Installation & Repair · SOC 49-9071
General maintenance workers handle a wide variety of hands-on building and equipment repair that resists any single point of automation.
Hands-on, interpersonal or high-stakes work AI struggles to replace.
Timeline: The breadth of this role — spanning structural, mechanical, electrical, and plumbing — makes it highly resilient; AI may assist scheduling but cannot replace the hands-on versatility through 2040.
Tap a skill to find courses on Coursera.
Some links are affiliate links — if you sign up or buy through them, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
$47,200 median pay
$60,500 median pay
$63,980 median pay
$65,680 median pay
$54,950 median pay
$40,360 median pay
AI job-risk card
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General is resilient on AIFear. Hands-on, interpersonal or high-stakes work AI struggles to replace.
AIFear.com
Our AI Fear Score for Maintenance and Repair Workers, General is 9/100 (Resilient). Hands-on, interpersonal or high-stakes work AI struggles to replace.
9 out of 100, based on an AI-model review of this occupation's O*NET tasks against what current AI can actually do.
Most exposed: Maintenance request logging and scheduling, Routine inspection checklist completion, Parts and supplies ordering. Harder to automate: Multi-trade repairs spanning plumbing, electrical, and mechanical, Physical inspection and diagnosis in varied environments, Emergency response to building or equipment failures, Judgment calls on when to escalate to licensed contractors.
Lean into Building management system (BMS) basics, Electrical safety and low-voltage systems, Preventive maintenance planning, Multi-trade certification (EPA, OSHA 10). Consider roles such as Facilities manager or Building engineer or Property maintenance supervisor.
Tasks, skills and AI-exposure for this role were reviewed by an AI model against its O*NET task profile (curated roles use published research anchors). Pay and employment, where shown, are U.S. BLS OEWS (May 2024) figures. This is an estimate, not a prediction about any individual's job. Compare all occupations.