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Installation and Repair Career Overview
The field of installation involves the placing and fitting into position of equipment, products, or systems and then connecting and modifying it to bring it into service for proper use. Repairing is the act of fixing a product, equipment, or system to restore it to proper working order so it can perform its required function effectively.
Although there are many fields of installation and repair most professions will fall into these two main categories:
Technology - medical equipment used to diagnose illness and disease, office equipment including computers, fax machines, photocopy machines, and scanners, coin/vending and automated teller machines used to conduct business transactions, electronics including telephone and communication equipment and home entertainment systems, surveillance equipment used to maintain safety and security, electrical including radar and missile control systems used for national defense and to direct commercial air traffic, mobile electronic communication equipment including sound, security, and navigation systems
Consumer & Household (non-technology) - heating/air conditioning, automotive, utilities, home appliances, carpet/flooring
An individual who practices this profession must be able to identify and understand the specifications and components of the equipment or product they are installing & repairing in order to produce a successful outcome. In addition someone choosing this career should also possess the following traits or attributes:
Career Education
A passion for working with and learning about electrical equipment and electronics is necessary for employment in all installation & repair fields (with the exception of carpet & flooring). Many applicants choose to gain this knowledge through accredited 1 to 2 year programs offered at technical/vocational schools or community colleges, although some less skilled repairers may have only a high school diploma. Successful completion of a certified program at a trade school or community college is desired by most employers as students will study theory, design, and equipment instruction that will help them in their career. Participation in an accredited program also allows applicants to learn the latest technologies. In addition to formal training at a college or trade school many organizations and industry associations offer certification programs in their field. To receive certification, installers & repairers must pass qualifying exams.
Some positions such as office equipment and ATM installers & repairers require an associate degree in electronics. A basic understanding of mechanical equipment is important in these positions because many of the parts are mechanical. Positions involving electronic navigation, surveillance, and security systems such as those used by governments will require a bachelor's degree in an engineering discipline such as mechanical engineering. For advanced troubleshooting positions a master's degree or higher will be needed.
Schools for Installation And Repair are listed in the column to the left.
This table shows summary data on occupations in the US. Clicking on any occupation name brings you to a page showing job prospects and salaries for that occupation in hundreds of metro areas across the country, with data updated through 2008.(Where data is denoted by an asterisk (*), summary info was not available.
The green bars in the table below indicate the relative salary levels and growth rates of each occupation, compared to the others. The levels are determined by sorting the occupations (by salary or growth rate, separately) and then dividing them into ten groups corresponding to the the ten possible green bar levels. So a single bar means the occupation is in the bottom 10% for that characteristic compared to others on this page.
Click each Occupation title for more details.
| Occupation | Jobs | Median Pay | % Growth 2006-2016 | Video |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home Appliance Repairers | 37,300 |  $33,910 |  1.5% |  |
| Home Entertainment Equipment Installers and Repairers | 38,680 |  $32,080 | 3% | |
| HVAC Mechanics and Installers | 261,610 |  $39,680 |  8.7% | |
| Industrial Electrical Repairers | 77,270 | $48,430 |  6.8% | |
| Locksmiths and Safe Repairers | 18,500 |  $34,460 | 22.1% | |
| Medical Equipment Repairers | 34,260 |  $41,520 | 21.7% | |
| Motor Vehicle Electronics Installers and Repairers | 19,980 | $27,640 | 4.6% | |
| Office Machine Repairers | 122,400 |  $37,810 | 3% | |
| Power Line Installers and Repairers | 111,580 | $55,100 |  7.2% | |
| Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers | 195,170 | $55,600 | 2.5% | |
| Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers | 168,050 | $48,090 | 4.6% | |
| Transportation Electrical Installers and Repairers | 15,860 | $44,450 | 4.3% |
These schools offer particularly quick info upon request, and we have written detailed profiles for each (click school names to see the profiles).
Request info from multiple schools, by clicking the Get Info links.
We have some additional detailed pages at the state level for Installation and Repair.
Numbers in parentheses are counts of relevant campus-based schools in the state; online schools may also be available.
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