Maintenance Workers, Machinery
Also called: Maintainer, Maintenance Mechanic, Maintenance Technician (Maintenance Tech), Maintenance WorkerLubricate machinery, change parts, or perform other routine machinery maintenance.
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What the data says: AI could halve the time on 2 of its 18 tasks, and jobs are projected to shrink 1.9% by 2035. How to think about this →
About this projection
BLS builds AI into its projections where the research supports it: “BLS generally applies adjustments based on this research conservatively, where there is convincing evidence for a change.”
It also notes a limit: “BLS projection methods are not designed to capture extremely rapid technological change.”
On its AI exposure groups, BLS says exposure “does not imply job loss.”
Recent conditions
- In 2024, 3.5% of people in this work were unemployed, against 3.8% across all occupations Census ACS 2024
- From Sep 2025 to Aug 2026, 5.4 hires for every 10 job openings in durable goods manufacturing, which employs about 29% of people in this work, against 7.3 across all industries BLS JOLTS
One box per opening, filled for each hire; hires beyond the openings are added in a lighter shade. Higher can mean openings get filled, or that people leave often; lower, that jobs go unfilled, or hiring is slow.5.4 this industry7.3 all industries
Median pay by state BLS OEWS May 2025, state estimates
Tap a state for its figures.
Median pay in every state
| State | Median | Middle half earn | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $60,560 | $49,260 to $70,310 | 420 |
| Alaska | $61,290 | $50,870 to $77,400 | 40 |
| Arizona | $56,130 | $47,630 to $67,610 | 440 |
| Arkansas | $53,250 | $45,210 to $62,370 | 770 |
| California | $67,840 | $53,160 to $78,820 | 4,130 |
| Colorado | $64,010 | $57,580 to $76,620 | 740 |
| Connecticut | $63,250 | $49,290 to $79,910 | 410 |
| District of Columbia | $62,520 | $52,150 to $62,520 | 80 |
| Florida | $51,900 | $47,240 to $61,670 | 2,830 |
| Georgia | $57,730 | $45,670 to $72,790 | 2,900 |
| Idaho | $56,250 | $49,210 to $67,210 | 170 |
| Illinois | $59,300 | $46,580 to $75,420 | 560 |
| Indiana | $48,760 | $48,550 to $61,530 | 1,780 |
| Iowa | $64,760 | $58,660 to $79,340 | 900 |
| Kansas | $60,160 | $49,540 to $70,370 | 1,040 |
| Kentucky | $76,710 | $60,230 to $157,260 | 2,920 |
| Louisiana | $62,640 | $49,920 to $83,130 | 1,410 |
| Maine | $52,300 | $46,280 to $63,060 | 490 |
| Maryland | $59,570 | $46,380 to $66,790 | 1,870 |
| Massachusetts | $55,000 | $45,110 to $63,310 | 320 |
| Michigan | $59,590 | $47,920 to $69,660 | 1,640 |
| Minnesota | $63,020 | $54,790 to $72,100 | 730 |
| Mississippi | $54,380 | $42,120 to $64,470 | 450 |
| Missouri | $63,720 | $57,100 to $77,150 | 2,180 |
| Nebraska | $61,190 | $51,800 to $65,330 | 650 |
| Nevada | $75,500 | $53,280 to $91,730 | 750 |
| New Hampshire | $77,070 | $59,420 to $83,890 | 130 |
| New Jersey | $57,920 | $48,090 to $60,820 | 310 |
| New Mexico | $36,240 | $36,240 to $58,350 | not published |
| New York | $67,610 | $56,490 to $81,620 | 2,760 |
| North Carolina | $60,580 | $50,040 to $68,150 | 4,750 |
| Ohio | $59,280 | $45,890 to $72,510 | 2,330 |
| Oklahoma | $58,970 | $45,570 to $68,210 | 1,530 |
| Oregon | $57,440 | $48,420 to $68,090 | 430 |
| Pennsylvania | $61,080 | $54,170 to $77,140 | 1,260 |
| Puerto Rico | $37,870 | $29,440 to $50,780 | 360 |
| Rhode Island | $72,040 | $60,310 to $83,660 | 110 |
| South Carolina | $64,910 | $53,030 to $76,320 | 960 |
| South Dakota | $45,240 | $36,950 to $51,690 | 50 |
| Tennessee | $64,790 | $52,000 to $72,010 | 800 |
| Texas | $59,280 | $46,710 to $73,120 | 8,800 |
| Utah | $60,850 | $49,920 to $70,550 | 1,180 |
| Virginia | $65,500 | $53,790 to $80,660 | 1,420 |
| Washington | $62,970 | $58,610 to $82,430 | 700 |
| West Virginia | $60,020 | $48,590 to $68,760 | 790 |
| Wisconsin | $64,310 | $56,850 to $75,720 | 420 |
| Wyoming | $84,620 | $81,720 to $111,020 | 280 |
Nationally: $60,850. Shades run from the lowest state median to the highest; a territory below that range takes the lightest. How to read this
How AI touches the work
What AI could speed up, task by task, and where people already use it.
