Maintenance and Repair Workers, General

People in this career often have these skills:

• 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.

People in this career often know a lot about:

• Mechanical - Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
• English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
• Building and Construction - Knowledge of materials, methods, and the tools involved in the construction or repair of houses, buildings, or other structures such as highways and roads.
• Mathematics - Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.

People in this career often have talent in:

• Information Ordering - The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
• 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.
• Manual Dexterity - The ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.
• Near Vision - The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
• 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.

• Oral Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
• Visualization - The ability to imagine how something will look after it is moved around or when its parts are moved or rearranged.
• Control Precision - The ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions.

People in this career often do these activities:

• Inspect mechanical components of vehicles to identify problems.
• Replace worn, damaged, or defective mechanical parts.
• Inspect mechanical equipment to locate damage, defects, or wear.
• Test mechanical equipment to ensure proper functioning.
• Adjust equipment to ensure optimal performance.

• Order materials, supplies, or equipment.
• Install machine or equipment replacement parts.
• Maintain work equipment or machinery.
• Read technical information needed to perform maintenance or repairs.
• Troubleshoot equipment or systems operation problems.
• Develop equipment or component configurations.
• Test fluids to identify contamination or other problems.
• Assemble electrical components, subsystems, or systems.
• Install electrical components, equipment, or systems.
• Repair electrical circuits or wiring.
• Clean equipment, parts, or tools to repair or maintain them in good working order.
• Lubricate equipment to allow proper functioning.
• Remove snow.
• Perform manual agricultural, aquacultural, or horticultural tasks.
• Estimate costs for labor or materials.
• Align equipment or machinery.
• Record information about parts, materials or repair procedures.
• Operate welding equipment.
• Disassemble equipment for maintenance or repair.
• Operate cranes, hoists, or other moving or lifting equipment.
• Measure distances or dimensions.
• Plan work procedures.
• Lay out work according to specifications.
• Install energy-efficient heating, ventilation, or air conditioning (HVAC) equipment.
• Assemble mechanical components or machine parts.
• Fabricate parts or components.
• Clean work areas.
• Train others in operational procedures.
• Supervise employees.
• Repair structural components.
• Assemble structural components.
• Paint surfaces or equipment.
• Install insulation in equipment or structures.
• Grind parts to required dimensions.

• Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters

• Motorboat Mechanics and Service Technicians

• Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators

• Industrial Machinery Mechanics

• Electric Motor, Power Tool, and Related Repairers

• Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door

• Motorcycle Mechanics

• Millwrights

• Signal and Track Switch Repairers