Installation and Repair: Schools and Careers

Installation And Repair - Career Information

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:

Effective communication and customer service skills
Aptitude for fast diagnosis of problems
Attention to detail
Passion for complex and rapidly changing technology systems
Cognitive skills
Physical ability to lift heavy equipment, work in awkward positions
Desire to work with your hands
Concern for personal safety
Ability to work independently
Flexibility of work schedule to accommodate customer demands

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.

Careers and Salary Data

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.

Installation and Repair

Occupation	Jobs	Median Pay	% Growth 2006-2016
Home Appliance Repairers	37,300	$33,910	1.5%
Home Entertainment Equipment Installers and Repairers	38,680	$32,080	3.0%
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	3.0%
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%