How To Become A Restoration Technician: What It Is and Career Path

What is a restoration technician and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

The impact of a disaster does not end once the fires are put out or the flood waters recede. People need to rebuild their homes, a process which sometimes takes years and requires a lot of specialized knowledge in order to do properly. Restoration technicians are skilled workers who specialize in rebuilding homes or businesses after natural disasters.

The work of a restoration technician takes a lot of skill and know-how. They need to be able to assess damage, identify what can be saved, and clear out material that cannot be salvaged. They need to know how to perform various repairs, such as rebuilding damaged areas and drying out flooded rooms. Restoration technicians also need to be very careful, as disasters often cause structural damage or expose hazardous materials such as asbestos.

Restoring entire homes after a disaster and helping people rebuild their lives is a rewarding job but a difficult one. Restoration technicians need plenty of hands-on experience with various tools, repair techniques, and hazardous conditions, although they usually do not need a bachelor's degree.

ScoreRestoration TechnicianUS Average

Salary

2.8

Avg. Salary $36,223

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

6.4

Growth rate 4%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

6.8

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.68%

Asian 7.52%

Black or African American 9.30%

Hispanic or Latino 16.37%

Unknown 4.86%

White 61.26%

Gender

female 19.01%

male 80.99%

Age - 46

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 - 46

Stress level

6.4

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity level

7.2

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance

6.3

Work life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a restoration technician

Explore restoration technician education requirements

Most common restoration technician degrees

High School Diploma

36.2 %

Bachelor's

29.8 %

Associate

17.8 %

Start to develop specific restoration technician skills

Skills	Percentages
Customer Service	12.17%
Work Ethic	10.39%
Demolition	10.12%
Extraction	7.55%
Hand Tools	5.34%

Complete relevant restoration technician training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 3-6 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New restoration 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 restoration technician based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real restoration technician resumes.

Gain additional restoration technician certifications

Restoration 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 restoration technician certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

The most common certifications for restoration technicians include Master Water Restorer (MWR) and Emergency Medical Technician (EMT).

More About Certifications

Research restoration technician duties and responsibilities

Help manage the housing development; keeping it clean, in compliance with OSHA laws, and state safety laws.
Assist in monitoring plant health and growth status of plantings within restoration projects using handheld GPS units and qualitative descriptions.
Gain experience with containment of impact areas and the setup of equipment such as air movers, dehumidifiers and air scrubbers.
Water extraction and removal of water damage materials.

Prepare your restoration technician resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your restoration 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 restoration 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 restoration technician resume templates

Build a professional restoration 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 restoration technician resume.