How much does a repair worker make?
a year · about $24 an hour
A typical repair worker in the United States makes $49,230 a year, about $24 an hour, about the same as a typical US worker (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
What do they do?
The day depends on the specialty: a repair worker may inspect and test equipment, check a diagram, then use hand tools to find and fix a fault or replace a part. They check the repair and record the work.
Did you know? Some repair workers are geothermal technicians: they install heat pumps that use the ground’s steady temperature to warm buildings in winter and cool them in summer.
Is that a lot?
Compared with jobs you knowIf 100 people had this job
Most earn between $36,080 and $77,040How do you become one?
Because SOC 49-9099 is a catch-all, there is no single path. Many start after high school or a GED, then learn hands-on; trade classes or an apprenticeship can help, with exact requirements depending on the specialty.
Why does pay differ?
In the U.S., pay can differ with experience, specialized skills, and useful certificates or licenses. The employer and location matter too, and night, weekend, or emergency work may come with different pay.
Where does it pay most?
Highest in Hawaii ($74,260), lowest in Mississippi ($44,370).
See every state
Top 5 and bottom 3 states, typical (median) yearly pay.
Jobs like this
In Japan, a machine repairer averages $39,866. Repair worker salary in Japan
Data table and sources
| Lower earner (10th from bottom) | Typical person (median) | Higher earner (10th from top) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|---|
| $36,080 | $49,230 | $77,040 | about 176,000 |
| State | Typical person (median) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | $74,260 | about 970 |
| Washington | $63,080 | about 4,000 |
| Maine | $61,380 | about 1,000 |
| Minnesota | $60,250 | about 2,000 |
| Massachusetts | $59,890 | about 1,000 |
Official definition: All installation, maintenance, and repair workers not listed separately.
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 (bls.gov); descriptions and related jobs from O*NET 31.0. Figures as of May 2025, full-time yearly pay (hourly × 2,080 hours). bls.gov/oes · O*NET OnLine
Pages used for the text
- www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2015/article/wage-differences.htm
- www.bls.gov/oes/2023/may/oes499099.htm
- www.onetonline.org/link/summary/49-9099.00
- www.bls.gov/ooh/installation-maintenance-and-repair/general-maintenance-and-repa
- www.onetonline.org/link/summary/49-9099.01
- www.energy.gov/eere/geothermal/geothermal-heat-pumps
Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY