Department of Labor Logo United States Department of Labor
Dot gov

The .gov means it's official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you're on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Occupational Requirements Survey

Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations

Two men working on metal machine. One pointing and one holding a wrenchThis occupational group includes computer, automated teller and office machine repairers, avionics technicians, security and fire alarm systems installers, aircraft mechanics and technicians, bus and truck mechanics, diesel engine specialists, small engine mechanics, bicycle repairers, home appliance repairers, millwrights, watch repairers, wind turbine service technicians, and riggers.

For terms and definitions in this profile, see definitions of major terms.

Cognitive and mental requirements

The qualifications that workers need to use judgment, make decisions, interact with others, and adapt to changes in jobs.

In 2025, work was controlled by people for 88.9 percent of installation, maintenance, and repair workers. Work was self-paced for 5.4 percent.

Table 1. Percentage of installation, maintenance, and repair workers with cognitive and mental requirements, 2025
Requirement Yes No

Work schedule varies

53.5 46.5

Ability to pause work (and take brief unscheduled breaks)

70.9 29.1

Working around crowds

<0.5 >99.5

Telework routinely allowed

<0.5 >99.5

Supervising others

11.8 88.2

Supervisor present in immediate work area

48.1 51.9

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Requirements Survey

Education, training, and experience requirements

The minimum level of formal education required, credentials necessary, on-the-job training, and prior work experience necessary for average performance in jobs. The time associated with these requirements is combined to calculate the specific vocational preparation level needed for the job.

In 2025, prior work experience was required for 61.9 percent of installation, maintenance, and repair workers and on-the-job training was required for 76.5 percent.

No minimum education was required for 33.6 percent of installation, maintenance, and repair workers and a high school diploma was required for 59.4 percent.

Environmental conditions

The various hazards or difficulties that are in the area where workers perform their critical tasks.

In 2025, a quiet noise exposure was present for 2.1 percent of installation, maintenance, and repair workers. Another 91.7 percent were exposed to moderate noise, 6.1 percent were exposed to loud noise, and less than 0.5 percent to very loud noise. Personal protective equipment (PPE) was used by 38.8 percent of workers to mitigate noise exposure and was not used by 61.2 percent.

Physical demands

The physical activities required to perform tasks in jobs. The presence and, in some cases, duration of these activities are published.

In 2025, reaching at or below the shoulder was required for 98.5 percent of installation, maintenance, and repair workers and was not required for 1.5 percent. For 3.5 percent of workers, reaching at or below the shoulder was seldom required, for 64.9 percent reaching at or below the shoulder was occasionally required, for 30.1 percent reaching at or below the shoulder was frequently required, and for less than 0.5 percent reaching at or below the shoulder was required constantly.

Performing work in low postures was required for 96.2 percent of installation, maintenance, and repair workers and was not required for 3.8 percent.

The choice to sit or stand when performing critical tasks was available to 7.6 percent of installation, maintenance, and repair workers. On average, workers spent 19.2 percent of the workday sitting and 80.8 percent of the workday standing.

Table 2. Percentage of installation, maintenance, and repair workers with physical demands, 2025
Requirement Yes No

Ability to choose to sit or stand for tasks

7.6 92.4

Driving

72.8 27.2

Climbing structure-related ramps or stairs

40.1 59.9

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Requirements Survey