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Occupation AtlasHelpers--Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers

O*NET · 49-9098.00

Helpers--Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers

Help installation, maintenance, and repair workers in maintenance, parts replacement, and repair of vehicles, industrial machinery, and electrical and electronic equipment. Perform duties such as furnishing tools, materials, and supplies to other workers; cleaning work area, machines, and tools; and holding materials or tools for other workers.

Also called AC Installer Helper · AC Installer Servicer Helper · Air Conditioner Installer Helper (AC Installer Helper) · Air Conditioner Installer Servicer Helper (AC Installer Servicer Helper) · Airframe and Power Plant Mechanic Helper · Armature Winder Repair Helper · Automobile Body Repairer Helper · Automobile Mechanic Helper
99 more

Automotive Electrical Helper · Blacksmith Assistant · Blacksmith Helper · Cable Splicer Helper · Car Mechanic Helper · Car Repairer Helper · Compressed Gas Equipment Service Mechanic Helper · Construction Equipment Mechanic Helper · Cooper Helper · Diesel Mechanic Helper · Diver Helper · Electrical Assistant · Elevator Constructor Helper · Elevator Repairer Helper · Environmental Control System Installer Servicer Helper · Factory Maintenance Repairer Helper · Fire Equipment Inspector Helper · Furnace Mechanic Helper · Garage Helper · Gas Appliance Servicer Helper · Gas Fitter Helper · Gas Leak Inspector Helper · Gas Main Fitter Helper · Gas Meter Installer Helper · Gas Regulator Repairer Helper · Heat Service Planner · Heating and AC Installer Servicer Helper · Heating and Air Conditioning Installer Helper (Heating and AC Installer Servicer Helper) · Hot Air Furnace Installer Helper · Hot Air Furnace Repairer Helper · HVAC Helper · HVAC Helper (Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning Helper) · HVAC Installation Helper · HVAC Installation Helper (Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning Installation Helper) · Hydroelectric Machinery Mechanic Helper · Industrial Gas Service Helper · Industrial Gas Servicer Helper · Industrial Maintenance Repairer Helper · Installation Helper · Installation Service Assistant · Instrument Repairer Helper · Instrument Tech Helper · Instrument Technician Helper (Instrument Tech Helper) · Lab Helper · Laboratory Helper (Lab Helper) · Light Service Planner · Locksmith Helper · Logging Equipment Mechanic's Helper · Machinist Helper · Maintenance Aide · Maintenance Apprentice · Maintenance Assistant · Maintenance Clerk · Maintenance Helper · Maintenance Mechanic Helper · Maintenance Person · Maintenance Professional · Mechanic Helper · Mechanic Repair Helper · Mechanic's Assistant · Meter Repairer Helper · Mill Maintenance Repairer Helper · Millwright Helper · Motorboat Mechanic Helper · Oil Burner Servicer and Installer Helper · Ordnance Artificer Helper · Over Hauler Helper · Overhauler Helper · Paint Preparer · Pinsetter Mechanic Helper · Powerhouse Mechanic Helper · Protective Signal Installer Helper · Protective Signal Repairer Helper · Pump Servicer Helper · Refrigeration Mechanic Helper · Repair Armature Winder Helper · Repair Service Assistant · Repairer Helper · Rigger Helper · Rigging Helper · Salvager Helper · Service Station Helper · Sewing Machine Repairer Helper · Signal Maintainer Helper · Solar Energy System Installer Helper · Spray Gun Repairer Helper · Street Light Repairer Helper · Street Light Servicer Helper · Streetcar Repairer Helper · Technician's Helper · Television Installer Helper · Tractor Mechanic Helper · Veneer Clipper Helper · Wash Oil Pump Operator Helper · Washer Engineer Helper · Water and Gas Helper · Wet End Helper · Window Unit AC Installer Helper · Window Unit Air Conditioner Installer Helper (Window Unit AC Installer Helper)

Job Zone 2 — Some Preparation NeededHolland code RCI35 skills on file

Compare with another occupationCompare with Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators

Job Zone

  1. 1
  2. 2
  3. 3
  4. 4
  5. 5

Zone 2: Some Preparation Needed

Some preparation. Usually a high school diploma, some previous work-related skill or experience, and a few months to a year of training with experienced workers.

