Helpers--installation, maintenance, and repair workers salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $29,310 | $14.09 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $39,630 | $19.05 |
| Mean (average) | $41,490 | $19.95 |
| 90th percentile | $55,890 | $26.87 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Helpers--installation, maintenance, and repair workers pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 52 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $36,140 | $22,420 | $47,840 | 1,710 | 1.32 |
| Alaska | $45,740 | $31,970 | $61,800 | 550 | 2.73 |
| Arizona | $45,560 | $35,390 | $62,810 | 1,770 | 0.89 |
| Arkansas | $33,630 | $23,450 | $43,710 | 1,140 | 1.43 |
| California | $44,670 | $35,900 | $59,770 | 9,050 | 0.81 |
| Colorado | $45,610 | $37,090 | $58,640 | 1,190 | 0.67 |
| Connecticut | $44,370 | $34,010 | $82,480 | 1,050 | 1.01 |
| Delaware | $40,530 | $31,970 | $57,640 | 360 | 1.19 |
| District of Columbia | $54,860 | $36,720 | $97,570 | 110 | 0.25 |
| Florida | $38,710 | $31,660 | $49,130 | 5,520 | 0.9 |
| Georgia | $36,640 | $22,560 | $56,350 | 3,100 | 1.03 |
| Guam | $27,050 | $20,650 | $37,290 | 340 | 8.27 |
| Hawaii | $46,320 | $35,620 | $61,580 | 660 | 1.71 |
| Idaho | $39,250 | $26,880 | $51,800 | 430 | 0.81 |
| Illinois | $39,730 | $31,200 | $58,280 | 1,750 | 0.47 |
| Indiana | $37,470 | $22,600 | $53,180 | 1,160 | 0.59 |
| Iowa | $38,690 | $27,040 | $54,330 | 990 | 1.03 |
| Kansas | $37,430 | $21,730 | $46,370 | 440 | 0.5 |
| Kentucky | $37,000 | $29,140 | $51,480 | 900 | 0.73 |
| Louisiana | $36,160 | $22,170 | $48,910 | 3,910 | 3.29 |
| Maine | $39,520 | $35,040 | $51,810 | 280 | 0.71 |
| Maryland | $41,630 | $34,350 | $55,670 | 1,770 | 1.05 |
| Massachusetts | $42,200 | $34,320 | $53,860 | 1,290 | 0.58 |
| Michigan | $43,630 | $31,220 | $57,000 | 2,180 | 0.81 |
| Minnesota | $44,950 | $32,760 | $59,690 | 1,110 | 0.61 |
| Mississippi | $35,440 | $23,070 | $47,140 | 960 | 1.34 |
| Missouri | $37,110 | $29,260 | $56,730 | 670 | 0.37 |
| Montana | $39,430 | $31,300 | $51,830 | 400 | 1.27 |
| Nebraska | $35,480 | $28,080 | $48,720 | 350 | 0.55 |
| Nevada | $36,610 | $28,880 | $49,940 | 1,030 | 1.08 |
| New Hampshire | $45,760 | $37,450 | $58,750 | 560 | 1.34 |
| New Jersey | $41,230 | $33,900 | $55,450 | 3,050 | 1.16 |
| New Mexico | $36,950 | $29,260 | $51,000 | 770 | 1.44 |
| New York | $43,870 | $37,440 | $66,360 | 5,310 | 0.89 |
| North Carolina | $38,700 | $29,320 | $48,960 | 4,400 | 1.45 |
| North Dakota | $44,710 | $27,040 | $57,920 | 100 | 0.36 |
| Ohio | $39,980 | $29,490 | $55,390 | 1,550 | 0.46 |
| Oklahoma | $35,530 | $19,460 | $47,510 | 1,820 | 1.74 |
| Oregon | $43,300 | $31,220 | $59,530 | 1,330 | 1.1 |
| Pennsylvania | $41,500 | $26,940 | $55,580 | 2,540 | 0.68 |
| Puerto Rico | $23,810 | $21,840 | $37,610 | 2,190 | 3.8 |
| Rhode Island | $45,240 | $33,900 | $53,050 | 140 | 0.47 |
| South Carolina | $38,480 | $28,080 | $53,510 | 2,160 | 1.52 |
| Tennessee | $38,490 | $29,850 | $56,830 | 2,540 | 1.26 |
| Texas | $37,000 | $24,100 | $49,640 | 16,610 | 1.92 |
| Utah | $44,210 | $31,200 | $60,280 | 410 | 0.39 |
| Vermont | $42,630 | $30,430 | $52,450 | 90 | 0.47 |
| Virginia | $38,890 | $30,410 | $56,660 | 3,100 | 1.23 |
| Washington | $46,080 | $36,670 | $78,690 | 1,110 | 0.51 |
| West Virginia | $39,030 | $26,090 | $63,250 | 340 | 0.78 |
| Wisconsin | $41,600 | $28,080 | $52,720 | 1,640 | 0.91 |
| Wyoming | $31,260 | $15,450 | $61,410 | 160 | 0.92 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for helpers--installation, maintenance, and repair workers
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 13,600. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Share of workers who are self-employed (2025): 1.3%.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for helpers--installation, maintenance, and repair workers
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- NO MATCH CIP 99.9999
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- Install or replace machinery, equipment, and new or replacement parts and instruments, using hand or power tools.
- Examine and test machinery, equipment, components, and parts for defects to ensure proper functioning.
- Tend and observe equipment and machinery to verify efficient and safe operation.
- Adjust, connect, or disconnect wiring, piping, tubing, and other parts, using hand or power tools.
- Clean or lubricate vehicles, machinery, equipment, instruments, tools, work areas, and other objects, using hand tools, power tools, and cleaning equipment.
- Hold or supply tools, parts, equipment, and supplies for other workers.
- Diagnose electrical problems and install and rewire electrical components.
- Disassemble broken or defective equipment to facilitate repair and reassemble equipment when repairs are complete.
Technology skills
- Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Microsoft Windows (hot technology)
- Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- SAP software (hot technology)
- Atlas Construction Business Forms
- Building automation software
- Data logging software
- Facility energy management software
- HVAC tools software
Transferable skills for career changers: Operations Monitoring, Operation and Control, Equipment Maintenance, Troubleshooting, Repairing, Coordination.
Common job titles: HVAC Helper (Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning Helper), HVAC Installation Helper (Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning Installation Helper), Maintenance Aide, Maintenance Helper, Mechanic Helper, Mechanic Repair Helper, Mechanic's Assistant, Technician's Helper.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do helpers--installation, maintenance, and repair workers make?
The national median annual wage for helpers--installation, maintenance, and repair workers was $39,630 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $29,310 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $55,890. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do helpers--installation, maintenance, and repair workers need?
BLS lists high school diploma or equivalent as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and short-term on-the-job training on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is helpers--installation, maintenance, and repair workers a growing career?
BLS projects employment of helpers--installation, maintenance, and repair workers to change +5.3% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 13,600 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay helpers--installation, maintenance, and repair workers the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were District of Columbia ($54,860), Hawaii ($46,320), Washington ($46,080). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.