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If you love working with your hands, solving complex electrical problems, and working independently, becoming an Appliance Repair Technician could be the right career for you.
Today’s technicians are in demand as residential homeowners and commercial business owners seek highly skilled technicians to help repair everyday appliances like refrigerators, freezers, dishwashers, ovens, HVAC systems, and small appliances.
Gain insights on a few pros and cons of being an appliance repair technician in the informative guide below.
Article Table of Contents
- 1 What Is an Appliance Repair Technician?
- 2 What Skills Do I Need to Be a Successful Appliance Repair Technician?
- 3 Pros of Being an Appliance Repair Technician
- 4 Cons of Being an Appliance Repair Technician
- 5 Pros and Cons of Being a Private Investigator – Summary Table
- 6 Is a Career in Appliance Repair Right for You?
- 7 Sources
What Is an Appliance Repair Technician?
Today’s Appliance Repair Technicians are licensed or certified repair professionals.
These hands-on repair professionals have completed post-secondary education, and vocational training, or have years of on-the-job experience which allows them to repair the latest appliances that we use to power our homes and businesses daily.
Appliance repair technicians can make general appliance repairs for standard household appliances or industrial-grade appliances.
Conducting advanced repairs for commercial appliances and some HVAC systems may require technicians to gain EPA Section 608 Certification to demonstrate knowledge and competency of environmentally based repair rules.
Technicians with specialized certifications can typically command higher earnings than technicians who only make generalized repairs.
What Skills Do I Need to Be a Successful Appliance Repair Technician?
People who are seriously considering starting a career as licensed or certified appliance repairers will need to have the following skills.
- Technical Knowledge of Mechanical and Electrical Components. APTs must possess strong technical knowledge including electrical, mechanical, and diagnostic skills needed for making commercial and residential appliance repairs.
- Problem-Solving Skills for Making Simple and Complex Repairs. Strong problem-solving and follow-up skills are necessary for repair technicians who need to diagnose issues quickly and follow through with effective and lasting solutions.
- Above-Average Customer Service Skills. Communicating repair issues, costs, and next steps with clients, vendors, and partners is a critical part of working as an independent repair tech.
- Keen Attention to Small Details. Residential and commercial repair technicians must have a keen eye for small details to ensure accurate diagnoses and repair for household and commercial appliances.
- Physical Stamina for Working in Varied Environments. Working as a licensed Appliance Repair Technician often requires twisting, bending, lifting, and carrying tools, supplies, and equipment of varying weights. APTs must have the physical stamina needed for standing, walking, and working in a variety of different environments.
Pros of Being an Appliance Repair Technician
1. High Levels of Job Satisfaction
Many repairers working in residential homes and commercial facilities report having high levels of job satisfaction.
Today’s appliance repairers are typically happy with their salaries and the amount of autonomy and independence working as a technician affords them.
Appliance repair can be seen as an essential service when it comes to repairing everyday equipment for heating, cooling, and cooking equipment.
2. Variety of Different Work Environments
One of the best things about working as a certified technician is the opportunity to visit different neighborhoods, buildings, commercial repair centers, and far-flung communities along your journey.
Technicians can be found working in bustling metropolitan areas, sparsely populated small towns, and rural farming areas.
3. Satisfaction in Hands-On Work
If you love to work out complex problems and use your hands on the job, working as a certified Home Appliance Repairer could be the right career move for you.
Appliance repair careers are ideal for people who prefer hands-on work in a variety of different environments over desk jobs with repetitive tasks.
4. Direct Customer Interaction and Engagement
Repair technicians with top-tier customer service skills can easily navigate customer interactions by providing clear answers to customer questions about repair costs and type.
5. High Potential for Self-Employment
Many top manufacturers and appliance repair companies hire trained technicians to work as part of a team.
However, self-motivated technicians with a knack for solving appliance-related issues do well as independent technicians who schedule their jobs, set their rates, and select their clients.
6. Transferable Skills Building Opportunities
Lifetime learners will likely excel when working as repair technicians.
Today’s technicians acquire a multitude of transferrable repair skills as they navigate the educational component and hands-on component of working side-by-side with professionals in the industry.
Opportunities for learning transferrable skills abound as technicians network with industry professionals and take certification courses to advance their careers.
7. Potential for High Earnings
Appliance repair technicians with specialized certifications and skills for repairing residential or commercial appliances can earn higher salaries than their counterparts who only make general repairs.
For example, technicians holding EPA 608 certifications open up their repair options to include commercial and residential HVAC systems, which can drastically increase their earnings.
Cons of Being an Appliance Repair Technician
1. Physical Demands
The role of an appliance repair technician working on heavy equipment like refrigerators, stoves, and complex commercial equipment like HVAC systems can be physically challenging and demanding.
