Occupation Profile for Home Appliance Repairers
Repair, adjust, or install all types of electric or gas household appliances, such as refrigerators, washers, dryers, and ovens.
Signficant Points
- Little or no change in employment is projected; however, very good job opportunities are expected, particularly for those with formal training in appliance repair and electronics.
- Workers learn on the job; good customer service skills and a driver’s license are essential.
Earnings
Median hourly earnings, including commissions, of home appliance repairers were $16.28 in May 2006. The middle 50 percent earned between $12.37 and $20.79 a year. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $9.37, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $25.84 a year. In May 2006, median hourly earnings of home appliance repairers in the largest employing industries were $15.18 in electronics and appliance stores and $17.02 in personal and household goods repair and maintenance.
Earnings of home appliance repairers vary with the skill level required to fix equipment, the geographic location, and the type of equipment repaired. Many repairers receive a commission along with their salary, therefore earnings increase with the number of jobs a repairer can complete in a day.
Many larger dealers, manufacturers, and service stores offer typical benefits such as health insurance coverage, sick leave, and retirement and pension programs. Some home appliance repairers belong to the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers.
Job Outlook
Little or no change in employment of home appliance repairers is projected. However, very good job opportunities are expected, particularly for individuals with formal training in appliance repair and electronics.
Employment change. The number of home appliance repairers will grow 2 percent between 2006 and 2016, reflecting little or no change. The number of home appliances in use is expected to increase with growth in the numbers of households. The decision to repair an appliance, however, often depends on the price to replace the appliance versus the cost to make the repairs. So while higher priced major appliances designed to have a long life are more likely to be repaired, small appliances are apt to be discarded rather than be repaired. With sales of high-end appliances growing, demand for major appliance repairers should be strong into the future.
Job prospects. In addition to new jobs created over the 2006-16 period, openings will arise as home appliance repairers retire or transfer to other occupations. Very good job opportunities are expected, with job openings continuing to outnumber jobseekers. Individuals with formal training in appliance repair and electronics should have the best opportunities.
Jobs are expected to be increasingly concentrated in larger companies as the number of smaller shops and family-owned businesses decline. Employment is relatively steady and workers are rarely laid off because demand for major appliance repair services is fairly constant.
Employment
Many communities across the country employ home appliance repairers, but a high concentration of jobs can be found in more populated areas. Home appliance repairers held 57,000 jobs in 2006. About 36 percent of salaried repairers worked for retail trade establishments such as department stores and electronics and appliance stores. About 27 percent of repairers were self-employed. Another 21 percent work in household goods repair and maintenance.