Helpers--Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers
Helpers--Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers (SOC 49-9098) earn a median $39,630 a year ($19.05 an hour) in the United States, with 95,580 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is District of Columbia.
What helpers--installation, maintenance, and repair workers do
Helpers in this group assist installation, maintenance and repair workers in maintaining, replacing parts on and repairing vehicles, industrial machinery, and electrical and electronic equipment. Their duties include furnishing tools, materials and supplies to other workers, cleaning the work area, machines and tools, and holding materials or tools for other workers. Beyond that, they put in or swap out machinery, equipment, parts and instruments with hand or power tools, examine and test machinery, components and parts for defects, and tend and observe equipment to verify efficient and safe operation. They adjust, connect or disconnect wiring, piping, tubing and other parts, clean or lubricate vehicles, machinery, equipment and tools, diagnose electrical problems and install and rewire electrical components, and disassemble broken or defective equipment and reassemble it when repairs are complete. The title list shows how varied the work is, from air conditioner installer helper to armature winder repair helper, automobile body repairer helper and blacksmith helper. Construction trades helpers have their own codes (47-3011 through 47-3019).
Typical entry: O*NET respondents most often report a high school diploma or the equivalent as the education needed.
Also called: 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.
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $14.09 | $16.78 | $19.05 | $22.55 | $26.87 | $19.95 | 95,580 |
| Annual | $29,310 | $34,910 | $39,630 | $46,890 | $55,890 | $41,490 | ||
Employment per 1,000 jobs and the location quotient are area measures; they appear in the state and metro tables below. To see what a wage in this range leaves after tax, use FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Where helpers--installation, maintenance, and repair workers earn and work most
Five highest-paying states
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| District of Columbia | Hourly | $17.65 | $20.98 | $26.38 | $40.16 | $46.91 | $29.71 | 110 | 0.15 | 0.25 |
| Annual | $36,720 | $43,640 | $54,860 | $83,540 | $97,570 | $61,800 | ||||
| Hawaii | Hourly | $17.13 | $19.90 | $22.27 | $26.94 | $29.61 | $23.16 | 660 | 1.05 | 1.71 |
| Annual | $35,620 | $41,390 | $46,320 | $56,020 | $61,580 | $48,160 | ||||
| Washington | Hourly | $17.63 | $19.56 | $22.16 | $27.35 | $37.83 | $24.58 | 1,110 | 0.31 | 0.51 |
| Annual | $36,670 | $40,670 | $46,080 | $56,900 | $78,690 | $51,130 | ||||
| New Hampshire | Hourly | $18.01 | $19.56 | $22.00 | $23.25 | $28.25 | $22.03 | 560 | 0.82 | 1.34 |
| Annual | $37,450 | $40,670 | $45,760 | $48,360 | $58,750 | $45,820 | ||||
| Alaska | Hourly | $15.37 | $17.42 | $21.99 | $23.90 | $29.71 | $21.88 | 550 | 1.68 | 2.73 |
| Annual | $31,970 | $36,230 | $45,740 | $49,710 | $61,800 | $45,510 | ||||
Five states with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Texas | Hourly | $11.59 | $15.21 | $17.79 | $21.15 | $23.87 | $18.19 | 16,610 | 1.18 | 1.92 |
| Annual | $24,100 | $31,640 | $37,000 | $44,000 | $49,640 | $37,840 | ||||
| California | Hourly | $17.26 | $18.41 | $21.48 | $23.77 | $28.74 | $22.29 | 9,050 | 0.50 | 0.81 |
| Annual | $35,900 | $38,290 | $44,670 | $49,430 | $59,770 | $46,360 | ||||
| Florida | Hourly | $15.22 | $16.92 | $18.61 | $21.52 | $23.62 | $19.33 | 5,520 | 0.56 | 0.90 |
| Annual | $31,660 | $35,190 | $38,710 | $44,760 | $49,130 | $40,200 | ||||
| New York | Hourly | $18.00 | $20.00 | $21.09 | $26.01 | $31.91 | $23.52 | 5,310 | 0.55 | 0.89 |
| Annual | $37,440 | $41,600 | $43,870 | $54,100 | $66,360 | $48,930 | ||||
| North Carolina | Hourly | $14.10 | $16.43 | $18.60 | $21.87 | $23.54 | $18.99 | 4,400 | 0.89 | 1.45 |
