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Career

Home Appliance Repairers

Typical education: High school diplomaModerate pressure

What they do

Repair, adjust, or install all types of electric or gas household appliances, such as refrigerators, washers, dryers, and ovens.

Kinds of work

  • Realistic: Hands-on work with tools, machines, plants or animals, often outdoors.
  • Conventional: Organizing information, following clear procedures and working with data and details.

Moderate pressure: How much pressure workers in this job report: deadlines, conflict, dealing with upset people, the cost of mistakes, responsibility for others' safety, competition and long hours. It varies a lot from one employer to the next. Source: U.S. Department of Labor worker surveys.

Pay, tasks and more

Salary

United States $50,990 Median per year · $24.51/hr Most earn $36,190–$80,660

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025.

What you might do

  • 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.
  • Light and adjust pilot lights on gas stoves, and examine valves and burners for gas leakage and specified flame.
  • Set appliance thermostats, and check to ensure that they are functioning properly.
  • Conserve, recover, and recycle refrigerants used in cooling systems.
  • Test and examine gas pipelines and equipment to locate leaks and faulty connections, and to determine the pressure and flow of gas.

Job outlook

United States
2% more jobs by 2035, slower than average · about 2,800 openings a year

Openings include new jobs and jobs left by workers who retire or change careers. Projections: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Bright Outlook": U.S. Department of Labor.

Where they work

  • Personal and household goods repair and maintenance31.0%
  • Self-employed (their own business)20.3%
  • Electronics and appliance retailers19.8%
  • Merchant wholesalers, durable goods4.3%
  • Professional and commercial equipment and supplies merchant wholesalers2.3%

Share of all workers in this career. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Employment Matrix.

Experience before this job: 6 months to 1 year

Some people start through an apprenticeship: paid training on the job, often with classes. Search apprenticeships on Apprenticeship.gov (opens in a new tab) ↗

Career path

How people usually get into this career, from school to their first job and beyond.

Typical education: High school diplomaExperience before this job: 6 months to 1 year

Home appliance repair is an entry-level career. You can start with a high school diploma, and most people build up about 6 months to a year of hands-on experience, often while learning on the job. Pay varies by location, so check the career page for the typical pay near you and nationally.

  1. High school diploma

    4 years

    Take math, physics or shop classes and build comfort with tools and how machines work, which makes the on-the-job learning easier.

  2. Appliance Repair Helper

    6 months to 1 year

    Assist a experienced repairer with installs, deliveries, and simple fixes, learning how common appliances are built and how to diagnose problems safely.

  3. Home Appliance Repairer

    Ongoing

    Diagnose, repair, adjust, and install washers, dryers, refrigerators, ovens, and other household appliances on your own.

Where it can lead

  1. Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanic

    2 to 4 years of experience first

    Move into heating, cooling, and refrigeration systems, which usually involves a certificate or apprenticeship and more training on refrigerants and larger systems.

  2. Industrial Machinery Mechanic

    1 to 2 years of experience first

    Work on larger factory and plant equipment, which usually requires a certificate or apprenticeship and more advanced troubleshooting skills.

What you can do now

Ideas for high school and college students.

In high school

  • Take shop, electronics, or auto classesHands-on classes teach you to use tools and understand how machines and electrical parts work.
  • Take physics and mathUnderstanding electricity, circuits, and measurements helps you diagnose why an appliance is not working.
  • Get a starter job or help at a family member's repair businessAny job where you handle tools, customers, or equipment gives you experience employers look for.
  • Join a robotics, engineering, or STEM clubBuilding and fixing things in a team setting builds problem-solving skills and comfort with tools.
  • Volunteer with a community repair café or Habitat for Humanity buildHelping fix or build things teaches practical skills and shows you what hands-on work feels like.

In college

  • Take electrical, electronics, or engineering technology coursesCoursework in circuits and electronics helps you understand how modern appliance controls work.
  • Get a part-time job at an appliance store, parts counter, or repair shopWorking in the field builds the 6 months to 1 year of experience most employers look for.
  • Earn a basic certification in appliance repair or electrical safetyMany community colleges and trade programs offer short courses that show employers you are serious about the work.
  • Build a simple home repair portfolioKeep notes or photos of repairs you have done, such as fixing a dishwasher or replacing a heating element, to show future employers.
  • Explore apprenticeships or related trade programsLearning about apprenticeships in HVAC or appliance service helps you see the next steps up from this career.

Tips for getting started

  • Look for a job at an appliance store, repair shop, or appliance parts counter, even as a helper or delivery worker. Those roles get you the experience employers ask for.
  • Get comfortable with basic electrical safety and simple hand tools now, such as using a multimeter and reading wiring diagrams. These skills show up in almost every repair job.
  • Ask a local appliance repairer if you can shadow them for a day or two. Seeing real repairs will help you decide whether this career fits you.

Related jobs that often lead here

Related jobs a step up

Education, experience and related careers: U.S. Department of Labor. The step-by-step path, where it can lead and what you can do now were written by AI as typical examples; many people take other ways.

College majors that lead here

Majors: U.S. Department of Education and BLS (CIP–SOC crosswalk). Earnings and debt: College Scorecard, typical across U.S. colleges.

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