Job Zone is O*NET's rating of how much education, experience and training an occupation typically needs — a property of the work, not of anyone doing it.

Occupational interest profile

RCIRealistic · Conventional · Investigative — the three strongest interests, in order

  • R Realistic6.99
  • C Conventional4.04
  • I Investigative1.97
  • S Social1.82
  • E Enterprising1.63
  • A Artistic1.10

RIASEC (Holland) interests on O*NET's 0–7 scale: what the work draws on, not what any individual prefers. Hover a row for what each dimension means.

Education and experience

The education level respondents say the job requires, and the most common answer for experience and training.

  • Less than a High School Diploma2%
  • High School Diploma or the equivalent32%
  • Post-Secondary Certificate24%
  • Some College Courses17%
  • Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree25%
Related work experience
Over 2 years, up to and including 4 years (35%)
On-site or in-plant training
Over 1 year, up to and including 2 years (38%)
On-the-job training
Over 1 year, up to and including 2 years (51%)

Typically associated skills

All 35 O*NET skills, most important first. Importance (1–5) says how much a skill matters here; level (0–7) says how much of it the work calls for, with O*NET's example of a nearby level. Neither is a proficiency rating of a person.

  • Equipment Maintenance3.13.3Level 4 looks like: Clean moving parts in production machinery
  • Repairing3.13.3Level 4 looks like: Replace a faulty hydraulic valve
  • Troubleshooting3.13.1Level 4 looks like: Identify the circuit causing an electrical system to fail
  • Operation and Control3.13.0Level 2 looks like: Navigate the settings on an office printer to print on both sides of the paper
  • Operations Monitoring3.13.0Level 2 looks like: Monitor completion times while running a computer program
  • Active Listeningbasic3.12.8Level 2 looks like: Take a customer's order
  • Critical Thinkingbasic3.12.8Level 2 looks like: Determine whether a subordinate has a good excuse for being late
  • Monitoringbasic3.12.6Level 2 looks like: Proofread and correct a letter
  • Quality Control Analysis3.03.0Level 2 looks like: Inspect a draft email for errors (e.g., grammar, punctuation)
  • Coordination3.02.9Level 2 looks like: Schedule appointments for a medical clinic
  • Speakingbasic3.02.4Level 2 looks like: Greet tourists and explain tourist attractions
  • Judgment and Decision Making2.92.6Level 2 looks like: Decide how scheduling a break will affect work flow
Show the other 23
  • Time Management2.82.5Level 2 looks like: Keep a monthly calendar of appointments
  • Equipment Selection2.82.4Level 2 looks like: Select a tool to adjust a loose part on a bicycle
  • Active Learningbasic2.62.5Level 2 looks like: Think about the implications of a news article for job opportunities
  • Complex Problem Solving2.62.1Level 2 looks like: Lay out tools to complete a job
  • Reading Comprehensionbasic2.62.1Level 2 looks like: Read step-by-step instructions for completing a form
  • Social Perceptiveness2.62.0Level 2 looks like: Notice that customers are angry because they have been waiting too long
  • Learning Strategiesbasic2.52.1Level 2 looks like: Learn a different method of completing a task from a coworker
  • Installation2.42.3Level 2 looks like: Install a new air filter in an air conditioner
  • Service Orientation2.42.0Level 2 looks like: Ask customers if they would like a cup of coffee
  • Systems Analysis2.12.1Level 2 looks like: Determine how loss of a team member will affect the completion of a job
  • Instructing2.12.0Level 2 looks like: Instruct a new employee in the use of a timekeeping system
  • Writingbasic2.12.0Level 2 looks like: Write down a guest's order at a restaurant
  • Systems Evaluation2.11.9Level 2 looks like: Determine why estimates for the time to complete a task are overly optimistic
  • Mathematicsbasic2.01.6Level 2 looks like: Count the amount of change to be given to a customer
  • Persuasion1.91.8Level 2 looks like: Solicit donations for a charity
  • Management of Personnel Resources1.91.5Level 2 looks like: Encourage a coworker who is having difficulty finishing a project
  • Negotiation1.91.5Level 2 looks like: Present justification to a manager for altering a work schedule
  • Operations Analysis1.60.8
  • Technology Design1.60.6
  • Management of Material Resources1.50.6
  • Programming1.40.4
  • Management of Financial Resources1.3—
  • Sciencebasic1.1—