| Annual | $29,320 | $34,180 | $38,700 | $45,490 | $48,960 | $39,500 | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Wheeling, WV-OH | Hourly | $20.09 | $24.84 | $31.07 | $31.07 | $31.07 | $28.53 | 40 | 0.67 | 1.10 |
| Annual | $41,790 | $51,660 | $64,620 | $64,620 | $64,620 | $59,330 | ||||
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | Hourly | $20.61 | $22.82 | $26.49 | $28.91 | $30.26 | $26.18 | 430 | 0.38 | 0.62 |
| Annual | $42,870 | $47,460 | $55,100 | $60,140 | $62,940 | $54,440 | ||||
| Twin Falls, ID | Hourly | $13.70 | $19.35 | $24.76 | $24.76 | $28.61 | $22.63 | 70 | 1.31 | 2.12 |
| Annual | $28,500 | $40,250 | $51,490 | $51,490 | $59,500 | $47,060 | ||||
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | Hourly | $17.81 | $20.04 | $24.52 | $24.52 | $28.73 | $23.51 | 70 | 0.56 | 0.92 |
| Annual | $37,040 | $41,680 | $51,000 | $51,000 | $59,770 | $48,910 | ||||
| Longview-Kelso, WA | Hourly | $17.84 | $19.56 | $24.15 | $32.34 | $32.70 | $26.26 | 30 | 0.75 | 1.22 |
| Annual | $37,110 | $40,670 | $50,230 | $67,270 | $68,010 | $54,620 | ||||
Five metropolitan areas with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | Hourly | $17.95 | $19.82 | $21.09 | $24.67 | $31.46 | $23.16 | 5,700 | 0.60 | 0.98 |
| Annual | $37,340 | $41,230 | $43,870 | $51,310 | $65,440 | $48,160 | ||||
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | Hourly | $11.24 | $15.37 | $18.01 | $21.08 | $23.97 | $18.37 | 4,440 | 1.35 | 2.19 |
| Annual | $23,370 | $31,970 | $37,470 | $43,840 | $49,860 | $38,210 | ||||
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | Hourly | $14.32 | $16.79 | $18.39 | $21.92 | $25.24 | $19.28 | 4,150 | 1.02 | 1.67 |
| Annual | $29,780 | $34,920 | $38,250 | $45,590 | $52,500 | $40,110 | ||||
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | Hourly | $17.42 | $18.34 | $21.73 | $23.50 | $28.26 | $22.17 | 2,770 | 0.44 | 0.72 |
| Annual | $36,230 | $38,160 | $45,190 | $48,880 | $58,780 | $46,110 | ||||
| San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR | Hourly | $10.50 | $10.85 | $12.12 | $13.66 | $18.36 | $13.34 | 1,790 | 2.59 | 4.21 |
| Annual | $21,840 | $22,570 | $25,200 | $28,400 | $38,190 | $27,750 | ||||
Top industries employing helpers--installation, maintenance, and repair workers
Building Equipment Contractors employ 29.7% of helpers--installation, maintenance, and repair workers nationally (28,350 jobs) at a median $39,860 a year ($19.17 an hour), followed by Automotive Repair and Maintenance (15.7%) and Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) (4.4%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Building Equipment Contractors NAICS 238200 | 28,350 | 29.7% | $39,860 | $19.17 |
| Automotive Repair and Maintenance NAICS 811100 | 15,010 | 15.7% | $36,540 | $17.57 |
| Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) NAICS 999300 | 4,250 | 4.4% | $46,880 | $22.54 |
| Automobile Dealers NAICS 441100 | 4,000 | 4.2% | $36,860 | $17.72 |
| Commercial and Industrial Machinery and Equipment (except Automotive and Electronic) Repair and Maintenance NAICS 811300 | 2,990 | 3.1% | $42,990 | $20.67 |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (95,580). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $33,100 for helpers--installation, maintenance, and repair workers in May 2021 and $39,630 in May 2025, with employment of 88,480 and 95,580.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $33,100 | $15.91 | 88,480 |
| May 2022 | $35,100 | $16.88 | 93,650 |
| May 2023 | $36,710 | $17.65 | 101,890 |
| May 2024 | $38,860 | $18.68 | 97,540 |
| May 2025 | $39,630 | $19.05 | 95,580 |
BLS does not design OEWS as a time series: each release pools three years of samples, and occupational classifications, area definitions and estimation methods change between releases, so a difference between two releases is not a measure of change over time. The figures are shown as published, side by side, and nothing is computed from them. See how often OEWS is updated.
