Searching

Career Exploration

Maintenance Workers, Machinery

Also called: Machine Repairer, Maintainer, Maintenance Technician, Maintenance Worker

What they do:

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

On the job, you would:
  • Start machines and observe mechanical operation to determine efficiency and to detect problems.
  • Read work orders and specifications to determine machines and equipment requiring repair or maintenance.
  • Inspect or test damaged machine parts, and mark defective areas or advise supervisors of repair needs.
On the job, you'll need:

Engineering and Technology

  • mechanical
  • design

Math and Science

  • arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics

Arts and Humanities

  • English language

Basic Skills

  • listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions
  • reading work related information

Technical

  • planning and doing the basic maintenance on equipment
  • repairing machines or systems using the right tools

Hand and Finger Use

  • keep your arm or hand steady
  • hold or move items with your hands

Verbal

  • listen and understand what people say
  • read and understand what is written

Ideas and Logic

  • notice when problems happen
  • order or arrange things

Realistic

People interested in this work like activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions.

  • Attention to Detail
  • Dependability
  • Initiative
  • Cooperation
  • Independence
  • Innovation

Enterprise resource planning ERP software

  • Management information systems MIS
  • SAP software

Presentation software

  • Microsoft PowerPoint

Spreadsheet software

  • Microsoft Excel

Video courtesy of CareerOneStop.

Job Outlook

The job outlook for this position is Bright.

New job opportunities are very likely in the future. This career will grow rapidly in the next few years.

Median Annual Salary: $53,310

Education

High school diploma/GED or some college is usually needed.