Home Appliance Repairers
Repair, adjust, or install all types of electric or gas household appliances, such as refrigerators, washers, dryers, and ovens.
Also called: Air-Conditioner Window Unit Installer (AC Window Unit Installer), Air-Conditioner Window Unit Servicer (AC Window Unit Servicer), Appliance Adjuster, Appliance Advisor, Appliance Installer, Appliance Mechanic
Median pay
$50,990
per year, U.S.
Pay range (10th–90th)
$36,190 – $80,660
People employed
32,150
Holland code
RCI
Realistic · Conventional · Investigative
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
Is this career right for you?
These are the things that stand out in this job compared with other U.S. jobs (O*NET 31.0 work context). Answer honestly.
- 1.Do you enjoy serving customers or the public?
- 2.Are you happy talking and working with people most of the day?
- 3.Do you want a lot of freedom to make your own decisions?
- 4.Are you OK working outdoors in all kinds of weather?
- 5.Are you OK with physical risk, such as hazardous equipment or conditions, with proper training?
The hard parts
- Tight deadlines are common
Home Appliance Repairers pay by state
Highest-paying states
Annual median pay by state (50 states with published data). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025.
What home appliance repairers do
- 01Bill customers for repair work, and collect payment.
- 02Observe and examine appliances during operation to detect specific malfunctions such as loose parts or leaking fluid.
- 03Talk to customers or refer to work orders to establish the nature of appliance malfunctions.
- 04Refer to schematic drawings, product manuals, and troubleshooting guides to diagnose and repair problems.
- 05Trace electrical circuits, following diagrams, and conduct tests with circuit testers and other equipment to locate shorts and grounds.
- 06Replace worn and defective parts such as switches, bearings, transmissions, belts, gears, circuit boards, or defective wiring.
Skills that matter most
- Critical Thinking
- Speaking
- Active Listening
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Learning
- Monitoring
Knowledge
- Customer and Personal Service
- Mechanical
- English Language
- Administration and Management
- Administrative
Work styles that stand out
- Dependability
- Attention to Detail
- Cautiousness
Education and first steps
Share of workers by required education, as reported to O*NET.
How people get started
- Usually needs a high school diploma (O*NET Job Zone 2).
- Related work experience: none.
- On-the-job training: over 6 months, up to and including 1 year.
Most common answers from O*NET 31.0 Education, Training and Experience.
Interest fit (Holland code)
O*NET occupational interest scores, scale 1–7. Take the Free Career Test to compare with your own.
Career changes
Change from home appliance repairers
- Outdoor Power Equipment and Other Small Engine Mechanics84% · −6%
- Electronic Equipment Installers and Repairers, Motor Vehicles80% · −5%
- Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics80% · −1%
- Electric Motor, Power Tool, and Related Repairers79% · +10%
- Computer, Automated Teller, and Office Machine Repairers77% · −6%
Change into home appliance repairers
Jobs whose skills carry over best (skill match, their median pay).
- Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendants85% · $35,670
- Outdoor Power Equipment and Other Small Engine Mechanics81% · $47,880
- Recreational Vehicle Service Technicians78% · $52,000
- Computer, Automated Teller, and Office Machine Repairers77% · $47,810
- Automotive Glass Installers and Repairers76% · $47,630
Majors that lead here
- Appliance Installation and Repair Technology/Technician
From the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk.