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Maintenance Workers, Machinery

Under the title Maintenance Workers, Machinery, workers lubricate machinery, change parts, or perform other routine machinery maintenance. O*NET rates it as medium preparation, which usually means one or two years of vocational training, an apprenticeship or an associate’s degree. It leans on troubleshooting, repairing, and operations monitoring. The job can ask you to dismantle machines and remove parts for repair, using hand tools, chain falls, jacks, cranes, or hoists. With a code of RCI, this is mostly a job for people drawn to hands-on work with tools, machines or the physical world. Conventional interests also help, rated 4.3 out of 7. People who want hands-on work with tools, machines or the physical world usually fit better here than those who need creative work with room for original expression.

What they do

Lubricate machinery, change parts, or perform other routine machinery maintenance.

Main tasks

  • Dismantle machines and remove parts for repair, using hand tools, chain falls, jacks, cranes, or hoists.
  • Reassemble machines after the completion of repair or maintenance work.
  • Record production, repair, and machine maintenance information.
  • Lubricate or apply adhesives or other materials to machines, machine parts, or other equipment according to specified procedures.
  • Install, replace, or change machine parts and attachments, according to production specifications.
  • Set up and operate machines, and adjust controls to regulate operations.

Skills

  • Troubleshooting
  • Repairing
  • Operations Monitoring
  • Equipment Maintenance
  • Operation and Control
  • Quality Control Analysis

Who this career fits

May suit you if

  • You like ending the day with a physical result you can point to.
  • You like clear rules and getting the details right.
  • You are willing to put in a year or two of focused training.
  • You are comfortable relying on troubleshooting and repairing.

May not suit you if

  • You would rather stay away from physical, hands-on tasks.
  • You need creative expression to be a big part of your day. Artistic rates 1.0 out of 7 here.
  • You need to start within a few months, with no training period.

Interest profile

O*NET rates each occupation from 1 to 7 on six interest types. The code RCI takes the three highest, and Realistic comes first here.

Preparation

Medium preparation. Expect vocational school, an apprenticeship, related experience or an associate’s degree, usually one or two years in total.

Most-reported requirement in the O*NET survey: Post-Secondary Certificate. This reflects what workers reported most often and is not a legal minimum. Licensing rules can differ by state or industry, so confirm what applies where you plan to work.

Also called

  • Lubricator
  • Machine Repairer
  • Maintainer
  • Maintenance Craftsman
  • Maintenance Man

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This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.