TRADES Zone 3: Medium Preparation

Electrical and Electronics Installers and Repairers

Electrical and Electronics Installers and Repairers earn $84,890 nationally at the median. The middle 50% of workers fall between $63,560 and $98,850. Where you land depends on specialization, employer, and experience.

About Electrical and Electronics Installers and Repairers

Install, adjust, or maintain mobile electronics communication equipment, including sound, sonar, security, navigation, and surveillance systems on trains, watercraft, or other mobile equipment.


Median Wage
$84,890
Employed Nationally
7K
Openings / Year
600
Entry Education
Postsecondary nondegree award
Job Zone
Zone 3: Medium Preparation

Also known as:

Body Wirer Control Troubleshooter Critical Power Install Technician Critical Power Technician Critical Systems Technician

How Much Do Electrical and Electronics Installers and Repairers Make?

Electrical and Electronics Installers and Repairers earn $84,890 nationally, above the national median for college graduates. The middle 50% of earners fall between $63,560 and $98,850. Actual pay varies by employer, specialization, and location.

$84,890
National Median (Annual)

Above the national median for college graduates.

$64K–$99K
Middle 50% Range

25th to 75th percentile. Most workers earn within this band.


Earnings Range

What Do Electrical and Electronics Installers and Repairers Do?

O*NET data identifies 5 core activities and 5 measurable skills for Electrical and Electronics Installers and Repairers roles. Use this section to judge whether the day-to-day reality aligns with what you actually want to spend time doing.

What You'll Do

  • Inspect and test electrical systems and equipment to locate and diagnose malfunctions, using visual inspections, testing devices, and computer software.
  • Reassemble and test equipment after repairs.
  • Adjust, repair, or replace defective wiring and relays in ignition, lighting, air-conditioning, and safety control systems, using electrician's tools.
  • Splice wires with knives or cutting pliers, and solder connections to fixtures, outlets, and equipment.
  • Locate and remove or repair circuit defects such as blown fuses or malfunctioning transistors.

Core Skills Employers Look For

Critical Thinking Active Listening Quality Control Analysis Operations Monitoring Repairing

Who Thrives Here

R
Realistic

Hands-on tasks, physical activity, or working with tools and real materials are central parts of the daily work here.

C
Conventional

Success depends on precision and structured processes, where detail-oriented people who work consistently within established systems perform best.

I
Investigative

This career demands analytical thinking: researching problems, interpreting data, and applying logical reasoning to find practical solutions.

Where Do Electrical and Electronics Installers and Repairers Work?

What the physical and mental conditions of this job actually look like day to day, based on O*NET Work Context data collected from people working in this occupation.

Work Setting
Mixed

Split between indoor and outdoor or field settings.

Physical Demands
Light

Mix of sitting and movement throughout the day.

Stress Level
High

High time pressure and significant consequences for errors. Deadline-driven or high-stakes decisions are common.

What Is the Job Outlook for Electrical and Electronics Installers and Repairers?

The BLS projects +6.1% employment change for Electrical and Electronics Installers and Repairers through 2034, roughly in line with the national average of +5%. About 600 openings per year keep the field accessible to new entrants.

↗ +6.1%
10-Year Growth (2024–2034)

About as fast as average.

600
Annual Openings

New positions plus replacements for retirees and career-changers.

7K
Currently Employed

Total US employment as of BLS May 2024.

Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034 and Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2024.

Where the Jobs Are

The five states below employ the most Electrical and Electronics Installers and Repairers professionals nationwide. State-level wages can differ significantly from the $84,890 national median. Research your specific market before committing to a program.

# State Jobs Median Wage vs. National
1 California 1,250 $86,640 +2.1%
2 Texas 710 $84,470 -0.5%
3 New York 490 $91,530 +7.8%
4 Maryland 480 $79,220 -6.7%
5 Nebraska 370 $84,730 -0.2%

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024. Employment figures rounded. Read our methodology →

How to Get Here

Most Electrical and Electronics Installers and Repairers positions require a postsecondary nondegree award to qualify. The program below is the most common academic pathways into this field, ranked by how many graduates they produce each year.

