Maintenance and Repair Workers, General Job Outlook
The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects employment of general maintenance and repair workers to grow 4.2% from 2025 to 2035 (about 68,600 more jobs), with about 148,700 openings a year, and the May 2025 median pay of $49,590 a year ranks 563rd of 825 occupations.
- Projected change
- +4.2%
- Openings a year
- 148,700
- Median pay
- $49,590
- Pay rank
- 563rd of 825
Is employment of general maintenance and repair workers growing or shrinking?
Growing: BLS projects employment of general maintenance and repair workers to rise 4.2% (about 68,600 more jobs) from 2025 to 2035, faster than the 3.5% projected across all occupations. That is slower than the +5.4% summed from BLS's employment levels across the 51 installation, maintenance, and repair occupations with a projection. That change ranks 287th of 830 projected occupations.
| Measure | Figure |
|---|---|
| Employment, 2025 | 1,621,800 |
| Employment, 2035 | 1,690,500 |
| Projected change | +4.2% |
| Openings a year | 148,700 |
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2025 to 2035. A projection is a BLS estimate, not a count. The 1,621,800 jobs here differ from the 1,529,700 on the salary page because Employment Projections also counts the self-employed and a wider set of workers, while OEWS counts wage and salary jobs in May 2025. BLS published these projections on August 27, 2026; checked November 10, 2026. Confirm any figure in the BLS Employment Projections tables.
BLS's reasons for this projection are at the Occupational Outlook Handbook. State projections are at Projections Central; projections by industry are left to BLS. Education, licensing and work context at O*NET.
How many job openings are there each year?
About 148,700 openings a year, from job growth and from workers leaving the occupation, the 23rd most of 830 occupations. About 95% of them replace workers who change occupations or leave the labor force; the rest come from the 6,860 jobs added in an average year.
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2025 to 2035.
How does pay for general maintenance and repair workers rank?
The median of $49,590 a year ranks 563rd of 825 occupations with a published median. It sits in the upper half of occupations on openings and the lower half on pay.
Source: BLS OEWS national file, May 2025. Wage and salary jobs only; the self-employed are not counted. OEWS pay excludes overtime, shift differentials and non-production bonuses. Ranks count only the occupations with that published figure: 830 for projected change, 830 for openings, 825 for median pay, which is why the totals differ.
What does it take to start?
- Typical entry-level education: high school diploma or equivalent.
- Typical on-the-job training: moderate-term on-the-job training.
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2025 to 2035, education and training assignments.
How do related jobs compare on outlook?
| Occupation | Change | Openings a year | Median pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Millwrights | +0.9% | 3,200 | $65,700 |
| Helpers--Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers | +5.3% | 13,600 | $39,630 |
| Industrial Machinery Mechanics | +17.8% | 44,400 | $64,520 |
| Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines | +6.7% | 15,000 | $65,510 |
| Farm Equipment Mechanics and Service Technicians | +10.7% | 3,700 | $56,550 |
| Electric Motor, Power Tool, and Related Repairers | +4.4% | 1,400 | $56,210 |
| Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment | +0.3% | 4,700 | $74,090 |
| Electrical and Electronics Installers and Repairers, Transportation Equipment | +5.4% | 500 | $84,890 |
Related occupations from O*NET; projections from BLS Employment Projections, 2025 to 2035; pay from BLS OEWS, May 2025.