# Helpers--Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers

> Help installation, maintenance, and repair workers in maintenance, parts replacement, and repair of vehicles, industrial machinery, and electrical and electronic equipment. Perform duties such as furnishing tools, materials, and supplies to other workers; cleaning work area, machines, and tools; and holding materials or tools for other workers.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/careers/helpers-installation-maintenance-and-repair-workers
- SOC code: 49-9098.00
- Career family: Installation and repair
- Median annual pay: $39,630 (10th percentile $29,310, 90th percentile $55,890)
- Projected growth: Faster than average, +5.3%
- Openings a year: 13,600
- Typical entry education: High school diploma
- Bright outlook: yes
- Data years: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

## Interest profile (code RCI)

| Interest area | Score (0–100) |
| --- | ---: |
| Realistic (R) | 100 |
| Investigative (I) | 16 |
| Artistic (A) | 2 |
| Social (S) | 14 |
| Enterprising (E) | 10 |
| Conventional (C) | 51 |

## What you'd do

- Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials (importance 87/100)
- Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment (importance 80/100)
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems (importance 79/100)
- Performing General Physical Activities (importance 77/100)
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates (importance 72/100)
- Getting Information (importance 72/100)
- Handling and Moving Objects (importance 69/100)
- Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships (importance 67/100)
- Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings (importance 66/100)
- Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards (importance 66/100)

## Skills

Active Listening, Critical Thinking, Equipment Maintenance, Monitoring, Operation and Control, Operations Monitoring, Repairing, Troubleshooting, Coordination, Quality Control Analysis

## Knowledge

Mechanical, Building and Construction, Customer and Personal Service, Public Safety and Security, English Language, Engineering and Technology, Mathematics, Design, Production and Processing, Computers and Electronics

## Also called

Air Conditioner Installer Helper (AC Installer Helper), Air Conditioner Installer Servicer Helper (AC Installer Servicer Helper), Airframe and Power Plant Mechanic Helper, Armature Winder Repair Helper, Automobile Body Repairer Helper, Automobile Mechanic Helper, Automotive Electrical Helper, Blacksmith Assistant, Blacksmith Helper, Cable Splicer Helper

## Related careers

- [Helpers--Production Workers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/helpers-production-workers): $39,070 median pay
- [Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/helpers-pipelayers-plumbers-pipefitters-and-steamfitters): $42,360 median pay
- [Helpers--Electricians](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/helpers-electricians): $42,670 median pay
- [Helpers--Extraction Workers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/helpers-extraction-workers): $47,730 median pay
- [Helpers--Carpenters](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/helpers-carpenters): $43,780 median pay
- [Helpers--Painters, Paperhangers, Plasterers, and Stucco Masons](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/helpers-painters-paperhangers-plasterers-and-stucco-masons): $40,470 median pay

## Sources

- [O*NET Database](https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html), version 31.0 (CC BY 4.0)
- [BLS Employment Projections](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables.htm), version 2025-35, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics](https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm), version 2025, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/resources.aspx?y=56), version 2020, data year 2020 (Public domain (U.S. government work))

O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.