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Home Appliance Repairers

O*NET files this work under Home Appliance Repairers: people who repair, adjust, or install all types of electric or gas household appliances, such as refrigerators, washers, dryers, and ovens. Its interest code is RCI. Realistic leads at 7.0 out of 7, so expect hands-on work with tools, machines or the physical world, with Conventional next at 4.8. The preparation level is some preparation, typically a few months to a year of learning on the job. O*NET’s skill data points to repairing, critical thinking, and troubleshooting as the ones to build. One core duty is to bill customers for repair work, and collect payment. If you want hands-on work with tools, machines or the physical world, keep it on your list. If you need creative work with room for original expression, it may feel thin.

What they do

Repair, adjust, or install all types of electric or gas household appliances, such as refrigerators, washers, dryers, and ovens.

Main tasks

  • 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.
  • Replace worn and defective parts such as switches, bearings, transmissions, belts, gears, circuit boards, or defective wiring.

Skills

  • Repairing
  • Critical Thinking
  • Troubleshooting
  • Equipment Maintenance
  • Speaking
  • Quality Control Analysis

Who this career fits

May suit you if

  • You like ending the day with a physical result you can point to.
  • You like clear rules and getting the details right.
  • You want to start work after a short stretch of training.
  • You are comfortable relying on repairing and critical thinking.

May not suit you if

  • You would rather stay away from physical, hands-on tasks.
  • You need creative expression to be a big part of your day. Artistic rates 1.2 out of 7 here.
  • You want a career built on years of advanced study.

Interest profile

O*NET rates each occupation from 1 to 7 on six interest types. The code RCI takes the three highest, and Realistic comes first here.

Preparation

Some preparation. Most people start with a high school diploma, then learn from experienced coworkers over a few months to a year.

Most-reported requirement in the O*NET survey: High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED). This reflects what workers reported most often and is not a legal minimum. Licensing rules can differ by state or industry, so confirm what applies where you plan to work.

Also called

  • Appliance Mechanic
  • Appliance Repair Mechanic
  • Appliance Repair Technician (Appliance Repair Tech)
  • Appliance Service Technician
  • Appliance Technician (Appliance Tech)

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This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.