Tasks

14 core · 2 supplemental

What people in this occupation do, as O*NET records it, core tasks first by importance (1–5).

  1. Examine and test machinery, equipment, components, and parts for defects to ensure proper functioning.4.0
  2. Install or replace machinery, equipment, and new or replacement parts and instruments, using hand or power tools.4.0
  3. Tend and observe equipment and machinery to verify efficient and safe operation.3.9
  4. Adjust, connect, or disconnect wiring, piping, tubing, and other parts, using hand or power tools.3.9
  5. Clean or lubricate vehicles, machinery, equipment, instruments, tools, work areas, and other objects, using hand tools, power tools, and cleaning equipment.3.9
  6. Disassemble broken or defective equipment to facilitate repair and reassemble equipment when repairs are complete.3.8
  7. Hold or supply tools, parts, equipment, and supplies for other workers.3.8
  8. Diagnose electrical problems and install and rewire electrical components.3.8
  9. Transfer tools, parts, equipment, and supplies to and from work stations and other areas.3.7
  10. Position vehicles, machinery, equipment, physical structures, and other objects for assembly or installation, using hand tools, power tools, and moving equipment.3.7
  11. Apply protective materials to equipment, components, and parts to prevent defects and corrosion.3.6
  12. Adjust, maintain, and repair tools, equipment, and machines, and assist more skilled workers with similar tasks.3.6
Show the other 4
  1. Order new parts to maintain inventory.3.6
  2. Design, weld, and fabricate parts, using blueprints or other mechanical plans.3.0
  3. Assemble and maintain physical structures, using hand or power tools.3.9
  4. Prepare work stations for use by mechanics and repairers.3.3

Knowledge

Bodies of knowledge the work draws on.

  • Mechanical4.15.2Level 4 looks like: Replace a valve on a steam pipe
  • Building and Construction3.84.0Level 4 looks like: Fix a plumbing leak in the ceiling
  • Customer and Personal Service3.74.1Level 4 looks like: Be responsible for 10 children at daycare
  • English Language3.53.1Level 4 looks like: Edit an article for a news website
  • Public Safety and Security3.53.6Level 4 looks like: Inspect a building site for safety violations
  • Engineering and Technology3.44.3Level 4 looks like: Design a custom office chair
  • Design3.33.9Level 4 looks like: Design plans for remodeling a kitchen
  • Mathematics3.33.5Level 4 looks like: Analyze data to determine areas with the highest sales
Show all 33
  • Production and Processing3.23.3Level 4 looks like: Supervise an appliance assembly line
  • Computers and Electronics3.13.3Level 4 looks like: Use a computer to format a document
  • Education and Training2.82.4Level 1 looks like: Show someone how to bowl
  • Physics2.73.6Level 4 looks like: Calculate the speed of a falling object
  • Administration and Management2.62.5Level 1 looks like: Approve a reimbursement request
  • Personnel and Human Resources2.52.2Level 1 looks like: Fill out a medical claim form
  • Administrative2.42.3Level 1 looks like: Direct phone calls to the appropriate staff member
  • Sales and Marketing2.31.4Level 1 looks like: Sell cakes at a bake sale
  • Telecommunications2.21.7Level 1 looks like: Send an email
  • Transportation2.21.6Level 1 looks like: Ride a train to work
  • Chemistry2.02.4Level 1 looks like: Use a common household bug spray
  • Communications and Media2.01.2Level 1 looks like: Write a thank you note
  • Economics and Accounting1.91.5Level 1 looks like: Answer billing questions from credit card customers
  • Psychology1.81.4Level 1 looks like: Monitor several children on a playground
  • Therapy and Counseling1.81.5Level 1 looks like: Put ice on a sprained ankle
  • Law and Government1.71.3Level 1 looks like: Describe the length of a U.S. presidential term
  • Biology1.60.7Level 1 looks like: Feed domestic animals
  • Food Production1.4—
  • Medicine and Dentistry1.4—
  • Foreign Language1.30.4Level 1 looks like: Say "please" and "thank you" in a foreign language
  • Geography1.30.6Level 1 looks like: Know the capital of the United States
  • Sociology and Anthropology1.3—
  • History and Archeology1.2—
  • Philosophy and Theology1.1—
  • Fine Arts1.0—

Abilities

Enduring capacities the work calls for.

  • Manual Dexterity3.63.1Level 4 looks like: Pack oranges in crates as quickly as possible
  • Arm-Hand Steadiness3.53.0Level 2 looks like: Light a candle
  • Control Precision3.53.4Level 4 looks like: Adjust farm tractor controls
  • Near Vision3.53.0Level 2 looks like: Read indicators on the dashboard of a car
  • Multilimb Coordination3.43.1Level 4 looks like: Operate a forklift truck in a warehouse
  • Finger Dexterity3.33.1Level 4 looks like: Attach small dials to audio equipment on an assembly line
  • Deductive Reasoning3.12.6Level 2 looks like: Know that a stalled car can coast downhill
  • Extent Flexibility3.14.0Level 4 looks like: Reach for a box on a high warehouse shelf
Show all 52
  • Information Ordering3.12.9Level 2 looks like: Follow the correct steps to make change
  • Oral Comprehension3.13.6Level 4 looks like: Understand a coach's oral instructions for a sport
  • Static Strength3.13.8Level 4 looks like: Pull a 40-pound sack of fertilizer across the lawn
  • Trunk Strength3.13.0Level 2 looks like: Sit up in an office chair
  • Flexibility of Closure3.02.9Level 2 looks like: Detect that your phone is ringing while at a concert
  • Oral Expression3.02.9Level 2 looks like: Place an order at a restaurant drive-thru
  • Problem Sensitivity3.02.6Level 2 looks like: Recognize that an unplugged lamp won't work
  • Selective Attention3.03.0Level 2 looks like: Answer a business call with coworkers talking nearby
  • Speech Recognition3.02.9Level 2 looks like: Recognize the voice of a coworker
  • Stamina3.03.0Level 4 looks like: Climb 6 flights of stairs
  • Visualization3.03.3Level 4 looks like: Follow a diagram to assemble a metal storage cabinet
  • Auditory Attention2.93.0Level 2 looks like: Listen to a lecture while people nearby are talking
  • Category Flexibility2.92.8Level 3 looks like: Classify flowers according to size, color, and smell
  • Dynamic Strength2.92.8Level 2 looks like: Use pruning shears to trim a bush
  • Far Vision2.92.9Level 2 looks like: Read a roadside billboard
  • Gross Body Equilibrium2.92.9Level 2 looks like: Stand on a ladder
  • Inductive Reasoning2.92.5Level 2 looks like: Decide what to wear based on the weather report
  • Perceptual Speed2.92.9Level 2 looks like: Sort mail according to ZIP codes with no time pressure
  • Reaction Time2.92.9Level 2 looks like: Start to slow down the car when a traffic light turns yellow
  • Speech Clarity2.92.5Level 1 looks like: Call numbers in a bingo game
  • Visual Color Discrimination2.92.9
  • Gross Body Coordination2.82.6Level 2 looks like: Get in and out of a truck
  • Depth Perception2.62.6Level 2 looks like: Merge a car into traffic on a city street
  • Time Sharing2.62.4Level 2 looks like: Listen to music while entering numbers into a spreadsheet
  • Hearing Sensitivity2.52.8Level 2 looks like: Notice a doorbell ringing
  • Written Comprehension2.52.3Level 2 looks like: Understand signs on the highway
  • Speed of Limb Movement2.42.0Level 2 looks like: Saw through a thin piece of wood
  • Memorization2.12.0Level 1 looks like: Remember the number on your bus to be sure you get back on the right one
  • Response Orientation2.12.1Level 2 looks like: When a doorbell and phone ring at the same time, quickly select which to answer first
  • Spatial Orientation2.11.9Level 2 looks like: Use the floor plan to locate a store in a mall
  • Wrist-Finger Speed2.12.0Level 2 looks like: Use a screwdriver to twist in a screw
  • Written Expression2.12.0Level 1 looks like: Write a note to remind someone to take food out of the freezer
  • Explosive Strength2.01.4Level 2 looks like: Hit a nail with a hammer
  • Fluency of Ideas2.02.0Level 2 looks like: Name four different uses for a screwdriver
  • Glare Sensitivity2.02.0Level 2 looks like: Drive on a familiar road on a cloudy day
  • Mathematical Reasoning2.01.9Level 1 looks like: Determine how much 20 oranges will cost when they are priced at 5 for 4 dollars
  • Number Facility2.01.8Level 1 looks like: Add 2 and 7
  • Originality2.02.0Level 2 looks like: Use a credit card to open a locked door
  • Sound Localization2.02.0Level 2 looks like: Listen to a sound system to determine which speaker is working
  • Speed of Closure2.02.0Level 3 looks like: Recognize a song after hearing only the first few notes
  • Peripheral Vision1.91.5Level 2 looks like: Keep in step while marching in a band
  • Rate Control1.91.8Level 1 looks like: Ride a bicycle alongside a jogger
  • Dynamic Flexibility1.81.0Level 2 looks like: Hand pick a bushel of apples from a tree
  • Night Vision1.60.8

