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Mechanical Door Repairers

Typical education: High school diplomaModerate pressure Bright Outlook

What they do

Install, service, or repair automatic door mechanisms and hydraulic doors. Includes garage door mechanics.

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 $55,720 Median per year · $26.79/hr Most earn $38,490–$78,260

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025.

What you might do

  • Study blueprints and schematic diagrams to determine appropriate methods of installing or repairing automated door openers.
  • Cover treadles with carpeting or other floor covering materials, and test systems by operating treadles.
  • Set in and secure floor treadles for door-activating mechanisms, and connect power packs and electrical panelboards to treadles.
  • Set in and secure floor treadles for door-activating mechanisms, and connect power packs and electrical panelboards to treadles.
  • Complete required paperwork, such as work orders, according to services performed or required.
  • Repair or replace worn or broken door parts, using hand tools.

Job outlook

Bright Outlook Rapid Growth

United States
6% more jobs by 2035, faster than average · about 2,100 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

  • Other building equipment contractors29.9%
  • Building material and supplies dealers17.6%
  • Self-employed (their own business)3.9%

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

Experience before this job: 1 to 3 months

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: 1 to 3 monthsEntry-level

This is an entry-level job. You can often start with a high school diploma and learn most of the work on the job, usually in about 1 to 3 months of related experience.

  1. High school diploma

    4 years

    Build a base in math, shop, and basic electrical or mechanical skills, which you will use when reading door diagrams and working with motors and springs.

  2. Entry-level door installation or maintenance helper

    1-3 months

    Work alongside an experienced technician to learn tools, safety rules, and how automatic and garage doors are installed and fixed.

  3. Mechanical Door Repairer

    Ongoing

    Install, service, and repair automatic door mechanisms, hydraulic doors, and garage doors on your own.

Where it can lead

  1. General Maintenance and Repair Worker

    2-4 years of experience first

    You move from one type of equipment to many, such as HVAC, plumbing, and building systems, which broadens your skills and job options.

  2. Elevator Installer and Repairer

    1-2 years of experience first

    This related field usually requires a certificate or apprenticeship, so you would train further on lifts and escalators, which use similar mechanical and electrical skills.

What you can do now

Ideas for high school and college students.

In high school

  • Take shop, physics, or electronics classesThese classes teach how motors, springs, and simple circuits work, which are core ideas in door repair.
  • Take math classes you can build onAlgebra and geometry help with measuring, fitting parts, and reading technical drawings.
  • Join a technical or robotics clubHands-on teamwork with tools and building projects shows you enjoy mechanical problem-solving.
  • Get a starter job with a hardware store, handyman, or repair shopWorking around tools and customers builds practical skills and makes a good first line for a job application.
  • Volunteer with a community repair café or home-repair programHelping fix things for others builds hands-on experience and shows employers you are reliable.

In college

  • Take courses in electrical or mechanical basicsClasses in electrical fundamentals, mechanics, or hydraulics directly support the systems you would repair on the job.
  • Look for a summer or part-time job with a door, garage, or building maintenance companyHands-on experience and a reference from a working company can help you land a full-time helper role.
  • Ask about certifications or manufacturer trainingSome training offered by equipment makers or local trade schools can strengthen your application, though it is not always required for entry.
  • Join a trade or skills student groupGroups like these connect you with working tradespeople who can give advice and job leads.

Tips for getting started

  • Ask a local garage door or automatic door company whether they hire helpers or take on-the-job trainees, even without experience. Showing up with a clean record and good attitude matters a lot.
  • Get comfortable with basic hand tools and simple wiring or mechanical projects at home, such as fixing a bike or small appliance. This is practical proof of interest.
  • Learn about safety basics early, especially working with heavy springs and doors, since careful habits are valued in this job.

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.

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