Home Appliance Repairers
SOC code 49-9031 · O*NET-SOC 49-9031.00 · Little to some preparation needed · Skilled trades
Home Appliance Repairers pay
U.S. national figures, May 2025 BLS survey · How we got this number
Median pay
$50,990
a year
Hourly
$24.51
per hour
The solid band is the middle 50% of workers; the bar spans the 10th to 90th percentile.
Average pay
$56,040
$26.94 per hour
Middle 50%
$43,780 – $63,390
25th to 75th percentile
Full spread
$36,190 – $80,660
10th to 90th percentile
People employed
32,150
nationwide
National U.S. figure, May 2025. Local pay can be higher or lower.
- 10th percentile
- $36,190
- $17.40/hr
- 25th percentile
- $43,780
- $21.05/hr
- Median percentile
- $50,990
- $24.51/hr
- 75th percentile
- $63,390
- $30.47/hr
- 90th percentile
- $80,660
- $38.78/hr
What does a home appliance repairer do?
Repair, adjust, or install all types of electric or gas household appliances, such as refrigerators, washers, dryers, and ovens.
The tasks that matter most day to day
- Bill customers for repair work, and collect payment.
- Observe and examine appliances during operation to detect specific malfunctions such as loose parts or leaking fluid.
- Talk to customers or refer to work orders to establish the nature of appliance malfunctions.
- Refer to schematic drawings, product manuals, and troubleshooting guides to diagnose and repair problems.
- Trace electrical circuits, following diagrams, and conduct tests with circuit testers and other equipment to locate shorts and grounds.
- Replace worn and defective parts such as switches, bearings, transmissions, belts, gears, circuit boards, or defective wiring.
- Conserve, recover, and recycle refrigerants used in cooling systems.
- Provide repair cost estimates, and recommend whether appliance repair or replacement is a better choice.
How to become a home appliance repairer
Most people in this role hold high school diploma or the equivalent (such as a ged) — 69% of workers surveyed reported it as their level of education.
Preparation level: zone 2 — Little to some preparation needed
- Education
- Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
- Experience
- Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
- Training
- Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training.
Education reported by people doing this job
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)69%
- Post-Secondary Certificate20%
- Less than a High School Diploma8%
- Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree3%
Common questions
How much does a home appliance repairer earn?
The national median is $50,990 a year. The full range runs from $36,190 at the 10th percentile to $80,660 at the 90th — entry pay sits closer to the lower figure, and experience, licensing and specialisation move you up the range.
Can you become a home appliance repairer without a degree?
Yes — this occupation sits in preparation zone 2, meaning the typical entry route is usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not. A four-year degree is not the standard requirement, though licensing or certification may still apply.
Skills and knowledge you need
Core skills
- Critical Thinking3.8/5
- Speaking3.5/5
- Active Listening3.4/5
- Reading Comprehension3.1/5
Knowledge areas
- Customer and Personal Service4.1/5
- Mechanical4.0/5
- English Language3.4/5
- Administration and Management3.4/5
- Administrative3.4/5
- Computers and Electronics3.4/5
- Sales and Marketing3.2/5
- Engineering and Technology3.0/5
Transferable strengths: Repairing, Equipment Maintenance, Troubleshooting, Operations Monitoring, Quality Control Analysis, Complex Problem Solving.