Work activities

Kinds of activity the work is made of.

  • Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials4.53.3Level 4 looks like: Inspect equipment in a chemical processing plant
  • Making Decisions and Solving Problems4.23.6Level 4 looks like: Select the location for a major retail store
  • Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment4.24.6Level 4 looks like: Change the oil on a tractor
  • Performing General Physical Activities4.14.7Level 4 looks like: Paint the outside of a house
  • Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates3.93.8Level 4 looks like: Report the results of a sales meeting to a supervisor
  • Getting Information3.93.5Level 4 looks like: Review a budget
  • Handling and Moving Objects3.84.7Level 4 looks like: Arrange books in a library
  • Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships3.74.2Level 4 looks like: Maintain good working relationships with almost all coworkers and clients
Show all 41
  • Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings3.74.5Level 4 looks like: Test electrical circuits
  • Controlling Machines and Processes3.64.0Level 4 looks like: Operate a drilling rig
  • Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards3.63.1Level 4 looks like: Evaluate a complicated insurance claim for compliance with policy terms
  • Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work3.64.0Level 4 looks like: Plan and adjust a personal to-do list according to changing demands
  • Repairing and Maintaining Electronic Equipment3.63.9Level 4 looks like: Make repairs by removing and replacing circuit boards
  • Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge3.64.7Level 4 looks like: Keep current on changes in maintenance procedures for repairing sports cars
  • Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events3.52.7
  • Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment3.53.3Level 4 looks like: Drive an 18-wheel tractor-trailer
  • Developing Objectives and Strategies3.32.6
  • Judging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or People3.22.7
  • Processing Information3.22.4Level 1 looks like: Calculate the costs for shipping packages
  • Analyzing Data or Information3.12.3Level 1 looks like: Skim a short article to gather the main point
  • Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information3.12.2Level 1 looks like: Estimate the size of household furniture to be shipped
  • Coaching and Developing Others3.02.5Level 1 looks like: Show a coworker how to operate a piece of equipment
  • Communicating with People Outside the Organization3.02.8
  • Developing and Building Teams3.02.7
  • Documenting/Recording Information3.02.2Level 1 looks like: Record the weight of a patient during a routine health exam
  • Scheduling Work and Activities3.02.9
  • Thinking Creatively3.03.3Level 4 looks like: Adapt popular music for a high school marching band
  • Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others2.92.3Level 1 looks like: Exchange information during a shift change
  • Drafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and Equipment2.82.1Level 1 looks like: Specify the lighting for a work area
  • Training and Teaching Others2.72.0Level 1 looks like: Give coworkers brief instructions on a simple procedural change
  • Guiding, Directing, and Motivating Subordinates2.62.2Level 1 looks like: Work occasionally as a backup supervisor
