Career Explorer Installation and repair
Human edge, steady
Home appliance repairers
Repair, adjust, or install all types of electric or gas household appliances, such as refrigerators, washers, dryers, and ovens.
More resilient than most: more resilient than 60% of the 831 careers we score. AI exposure is low (the Bureau of Labor Statistics rates it moderate), and US jobs are projected to change by +1.9% by 2035, slower than average. The work leans on physical dexterity.
AI struggles with much of this work. Hiring is expected to grow slower than average, or to shrink.
- Median pay (2025)
- $50,990
- Job growth to 2035
- +1.9%
- Openings a year
- 2,800
- People doing it (2025)
- 40,500
- Usual route in
- High school diploma, then moderate on-the-job training
Where people already use AI for this work
- Read documents or materials to inform work processes
- Adjust equipment to ensure adequate performance
- Connect components or supply lines to equipment or tools
From Microsoft Research, Working with AI (2025).
Work AI rarely helps with
- Inspect commercial, industrial, or production systems or equipment
- Clean tools, equipment, facilities, or work areas
- Repair tools or equipment
What the work looks like
- Bill customers for repair work, and collect payment.
- Observe and examine appliances during operation to detect specific malfunctions such as loose parts or leaking fluid.
- 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.
- Trace electrical circuits, following diagrams, and conduct tests with circuit testers and other equipment to locate shorts and grounds.
From O*NET 31.0, US Department of Labor.
Careers using similar strengths, with a stronger outlook
- Precision instrument and equipment repairers, all otherHuman edge, steady, Index 77, +2.5%
- Electrical and electronics installers and repairers, transportation equipmentHuman edge, growing, Index 80, +5.4%
- Electric motor, power tool, and related repairersHuman edge, growing, Index 88, +4.4%
- Outdoor power equipment and other small engine mechanicsHuman edge, steady, Index 81, +2.3%
Also known as: Appliance Technician (Appliance Tech), Repair Technician, Service Technician (Service Tech), Vacuum Repairer, Appliance Mechanic, Appliance Repair Mechanic, Appliance Repair Technician (Appliance Repair Tech), Appliance Service Technician.
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Sources: US Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections 2025 to 2035; O*NET 31.0; Microsoft Research (2025); Anthropic Economic Index (2026); Eloundou and colleagues (Science, 2024); Felten, Raj and Seamans (2023). How we score. Updated 12 October 2026.