Occupation · SOC 49-9071.00
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.
Also called: Facilities Technician · Maintenance Engineer · Maintenance Mechanic · Maintenance Technician · Building Mechanic · Equipment Engineering Technician · Maintenance Journeyman · Maintenance Man · Maintenance Specialist · Maintenance Worker · Apartment Maintenance Tech (Apartment Maintenance Technician) · Apartment Maintenance Worker
Job family: Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations
A source-stamped Markdown brief of this occupation — paste it into an agent, or fetch
/roles/role-49-9071-00/context.md directly.
A fast read on where AI already shows up in this occupation, where it stays a copilot, where humans remain in the loop, and what the labor market is doing. Built from observed Claude.ai conversations mapped to O*NET tasks and from published research — measures of usage and exposure, not advice or predictions that the job is going away.
Task areas most often handled directively in observed AI conversations — candidates to delegate with light review.
Task areas where people work with AI — iterating, learning, or checking — staying in the loop rather than handing the task off.
Task areas where a human was still judged necessary in a large share of observed conversations — not a safety ruling, an observed-need signal.
The capabilities O*NET rates most important for this occupation — the human ground the work is built on.
See all skills →Independent published positions, read together — not a forecast.
20th-percentile task overlap — yet about 159,800 openings a year (+3.8% projected, BLS), and observed AI use leans 4066% copilot, not hand-off (AEI) . What exposure means →
What today's research says about this occupation's exposure to AI, how AI is actually being used in it, and where employment is headed. These are positions within published studies — measures of exposure and usage, not predictions that this job will disappear.
Each study uses its own scale, so the raw scores are not comparable across rows — the percentile (this job's rank among all U.S. occupations with data) is the comparable figure, and sizes the bars.
| Measure | Rank vs all occupations | Percentile | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall AI exposure (Felten et al.) Low | 17th | -1.0 | |
| LLM task exposure, γ (OpenAI / Eloundou) Low | 28th | 0.2 | |
| AI assistant applicability (Microsoft) Low | 21st | 0.1 |
OpenAI's exposure study scores tasks three ways: with a language model alone (α 0.0), with simple added tooling (β 0.1), and including AI-powered software (γ 0.2). Higher means more of the job's tasks could be done at least twice as fast — not that they will be automated away.
This job mostly cannot be done remotely (Dingel–Neiman) — its hands-on tasks sit outside what software-based AI reaches.
A pre-LLM (2013) estimate of how automatable this job is by computerization and robotics. Shown for historical context only — it is not part of any current AI ranking.
Frey–Osborne probability 0.6 · 54th percentile among occupations · Moderate
Among measured AI assistant conversations mapped to this occupation (Anthropic Economic Index, 2026-01-15), these task types came up most. These are shares of observed AI conversations — not shares of the job, of worker time, or of what could be automated.
| Diagnose mechanical problems and determine how to correct them, checking blueprints, repair manuals, or parts catalogs, as necessary. | 1.1% |
Independent U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics employment projection for 2024–2034 — a labor-market forecast, not an AI-impact forecast.
| Outlook | About average · +3.8% by 2034 |
| Projected annual openings | 159,800 |
| Employment 2024 → 2034 | 1,629,700 → 1,692,100 |
“Annual openings” counts new jobs plus replacements for workers who leave the occupation, so it can be large even when growth is modest.
The ILO's 2025 global study scores generative-AI exposure on the international ISCO-08 occupation system, not US SOC. Bridged through the published (and approximate, many-to-many) IBS O*NET-SOC ↔ ISCO-08 crosswalk, this US occupation corresponds to the international occupation below. Exposure here means how much of the work's tasks today's AI can attempt — task overlap, not automation, adoption, or jobs lost.
| International occupation (ISCO-08) | Task exposure (2025) | Most tasks fall in |
|---|---|---|
| Odd Job Persons · 9622 | 11% | Not exposed |
Read the whole six-band gradient on the GenAI exposure gradient page. The crosswalk is approximate: a US occupation can map to several international ones, and the ILO scores describe the international occupation, not this exact US role.
How people actually apply AI to this occupation's tasks, from Claude.ai (Free and Pro) conversations in the Anthropic Economic Index, 2026-01-15. This is one AI assistant's consumer sample — not all AI, not the whole workforce. Autonomy and the collaboration mix are model-rated estimates; figures below the sample floor are hidden.
| Augmentation vs. automation | 40.7% working with AI · 22.0% handed to AI |
| Most common way people use AI here | Learning · you ask AI to explain or teach |
| Typical AI autonomy | 4.0 / 5 · higher = AI acts more independently |
The role's most common tasks in AI conversations, each tagged with how people work with the AI on it. “Usage” is the share of observed conversations, not of the job.
| Task | How | Usage |
|---|---|---|
| Diagnose mechanical problems and determine how to correct them, checking blueprints, repair manuals, or parts catalogs, as necessary. | Feedback loop | 0.6% |
| Test and treat water supply. | Learning | 0.4% |
Tasks where the model most often judged that a person remained necessary — a useful read on the current boundary, not a guarantee.
| Diagnose mechanical problems and determine how to correct them, checking blueprints, repair manuals, or parts catalogs, as necessary. | 98.2% | |
| Test and treat water supply. | 91.4% |
Example prompts phrased from the tasks people most often delegate to AI in this occupation (Anthropic Economic Index). Each shows the underlying measured task and its share of observed AI use. They are suggested phrasings of real tasks — starting points, not endorsed instructions.
