Maintenance Workers, Machinery

Overview

Maintenance Workers, Machinery has a national median salary of $60,850 per year, with -1.9% projected job growth from 2025–2035. The Bureau of Labor Statistics lists a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical education needed to enter this occupation.

Description

Lubricate machinery, change parts, or perform other routine machinery maintenance.

Work Values

• Support
• Independence
• Relationships

Work Styles

Responsibilities

Tasks

• Dismantle machines and remove parts for repair, using hand tools, chain falls, jacks, cranes, or hoists.
• Reassemble machines after the completion of repair or maintenance work.
• Record production, repair, and machine maintenance information.
• Lubricate or apply adhesives or other materials to machines, machine parts, or other equipment according to specified procedures.
• Install, replace, or change machine parts and attachments, according to production specifications.

Work Activities

• Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment
• Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials
• Controlling Machines and Processes
• Getting Information
• Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
• Making Decisions and Solving Problems
• Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
• Handling and Moving Objects
• Repairing and Maintaining Electronic Equipment
• Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work

Detailed Work Activities

• Servicing, repairing, adjusting, and testing machines, devices, moving parts, and equipment that operate primarily on the basis of mechanical (not electronic) principles.
• Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
• Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).
• Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
• Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
• Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
• Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
• Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
• Servicing, repairing, calibrating, regulating, fine-tuning, or testing machines, devices, and equipment that operate primarily on the basis of electrical or electronic (not mechanical) principles.
• Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.

T-A-S-K

Technology, Abilities, Skills & Knowledge

Education

Education Levels of Current Workers

The Bureau of Labor Statistics lists a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical education needed to enter this occupation. The chart below shows the highest level of education held by people already working in this field, ages 25 and older. It includes workers who earned more education than the job requires and workers who entered the field under earlier requirements, so the largest bar is not the entry requirement. For example, if someone finished an associate's degree and then started working in this field, they are counted under “Associate's degree” here, but the job itself typically asks for a high school diploma or equivalent.

Certificates

Certifications applicable to Maintenance Workers, Machinery:

Video Resources