How to hire maintenance and repair workers, general
A job description you can copy, interview questions tied to the real work, and what to pay. Free.
Job description template
Copy it, fill in the brackets, and remove anything that does not fit your job. Keep only must-haves you would really turn someone away for.
[Job title] at [Company name] [City, State] · [Full-time / Part-time] · [Pay range] About the role [Two or three sentences about your team, the work and why it matters.] What you will do • Adjust functional parts of devices or control instruments, using hand tools, levels, plumb bobs, or straightedges. • Assemble, install, or repair wiring, electrical or electronic components, pipe systems, plumbing, machinery, or equipment. • Design new equipment to aid in the repair or maintenance of machines, mechanical equipment, or building structures. • Diagnose mechanical problems and determine how to correct them, checking blueprints, repair manuals, or parts catalogs, as necessary. • Inspect, operate, or test machinery or equipment to diagnose machine malfunctions. • Order parts, supplies, or equipment from catalogs or suppliers. • Perform routine maintenance, such as inspecting drives, motors, or belts, checking fluid levels, replacing filters, or doing other preventive maintenance actions. • Repair machines, equipment, or structures, using tools such as hammers, hoists, saws, drills, wrenches, or equipment such as precision measuring instruments or electrical or electronic testing devices. What you bring • [Required license, certification or years of experience, if any] • [Education, only if you truly need it. Typical to start in this job: High school diploma or equivalent] • Strong critical thinking, active learning, monitoring, active listening, reading comprehension and speaking skills • Working knowledge of mechanical, English Language and building and construction • [Anything else you would really turn someone away for] Pay and benefits [Pay range]. For reference, the U.S. median for this job is $23.84 an hour ($49,590 a year). [Benefits, schedule and anything else candidates should know.] How to apply [Apply on JAI Bot. Every applicant hears back.]
Interview questions for maintenance and repair workers, general
Ask every candidate the same questions, in the same order, and write down what they say. Questions about past work show what someone has actually done.
- Tell me about a time you had to adjust functional parts of devices or control instruments, using hand tools, levels, plumb bobs, or straightedges. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
- Tell me about a time you had to assemble, install, or repair wiring, electrical or electronic components, pipe systems, plumbing, machinery, or equipment. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
- Tell me about a time you had to design new equipment to aid in the repair or maintenance of machines, mechanical equipment, or building structures. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
- Tell me about a time you had to diagnose mechanical problems and determine how to correct them, checking blueprints, repair manuals, or parts catalogs, as necessary. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
- Describe a decision at work where the obvious answer was wrong. How did you work out the better choice?
- Tell me about something new you had to learn quickly for work. How did you learn it?
- How do you keep track of your own work quality during a busy shift or week? Give an example of catching a problem early.
- Why this job, and why now? What would make you stay here for the long term?
Good answers name a real situation, what the person did themselves and what happened. Avoid questions about age, family plans, religion, health, national origin or anything else unrelated to the job.
What maintenance and repair workers, general do
- Adjust functional parts of devices or control instruments, using hand tools, levels, plumb bobs, or straightedges.
- Assemble, install, or repair wiring, electrical or electronic components, pipe systems, plumbing, machinery, or equipment.
- Design new equipment to aid in the repair or maintenance of machines, mechanical equipment, or building structures.
- Diagnose mechanical problems and determine how to correct them, checking blueprints, repair manuals, or parts catalogs, as necessary.
- Inspect, operate, or test machinery or equipment to diagnose machine malfunctions.
- Order parts, supplies, or equipment from catalogs or suppliers.
- Perform routine maintenance, such as inspecting drives, motors, or belts, checking fluid levels, replacing filters, or doing other preventive maintenance actions.
- Repair machines, equipment, or structures, using tools such as hammers, hoists, saws, drills, wrenches, or equipment such as precision measuring instruments or electrical or electronic testing devices.
Skills that matter most
Education, experience and outlook for maintenance and repair workers, general
- Typical education to start: High school diploma or equivalent (BLS)
- Related work experience most have: 2 to 4 years (O*NET)
- Training on the job: Moderate-term on-the-job training (BLS)
- Job outlook: +4.2% over ten years, about as fast as average · about 148,700 openings a year (BLS)
What to pay maintenance and repair workers, general
Pay depends a lot on where the job is. Highest and lowest median yearly pay by state:
| State | Median yearly pay |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $60,310 |
| Alaska | $60,270 |
| Minnesota | $59,200 |
| Washington | $59,160 |
| Massachusetts | $58,320 |
| Arkansas | $43,400 |
| Oklahoma | $42,750 |
| West Virginia | $38,890 |
See maintenance and repair workers, general pay in every state
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Post a job freePay by areaJob duties and skills: 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. JAI Bot has modified this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. Pay: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, May 2025. Interview questions and the job description template: JAI Bot, based on the duties and skills above.