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Career Details

49-9071.00 - Maintenance and Repair Workers, General


Perform work involving the skills of two or more maintenance or craft occupations to keep machines, mechanical equipment, or the structure of a building in repair. Duties may involve pipe fitting; HVAC maintenance; insulating; welding; machining; carpentry; repairing electrical or mechanical equipment; installing, aligning, and balancing new equipment; and repairing buildings, floors, or stairs.


Key Facts
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Bright Outlook
1
Career Details
Green Job
Career Details
Current Employment
1,374,700
Estimate
Forecasted Employment
1,458,100
Estimate
Change in Employment
+83,500
Estimate
Change in Employment %
+6.1%
Estimate
Tasks
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Tasks
The tasks listed below can be performed to prepare you for a career in this field.
Core
  • Assemble, install, or repair wiring, electrical or electronic components, pipe systems, plumbing, machinery, or equipment.
  • Diagnose mechanical problems and determine how to correct them, checking blueprints, repair manuals, or parts catalogs, as necessary.
  • Inspect, operate, or test machinery or equipment to diagnose machine malfunctions.
  • Record type and cost of maintenance or repair work.
  • Clean or lubricate shafts, bearings, gears, or other parts of machinery.
  • Plan and lay out repair work, using diagrams, drawings, blueprints, maintenance manuals, or schematic diagrams.
  • Adjust functional parts of devices or control instruments, using hand tools, levels, plumb bobs, or straightedges.
  • Paint or repair roofs, windows, doors, floors, woodwork, plaster, drywall, or other parts of building structures.
  • Align and balance new equipment after installation.
  • Set up and operate machine tools to repair or fabricate machine parts, jigs, fixtures, or tools.
  • Fabricate or repair counters, benches, partitions, or other wooden structures, such as sheds or outbuildings.
  • Install equipment to improve the energy or operational efficiency of residential or commercial buildings.
  • Dismantle machines, equipment, or devices to access and remove defective parts, using hoists, cranes, hand tools, or power tools.
  • Perform routine maintenance, such as inspecting drives, motors, or belts, checking fluid levels, replacing filters, or doing other preventive maintenance actions.
  • Repair machines, equipment, or structures, using tools such as hammers, hoists, saws, drills, wrenches, or equipment such as precision measuring instruments or electrical or electronic testing devices.
  • Maintain or repair specialized equipment or machinery located in cafeterias, laundries, hospitals, stores, offices, or factories.
  • Order parts, supplies, or equipment from catalogs or suppliers.
  • Perform general cleaning of buildings or properties.
  • Train or manage maintenance personnel or subcontractors.
  • Estimate costs to repair machinery, equipment, or building structures.
  • Design new equipment to aid in the repair or maintenance of machines, mechanical equipment, or building structures.
Supplemental
  • Operate cutting torches or welding equipment to cut or join metal parts.
  • Inspect used parts to determine changes in dimensional requirements, using rules, calipers, micrometers, or other measuring instruments.
  • Lay brick to repair or maintain buildings, walls, arches, or other structures.
  • Grind and reseat valves, using valve-grinding machines.
  • Assemble boilers at installation sites, using tools such as levels, plumb bobs, hammers, torches, or other hand tools.
  • Perform routine maintenance on boilers, such as replacing burners or hoses, installing replacement parts, or reinforcing structural weaknesses to ensure optimal boiler efficiency.
  • Position, attach, or blow insulating materials to prevent energy losses from buildings, pipes, or other structures or objects.
  • Test and treat water supply.
  • Provide groundskeeping services, such as landscaping or snow removal.
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Knowledge
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Knowledge

