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What is a repair technician and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
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A repair technician diagnoses and fixes problems with equipment or machinery. They use a combination of technical knowledge, problem-solving skills, and specialized tools to troubleshoot issues and make repairs. Repair technicians work in a variety of industries, including electronics, automotive, and manufacturing. They may work in a workshop or travel to customers' locations to perform repairs on-site. Repair technicians must have excellent communication skills to explain technical issues to non-technical customers.

ScoreRepair TechnicianUS Average
Salary
3.3

Avg. Salary $41,643

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
7.6

Growth rate 5%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
5.9
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 1.18%

Asian 4.60%

Black or African American 11.31%

Hispanic or Latino 18.32%

Unknown 4.26%

White 60.33%

Gender

female 11.65%

male 88.35%

Age - 49
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 49
Stress level
7.6

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level
6.3

Complexity level is intermediate

7 - challenging

Work life balance
6.1

Work life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being a repair technician?

Pros

  • Often in high demand, leading to job security

  • Opportunity for advancement to management or specialized roles

  • Hands-on work can be enjoyable and rewarding

  • May offer flexible scheduling or work-from-home options

  • Can lead to opportunities for entrepreneurship or starting a repair business

Cons

  • May require working in uncomfortable or challenging environments (e.g. cramped spaces, extreme temperatures)

  • Risk of injury from working with sharp or heavy equipment

  • May require working long hours or overnights to meet deadlines

  • High pressure to fix items quickly and efficiently, leading to stress

  • Can be physically demanding work

Repair technician career paths

Key steps to become a repair technician

  1. Explore repair technician education requirements

    Most common repair technician degrees

    Associate

    38.3 %

    High School Diploma

    23.6 %

    Bachelor's

    23.5 %
  2. Start to develop specific repair technician skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Customer Service16.50%
    Hand Tools9.00%
    Customer Satisfaction7.72%
    Preventative Maintenance5.52%
    HVAC5.09%
  3. Complete relevant repair technician training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 1-3 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New repair technicians learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a repair technician based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real repair technician resumes.
  4. Gain additional repair technician certifications

    Repair technician certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific repair technician certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

    The most common certifications for repair technicians include Master Certified Electronics Technician (CETma) and CompTIA A+ Certification.

    More About Certifications
  5. Research repair technician duties and responsibilities

    • Lead small teams in the development and installation of residential and commercial electrical and HVAC systems to include smart home systems.
    • Repair hardware and software problems for both PC and mac computers.
    • Repair various air tools such as impact wrenches and die grinders for customers.
    • Gain extensive knowledge of all computer models including Compaq, Hewlett Packard and IBM.
  6. Prepare your repair technician resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your repair technician resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a repair technician resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose from 10+ customizable repair technician resume templates

    Build a professional repair technician resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your repair technician resume.
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    Repair Technician Resume
  7. Apply for repair technician jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a repair technician job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How did you land your first repair technician job

Zippi

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Average repair technician salary

The average repair technician salary in the United States is $41,643 per year or $20 per hour. Repair technician salaries range between $27,000 and $63,000 per year.

Average repair technician salary
$41,643 Yearly
$20.02 hourly

What am I worth?

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How do repair technicians rate their job?

-/5

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3 stars

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Repair technician reviews

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A zippia user wrote a review on Dec 2021
Pros

I like to work with my hands repairing electronic equipment because I feel rewards


profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Jul 2020
Pros

Installation of new and serviced equipments... Repairs and servicing of equipments into good condition...

Cons

Soldering and resoldering of good and bad components... because of the lead smoke generated...


profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Jul 2020
Pros

Diagnosing problems and faults. Debugging and troubleshooting medical equipment.

Cons

When I do. Not accomplish my goals or tasks do not complete my work.


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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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