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.
From people doing the work
It's a hands-on job where you're constantly learning from experienced technicians. You're the extra set of hands, fetching tools, cleaning up, and sometimes getting to do basic repairs yourself. Every day is different, depending on what breaks down or needs installing. It can be physically demanding, but there's a real satisfaction in helping get things running again.
Drawn from r/Maintenance, Association for Facilities Engineering (AFE), 5-10 years of experience
Attribution: Composite
Composite · Synthesised from r/Maintenance, Association for Facilities Engineering (AFE), 5-10 years of experience
A day in the life of a Helpers--Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers
- People interaction
- Extensive
- Team vs solo
- 85% Team / 15% Solo
- Client facing
- Sometimes
- Impact visibility
- High
- Travel
- Frequent
- Schedule flexibility
- Flexible
- Remote work
- On-site Only
- Typical work hours
- 40-50
- Stress level
- Moderate
Helpers--Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers salary, education and outlook at a glance
- Median salary
- $38,860
- Entry-level
- $29,000
- Senior
- $54,000
- Growth by 2033
- +2.3%
- Demand
- Stable
- Freelance potential
- Moderate
- Salary growth potential
- 86%
- Typical student debt
- Moderate
Skills you need as a Helpers--Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers
Hard skills
- Mechanical
- Operations Monitoring
- Operating system software
Soft skills
- Coordination
- Judgment and Decision Making
- Active Listening
Technical complexity: Low
Tools of the trade
Core tools
- Wrenches (Hardware): Tightening and loosening nuts and bolts in various equipment.
- Screwdrivers (Hardware): Fastening and unfastening screws during assembly or repair.
- Pliers (Hardware): Gripping, bending, and cutting wires or small components.
- Safety Goggles (Hardware): Protecting eyes from debris and chemical splashes.
- Work Gloves (Hardware): Protecting hands from cuts, abrasions, and chemicals.
Commonly used
- Multimeter (Hardware): Measuring electrical properties like voltage, current, and resistance.
- Hydraulic Jack (Hardware): Lifting heavy equipment or vehicles for maintenance access.
Specialist tools
- Diagnostic Software (Software): Identifying malfunctions in complex machinery and vehicles.
How to become a Helpers--Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers
- Minimum education
- High School Diploma
- Licensing
- Varies by State
- Years to mid-career
- 4-7
- Years to senior
- 10-15
- Career switching
- Moderate
Where this career leads
How people arrive here
- General Laborer: Often individuals start in general labor roles and transition into more specialized helper positions.
- Warehouse Worker: Experience in handling materials and equipment in a warehouse can lead to a helper role.
- Assembler: Skills in assembling components are transferable to assisting with installation and repair.
- Production Worker: Familiarity with production lines and machinery can be a stepping stone to maintenance helper roles.
Where you can go from here
- Electric Motor, Power Tool, and Related Repairers: Helpers can advance to repair specific electrical equipment.
- Maintenance Workers, Machinery: With experience, helpers can take on more direct maintenance responsibilities for machinery.
- Industrial Machinery Mechanics: Further specialization can lead to roles as mechanics for industrial machinery.
- Millwrights: Helpers can progress to become millwrights, installing and maintaining heavy machinery.
- Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics: Those with vehicle maintenance exposure can move into automotive repair.
Typical progression
- Helpers--Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers
- Electric Motor, Power Tool, and Related Repairers
- Maintenance Workers, Machinery
- or Millwrights
Helpers--Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers job outlook and future demand
- Automation probability
- High
- AI disruption risk
- Low
- Demand trend
- Stable
Job satisfaction as a Helpers--Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers
- Overall satisfaction
- 6.8/10
- Meaning
- 6.5/10
- Work-life balance
- 6/10
- Prestige
- 5.5/10
- Social perception
- Moderate
Where practitioners gather
Professional organisations
- Association for Facilities Engineering (AFE): A professional organization for facility management and engineering professionals.
Podcasts and media
- Industrial Maintenance & Plant Operation: A publication providing news and resources for industrial maintenance professionals.
Reddit communities
- r/Maintenance: An online community for maintenance professionals to share tips and discuss issues.
Online communities
- Maintenance and Reliability Professionals: A LinkedIn group for professionals focused on maintenance and reliability best practices.
- Maintenance Forum: An online forum for discussing maintenance strategies and solutions.