Median hourly earnings of electrical and electronics repairers, commercial and industrial equipment were $19.77 in 2002. The middle 50 percent earned between $15.13 and $24.03. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $11.71, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $27.08. In 2002, median hourly earnings were $23.68 in the Federal government and $16.87 in building equipment contractors, the industries employing the largest numbers of electrical and electronics repairers, commercial and industrial equipment.
Median hourly earnings of electric motor, power tool, and related repairers were $15.49 in 2002. The middle 50 percent earned between $11.82 and $19.99. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $9.32, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $25.34. In 2002, median hourly earnings were $14.05 in commercial and industrial machinery and equipment (except automotive and electronic) repair and maintenance, the industry employing the largest number of electronic motor, power tool, and related repairers.
Median hourly earnings of electrical and electronics repairers, powerhouse, substation, and relay were $24.85 in 2002. The middle 50 percent earned between $20.81 and $27.90. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $15.92, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $32.08. In 2002, median hourly earnings were $25.69 in electric power generation, transmission, and distribution—the industry employing the largest number of electrical and electronics repairers, powerhouse, substation, and relay.
Median hourly earnings of electronics installers and repairers, motor vehicles were $12.51 in 2002. The middle 50 percent earned between $9.97 and $16.02. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $8.47, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $19.45.
Median hourly earnings of electrical and electronics repairers, transportation equipment were $18.56 in 2002. The middle 50 percent earned between $13.85 and $22.96. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $10.68, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $26.87.
Businesses and other organizations depend on complex electronic equipment for a variety of functions. Industrial controls automatically monitor and direct production processes on the factory floor. Transmitters and antennae provide communication links for many organizations. Electric power companies use electronic equipment to operate and control generating plants, substations, and monitoring equipment. The Federal Government uses radar and missile control systems to provide for the national defense and to direct commercial air traffic. These complex pieces of electronic equipment are installed, maintained, and repaired by electrical and electronics installers and repairers.
Electrical equipment and electronic equipment are two distinct types of industrial equipment, although much equipment contains both electrical and electronic components. In general, electrical portions provide the power for the equipment, while electronic components control the device, although many types of equipment still are controlled with electrical devices. Electronic sensors monitor the equipment and the manufacturing process, providing feedback to the programmable logic control (PLC), which controls the equipment. The PLC processes the information provided by the sensors and makes adjustments to optimize output. To adjust the output, the PLC sends signals to the electrical, hydraulic, and pneumatic devices that power the machine—changing feed rates, pressures, and other variables in the manufacturing process.Many installers and repairers, known as field technicians, travel to factories or other locations to repair equipment. These workers often have assigned areas in which they perform preventive maintenance on a regular basis. When equipment breaks down, field technicians go to a customer’s site to repair the equipment. Bench technicians work in repair shops located in factories and service centers, fixing components that cannot be repaired on the factory floor.
Some industrial electronic equipment is self-monitoring and alerts repairers to malfunctions. When equipment breaks down, repairers first check for common causes of trouble, such as loose connections or obviously defective components. Automated electronic control systems are increasing in complexity, making diagnosis more challenging. Repairers use software programs and testing equipment to diagnose malfunctions. Among their diagnostic tools are multimeters, which measure voltage, current, and resistance; and advanced multimeters, which measure capacitance, inductance, and current gain of transistors. Repairers also use signal generators, which provide test signals,and oscilloscopes, which display signals graphically. Finally, repairers use handtools such as pliers, screwdrivers, soldering irons, and wrenches to replace faulty parts and adjust equipment.
Because repairing components is a complex activity and factories cannot allow production equipment to stand idle, repairers on the factory floor usually remove and replace defective units, such as circuit boards, instead of fixing them. These workers also locate and repair circuit defects, such as poorly soldered joints, blown fuses, or malfunctioning transistors.