Every state, by median wage
50 states and DC publish a row for this occupation. A linked state has its own page with the within-state metro table and comparison; the others appear here only.
| Rank | State | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia profile | $26.38 | $54,860 | $36,720 | $97,570 | 110 | 0.15 | 0.25 |
| 2 | Hawaii profile | $22.27 | $46,320 | $35,620 | $61,580 | 660 | 1.05 | 1.71 |
| 3 | Washington profile | $22.16 | $46,080 | $36,670 | $78,690 | 1,110 | 0.31 | 0.51 |
| 4 | New Hampshire profile | $22.00 | $45,760 | $37,450 | $58,750 | 560 | 0.82 | 1.34 |
| 5 | Alaska profile | $21.99 | $45,740 | $31,970 | $61,800 | 550 | 1.68 | 2.73 |
| 6 | Colorado profile | $21.93 | $45,610 | $37,090 | $58,640 | 1,190 | 0.41 | 0.67 |
| 7 | Arizona profile | $21.90 | $45,560 | $35,390 | $62,810 | 1,770 | 0.55 | 0.89 |
| 8 | Rhode Island profile | $21.75 | $45,240 | $33,900 | $53,050 | 140 | 0.29 | 0.47 |
| 9 | Minnesota profile | $21.61 | $44,950 | $32,760 | $59,690 | 1,110 | 0.38 | 0.61 |
| 10 | North Dakota profile | $21.49 | $44,710 | $27,040 | $57,920 | 100 | 0.22 | 0.36 |
| 11 | California profile | $21.48 | $44,670 | $35,900 | $59,770 | 9,050 | 0.50 | 0.81 |
| 12 | Connecticut profile | $21.33 | $44,370 | $34,010 | $82,480 | 1,050 | 0.62 | 1.01 |
| 13 | Utah profile | $21.26 | $44,210 | $31,200 | $60,280 | 410 | 0.24 | 0.39 |
| 14 | New York profile | $21.09 | $43,870 | $37,440 | $66,360 | 5,310 | 0.55 | 0.89 |
| 15 | Michigan profile | $20.98 | $43,630 | $31,220 | $57,000 | 2,180 | 0.50 | 0.81 |
| 16 | Oregon profile | $20.82 | $43,300 | $31,220 | $59,530 | 1,330 | 0.68 | 1.10 |
| 17 | Vermont profile | $20.50 | $42,630 | $30,430 | $52,450 | 90 | 0.29 | 0.47 |
| 18 | Massachusetts profile | $20.29 | $42,200 | $34,320 | $53,860 | 1,290 | 0.35 | 0.58 |
| 19 | Maryland profile | $20.02 | $41,630 | $34,350 | $55,670 | 1,770 | 0.64 | 1.05 |
| 20 | Wisconsin profile | $20.00 | $41,600 | $28,080 | $52,720 | 1,640 | 0.56 | 0.91 |
| 21 | Pennsylvania profile | $19.95 | $41,500 | $26,940 | $55,580 | 2,540 | 0.42 | 0.68 |
| 22 | New Jersey profile | $19.82 | $41,230 | $33,900 | $55,450 | 3,050 | 0.71 | 1.16 |
| 23 | Delaware profile | $19.49 | $40,530 | $31,970 | $57,640 | 360 | 0.73 | 1.19 |
| 24 | Ohio profile | $19.22 | $39,980 | $29,490 | $55,390 | 1,550 | 0.28 | 0.46 |
| 25 | Illinois profile | $19.10 | $39,730 | $31,200 | $58,280 | 1,750 | 0.29 | 0.47 |
| 26 | Maine profile | $19.00 | $39,520 | $35,040 | $51,810 | 280 | 0.44 | 0.71 |
| 27 | Montana profile | $18.96 | $39,430 | $31,300 | $51,830 | 400 | 0.78 | 1.27 |
| 28 | Idaho profile | $18.87 | $39,250 | $26,880 | $51,800 | 430 | 0.50 | 0.81 |
| 29 | West Virginia profile | $18.76 | $39,030 | $26,090 | $63,250 | 340 | 0.48 | 0.78 |
| 30 | Virginia profile | $18.70 | $38,890 | $30,410 | $56,660 | 3,100 | 0.76 | 1.23 |
| 31 | Florida profile | $18.61 | $38,710 | $31,660 | $49,130 | 5,520 | 0.56 | 0.90 |
| 32 | North Carolina profile | $18.60 | $38,700 | $29,320 | $48,960 | 4,400 | 0.89 | 1.45 |
| 33 | Iowa profile | $18.60 | $38,690 | $27,040 | $54,330 | 990 | 0.64 | 1.03 |
| 34 | Tennessee profile | $18.51 | $38,490 | $29,850 | $56,830 | 2,540 | 0.78 | 1.26 |