The items listed below are organized into sections that contain knowledge useful for pursuing a career in this field. Each section also contains a "Percentage of Importance" statistic that shows how relevant an item is to the occupation.
 Mechanical
  • 81%
    Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
 English Language
  • 74%
    Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
 Building and Construction
  • 74%
    Knowledge of materials, methods, and the tools involved in the construction or repair of houses, buildings, or other structures such as highways and roads.
 Mathematics
  • 67%
    Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
 Production and Processing
  • 61%
    Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
 Customer and Personal Service
  • 58%
    Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
 Public Safety and Security
  • 52%
    Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
 Engineering and Technology
  • 50%
    Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Tools
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Tools
The tools listed below include machines, equipment, tools, and software that is useful for individuals who are interested in this career.
 Wrenches and drivers
  • Adjustable crescent wrenches
  • Adjustable hand wrenches
  • Adjustable slip lock nut wrenches
  • Allen wrenches
  • Basin wrenches
  • Bearing pullers
  • Chain pullers
  • Comealongs
  • Compression sleeve pullers
  • End pipe wrenches
  • Faucet handle pullers
  • Faucet stem and cartridge pullers
  • Flat blade screwdrivers
  • Hex key sets
  • Hex wrenches
  • Hollow core socket wrenches
  • Manual ratchet threader sets
  • Nut drivers
  • Offset pipe wrenches
  • Offset socket wrenches
  • Phillips head screwdrivers
  • Pipe wrenches
  • Ratchet wrenches
  • Screw extractor sets
  • Socket wrench sets
  • Straight pipe wrenches
  • Straight screwdrivers
  • Torque wrenches
  • Tub drain removers
  • Universal nut wrenches
 Holding and clamping tools
  • Adjustable widemouth pliers
  • Channel lock pliers
  • Diagonal cutting pliers
  • Locking C-clamps
  • Locking pliers
  • Needlenose pliers
  • Pipe vises
  • Pipe welding vises
  • Side cutting pliers
  • Slip joint pliers
  • Vise grip pliers
  • Water pump pliers
  • Welding clamps
  • Workshop bench vises
 Compressors
  • Air compressors
 Cutting and crimping and punching tools
  • Augers
  • Center punches
  • Gasket cutters
  • Hacksaws
  • Hand saws
  • Mini hacksaws
  • Pin punches
  • Shears
  • Tin snips
  • Utility knives
  • Wire crimpers
  • Wire cutting tools
  • Wire strippers
 Forming tools
  • Ball peen hammers
  • Claw hammers
  • Dead blow hammers
  • Ice picks
  • Rubber mallets
  • Sledgehammers
 Power tools
  • Biscuit joiners
  • Chipping hammers
  • Circular saws
  • Concrete saws
  • Cordless power drills
  • Direct tap machines
  • Electric nail guns
  • Electric planers
  • Electric sanders
  • Flaring tools
  • Hammer drills
  • Hand drills
  • Jig saws
  • Power drills
  • Power routers
  • Power saws
  • Radial arm saws
  • Reciprocating saws
  • Right-angle drills
  • Table saws
  • Tile saws
 Lifting equipment and accessories
  • Block and tackle equipment
  • Hand jacks
  • Hoisting equipment
  • Hydraulic boom trucks
  • Power lifts
  • Rigging equipment
  • Workshop cranes
 Measuring and layout tools
  • Bubble levels
  • Combination squares
  • Hand levels
  • Inspection mirrors
  • Measuring tapes
  • Plumb bobs
  • Spirit levels
  • Straightedges
  • Stud locators
 Dispensing tools
  • Caulking guns
  • Grease guns
  • Hand operated spray guns
  • Oil dispensing cans
 Tool attachments and accessories
  • Circle cutters
  • Hole cutting tools
  • Pipe threaders
  • Tap sets
 Cleaning equipment
  • Closet augers
  • Drain augers
  • Drain cleaning cables
  • Hand spinners
  • Heavy duty drain cleaning machines
  • High pressure water sprayers
  • Pipe cleaning equipment
  • Plungers
  • Power drain cleaners
  • Pressurized water pigs
  • Sectional drain cleaning machines
  • Sewer rodding machines
  • Sewer tapes
  • Toilet augers
 Prying and bending tools
  • Conduit benders
  • Crowbars
  • Pry bars
 Metal cutting tools
  • Conduit cutters
  • Copper cutting machines
  • Mini tubing cutters
  • Pipe cutters
  • Polyvinyl chloride PVC cutters
  • Polyvinyl chloride PVC saws