Electrical and electronics installers often fit older manufacturing equipment with new automated control devices. Setting up and installing a new PLC involves connecting it to different sensors and electrically powered devices (electric motors, switches, and pumps) and writing a computer program to operate the PLC. Electronics installers coordinate their efforts with those of other workers who are installing and maintaining equipment. (See the statement on industrial machinery installation, repair, and maintenance workers elsewhere in the Handbook.)
Electrical and electronics installers and repairers, transportation equipment install, adjust, or maintain mobile electronic communication equipment, including sound, sonar, security, navigation, and surveillance systems on trains, watercraft, or other mobile equipment. Electrical and electronics repairers, powerhouse, substation, and relay inspect, test, repair, or maintain electrical equipment in generating stations, substations, and in-service relays. Electric motor, power tool, and related repairers—such as armature winders, generator mechanics, and electric golf cart repairers—specialize in repairing, maintaining, or installing electric motors, wiring, or switches.
Electronic equipment installers and repairers, motor vehicles have a significantly different job. Installing a new sound system with a subwoofer, amplifier, and fuses is far more complicated. Installing sound-deadening material, which often is necessary with more powerful speakers, requires an installer to remove many parts of a car (for example, seats, carpeting, or interiors of doors), add sound-absorbing material in empty spaces, and reinstall the interior parts. The new system may require additional fuses, a new electrical line to be run from the battery through a newly drilled hole in the firewall into the interior of the vehicle, or an additional or more powerful alternator or battery.
Job opportunities should be best for applicants with a thorough knowledge of electrical equipment and electronics, as well as with repair experience. Overall employment of electrical and electronics installers and repairers is expected to grow more slowly than the average for all occupations over the 2002–12 period, but varies by occupational specialty. In addition to employment growth, many job openings should result from the need to replace workers who transfer to other occupations or leave the labor force.
Average employment growth is projected for electrical and electronics installers and repairers of commercial and industrial equipment. This equipment will become more sophisticated and will be used more frequently as businesses strive to lower costs by increasing and improving automation. Companies will install electronic controls, robots, sensors, and other equipment to automate processes such as assembly and testing. As prices decline, applications will be found across a number of industries, including services, utilities, and construction, as well as manufacturing. Improved reliability of equipment should not constrain employment growth, however: companies increasingly will rely on repairers because any malfunction that idles commercial and industrial equipment is costly.
Employment of motor vehicle electronic equipment installers and repairers also is expected to grow as fast as the average. However, motor vehicle manufacturers will install more and better sound, security, entertainment, and navigation systems in new vehicles, limiting employment growth for aftermarket electronic equipment installers. In addition, newer electronic systems are more reliable and require less maintenance.
Employment of electric motor, power tool, and related repairers is expected to grow more slowly than average. Improvements in electrical and electronic equipment design should limit job growth by simplifying repair tasks. More parts are being designed to be easily disposable, further reducing employment growth.
Employment of electrical and electronic installers and repairers of transportation equipment is expected to grow more slowly than the average, due to declining industry employment in rail transportation, aerospace product and parts manufacturing, and ship- and boatbuilding.
Employment of electrical and electronics installers and repairers, powerhouse, substation, and relay is expected to decline slightly. Consolidation and privatization in utilities industries should improve productivity, reducing employment. Newer equipment will be more reliable and easier to repair, further limiting employment.
Knowledge of electrical equipment and electronics is necessary for employment. Many applicants gain this knowledge through programs lasting 1 to 2 years at vocational schools or community colleges, although some less skilled repairers may have only a high school diploma. Entry-level repairers may work closely with more experienced technicians who provide technical guidance.
Installers and repairers should have good eyesight and color perception in order to work with the intricate components used in electronic equipment. Field technicians work closely with customers and should have good communication skills and a neat appearance. Employers also may require that field technicians have a driver’s license.
Various organizations offer certification, including ACES International, the Consumer Electronics Association, the Electronics Technicians Association International, and the International Society of Certified Electronics Technicians. Repairers may specialize—in industrial electronics, for example. To receive certification, repairers must pass qualifying exams corresponding to their level of training and experience.
