Maintenance Worker

O*NET: Maintenance and Repair Workers, General·49-9071.00

The Verdict:Maintenance demands hands-on fixes for unique machinery glitches, building quirks, and on-site surprises -- wielding tools in tight, irregular spots no robot masters yet. AI sharpens diagnostics and parts planning, letting workers handle more volume efficiently. Core physical craft endures, with steady facility needs ahead.

Resilience Score

/100

Resilient

Score tiers

Highly Resilient81–100

Resilient61–80

Moderate Risk41–60

High Risk21–40

Critical Risk0–20

How is this scored?

Task Resilience

How much of this role's daily work remains beyond AI and robotic automation.

30% of score

Physical Presence

The degree to which this job needs a human present — hands-on, in the field, or in the room.

20% of score

Human Necessity

How important the unique human edge is — for trust, accountability, or judgment.

15% of score

Regulatory Shield

How strong the legal requirement is for a human in this job (by law, licensing, or credentials).

13% of score

Technological Maturity

How far AI remains from performing this role's core functions.

10% of score

Displacement Evidence

The volume of jobs in this field being eliminated by AI or automation right now.

12% of score

Score last updated: February 2026Full methodology

Avg Salary

Median annual wage from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2024 release.

$49k

Job Growth (10yr)

Projected change in total number of jobs (not salary) from 2024–2034. Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections.

+3.8%

AI Exposure

Percentage of this role's analyzed tasks that AI can handle autonomously or nearly so. 3 of 28 tasks are classified as AI-exposed.

11%

Low exposure

Task Analysis

This role's core work is hard to automate.
21 of 28 tasks require human judgment, presence, or trust. The 14% that are AI-leverage offer an edge — professionals who learn these tools will outperform those who don't.

3exposed

4AI leverage

21human-essential

View all 28 tasks

AI Can Handle This3 tasks

Tasks AI can do autonomously or nearly so

Order parts, supplies, or equipment from catalogs or suppliers.

Estimate costs to repair machinery, equipment, or building structures.

Record type and cost of maintenance or repair work.

AI Leverage4 tasks

Master these tools — humans who do outperform those who don't

Diagnose mechanical problems and determine how to correct them, checking blueprints, repair manuals, or parts catalogs, as necessary.

Design new equipment to aid in the repair or maintenance of machines, mechanical equipment, or building structures.

Plan and lay out repair work, using diagrams, drawings, blueprints, maintenance manuals, or schematic diagrams.

Use drones for inspecting roofs, gutters, and other hard-to-reach areas of buildings.

Human Advantage21 tasks

Tasks requiring trust, presence, or novel judgment

Perform routine maintenance, such as inspecting drives, motors, or belts, checking fluid levels, replacing filters, or doing other preventive maintenance actions.

Inspect, operate, or test machinery or equipment to diagnose machine malfunctions.

Adjust functional parts of devices or control instruments, using hand tools, levels, plumb bobs, or straightedges.

Repair machines, equipment, or structures, using tools such as hammers, hoists, saws, drills, wrenches, or equipment such as precision measuring instruments or electrical or electronic testing devices.

Assemble, install, or repair wiring, electrical or electronic components, pipe systems, plumbing, machinery, or equipment.

Clean or lubricate shafts, bearings, gears, or other parts of machinery.

Align and balance new equipment after installation.

Maintain or repair specialized equipment or machinery located in cafeterias, laundries, hospitals, stores, offices, or factories.

Dismantle machines, equipment, or devices to access and remove defective parts, using hoists, cranes, hand tools, or power tools.

Install equipment to improve the energy or operational efficiency of residential or commercial buildings.

Set up and operate machine tools to repair or fabricate machine parts, jigs, fixtures, or tools.

Perform general cleaning of buildings or properties.

Train or manage maintenance personnel or subcontractors.

Fabricate or repair counters, benches, partitions, or other wooden structures, such as sheds or outbuildings.

Paint or repair roofs, windows, doors, floors, woodwork, plaster, drywall, or other parts of building structures.

Perform routine maintenance on boilers, such as replacing burners or hoses, installing replacement parts, or reinforcing structural weaknesses to ensure optimal boiler efficiency.

Provide groundskeeping services, such as landscaping or snow removal.

Operate cutting torches or welding equipment to cut or join metal parts.

Inspect used parts to determine changes in dimensional requirements, using rules, calipers, micrometers, or other measuring instruments.

Assemble boilers at installation sites, using tools such as levels, plumb bobs, hammers, torches, or other hand tools.

Position, attach, or blow insulating materials to prevent energy losses from buildings, pipes, or other structures or objects.

Resilience Landscape

Maintenance Worker lands in Stable, Lower Pay

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