Plunge a slow sink drain
Ask how the sink acts with water running, check it yourself, then plunge out the small clog.
Career profile
General Maintenance Worker
Maintenance workers keep structures and machines running with skills from more than one trade.
One job might be a leaky faucet, the next a damaged wall, a mix that may appeal if you like finding causes and hands-on work.
A day in the life
Check belts, swap filters before breakdowns
During planned machine checks, look over belts and replace filters that have gotten dirty.
Patch a hole in drywall
Fill the small drywall hole, smooth the patched spot flat, and then paint over the repair.
Brief the next shift
You check the parts on hand, then let the incoming shift know what remains on an unfinished repair.
Quick facts
High school + workplace training
United States · 2025
$49,590/year
United States · May 2025
4.2% projected growth
United States · 2025–2035
Quick orientation
Preparation, pay & outlook
Preparation
High school + workplace trainingA diploma or equivalent is typical; you build repair skills on the job.
Pay
$49,590/yearNational median employee pay, equivalent to $23.84/hour.
Outlook
4.2% projected growthAbout 148,700 openings annually, including replacements for workers who leave.
Fit, tradeoffs & changing tools
You might like this if…
- You enjoy tracing a problem instead of guessing at a fix.
- You like using tools and checking the finished result.
- You can listen patiently when someone describes a frustrating malfunction.
Things to weigh
- Lifting, ladders, and cramped positions can strain your body; cuts and other injuries are real risks.
- Emergency calls may interrupt evenings or weekends.
Where AI may help
Maintenance software helps organize work; some jobs use drones to inspect roofs.
What people still lead
You still interpret the fault and handle the physical repair.
What we can’t predict yet
How far remote inspection can replace close-up checking will depend on the building and the defect.
Pay in context
Earnings
The median is a midpoint, not starting pay. These employee wages exclude self-employed earnings.
The spread is wide
The lowest-paid 10% earned under $35,350; the highest-paid 10% earned over $77,180. These are not beginner and senior pay bands.
Workplace type matters
Annual medians were $61,500 in manufacturing, $48,360 in real estate and rental and leasing, and $39,590 in accommodation and food services.
Getting started
Learn in an entry maintenance job
- What the route involves
- Practice simple repairs alongside an experienced worker.
- What it can lead to
- Experience prepares you for more difficult repairs.
Build skills in a vocational program
- What the route involves
- Study a related trade at a technical school or community college.
- What it can lead to
- Relevant training may shorten your learning period after hiring.
Generalists bring in specialists when a repair exceeds their expertise.
After entry
Career paths
This starts where the entry routes leave off: early work, growing capability, and advancement or specialization.
Get established
Become reliable at simple repairs.
Develop your troubleshooting
Use repair manuals to tackle less familiar faults.
Lead maintenance work
Build toward supervising workers and coordinating repairs.
Where you can work
Hotels
You speak with guests about problems, maintain kitchen and mechanical-room equipment, and pass unfinished work between shifts.
- Indoors
- Shift work
- Physical demands
Apartment complexes
Your repair rounds may cover several buildings and outdoor areas.
- Indoors
- Outdoors
- Physical demands
Try it
See whether the job clicks before you commit to the path.
Make a maintenance list for one room at home. Describe three visible problems or signs of wear, their exact locations, and what you would ask before choosing a repair. Notice whether investigating the cause interests you.
Stay safe: Observe only; do not open equipment or attempt electrical or plumbing repairs.
Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. General Maintenance and Repair Workers. Accessed 2026-10-03.
- O*NET OnLine. 49-9071.00 — Maintenance and Repair Workers, General. Accessed 2026-10-03.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Table 1.2: Occupational projections, 2025–35, and worker characteristics, 2025. Accessed 2026-10-03.
- Marriott International. Maintenance Technician I — Courtyard Fort Worth University Drive. Accessed 2026-10-03.