# Maintenance Workers, Machinery

US SOC code 49-9043. Markdown version of https://futurehistory.earth/timeline/49-9043

## In brief

In May 2025, [BLS](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm25nat.zip) counted **60,020** US machinery maintenance workers, with median pay of **$60,850** a year. Of the BLS counts since 2003, the highest was **92,520**, in May 2015. The earliest figure here is [a Census count](https://usa.ipums.org/usa/volii/occ1940.shtml) of **185,000** from 1940, not measured the same way as today's count. The last full technology era for machinery maintenance workers: PC-based CMMS and Windows-era maintenance scheduling software, 1995 to 2015. The PC-CMMS era coincided with the broader deindustrialization of the US manufacturing base.

Figures: Official statistic (latest count and pay, highest count); Researched context (earliest figure).

## What the sources say

### Official outlook

BLS projects employment to decline 1.9% from 2025 to 2035. Source: [BLS Employment Projections 2025-35](https://data.bls.gov/projections/nationalMatrix?queryParams=49-9043&ioType=o) (Official statistic).

Data as of BLS OEWS May 2025; BLS Employment Projections 2025-35. BLS publishes these counts as yearly survey snapshots and cautions against reading them as a precise trend. In May 2021 BLS changed how it estimates these counts (a model-based method using three years of survey data) and moved fully to the 2018 occupation codes, so part of a change across 2021 can come from the method rather than the work.

## Maintenance Workers, Machinery employment and pay by year

- On record since: 1860
- Latest US employment: 60,020 (May 2025). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 [3]
- Latest US median pay: $60,850 (May 2025). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 [5]
- Outlook: -1.9% by 2035. Source: BLS Employment Projections 2025-35 [14]

### All 26 years of cited US data

| Year | US employment | Annual pay (median unless marked) | Source |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1940 | 185,000 | n/a | Decennial Census 1940 [1] |
| 1950 | n/a | $3,200 (average) (estimate) | Est., Derived estimate [4] |
| 1970 | 220,000 | n/a | Decennial Census 1970 [2] |
| 2003 | 89,160 | $33,000 | BLS OEWS May 2003 [3] |
| 2004 | 84,850 | $32,840 | BLS OEWS May 2004 [3] |
| 2005 | 83,220 | $33,650 | BLS OEWS May 2005 [3] |
| 2006 | 81,580 | $34,550 | BLS OEWS May 2006 [3] |
| 2007 | 78,760 | $35,590 | BLS OEWS May 2007 [3] |
| 2008 | 73,650 | $36,790 | BLS OEWS May 2008 [3] |
| 2009 | 66,390 | $37,760 | BLS OEWS May 2009 [3] |
| 2010 | 69,480 | $38,460 | BLS OEWS May 2010 [3] |
| 2011 | 77,980 | $39,490 | BLS OEWS May 2011 [3] |
| 2012 | 88,450 | $40,620 | BLS OEWS May 2012 [3] |
| 2013 | 89,510 | $41,600 | BLS OEWS May 2013 [3] |
| 2014 | 90,730 | $42,640 | BLS OEWS May 2014 [3] |
| 2015 | 92,520 | $43,260 | BLS OEWS May 2015 [3] |
| 2016 | 89,630 | $44,550 | BLS OEWS May 2016 [3] |
| 2017 | 83,520 | $45,540 | BLS OEWS May 2017 [3] |
| 2018 | 80,270 | $47,060 | BLS OEWS May 2018 [3] |
| 2019 | 72,890 | $47,520 | BLS OEWS May 2019 [3] |
| 2020 | 65,240 | $50,100 | BLS OEWS May 2020 [3] |
| 2021 | 57,660 | $48,900 | BLS OEWS May 2021 [3] |
| 2022 | 62,770 | $53,310 | BLS OEWS May 2022 [3] |
| 2023 | 58,040 | $57,350 | BLS OEWS May 2023 [3] |
| 2024 | 56,540 | $60,500 | BLS OEWS May 2024 [3] |
| 2025 | 60,020 | $60,850 | BLS OEWS May 2025 [3] |

## Sources (68)

### Employment series

1. [IPUMS USA: 1940 Occupation Codes (OCC1940 scheme, code for Oilers and greasers); US Census Bureau 1940 Population: Labor Force Sample Statistics](https://usa.ipums.org/usa/volii/occ1940.shtml), IPUMS / University of Minnesota; US Census Bureau
2. [IPUMS USA: 1970 Occupation Codes (code 642: Oilers and greasers, except auto, under Operatives and Kindred Workers)](https://usa.ipums.org/usa/volii/97occup.shtml), IPUMS / University of Minnesota
3. BLS OEWS, national cross-industry estimates (flat file), Bureau of Labor Statistics. Editions: [2003](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm03nat.zip), [2004](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm04nat.zip), [2005](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm05nat.zip), [2006](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm06nat.zip), [2007](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm07nat.zip), [2008](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm08nat.zip), [2009](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm09nat.zip), [2010](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm10nat.zip), [2011](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm11nat.zip), [2012](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm12nat.zip), [2013](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm13nat.zip), [2014](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm14nat.zip), [2015](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm15nat.zip), [2016](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm16nat.zip), [2017](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm17nat.zip), [2018](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm18nat.zip), [2019](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm19nat.zip), [2020](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm20nat.zip), [2021](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm21nat.zip), [2022](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm22nat.zip), [2023](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm23nat.zip), [2024](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm24nat.zip), [2025](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm25nat.zip)