Help me diagnose mechanical problems and determine how to correct them, checking blueprints, repair manuals, or parts catalogs, as necessary. From: Diagnose mechanical problems and determine how to correct them, checking blueprints, repair manuals, or parts catalogs, as necessary. · 0.6% of measured AI use · feedback loop
Help me test and treat water supply. From: Test and treat water supply. · 0.4% of measured AI use · learning
All 30 tasks O*NET lists for this occupation, ordered by importance. Each links to its own page with AI-exposure and observed-use detail.
Newer responsibilities O*NET has flagged as growing for this occupation.
O*NET importance rating, from 1 (not important) to 5 (extremely important).
| Mechanical | 4.0 | |
| English Language | 3.7 | |
| Building and Construction | 3.7 | |
| Mathematics | 3.4 | |
| Production and Processing | 3.1 |
| Equipment Maintenance | 3.9 | |
| Repairing | 3.9 | |
| Troubleshooting | 3.8 | |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.1 | |
| Operations Monitoring | 3.1 | |
| Operation and Control | 3.1 | |
| Quality Control Analysis | 3.1 | |
| Coordination | 3.0 | |
| Equipment Selection | 3.0 |
| Information Ordering | 3.9 | |
| Arm-Hand Steadiness | 3.9 | |
| Manual Dexterity | 3.9 | |
| Near Vision | 3.9 | |
| Problem Sensitivity | 3.8 | |
| Oral Expression | 3.4 | |
| Visualization | 3.4 | |
| Control Precision | 3.4 | |
| Oral Comprehension | 3.3 | |
| Deductive Reasoning | 3.3 | |
| Finger Dexterity | 3.3 | |
| Multilimb Coordination | 3.3 | |
| Written Expression | 3.1 | |
| Inductive Reasoning | 3.1 | |
| Category Flexibility | 3.1 | |
| Flexibility of Closure | 3.1 | |
| Selective Attention | 3.1 | |
| Extent Flexibility | 3.1 | |
| Speech Recognition | 3.1 | |
| Speech Clarity | 3.1 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.3 | |
| Active Learning | 3.1 | |
| Monitoring | 3.1 | |
| Reading Comprehension | 3.0 | |
| Active Listening | 3.0 | |
| Speaking | 3.0 |
Skills employers ask for in job postings for this occupation (Lightcast), with whether each is a common or specialized skill.
Showing the top 40 of 47.
How characteristic each condition is of the job, on O*NET's 1–5 context scale (higher = more present in day-to-day work). Each condition links to how it varies across all occupations.
What to study: Construction Trades . Fields of study crosswalked to this occupation (NCES CIP–SOC), not a requirement.
Share of people in this occupation at each level of education.
| Post-Secondary Certificate | 63.0% | |
| High School Diploma | 24.9% | |
| Some College Courses | 6.6% | |
| Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree) | 2.9% | |
| Master's Degree | 1.2% | |
| Less than a High School Diploma | 1.1% | |
| Bachelor's Degree | 0.3% |
The interests and personal qualities O*NET associates with people who do this work.
| Realistic | 7.0 | |
| Conventional | 4.2 | |
| Investigative | 2.5 | |
| Social | 1.8 |
| Dependability | 2.6 | |
| Attention to Detail | 2.3 | |
| Cautiousness | 1.8 | |
| Perseverance | 1.7 |
U.S. · annual wages (BLS OEWS)
| 10th percentile | $33,860 |
| 25th percentile | $39,050 |
| Median (50th) | $48,620 |
| 75th percentile | $61,710 |
| 90th percentile | $76,110 |
| People employed | 1,531,700 |
Where these workers are employed, by number of jobs (national, BLS OEWS). Pay shown is the occupation's national median, not industry-specific.
| Industry | Workers | National median pay |
|---|---|---|
| Real Estate and Rental and Leasing · Sector | 314,320 | $47,610 |
| Manufacturing · Sector | 206,550 | $60,440 |
| Accommodation and Food Services · Sector | 131,030 | $38,380 |
| Health Care and Social Assistance · Sector | 127,220 | $47,420 |
| Educational Services · Sector | 112,460 | $49,290 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services · Sector | 95,710 | $47,210 |
| Transportation and Warehousing · Sector | 58,610 | $62,690 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) · Sector | 53,520 | $45,030 |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation · Sector | 53,460 | $40,330 |
| Wholesale Trade · Sector | 41,680 | $51,890 |
| Retail Trade · Sector | 41,550 | $40,860 |
| Construction · Sector | 34,410 | $51,550 |
Industries where this occupation is far more common than in the economy as a whole. The location quotient is how many times more concentrated it is here (a value of 5 means five times its economy-wide share).
