What do they do?

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

Also known as:

Lubricator, Machine Repairer, Maintainer, Maintenance Man, Maintenance Technician, Maintenance Worker, Oiler, Overhauler

Typical Wages

Projected Growth Rate

Employment of Maintenance Workers, Machinery is projected to grow 12 percent from 2020 to 2030, faster than average compared to all occupations.

Projected Employment in OH

No Data Available
  • 12%

    Change

    Ranks #44 in job growth rate
    290

    Job Openings

    Ranks #9 in net job growth
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Education Level

Percent of workers in this field with these degrees:

  • Doctorate or Professional Degree  (<1%)
  • Master's degree  (1%)
  • Bachelor's degree  (6%)
  • Associate's degree  (12%)
  • Some college, no degree  (21%)
  • High school diploma equivalent  (50%)
  • Less than high school diploma  (9%)

Typical College Majors

Most Popular Majors that prepare Maintenance Workers, Machinery

Select Type of Degree:

★ There are no majors that have graduates with this degree type

People in this career often have these skills:

  • Operations Monitoring - Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
  • Equipment Maintenance - Performing routine maintenance on equipment and determining when and what kind of maintenance is needed.
  • Repairing - Repairing machines or systems using the needed tools.
  • Troubleshooting - Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.
  • Operation and Control - Controlling operations of equipment or systems.

People in this career often know a lot about:

  • Mechanical - Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.

People in this career often have talent in:

  • Arm-Hand Steadiness - The ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.
  • Problem Sensitivity - The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.
  • Near Vision - The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).

People in this career often do these activities:

  • Observe equipment in operation to detect potential problems.
  • Read work orders or descriptions of problems to determine repairs or modifications needed.
  • Inspect mechanical equipment to locate damage, defects, or wear.
  • Test mechanical equipment to ensure proper functioning.
  • Communicate with coworkers to coordinate installations or repairs.
  • Reassemble equipment after repair.
  • Disassemble equipment for maintenance or repair.
  • Install machine or equipment replacement parts.
  • Confer with coworkers to resolve equipment problems.
  • Maintain inventories of materials, equipment, or products.
  • Order materials, supplies, or equipment.
  • Maintain repair or maintenance records.
  • Adjust equipment to ensure optimal performance.
  • Lubricate equipment to allow proper functioning.
  • Clean work areas.
  • Clean equipment, parts, or tools to repair or maintain them in good working order.
  • Operate cranes, hoists, or other moving or lifting equipment.
  • Position containers to receive materials or workpieces.
  • Replace worn, damaged, or defective mechanical parts.
  • Repair worn, damaged, or defective mechanical parts.
  • Test fluids to identify contamination or other problems.
  • Prepare compounds or solutions to be used for repairs.

This page includes data from:

O*NET OnLine Career data: O*NET 28.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (“USDOL/ETA”). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Logo Occupation statistics: USDOL U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment Statistics

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