  • Assisting and Caring for Others2.52.0Level 1 looks like: Help a coworker complete an assignment
  • Providing Consultation and Advice to Others2.51.8Level 1 looks like: Work in a position that requires little advising of others
  • Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others2.51.7Level 1 looks like: Apologize to a customer who complains about waiting too long
  • Selling or Influencing Others2.11.1Level 1 looks like: Convince a coworker to assist with an assignment
  • Working with Computers2.11.7Level 1 looks like: Enter employee information into a database
  • Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others2.01.6Level 1 looks like: Interpret a blood pressure reading
  • Performing Administrative Activities2.01.6Level 1 looks like: Complete routine paperwork
  • Staffing Organizational Units2.01.0Level 1 looks like: Work in a position that has minimal staffing requirements
  • Monitoring and Controlling Resources1.91.7Level 1 looks like: Work as a server responsible for keeping track of utensils
  • Performing for or Working Directly with the Public1.92.0Level 1 looks like: Check tickets at a concert

Work context

The conditions most characteristic of the work, on O*NET's 1–5 context scale.

  • Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets4.8
  • Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams4.7
  • Exposed to Sounds, Noise Levels that are Distracting or Uncomfortable4.2
  • Indoors, Not Environmentally Controlled4.2
  • Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls4.2
  • Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team4.2
  • Exposed to Contaminants4.1
  • Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results4.1
  • Contact With Others4.0
  • Frequency of Decision Making4.0

Technology

12 tools

Software used in this work. In demand: among the tools job postings for this occupation name most. Hot: often named in job postings across the economy.

Hot (7)

  • Microsoft Excel
  • Microsoft Office software
  • Microsoft Outlook
  • Microsoft PowerPoint
  • Microsoft Windows
  • Microsoft Word
  • SAP software
Other tools (5)
  • Atlas Construction Business Forms
  • Building automation software
  • Data logging software
  • Facility energy management software
  • HVAC tools software

Related occupations

O*NET's own list of the occupations most related to this one, closest first.

  1. Helpers--Production Workers
  2. Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters
  3. Helpers--Electricians
  4. Helpers--Extraction Workers
  5. Helpers--Carpenters
  6. Helpers--Painters, Paperhangers, Plasterers, and Stucco Masons
  7. Helpers--Brickmasons, Blockmasons, Stonemasons, and Tile and Marble Setters
  8. Millwrights
  9. Electric Motor, Power Tool, and Related Repairers
  10. Maintenance Workers, Machinery

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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. ESCO occupations and skills are from the European Commission's ESCO classification, and the occupation crosswalk is the official ESCO–O*NET mapping by the ESCO Secretariat with USDOL/ETA. This service uses the ESCO classification of the European Commission. BlissPoint Analytics has modified all or some of this information: skill, task and descriptor ratings are rounded to one decimal, and ESCO occupations show Job Zone and interests copied from a crosswalked O*NET occupation. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.