Many of the odd jobs a maintenance and repair worker might tackle require knowledge of skilled trades such as carpentry and plumbing. Ted Tenenbaum, owner of a Mr. Handyman franchise serving the Los Angeles area, says, "General maintenance and repair workers are like doctors for your home." They should have good problem-solving skills, he adds, and sometimes they need to be creative when a solution isn’t so obvious. "Workers should be in good physical shape to endure standing, squatting and stooping for long periods of time, and they must be able to lift heavy objects and work with complex tools." Customer service skills and computer savvy are useful as well.

When reading job reviews by maintenance and repair workers, three virtues stand out: autonomy, variety and security. Do you like to set your own hours and work a less-than-traditional schedule? Many maintenance and repair workers are given a wide berth to work independently. Are you trying to avoid a "Groundhog Day" routine? You’re in luck, as professionals in this field may be called on to fix an electrical problem inside one day and paint shingles outside the next.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 3.6% employment growth for maintenance and repair workers between 2022 and 2032. In that period, an estimated 57,200 jobs should open up.

Many positions in the field typically require a high school diploma or equivalent and practical on-the-job training. Those new to the field can spend years learning their skills on the job from their more experienced colleagues, though some skills can be learned in high school shop or technical education classes, or at community colleges or vocational schools. Maintenance and repair workers may have to be licensed, and license requirements vary by state. Some may need to be licensed to do more complex tasks like electrical and plumbing work. Tenenbaum says his company prefers to hire people who have worked at least 15 years in skilled trades.