Installation, Maintenance, and Repair
Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door
Install, repair, and maintain mechanical regulating and controlling devices, such as electric meters, gas regulators, thermostats, safety and flow valves, and other mechanical governors.
Also called: Control Valve Mechanic, Control Valve Technician, Electric Meter Technician, Instrument and Electrical Technician (I and E Technician), Instrument Technician, Measurement Technician
- Median pay in Greater Boston
- $95,520
- $45.93/hr
- Jobs in Greater Boston
- 840
- Massachusetts 2024–2034
- +4.8%
- 150 openings a year
- Typical U.S. entry requirement
- High school diploma or equivalent
- plus Moderate-term on-the-job training
Greater Boston: Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area, May 2025. Growth and openings: Massachusetts statewide projection.
Pay range in Greater Boston
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $65,530 | $74,920 | $95,520 | $100,450 | $106,520 |
10% of workers earn less than the first figure and 10% earn more than the last.
What you’d do
- Record maintenance information, including test results, material usage, and repairs made.
- Disassemble and repair mechanical control devices or valves, such as regulators, thermostats, or hydrants, using power tools, hand tools, and cutting torches.
- Lubricate wearing surfaces of mechanical parts, using oils or other lubricants.
AI and this job
AI exposure: how much of this job’s work AI tools can do or help with, based on national research. It is not a forecast of job loss.
Lower exposure22 of 100
The index averages three national research measures, each shown as a percentile of all jobs:
- AIOE 24
- Language-model AIOE 24
- GPTs-are-GPTs 17
Observed AI use today: Little or none (Anthropic Economic Index)
AI exposure for this job is on the lower side, and observed AI use is little or none. AI tools could help with recording test results, materials used, and repairs made. Taking apart valves and regulators, repairing them, and lubricating parts is hands-on work that stays with people.
Likely to change
- Recording test results and repairs
- Tracking materials used on jobs
Still relies on people
- Taking apart and repairing valves by hand
- Lubricating and fitting mechanical parts
Written with AI from the data on this page. Check with a career coach before making a decision.
Next steps from here
Related jobs that build on what you already do.
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters
Working with valves and flow controls carries over to piping systems. Plumbing is an apprenticeship trade with similar Boston pay and 6.5% projected growth.
- Pay difference
- +$1,240 median
- AI exposure
- Lower
- MA growth
- +6.5%
- To get started
- High school diploma or equivalent
Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers
Testing equipment and recording results carries over. This job offers higher Boston median pay, though projected growth is only 0.9%.
- Pay difference
- +$7,570 median
- AI exposure
- Lower
- MA growth
- +0.9%
- To get started
- High school diploma or equivalent
Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers
Skills in safe, careful work on technical equipment carry over. This job has higher Boston pay and 13.3% projected growth.
- Pay difference
- +$15,970 median
- AI exposure
- Lower
- MA growth
- +13.3%
- To get started
- High school diploma or equivalent
Training near Boston
College and school programs in the Boston metro area that lead to this job, with 2023-24 completions (IPEDS).
No college programs near Boston map to this job. Many people enter through on-the-job training or apprenticeship.
Talk to a career coach at the Office of Workforce Development about apprenticeships and City partner programs.
Related occupations
- Industrial Machinery Mechanics
- Engine and Other Machine Assemblers
- Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators
- Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay
- Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment
- Maintenance Workers, Machinery
- Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters
- Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines
- Mechanical Engineers
- Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers
Talk to a career coach
A coach at the Office of Workforce Development can help you plan your next step, and connect you with training, apprenticeships and City partner programs that are not listed here.
Talk to a career coach