Maintenance And Repair Engineer
Snapshot
Maintenance and repair engineers focus on the optimization of equipment, procedures, machineries and infrastructure. They ensure their maximum availability at minimum costs.
Maintenance and repair engineers are vital for keeping equipment, machinery, and infrastructure running efficiently. Your days will involve diagnosing issues, implementing preventative maintenance schedules, troubleshooting malfunctions, and overseeing repairs. You’ll analyze data to optimize performance, reduce costs, and extend the lifespan of assets. This role requires a blend of technical expertise, analytical skills, and a proactive approach to problem-solving.
- • Diagnose and repair mechanical, electrical, and hydraulic systems.
- • Develop and implement preventative maintenance programs to minimize equipment failures.
- • Analyze equipment performance data and identify areas for improvement.
Where this occupation is in demand
Reported labour shortages and surpluses, by year. Published for occupation groups, not for individual job titles.
Figures cover Science and engineering professionals — 274 jobs including this one.
In shortage: Belgium, Bulgaria, Denmark, Estonia and 6 more.
Longest-running shortage: Belgium, 3 years.
Select a place on the map to see its figures.
About this source›
Source: ELA/EURES labour shortages and surpluses. Readings are published at occupation-group level, and cover Europe. Editions differ in annex layout and country coverage, so a change between years does not always mean the labour market changed. Countries in grey were not reported, which is not the same as being in balance.
What these words mean
The four things this section reports
- Reported demand
- Whether employers report needing people in this job — a judgement published by a national or EU body, not a count.
- Where it is heading
- Which way employment in this job is expected to move over the coming years, from an official projection.
- Openings
- Roughly how many openings arise — from growth and from people leaving the job.
- Typical pay
- What people in this job typically earn where the source publishes it. Blank does not mean unpaid; it means nobody publishes it for that place.
A measure is left out when nobody publishes it for that place, rather than shown as zero.
Which way the market leans for you
- In your favour
- More openings than people looking — employers are competing for candidates.
- Balanced
- Openings and candidates are roughly matched.
- Competitive
- More people looking than openings — expect to compete.
- Mixed evidence
- Sources disagree, or the same occupation group is short in one part and oversupplied in another.
Every source resolves to one of these four, so there is a single vocabulary to learn. What differs is the evidence behind it, which is printed underneath each verdict — a measured ratio of openings to jobseekers, or an assessment published by a national body.
How this job compares with other jobs in the same country
- Strong
- Among the strongest in that country
- Good
- Stronger than most jobs in that country
- Mixed
- About typical for that country
- Weak
- Weaker than most jobs in that country
This is a rank within one country, not a score you can carry across borders — the registers behind two countries count different people, so the same number means different things in each. It is also why a job can be among the strongest in a country and still show as Competitive: it leads the field in a market that is crowded overall.
Where these come from
Every figure is published by a national statistics office, a public employment service or an EU body, and each card names its source and the period it covers. Some places are counted monthly, others assessed once or twice a year, so two places on the same map can be describing different moments — the date is always shown.
None of this predicts one person’s chances. It describes a market.
Reported demand · Typical pay · Where it is heading (United States, Ireland, Australia, Malta, United Kingdom)
| Reported demand | Typical pay | Where it is heading | |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | Not reported | $79,860 2025-05 | +3.1% 2024–2034 · BLS 2024-2034 |
| Ireland | Shortage reported ELA/EURES 2025 * | — | +35.5% 2023–2035 · Cedefop 2026 * |
| Australia | Shortage reported Jobs and Skills Australia 2025 * | — | — |
| Malta | Shortage reported ELA/EURES 2024 * | — | — |
| United Kingdom | Not reported | £47,711 2025-provisional | — |
* Published for occupation groups, not for individual job titles.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS)
Source: Office for National Statistics, Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, Open Government Licence v3.0
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Future Outlook for maintenance and repair engineer
The outlook for maintenance and repair engineer reflects a balanced mix of automation exposure and durable, human-led work.
How are these scores calculated?
The Resilience Score (0–100) estimates how structurally protected this occupation is from automation and AI disruption, based on task-level analysis. Higher scores mean more human-judgment-intensive tasks. AI Exposure shows the estimated percentage of task hours that current AI capabilities could affect. These are model-derived structural indicators, not predictions about individual job security.
How could maintenance and repair engineer change as AI adoption grows?
This role is likely to change gradually, with AI supporting selected tasks rather than replacing the whole occupation.
Illustrative scenario based on task automatability — not a forecast. Values are rounded the further ahead you look.
This role is likely to change gradually, with AI supporting selected tasks rather than replacing the whole occupation.
Illustrative scenario based on task automatability — not a forecast. Values are rounded the further ahead you look.
Model-based estimate. Use it as a planning signal, not a guarantee.
Compare this to your profile
How AI may change this role
Deterministic, model-based interpretation of current role signals — not a guarantee of replacement.
What still depends on people
- perform test run
- advise on efficiency improvements
- inspect industrial equipment
Where AI may become a co-pilot
- conduct quality control analysis
- work safely with machines
- maintain equipment
Tasks most exposed to automation
- write technical reports
Vital Signs & AI Vectors
AI Exposure Vectors
0-100%Exposure to AI-assisted analysis, pattern recognition, and predictive modelling tasks
Exposure to physical automation, robotics, and sensor-driven task displacement
Exposure to content generation, creative augmentation, and large language model tools
Exposure to workflow automation, decision-support software, and process digitisation
Technical Details
NexFuture v3.0 estimates automation exposure natively from ESCO essential-skill groups, weighted by skill mass and calibrated against expert anchors. Scores are probabilistic estimates, not guarantees. See the NexFuture Methodology White Paper for full details.
