and other specialist tradespeople to integrate helper-level support seamlessly into large-scale installation or repair projects.Younger or newer helpers — guide task execution and model correct tool use and safety behavior during complex maintenance assignments in a mentorship-adjacent capacity.
advanced
Maintenance and repair workflow standards — establish and enforce shop-wide procedures for installation, inspection, and troubleshooting that align with building and construction codes and organizational safety policy.Helper and junior technician teams — direct daily work assignments, evaluate performance, and develop individual skill plans that build a capable, safety-conscious maintenance workforce.Facilities-wide equipment reliability programs — design and oversee preventive maintenance schedules across all mechanical and electrical assets, measurably reducing unplanned downtime at an organizational level.Complex electrical and mechanical troubleshooting escalations — lead resolution of high-priority or recurrent equipment failures that exceed routine technician capability, restoring critical systems in production or institutional environments.Tool, parts, and equipment procurement strategy — evaluate vendor options, set inventory standards, and authorize purchases to ensure the maintenance team has reliable resources without excess cost.Cross-functional installation projects — serve as the primary maintenance and repair authority on large capital projects, coordinating with engineering, construction, and facilities management stakeholders from planning through commissioning.Safety and compliance culture — champion cautiousness, integrity, and regulatory adherence organization-wide, conducting audits and leading corrective-action reviews after incidents or near-misses.Technology adoption and tooling upgrades — evaluate and implement industrial control software, CAD tools, and facilities management platforms that improve diagnostic accuracy and record-keeping across the maintenance department.Performance metrics and quality-control reporting — analyze maintenance KPIs using database and spreadsheet software and present actionable findings to organizational leadership to drive resource and staffing decisions.Knowledge transfer and succession planning — develop structured on-the-job training curricula and mentorship pathways that convert entry-level helpers into proficient maintenance contributors over a multi-year career timeline.
Also known as
396 alternate job titles map to this occupation.
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