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Recreational Vehicle Service Technicians

Typical education: High school diplomaLower pressure Bright Outlook

What they do

Diagnose, inspect, adjust, repair, or overhaul recreational vehicles including travel trailers. May specialize in maintaining gas, electrical, hydraulic, plumbing, or chassis/towing systems as well as repairing generators, appliances, and interior components. Includes workers who perform customized van conversions.

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.

Lower 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 $52,000 Median per year · $25.00/hr Most earn $36,120–$77,960

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025.

What you might do

  • Explain proper operation of vehicle systems to customers.
  • Repair leaks with caulking compound or replace pipes, using pipe wrenches.
  • Remove damaged exterior panels, and repair and replace structural frame members.
  • List parts needed, estimate costs, and plan work procedures, using parts lists, technical manuals, or diagrams.
  • Connect electrical systems to outside power sources, and activate switches to test the operation of appliances or light fixtures.
  • Confer with customers, read work orders, or examine vehicles needing repair to determine the nature and extent of damage.

Job outlook

Bright Outlook Rapid Growth

United States
10% more jobs by 2035, much faster than average · about 2,200 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 motor vehicle dealers66.0%
  • Automotive equipment rental and leasing9.8%
  • Automotive mechanical and electrical repair and maintenance7.3%
  • Motor vehicle body and trailer manufacturing5.4%
  • Motor vehicle and motor vehicle parts and supplies merchant wholesalers2.8%

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

Experience before this job: 1 to 2 years

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 2 years

You can often start in this job with a high school diploma plus some hands-on training, so it doesn't require a four-year degree. Most people build up to the full role over roughly 1 to 2 years of work experience, usually learning on the job.

  1. High school diploma

    4 years

    Build a foundation in math, shop, and auto or small-engine classes, which give you the basics for reading diagrams and fixing mechanical and electrical systems.

  2. Service Technician Helper

    1-2 years

    Start as a helper in a repair shop, dealership, or RV service center, where you assist with inspections, tool and parts handling, and simple repairs while you learn how systems fit together.

  3. Recreational Vehicle Service Technician

    Ongoing after your first 1-2 years of experience

    Diagnose, repair, and maintain travel trailers and motorhomes, including gas, electrical, plumbing, and towing systems, usually specializing in one or more of them over time.

Where it can lead

  1. Lead RV Technician

    3-5 years of experience first

    You take on harder diagnostic jobs, train newer technicians, and check the quality of others' work, which requires strong problem-solving and good communication.

  2. Service Manager

    5+ years of experience first

    You oversee the service department, schedule work, handle customer concerns, and manage parts and staff, so you need both technical knowledge and people skills.

What you can do now

Ideas for high school and college students.

In high school

  • Take auto shop, small engine, or electrical classesHands-on shop classes teach you the core mechanical and electrical skills that RV technicians use every day.
  • Take math and physical scienceAlgebra, geometry, and physics help you understand electrical circuits, fluid pressure, and how vehicle systems work.
  • Join a skills club or trade-related student organizationGroups focused on skilled trades or automotive technology give you practice with teamwork, tools, and presenting your work.
  • Get a part-time job or volunteer at a repair shop or garageEven sweeping, organizing parts, or helping with oil changes gives you real shop experience and a reference for later.
  • Learn basic home repairsHelp with fixing appliances, plumbing, or small engines around home to build confidence with the kinds of systems RV technicians work on.

In college

  • Take courses in automotive, diesel, or electrical technologyCommunity college programs in these areas teach diagnostics and repair skills that transfer directly to RV work.
  • Look for a summer or part-time job at an RV dealer, repair shop, or service centerWorking in a real service department teaches you how RVs are built, how customers describe problems, and how repair orders flow.
  • Earn a basic technician certification if your school offers oneA recognized certificate shows employers you have verified skills in areas like electrical or engine systems, which can help you stand out.
  • Join a student automotive or trades clubClubs give you hands-on projects, competition experience, and connections with local employers and instructors.
  • Build a simple portfolio of your repair workKeep notes or photos of repairs or projects you completed, which makes it easier to show employers what you can do.

Tips for getting started

  • Ask a local RV dealer, repair shop, or marina whether they hire helpers or part-time shop assistants, and show up with a short note about your interest in fixing things.
  • Get comfortable with basic tools and safety habits now, such as using a multimeter, reading wiring diagrams, and following shop safety rules, since these skills show up in every entry job.
  • Take photos or keep a simple log of any repairs you help with at home or in a club; it gives you real examples to talk about in job interviews.

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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