AI could halve the time on 2 of its 18 tasks
| AI rating | Its main tasks | Share of Claude conversations May 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| AI alone | Record production, repair, and machine maintenance information. | Not published |
| Not much | Reassemble machines after the completion of repair or maintenance work. | Not published |
| Not much | Dismantle machines and remove parts for repair, using hand tools, chain falls, jacks, cranes, or hoists. | Not published |
| Not much | Lubricate or apply adhesives or other materials to machines, machine parts, or other equipment according to specified procedures. | Not published |
| Not much | Install, replace, or change machine parts and attachments, according to production specifications. | Not published |
| Not much | Inspect or test damaged machine parts, and mark defective areas or advise supervisors of repair needs. | Not published |
See all 18 tasks
| Not much | Start machines and observe mechanical operation to determine efficiency and to detect problems. | Not published |
| Not much | Collaborate with other workers to repair or move machines, machine parts, or equipment. | Not published |
| Not much | Collect and discard worn machine parts and other refuse to maintain machinery and work areas. | Not published |
| Not much | Transport machine parts, tools, equipment, and other material between work areas and storage, using cranes, hoists, or dollies. | Not published |
| Not much | Set up and operate machines, and adjust controls to regulate operations. | Not published |
| AI alone | Read work orders and specifications to determine machines and equipment requiring repair or maintenance. | Not published |
| Not much | Inventory and requisition machine parts, equipment, and other supplies so that stock can be maintained and replenished. | Not published |
| Not much | Clean machines and machine parts, using cleaning solvents, cloths, air guns, hoses, vacuums, or other equipment. | Not published |
| Not much | Remove hardened material from machines or machine parts, using abrasives, power and hand tools, jackhammers, sledgehammers, or other equipment. | Not published |
| Not much | Replace, empty, or replenish machine and equipment containers such as gas tanks or boxes. | Not published |
| Not much | Replace or repair metal, wood, leather, glass, or other lining in machines, or in equipment compartments or containers. | Not published |
| Not much | Measure, mix, prepare, and test chemical solutions used to clean or repair machinery and equipment. | Not published |
Ordered by how important O*NET's respondents rate each task (1 to 5) times the share who say it is part of their job. The ordering is ours. 0 of the 18 have a published share of Claude conversations; “not published” means too few conversations for Anthropic to publish a figure.
Where people already use AI
The tasks above say what AI could speed up. This shows what people are using it for. Its 18 tasks fall under 19 work activities that many occupations share, and Microsoft counted how often each one came up in 200,000 conversations with its Copilot assistant in 2024.
- #8 Read documents or materials to inform work processes
- #36 Purchase goods or services
| Work activity | This occupation's tasks under it | People asked AI for help in 10,000 conversations |
AI did it for them in 10,000 conversations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clean tools, equipment, facilities, or work areas | |||
| Assemble equipment or components | |||
| Read documents or materials to inform work processes | |||
| Purchase goods or services | |||
| Adjust equipment to ensure adequate performance | |||
| Prepare mixtures or solutions | |||
| Coordinate with others to resolve problems | |||
| Communicate with others about operational plans or activities |
Show all 19 activities
| Test performance of equipment or systems | |||
| Maintain tools or equipment | |||
| Test characteristics of materials or products | |||
| Position tools or equipment | |||
| Maintain operational records | |||
| Disassemble equipment | |||
| Repair tools or equipment | |||
| Monitor equipment operation | |||
| Inspect commercial, industrial, or production systems or equipment | |||
| Replenish inventories of materials, equipment, or products | |||
| Operate lifting or moving equipment |
How to read this
Work activities come from O*NET, which links every task to the broader activities it involves. Microsoft's figures are for the activity across everyone who used Copilot, not for maintenance workers, machinery specifically. Copilot is a general chat assistant; dedicated coding tools are not included, so programming help is under-counted here. Activities are listed by how many of this occupation's tasks fall under them.
