U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2008-09 Edition

Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations

Repair and service bicycles.

• 2006 employment: 8,600
• Projected 2006-16 employment change: About as fast as average
• Most significant source of postsecondary education or training: Moderate-term on-the-job training

Work below surface of water, using scuba gear to inspect, repair, remove, or install equipment and structures. May use a variety of power and hand tools, such as drills, sledgehammers, torches, and welding equipment. May conduct tests or experiments, rig explosives, or photograph structures or marine life. Excludes fishers and related fishing workers, athletes and sports competitors, and police and sheriff's patrol officers.

• 2006 employment: 3,100
• Projected 2006-16 employment change: Faster than average
• Most significant source of postsecondary education or training: Postsecondary vocational award

Install, repair, and maintain mechanical regulating and controlling devices, such as electric meters, gas regulators, thermostats, safety and flow valves, and other mechanical governors.

• 2006 employment: 43,000
• Projected 2006-16 employment change: Little or no change
• Most significant source of postsecondary education or training: Moderate-term on-the-job training

Repair tears, holes, and other defects in fabrics, such as draperies, linens, parachutes, and tents.

• 2006 employment: 1,800
• Projected 2006-16 employment change: Little or no change
• Most significant source of postsecondary education or training: Moderate-term on-the-job training

Supervise and coordinate the activities of mechanics, installers, and repairers. Excludes team or work leaders.

• 2006 employment: 465,000
• Projected 2006-16 employment change: About as fast as average
• Most significant source of postsecondary education or training: Work experience in a related occupation

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.

• 2006 employment: 163,000
• Projected 2006-16 employment change: About as fast as average
• Most significant source of postsecondary education or training: Short-term on-the-job training

Repair and open locks; make keys; change locks and safe combinations; and install and repair safes.

• 2006 employment: 26,000
• Projected 2006-16 employment change: Much faster than average
• Most significant source of postsecondary education or training: Moderate-term on-the-job training

Move or install homes or prefabricated buildings.

• 2006 employment: 12,000
• Projected 2006-16 employment change: Decline slowly
• Most significant source of postsecondary education or training: Moderate-term on-the-job training

Install, service, or repair opening and closing mechanisms of automatic doors and hydraulic door closers. Includes garage door mechanics.

• 2006 employment: 15,000
• Projected 2006-16 employment change: Faster than average
• Most significant source of postsecondary education or training: Moderate-term on-the-job training

Diagnose, inspect, adjust, repair, or overhaul recreational vehicles including travel trailers. May specialize in maintaining gas, electrical, hydraulic, plumbing, or chassis/towing systems as well as repairing generators, appliances, and interior components. Includes workers who perform customized van conversions. Excludes automotive service technicians and mechanics, and bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists who also work on recreation vehicles.

• 2006 employment: 14,000
• Projected 2006-16 employment change: Faster than average
• Most significant source of postsecondary education or training: Long-term on-the-job training

Build or repair furnaces, kilns, cupolas, boilers, converters, ladles, soaking pits, ovens, etc., using refractory materials.

• 2006 employment: 3,500
• Projected 2006-16 employment change: Decline rapidly
• Most significant source of postsecondary education or training: Moderate-term on-the-job training

Set up or repair rigging for construction projects, manufacturing plants, logging yards, ships and shipyards, or for the entertainment industry.

• 2006 employment: 12,000
• Projected 2006-16 employment change: Little or no change
• Most significant source of postsecondary education or training: Short-term on-the-job training

Install, program, maintain, and repair security and fire alarm wiring and equipment. Ensure that work is in accordance with relevant codes. Excludes electricians who do a broad range of electrical wiring.

• 2006 employment: 57,000
• Projected 2006-16 employment change: Faster than average
• Most significant source of postsecondary education or training: Postsecondary vocational award

Install, inspect, test, maintain, or repair electric gate crossings, signals, signal equipment, track switches, section lines, or intercommunications systems within a railroad system.

• 2006 employment: 7,200
• Projected 2006-16 employment change: Decline slowly
• Most significant source of postsecondary education or training: Moderate-term on-the-job training

Repair and replace tires.

• 2006 employment:106,000
• Projected 2006-16 employment change: Faster than average
• Most significant source of postsecondary education or training: Short-term on-the-job training

Last Modified Date: December 18, 2007