Explore national salary, projected growth, education requirements, and career opportunities across the United States.
A concise view of this occupation’s national scale, compensation, and projected demand.
National median annual wage for this occupation.
Estimated jobs currently supported nationwide.
Projected employment change through 2034.
Estimated openings created each year.
The typical education, prior experience, and on-the-job training associated with entry into this career.
High school diploma or equivalent
None
Moderate-term on-the-job training
These are the highest-rated capabilities associated with success in this occupation. Scores are derived from occupational skill analysis and are measured on a 100-point scale.
Based on skills, knowledge, and work activities, these occupations are the closest match to your current career.
Explore the states and metropolitan areas offering the strongest combination of salary, employment, demand, and long-term opportunity.
Discover metro markets where compensation, hiring demand, and long-term momentum align.
Understand the salary, outlook, education, and geographic opportunities shaping this career.
Maintenance and repair workers, general, keep buildings, equipment, and systems functioning by handling a wide range of upkeep and repair tasks. Nationally, this occupation employs about 1,630,000 people, reflecting broad use across many settings. The role combines hands-on mechanical work with problem solving, fine motor skills, and physical stamina. Workers often draw on project management abilities to organize tasks and timelines, and they may interact with customers or building occupants, making customer service and leadership skills valuable. The field is projected to grow 3.8%, with an estimated 160,000 annual openings, indicating ongoing replacement needs and new positions. With a national median annual salary of $48,620 and a typical education of a high school diploma or equivalent, this path can appeal to people who prefer practical, visible work results and who enjoy diagnosing and fixing issues. It also offers options to move between regions, given its presence in many states and metro areas.
The national median annual salary for maintenance and repair workers, general, is $48,620. Earnings vary by location, with several states and metros offering higher median pay. Among the top states by opportunity score, median salaries range from $51,280 in Colorado up to $59,160 in Washington. Massachusetts, New York, and California also show median salaries above the national median, between $57,000 and $58,320. At the metro level, several areas stand out with higher pay. San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA reports a median salary of $63,630, and San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA is close behind at $63,220. New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ and Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH show median earnings near or above $59,550, while Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV is $57,240. These figures suggest that workers willing to target higher-paying regions may see stronger earning potential within this field.
Maintenance and repair workers, general, have a sizable national employment base of 1,630,000 workers. Projected employment growth is 3.8%, indicating that overall employment is expected to increase over time. In addition to growth, this occupation is projected to have about 160,000 annual openings. These openings can come from both new positions and the need to replace workers who change occupations, retire, or leave the workforce. Together, the current employment level, projected growth, and annual openings point to a steady stream of opportunities across the country. Several top states and metro areas share the same 3.8% growth rate cited nationally, suggesting a broadly consistent outlook across different regions highlighted in the data. People considering this career can factor in both the large existing workforce and the recurring demand signaled by the annual openings when planning training, relocation, or advancement steps.
Geography can significantly influence opportunity for maintenance and repair workers, general. Among states, California, Massachusetts, New York, Colorado, and Washington all rank highly by opportunity score, which blends salary, employment, and growth. Washington has the highest median salary listed at $59,160, followed closely by Massachusetts, New York, and California, all around the high-$50,000 range. Colorado’s median salary of $51,280 is lower than the others but still above the national median in this group of top states. Employment levels also differ: California (143,060) and New York (119,650) offer large job bases, while Massachusetts, Washington, and Colorado provide smaller but still meaningful employment counts. At the metro level, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA and New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ have the highest opportunity scores, both above 77, and strong median salaries near or above $59,550. San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA shows the highest metro median pay at $63,630. These differences allow workers to weigh pay, job numbers, and opportunity scores when comparing locations.
For maintenance and repair workers, general, the typical education requirement is a high school diploma or equivalent. This makes the field accessible to individuals who may not pursue a four-year degree but are ready to develop a strong skill set. Success in this career draws on mechanical ability, physical strength and stamina, fine motor skills, and problem solving and decision making. Project management skills support planning and coordinating tasks, while customer service and leadership abilities help in working with clients, tenants, or team members. Mathematics and science knowledge can support understanding measurements, tolerances, and basic technical concepts, and creativity and innovation may help workers identify effective solutions to maintenance challenges. People entering this occupation can focus on building these skills through hands-on experience, employer training, or vocational pathways that complement the high school diploma requirement and prepare them for a variety of maintenance and repair tasks.
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