  • Power pipe cutters
  • Ratcheting polyvinyl chloride PVC cutters
  • Soil pipe cutters
  • Tubing cutters
  • Wide roll pipe cutters
 Electrical measuring and testing equipment and accessories
  • Current testers
  • Ohmmeters
  • Volt-ammeters
  • Volt-ohm meters VOM
  • Voltage testers
 Computers
  • Desktop computers
  • Laptop computers
  • Personal computers
 Length and thickness and distance measuring instruments
  • Dial calipers
  • Dial indicators
  • Digital micrometers
  • Feeler gauges
  • Rulers
 Industrial trucks
  • Dollies
  • Hand trucks
 Respiratory protection
  • Dust and particulate respirators
 Agriculture, forestry and garden handtools
  • Electric trimmers
  • Lawn mowers
  • Snow shovels
 Pulling tools
  • Fish tape pullers
  • Fuse pullers
 Rough and finishing tools
  • Hand grinders
  • Metal chisels
  • Precision files
  • Sharpening equipment
 Paint applicators and painting accessories
  • Paint application brushes
  • Paint application rollers
  • Paint spray guns
 Personal communication devices
  • Portable two way radios
 Welding machinery
  • Portable welding machines
  • Shielded arc welding tools
  • Welders
 Sealing tools
  • Putty knives
 Safety apparel
  • Safety gloves
 Safety footwear
  • Safety shoes
 Ladders and scaffolding
  • Scaffolding
  • Step ladders
 Pumps
  • Sewage pumps
  • Utility pumps
 Earth moving machinery
  • Snow blowers
  • Tractors with backhoe attachments
  • Trenchers
  • Two-wheel drive front end loaders
 Soldering machines
  • Soldering equipment
 Sampling equipment
  • Water samplers
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Technology
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Technology
The technologies listed below include machines, equipment, tools, and software that is useful for individuals who are interested in this career.
 Operating environment software
  • Apple macOSHOT
  • Handheld computer device software
  • LinuxHOT
  • Microsoft WindowsHOT
 Industry specific software
  • Autodesk AutoCADHOT
  • Computer aided design and drafting software CADDHOT
  • Computerized maintenance management system CMMS
  • Dassault Systemes CATIAHOT
  • Digital direct control DDC energy management software
  • PTC Creo ParametricHOT
  • Supervisory control and data acquisition SCADA softwareHOT
 Content authoring and editing software
  • Computerized time management systems
  • FacebookHOT
  • Google DocsHOT
  • Loom
  • Microsoft ExcelHOT
  • Microsoft WordHOT
  • YouTubeHOT
 Data management and query software
  • Data entry softwareHOT
  • YardiHOT
 Network applications software
  • Eko
  • Web browser software
 Information exchange software
  • FaceTime
  • GroupMe
  • IBM NotesHOT
  • Microsoft ExchangeHOT
  • Microsoft OutlookHOT
 Business function specific software
  • Microsoft OfficeHOT
  • Microsoft ProjectHOT
  • Oracle Primavera Enterprise Project Portfolio ManagementHOT
 Development software
  • National Instruments LabVIEWHOT
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Certifications
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Certifications
FastForward at Virginia's Community Colleges is a short-term training program for high-demand industries, like healthcare, information technology, and skilled trades and infrastructure, helping Virginians get the jobs and salaries they need. Our goal is to get you trained, help you earn your certification, and get you into a career that can support you and your family. Explore the latest training program offerings by visiting FastForward
The certifications listed below are useful to pursue if you are interested in a career in this field.
 Specialty
 Advanced
 Core
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Licensing
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Licensing
The licensing information below is organized into sections and is useful for pursuing if you are interested in a career in this field.
No specific licensing information is listed for this occupation in the area you have selected.
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Related Programs
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Programs related to this career, offered by participating institution(s), are listed below.

Clicking on the Degree programs in the list below will take you away from the Careers page.
INSTITUTION
PROGRAMS
Virginia Western Community College