The task ratings say whether AI could halve the time a task takes: on its own (“AI alone”), or with software built on it (“AI + software”). They were made by people in 2023 (Eloundou et al.). Claude's share is the task's share of all Claude.ai conversations in May 2026; Anthropic doesn't publish a task with too few conversations. None of these add up to the BLS exposure group, which combines five research measures.
More in the Guide: task ratings · task order · work activities · Copilot figures · Claude
High exposure doesn't mean fewer jobs
BLS projects most occupations in its two most exposed groups to grow: 141 of 206 rated Very high and 165 of 206 rated High. Each dot is one of the 831 occupations BLS rates.
Career moves into and out of this occupation
From moves between occupations found in online resumes, 2002–2016. Career changes only: a first job after school isn't a move.
Where people moved next
of 2,302 moves out
- 1 Managers, All Other (2010 group) an older group BLS has since split; no exposure group today 8%
- 2 General and Operations Managers High +5.0% 5%
- 3 Administrative Services Managers (2010 group) an older group BLS has since split; no exposure group today 5%
- 4 First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers High +4.1% 4%
- 5 Maintenance and Repair Workers, General Low +4.2% 4%
Where people moved in from
of 3,178 moves in
- 1 Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners Low +2.2% 14%
- 2 Managers, All Other (2010 group) an older group BLS has since split; no exposure group today 5%
- 3 Opticians, Dispensing Moderate +4.2% 5%
- 4 Production Workers, All Other (2010 group) an older group BLS has since split; no exposure group today 4%
- 5 Maintenance and Repair Workers, General Low +4.2% 4%
Resumes over-represent younger, white-collar job-seekers and moves into management. Schubert, Stansbury and Taska (resume data).
Education and training for the occupation
O*NET survey of workers in this occupation
- 41% high school
- 54% postsecondary certificate
- 3% associate's
- 3% post-bachelor's certificate
O*NET 31.0 survey of workers in this occupation · 17 people answered.
Census survey (American Community Survey)
- 5% less than high school
- 51% high school
- 26% some college
- 12% associate's
- 6% bachelor's
Census ACS 2024, all workers in this occupation · 405 people surveyed.
Why the two can differ
O*NET asks about 20 people in each occupation, which makes its shares uncertain, but it reports the exact occupation and counts certificates. The Census survey reaches thousands, but it groups some occupations together and counts degrees only. More in the Guide
Median pay by highest degree full-time, year-round · Census ACS 2024, all workers in this occupation
1 program: Industrial Mechanics and Maintenance Technology/Technician.
Jobs that require a credential BLS Occupational Requirements Survey 2023
45.8% this occupation
45.3% all occupations
| By kind | This occupation | All occupations |
|---|---|---|
| a license | 16.0% | 19.1% |
| a certification | not published | |
| an educational certificate | not published |
Share of jobs whose employer requires it. BLS doesn't say which credential. How to read this
Look up certifications, training and licenses U.S. Department of Labor
- Certification Finder ↗ certifications CareerOneStop lists for this occupation
- Training Finder ↗ schools and programs, nationwide; narrow the place there
- License Finder ↗ licenses by state
- Apprenticeship Finder ↗ DOL lists 1 registered apprenticeship in this occupation (PINSETTER MECH, AUTOMATIC). Apprenticeship.gov can't be linked to one occupation, so search for “Maintenance Workers, Machinery” there.
These open in a new tab and send only the occupation's public code. More in the Guide
BLS AI exposure categories (Aug 2026) · BLS Employment Projections 2025–35 · O*NET 31.0 · Task ratings: Eloundou et al., Science (2024) · Microsoft "Working with AI" v1.1 · Anthropic Economic Index (2026-06-26) · Schubert, Stansbury and Taska · NCES CIP–SOC · Census ACS 2024 · BLS JOLTS
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