Measures automation exposure. It does not measure pay, demand, or how many jobs exist near you.
What people in this role usually do
Advanced Manufacturing
A typical day as a maintenance and repair engineer
09 09:00 · Morning conduct routine machinery checks
10 10:30 · Mid-morning inspect industrial equipment
12 12:00 · Midday inspect machinery
14 14:00 · Afternoon advise on efficiency improvements
15 15:30 · Late afternoon conduct quality control analysis
17 17:00 · Wrap-up create solutions to problems
Task order is illustrative. Individual days vary.
What you need to do this work
The skills, knowledge and tools this role calls for — and the traits and rewards that come with it.
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create solutions to problems
Solve problems which arise in planning, prioritising, organising, directing/facilitating action and evaluating performance. Use systematic processes of collecting, analysing, and synthesising information to evaluate current practice and generate new understandings about practice.
-
resolve equipment malfunctions
Identify, report and repair equipment damage and malfunctions. Communicate with field representatives and manufacturers to obtain repair and replacement components.
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troubleshoot
Identify operating problems, decide what to do about it and report accordingly.
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perform test run
Perform tests putting a system, machine, tool or other equipment through a series of actions under actual operating conditions in order to assess its reliability and suitability to realise its tasks, and adjust settings accordingly.
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inspect industrial equipment
Inspect equipment used during industrial activities such as manufacturing or construction equipment in order to ensure that the equipment complies with health, safety, and environmental legislation.
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inspect machinery
Check machine equipment for proper performance and detect faults and malfunctions. Diagnose malfunctions using testing equipment to determine the required repair.
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maintain machinery
Maintain machinery and equipment in order to ensure that it is clean and in safe, working order. Perform routine maintenance on equipment and adjust or repair when necessary, using hand and power tools. Replace defective parts components or systems.
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conduct routine machinery checks
Check machinery and equipment to ensure reliable performance during use and operations in worksites.
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perform machine maintenance
Perform regular maintenance, possibly including corrections and alterations, on a machine or machine tool to ensure it remains in a proper productive state.
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work safely with machines
Check and safely operate machines and equipment required for your work according to manuals and instructions.
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maintain equipment
Regularly inspect and perform all required activities to maintain the equipment in functional order prior or after its use.
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manage budgets
Plan, monitor, report on the budget and prepare set production budgets.
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conduct quality control analysis
Conduct inspections and tests of services, processes, or products to evaluate quality.
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use testing equipment
Use equipment to test performance and operation of machinery.
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advise on efficiency improvements
Analyse information and details of processes and products in order to advise on possible efficiency improvements that could be implemented and would signify a better use of resources.
-
write technical reports
Compose technical customer reports understandable for people without technical background.
engineering processes
The systematic approach to the development and maintenance of engineering systems.
chemical products
The offered chemical products, their functionalities, properties and legal and regulatory requirements.
cloud technologies
The technologies which enable access to hardware, software, data and services through remote servers and software networks irrespective of their location and architecture.
data mining
The methods of artificial intelligence, machine learning, statistics and databases used to extract content from a dataset.
data storage
The physical and technical concepts of how digital data storage is organised in specific schemes both locally, such as hard-drives and random-access memories (RAM) and remotely, via network, internet or cloud.
information extraction
The techniques and methods used for eliciting and extracting information from unstructured or semi-structured digital documents and sources.
information structure
The type of infrastructure which defines the format of data: semi-structured, unstructured and structured.
innovation processes
The techniques, models, methods and strategies which contribute to the promotion of steps towards innovation.
- engineering principles
- maintenance operations
- mechanics
- quality assurance procedures
Path to become a maintenance and repair engineer
What it typically takes to qualify: education level, where it is a regulated profession, and where to study.
Bachelor's or equivalent level
4,548 programmes in 32 countries teach the core skills of this job. Plus 612 short courses that build single skills.
A few examples, taught in the language of this page:
Specialist Diploma in Mechatronics
University of Limerick · Ireland
Master of Engineering in Automation and Digital Manufacturing
Atlantic Technological University · Ireland
Bachelor Mechanical Engineering - Amsterdam (VU-UT)
Universiteit Twente · the Netherlands
Higher Certificate in Engineering Mechatronic Engineering
Technological University Dublin · Ireland
Bachelor of Science in Engineering Services Management
Munster Technological University · Ireland
These are 6 of 5,160.
Sources
- 1. Source: Europass Qualification Dataset Register (European Commission)
- 2. Bron: DUO open onderwijsdata
- 3. Irish course data from Qualifax (qualifax.ie), run by Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI).
Growth Pathways & Similar Roles
Explore typical career progression paths, adjacent skills, and similar roles to plan your next transition.
Where does maintenance and repair engineer fit?
Similarity scores based on skill overlap from ESCO data.
For organisations
The data on this page, working for your students, clients and staff.
Frequently asked questions
What kind of industries employ maintenance and repair engineers?
Does this role require a lot of physical work?
I'm considering starting my own business. Is self-employment common for maintenance and repair engineers?
How much does Maintenance And Repair Engineer pay in the United States?
Sources: ESCO O*NET ELA/EURES Cedefop BLS Data updated October 19, 2026 About our data