Service technicians are often required to maneuver into small out-of-the-way areas in crawlspaces, basements, and utility rooms while balancing heavy parts and equipment needed for installations, appliance replacement, and appliance repair.
2. Safety Risks
Not only is working as an appliance technician physically challenging, but it can also come with increased safety risks like being exposed to hazardous materials while working with appliances and equipment.
Safety risks can include cuts, scrapes, bruises, burns, and electrical shock-related injuries sustained during the process of repairing residential or heavy-duty equipment.
3. Unpredictable Schedules
The nature of appliance repair services means that certified technicians may get calls at any time of the day or night for sudden emergency repairs.
Being on-call for appliance repair emergencies can lead to unpredictable work hours.
Sporadic work schedules can make it difficult to schedule one’s life events as emergency service calls from customers take top priority.
Not having a set schedule can lead to high stress, burnout, and frustration for repair technicians.
4. High Costs of Travel and Dining
Another downside of working as a commercial or home appliance repair technician is that you may have to travel long distances between jobs.
Independent technicians working on their own will likely end up scheduling jobs outside their area.
Certified technicians working as employees are often dispatched to remote regional or metropolitan areas, resulting in increased drive time, out-of-pocket expenses, and miles traveled for technicians.
5. Stressful Customer Interactions
While most Appliance Repair Technician programs include a brief customer service training component, working with irate or disgruntled customers in real life can take a serious toll on the emotional and mental health of well-meaning service techs who become overwhelmed when trying to resolve customer disputes.
Dealing with customers who are unhappy about their broken appliances or those who are upset by the total cost of their repairs can lead to high stress for repairers.
6. Moderate Earnings for General Repairers
While skilled technicians earn reasonable salaries, the pay may be lower than some other technical trades.
Entry-level technicians working without sought-after industry certifications can find themselves on the lower end of the salary scale as they can only handle basic repairs instead of tackling more complex high-paying jobs.
7. Uncertain Future for the Repair Industry
The occupational outlook for the role of Appliance Repair Technician is shaky as artificially intelligent machines are becoming the norm in many industries.
More homeowners are opting to replace small home appliances instead of calling for repair services, which can charge higher fees for simple repairs.
Not knowing if there will be a consistent demand for their skills is an area of concern for many existing Appliance Repair Technicians who have been having trouble with keeping a steady stream of clients.
Pros and Cons of Being a Private Investigator – Summary Table
| Pros of Being an Appliance Repair Technician | Cons of Being an Appliance Repair Technician |
|---|---|
| 1. High Levels of Job Satisfaction | 1. Physical Demands |
| 2. Variety of Different Work Environments | 2. Safety Risks |
| 3. Satisfaction in Hands-On Work | 3. Unpredictable Schedules |
| 4. Direct Customer Interaction and Engagement | 4. High Costs of Travel and Dining |
| 5. High Potential for Self-Employment | 5. Stressful Customer Interactions |
| 6. Transferable Skills Building Opportunities | 6. Moderate Earnings for General Repairers |
| 7. Potential for High Earnings | 7. Uncertain Future for the Repair Industry |
Is a Career in Appliance Repair Right for You?
Working as an Appliance Repair Technician requires a unique set of skills.
Not only are APTs expected to be skilled at conducting flawless installation, maintenance, and repair of small appliances at home and larger heavy-duty equipment on the industrial scene, but they are also required to have above-average customer service skills, self-management skills, and top-of-the-line problem-solving skills.
Consider your answers to the following questions as you decide if becoming a commercial or residential Appliance Repair Technician is right for you.
- Do you have the patience and the keen attention to detail needed to figure out and solve complex problems?
- Do you already possess the ability to work independently and complete complex tasks without direct supervision?
- Do you feel like you have above-average problem-solving skills?
- Are you willing to get the proper training and certification credentials to begin and advance your career?
- Do you have the resilient personality type of someone who can go with the flow of uncertainty within their job market?
If the answer to the questions above is “Yes!” or you’re willing to learn these skills – becoming a licensed or certified Appliance Repair Technician may be the next logical step for you!
Take the next steps to begin your career by researching more about the role and learning about local and online programs offering training and certification programs for aspiring repair technicians.
Sources
Bureau of Labor Statistics – Home Appliance Repairers
https://www.bls.gov/oes/2019/may/oes499031.htm
Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment – BLS
https://www.bls.gov/oes/2023/may/oes492094.htm
National Appliance Service Technician Certification (NASTeC)]
http://www.nastec.org/
Section 608 Technician Certification Requirements – US EPA
https://www.epa.gov/section608/section-608-technician-certification-requirements