Postsecondary nondegree award
Zone 3: Medium Preparation

A medium amount of preparation is required, often an associate degree, certificate program, or apprenticeship, plus some related experience.


Degree Programs That Lead Here

# Program Graduates/yr 4yr Median Colleges
1 Vehicle Maintenance 68,347 $80,809 956

Top Colleges for Aspiring Electrical and Electronics Installers and Repairers

Colleges offering the degree programs that lead to this career, ranked by UCD Score. A strong program plus solid outcomes is a good place to begin your search.

# College UCD Score Net Price Salary 10yr
1 Victor Valley College Victorville, CA 90 $1,947 $36,119
2 Brazosport College Lake Jackson, TX 88 $4,732 $45,910
3 Chipola College Marianna, FL 88 $1,133 $37,378
4 South Georgia Technical College Americus, GA 86 $1,164 $30,364
5 South Florida State College Avon Park, FL 86 $3,877 $39,990
6 Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Murfreesboro Murfreesboro, TN 86 $6,631 $40,869

Plan Your Path

Once you've sized up Electrical and Electronics Installers and Repairers, these tools turn the numbers into a plan. Estimate the real cost of a degree that leads here, weigh the long-term payoff, compare specific colleges side-by-side, and find programs that match your profile.

Electrical and Electronics Installers and Repairers Pros & Cons

Strong earnings and growing demand make Electrical and Electronics Installers and Repairers a compelling path. The 3 strengths and 1 trade-offs below are drawn from BLS wage data and employment projections.

PROS
  • Above-average pay At $84,890 median annually, this career pays meaningfully more than most college-graduate roles. Financial return on education is typically strong.
  • Steady job outlook The BLS projects +6.1% growth through 2034, keeping pace with the national average. Demand is stable and annual openings remain consistent.
  • Accessible entry path The typical entry requirement is a postsecondary nondegree award, lower than many comparable-paying careers. This creates a shorter path from training to first paycheck.
CONS
  • Entry-level pay well below the national median The 25th percentile wage of $63,560 is considerably below the $84,890 median. Early-career workers typically spend 5 or more years building toward typical pay. Factor this into any program ROI calculation.

Electrical and Electronics Installers and Repairers Frequently Asked Questions

How much do Electrical and Electronics Installers and Repairers professionals earn?
The national median annual wage for Electrical and Electronics Installers and Repairers is $84,890, above the national median for full-time workers. The middle 50% of earners fall between $63,560 and $98,850. Pay varies by employer size, industry sector, specialization, and geography. National figures are a starting point, not a guarantee.
Is Electrical and Electronics Installers and Repairers a good career?
Yes, the data is strong. A $84,890 median with +6.1% projected growth through 2034 is a combination most career fields can't match. The real variable is early career: workers around the 25th percentile earn $63,560, so your first employer and location will shape your trajectory more than the national number suggests.
How do I become a Electrical and Electronics Installers and Repairers?
Most Electrical and Electronics Installers and Repairers positions require a postsecondary nondegree award as the minimum credential. a medium amount of preparation is required, often an associate degree, certificate program, or apprenticeship, plus some related experience. Programs like Vehicle Maintenance are common starting points.
What is the job outlook for Electrical and Electronics Installers and Repairers?
The BLS projects +6.1% employment change for Electrical and Electronics Installers and Repairers through 2034, about as fast as average compared to all occupations. About 600 job openings per year are projected, including new positions and replacements for workers who retire or change careers. 7K people currently work in this occupation nationwide (BLS May 2024).
What skills do Electrical and Electronics Installers and Repairers professionals need?
O*NET data identifies the core skills employers consistently prioritize for Electrical and Electronics Installers and Repairers roles: Critical Thinking, Active Listening, Quality Control Analysis, Operations Monitoring, and Repairing. These develop through formal education and hands-on work. Programs with internship or co-op requirements give you a meaningful head start on the ones that take time to build.

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