| 35 | South Carolina profile | $18.50 | $38,480 | $28,080 | $53,510 | 2,160 | 0.94 | 1.52 |
| 36 | Indiana profile | $18.01 | $37,470 | $22,600 | $53,180 | 1,160 | 0.36 | 0.59 |
| 37 | Kansas profile | $18.00 | $37,430 | $21,730 | $46,370 | 440 | 0.31 | 0.50 |
| 38 | Missouri profile | $17.84 | $37,110 | $29,260 | $56,730 | 670 | 0.23 | 0.37 |
| 39 | Kentucky profile | $17.79 | $37,000 | $29,140 | $51,480 | 900 | 0.45 | 0.73 |
| 40 | Texas profile | $17.79 | $37,000 | $24,100 | $49,640 | 16,610 | 1.18 | 1.92 |
| 41 | New Mexico profile | $17.77 | $36,950 | $29,260 | $51,000 | 770 | 0.89 | 1.44 |
| 42 | Georgia profile | $17.61 | $36,640 | $22,560 | $56,350 | 3,100 | 0.63 | 1.03 |
| 43 | Nevada profile | $17.60 | $36,610 | $28,880 | $49,940 | 1,030 | 0.67 | 1.08 |
| 44 | Louisiana profile | $17.38 | $36,160 | $22,170 | $48,910 | 3,910 | 2.02 | 3.29 |
| 45 | Alabama profile | $17.37 | $36,140 | $22,420 | $47,840 | 1,710 | 0.81 | 1.32 |
| 46 | Oklahoma profile | $17.08 | $35,530 | $19,460 | $47,510 | 1,820 | 1.07 | 1.74 |
| 47 | Nebraska profile | $17.06 | $35,480 | $28,080 | $48,720 | 350 | 0.34 | 0.55 |
| 48 | Mississippi profile | $17.04 | $35,440 | $23,070 | $47,140 | 960 | 0.83 | 1.34 |
| 49 | Arkansas profile | $16.17 | $33,630 | $23,450 | $43,710 | 1,140 | 0.88 | 1.43 |
| 50 | Wyoming profile | $15.03 | $31,260 | $15,450 | $61,410 | 160 | 0.57 | 0.92 |
Related occupations
Occupations in the same SOC broad group (49-9090), with their national median annual wage.
Part of Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations. Compare any area in the wage explorer.
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS 49-9098 Helpers--Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.
- Top industries: nat4d_M2025_dl.xlsx in oesm25in4.zip (BLS OEWS May 2025, national, 4-digit NAICS, cross-ownership). Employment is the industry's rounded total for this occupation; industries whose employment BLS withheld (**) are not ranked.
- Published medians: national_M2021_dl.xlsx to national_M2024_dl.xlsx in oesm21nat.zip to oesm24nat.zip (BLS OEWS May 2021 to May 2024, national, cross-industry, all ownerships) and the May 2025 spine. Each release is shown as published; nothing is computed between them.
Sources
- BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018, definition of 49-9098, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 49-9098.00, National Center for O*NET Development, USDOL/ETA (CC BY 4.0).
- OEWS May 2025 national industry-specific estimates, 4-digit NAICS (oesm25in4.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2021 national estimates (oesm21nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2022 national estimates (oesm22nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2023 national estimates (oesm23nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2024 national estimates (oesm24nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2025 national estimates (oesm25nat.zip), the site's data spine, US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
Includes information from O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Description written 2026-10-17 in our own words from the sources above.