Experienced repairers with advanced training may become specialists or troubleshooters who help other repairers diagnose difficult problems. Workers with leadership ability may become supervisors of other repairers. Some experienced workers open their own repair shops.
Workers in other occupations who install and repair electronic equipment include broadcast and sound technicians and radio operators; computer, automated teller, and office machine repairers; electronic home entertainment equipment installers and repairers; and radio and telecommunications equipment installers and repairers. Industrial machinery installation, repair, and maintenance workers also install, maintain, and repair industrial machinery.
For information on careers and certification, contact any of the following organizations:
This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job. Job Training Employees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.
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Close to 20 percent of workers have their own businesses. Precision Instrument Repair Career Overview Workers must be skilled and very detailed in order to repair and maintain watches, cameras, musical instruments, and medical devices. Camera and photographic equipment repairers follow outlined procedures to repair cameras. Once it is determined that a repair is worth carrying out, the most difficult problems will be sent back to the manufacturers. Repairers then fix the product by adjusting parts or replacing them all together.
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Some precision instruments are used to measure distance, pressure, altitude, temperature, underwater depth, and other physical properties. Other types of precision equipment include photographic and imaging equipment such as cameras, projectors, and film processing equipment. All of these items have many sensitive mechanisms which require regular attention to stay in good working order. Precision instrument and equipment repairers maintain and adjust these delicate items. Other Career InfoAdditional information may be available at the Careers In The Military Web Site.
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Select correct color bar mmLoadMenus(); Access the search page. Also, more consumer goods are disposable, reducing the need for repairers.
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The range of work is from entry level technical repair to management. Although all of these occupations are equipment service and repair technicians, each warrants a separate career track. Each of these career paths requires different knowledge, skills, and abilities and would not naturally lead to the other for career progression. Follows industry/ government specific guidelines, particularly as they relate to safety, health and environmental practices. Adapts procedures, techniques, tools, materials and/or equipment to meet special needs.
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Electronics repairers maintain and repair instruments and equipment, such as computers, communications equipment, radar and sonar systems, precision measuring equipment, and biomedical instruments. Some repairers may work from ladders or tall utility polls. They perform the same kind of duties as military electronic instrument and equipment repairers. In time, they may perform more difficult repairs and supervise other repair personnel. Other Career InfoAdditional information may be available at the Careers In The Military Web Site.
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Camera and photographic equipment repairers work through a series of steps in fixing a camera. If the repairers decide to proceed with the job themselves, they diagnose the problem, often by disassembling numerous small parts in order to reach the source. Watch and clock repairers work almost exclusively on expensive and antique timepieces, as moderately priced timepieces are cheaper to replace than to repair. Some gears or springs may need to be replaced or machined. Musical instrument repairers and tuners combine their love of music with a highly skilled craft.
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They install new equipment and test it for safety. Medical equipment repairers explain to staff how to use the equipment. For example, they work with monitors, scanners, x-ray units, and ultrasound devices. They may send components such as circuit boards to the manufacturer for repair. They like jobs offering steady employment and good pay.
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Whether they restore small timepieces or large machinery, these repairers share a fascination of how things work. Tick-tock, ding-dong, whir-whir--the precise movements of gadgets such as clocks and watches, musical instruments, and industrial measuring devices have fascinated people for decades. Highly skilled repairers keep precision instruments and equipment in working order. In this article, you'll learn about their differing duties, working conditions, employment and earnings, job outlook, and skills and training. Second, they disassemble the camera's or equipment's numerous small parts to reach the source of the problem.
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Job opportunities will be best for applicants with knowledge of electronics and with related hands-on experience. Repairers at these locations, known as bench technicians, are equipped with a full array of electronic tools and parts. When larger, less mobile equipment breaks down, customers may pay repairers to come to their homes. Miniaturization has made repairwork significantly more difficult, because both the components and the acceptable tolerances are smaller. Improved technologies have lowered the price of electronic home entertainment equipment, to the point where customers often replace broken equipment instead of repairing it.
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