| Industry | Concentration | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Real Estate and Rental and Leasing · Sector | 13.36× | 314,320 |
| Hydroelectric Power Generation · National industry | 3.24× | 220 |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation · Sector | 2.04× | 53,460 |
| Casino Hotels · National industry | 1.89× | 6,330 |
| Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers · National industry | 1.68× | 10,530 |
| Manufacturing · Sector | 1.63× | 206,550 |
| Residential Mental Health and Substance Abuse Facilities · National industry | 1.51× | 3,870 |
| Fossil Fuel Electric Power Generation · National industry | 1.38× | 980 |
Part of the Construction career cluster.
Side-by-side comparisons place two occupations’ pay, preparation, skills, and AI exposure on the same page — same data, same scale, no forecast.
Options the data surfaces for Maintenance and Repair Workers, General — not advice or a forecast. Each is a real cross-link you can follow into the evidence.
Capabilities this work builds that are used across many other occupations.
Occupations O*NET rates as related — the nearby moves on the map.
How people typically prepare for this work.
On the global GenAI exposure gradient this work sits around the 4th percentile of 427 international occupations.
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General show 20th-percentile AI task overlap — and about 159,800 annual U.S. openings
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General show 20th-percentile AI task overlap — and about 159,800 annual U.S. openings • Maintenance and Repair Workers, General rank in the 20th percentile (Low band) for AI task overlap across U.S. occupations — a measure of how much of the work today's AI can attempt, not how much is automated. (Eloundou et al. (GPTs are GPTs) + Felten AIOE) • The occupation is projected to see about 159,800 U.S. job openings per year (2024–34), counting growth and replacement — a labor-demand projection made independently of AI. (BLS Employment Projections 2024–34) • BLS projects employment to be about average (+3.8%) from 2024 to 2034. (BLS Employment Projections 2024–34) • Median annual pay is $48,620, across about 1,531,700 U.S. workers. (BLS OEWS (May 2024)) • Of the AI use actually observed for this work, 41% looks like augmentation (drafting, iterating, checking) rather than hands-off automation — from a Claude.ai usage sample, not a census. (2026-01-15-v4-plus-2025-03-27-v2) Source: Singulariki — "Maintenance and Repair Workers, General". https://singulariki.com/roles/role-49-9071-00 Note: AI task overlap measures what today's AI can attempt, not automation, job loss, or a forecast.
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Every line is built only from figures this page already shows and cites. AI task overlap means what today's AI can attempt — not automation, job loss, or a forecast.
Every figure above traces to a named public dataset and the exact release below — not hand-written opinion. See the full methodology for what each measure does and does not mean.
Data compiled June 2, 2026. Figures are estimates, not advice.
Singulariki. "Maintenance and Repair Workers, General." Singulariki: a source-backed encyclopedia of work. Built from O*NET 30.3; BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) May 2024; BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034; Anthropic Economic Index v4 (2026-01-15) + v2 (2025-03-27); Microsoft “Working with AI” working-with-ai; “GPTs are GPTs” (Eloundou et al.) arXiv 2303.10130; AI Occupational Exposure (AIOE) Felten, Raj & Seamans; ILO / Gmyrek et al. GenAI exposure gradient 2025; IBS O*NET-SOC ↔ ISCO-08 occupation crosswalk 2022; Frey & Osborne (2013) frey-osborne-automation; Dingel & Neiman (2020) dingel-neiman-workathome. Accessed June 7, 2026. https://singulariki.com/roles/role-49-9071-00
Singulariki. (2026). Maintenance and Repair Workers, General. Singulariki: a source-backed encyclopedia of work. Retrieved June 7, 2026, from https://singulariki.com/roles/role-49-9071-00
@misc{singulariki-role-49-9071-00,
title = {Maintenance and Repair Workers, General},
author = {{Singulariki}},
year = {2026},
note = {O*NET 30.3; BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) May 2024; BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034; Anthropic Economic Index v4 (2026-01-15) + v2 (2025-03-27); Microsoft “Working with AI” working-with-ai; “GPTs are GPTs” (Eloundou et al.) arXiv 2303.10130; AI Occupational Exposure (AIOE) Felten, Raj & Seamans; ILO / Gmyrek et al. GenAI exposure gradient 2025; IBS O*NET-SOC ↔ ISCO-08 occupation crosswalk 2022; Frey & Osborne (2013) frey-osborne-automation; Dingel & Neiman (2020) dingel-neiman-workathome. Accessed June 7, 2026},
url = {https://singulariki.com/roles/role-49-9071-00}
} Citations name the underlying public dataset releases — they reflect what this page is built from, not just the URL.