### Wage series

4. [Derived estimate: BLS manufacturing operative average wage (~$1.44/hr, 1950) annualized to ~$3,168; oilers/greasers earned near the general operative average. Aggregated via University of Missouri Libraries Prices and Wages guide, 1950-1959.](https://libraryguides.missouri.edu/pricesandwages/1950-1959), Derived estimate (from BLS manufacturing operative averages, via University of Missouri Libraries Prices and Wages guide)
5. BLS OEWS, national cross-industry estimates (flat file), Bureau of Labor Statistics. Editions: [2003](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm03nat.zip), [2004](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm04nat.zip), [2005](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm05nat.zip), [2006](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm06nat.zip), [2007](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm07nat.zip), [2008](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm08nat.zip), [2009](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm09nat.zip), [2010](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm10nat.zip), [2011](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm11nat.zip), [2012](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm12nat.zip), [2013](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm13nat.zip), [2014](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm14nat.zip), [2015](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm15nat.zip), [2016](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm16nat.zip), [2017](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm17nat.zip), [2018](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm18nat.zip), [2019](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm19nat.zip), [2020](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm20nat.zip), [2021](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm21nat.zip), [2022](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm22nat.zip), [2023](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm23nat.zip), [2024](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm24nat.zip), [2025](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm25nat.zip)

### Tool eras

6. [A Short History of Lubrication (RotaLube): overview of 19th-century industrial lubrication materials and practices](https://www.rotalube.com/a-short-history-of-lubrication), RotaLube
7. [Oiler (occupation) -- Wikipedia: history of the oiler as a distinct industrial role in railroading, steelmaking, and manufacturing](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oiler_%28occupation%29), Wikipedia
8. [Society of Tribologists and Lubrication Engineers -- Wikipedia: founding as ASLE in Chicago, March 3, 1944](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Society_of_Tribologists_and_Lubrication_Engineers), Wikipedia
9. [Brightly Software: A History of Maintenance and How CMMS Has Changed in 200+ Years (CMMS history: 1965 IBM mainframe, 1970s terminals, 1980s minicomputers)](https://www.brightlysoftware.com/blog/history-maintenance-how-cmms-has-changed-200-years), Brightly Software
10. [Wikipedia: Total productive maintenance -- development by Nakajima 1950-1970, first JIPM PM prize to Nippondenso 1971](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Total_productive_maintenance), Wikipedia
11. [AllAboutLean.com: A Brief History of Maintenance (preventive maintenance, TPM, development of predictive maintenance in 1980s-1990s)](https://www.allaboutlean.com/maintenance-history/), AllAboutLean.com
12. [IoT for All: IoT Enhances Predictive Maintenance in Manufacturing Shops (IIoT sensor-based maintenance, 2020s)](https://www.iotforall.com/iot-predictive-maintenance-manufacturing-shop), IoT for All
13. [BLS National Employment Matrix: 49-9043 Maintenance Workers, Machinery (2024-2034 employment projections, IIoT cited as driver)](https://data.bls.gov/projections/nationalMatrix?queryParams=49-9043&ioType=o), Bureau of Labor Statistics

### Forecasts and exposure studies

14. [BLS Employment Projections 2025-35, National Employment Matrix: 49-9043 Maintenance workers, machinery (2025: 59.7 thousand; 2035: 58.6 thousand; -1.9%)](https://data.bls.gov/projections/nationalMatrix?queryParams=49-9043&ioType=o), Bureau of Labor Statistics

### Historical notes

15. [Wikipedia: International Brotherhood of Stationary Firemen (founding 1898 for boiler firemen; oilers added 1919; IBFO name adopted 1956)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Brotherhood_of_Stationary_Firemen), Wikipedia
16. [A Comprehensive Exploration of Tribology (Machinery Lubrication): ISO viscosity classification system, 1921, and formalization of lubrication standards in the early 20th century](https://www.machinerylubrication.com/Read/32382/comprehensive-exploration-of-tribology), Machinery Lubrication magazine
17. [Society of Tribologists and Lubrication Engineers -- Wikipedia: founded as ASLE, Chicago, March 3, 1944](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Society_of_Tribologists_and_Lubrication_Engineers), Wikipedia
18. [Brightly Software: A History of Maintenance and How CMMS Has Changed in 200+ Years (CMMS history from 1965 punch cards to 2020s IIoT)](https://www.brightlysoftware.com/blog/history-maintenance-how-cmms-has-changed-200-years), Brightly Software
19. [Wikipedia: Total productive maintenance -- development by Nakajima 1950-1970, first JIPM PM prize to Nippondenso 1971](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Total_productive_maintenance), Wikipedia
20. [IoT for All: IoT Enhances Predictive Maintenance in Manufacturing Shops (IIoT market size $53.7B in 2022, 10.5% CAGR projection)](https://www.iotforall.com/iot-predictive-maintenance-manufacturing-shop), IoT for All

### Predecessors & successors

21. [Oiler (occupation) -- Wikipedia: history of the oiler as distinct industrial role in railroading, steelmaking, and manufacturing](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oiler_%28occupation%29), Wikipedia
22. [Wikipedia: International Brotherhood of Stationary Firemen (founding 1898 for boiler firemen; oilers added 1919; IBFO name adopted 1956)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Brotherhood_of_Stationary_Firemen), Wikipedia

### Present-day analysis

- [Eloundou et al. 2024 — GPTs are GPTs (Science)](https://arxiv.org/abs/2303.10130), accessed 2026-05-21
- [O\*NET 30.3 — US Department of Labor](https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html), accessed 2026-05-21

How to read these figures: https://futurehistory.earth/methodology. Every figure links to its own source; gaps stay gaps.