Electric Motor, Power Tool, and Related Repairers: Salary, Job Outlook & How to Become One (2026 Parent Guide)

Installation, Maintenance, and Repair · SOC 49-2092 · O*NET 49-2092.00

Median salary
$53,990
Rank #461 of ~830 BLS occupations
10-year growth
+3.4%
2024–2034, average
Employment
16.6M
BLS 2024
Projected 2034
17K
BLS projection
Official O*NET description

Repair, maintain, or install electric motors, wiring, or switches.

Electric Motor, Power Tool, and Related Repairers fall under the Installation, Maintenance, and Repair category in the U.S. occupational classification. Electric Motor, Power Tool, and Related Repairers earn a median salary of $53,990 per year, ranking in the top 57% of all U.S. occupations. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects +3.4% job growth through 2034, projected to grow at roughly the US average. Entry into this field typically requires an apprenticeship, technical certification, or postsecondary training, with specific licensing or certification depending on the state and employer. For parents whose teenager is exploring this path, the most actionable step is mapping the education requirements to specific colleges and majors before junior year — not waiting until application season.

What do electric motor, power tool, and related repairers earn?

The median annual wage for electric motor, power tool, and related repairers is $53,990. That puts electric motor, power tool, and related repairers at #461 on the BLS ranked list of all U.S. occupations by median pay. This salary is around or below the U.S. median for individual workers, so career growth often depends on advancement into supervisory roles, specialization, or additional credentials. Actual pay varies meaningfully by state, employer type, and years of experience — entry-level salaries are typically 30–40% below the median, while top-decile earners often exceed it by 50% or more.

Full salary distribution (national, BLS 2024)
10th percentile (entry-level)$36,310
25th percentile$44,480
50th percentile (median)$53,990
75th percentile$66,180
90th percentile (top earners)$79,230
Median hourly wage$25.96/hr

Is electric motor, power tool, and related repairers a growing career?

The 10-year outlook for electric motor, power tool, and related repairers is +3.4%, projected to grow at roughly the US average. Employment is projected to move from approximately 17K positions in 2024 to 17K in 2034, a net change of 0K. Average growth signals a healthy, resilient occupation that mirrors broader U.S. employment trends. Job availability tends to track regional economic conditions.

What do electric motor, power tool, and related repairers do every day?

According to O*NET task surveys of working electric motor, power tool, and related repairers, these are the core responsibilities most professionals perform. This is what your teen would actually be doing in this role.

  1. 1.Reassemble repaired electric motors to specified requirements and ratings, using hand tools and electrical meters.
  2. 2.Inspect electrical connections, wiring, relays, charging resistance boxes, and storage batteries, following wiring diagrams.
  3. 3.Inspect and test equipment to locate damage or worn parts and diagnose malfunctions, or read work orders or schematic drawings to determine required repairs.
  4. 4.Disassemble defective equipment so that repairs can be made, using hand tools.
  5. 5.Lubricate moving parts.
  6. 6.Measure velocity, horsepower, revolutions per minute (rpm), amperage, circuitry, and voltage of units or parts to diagnose problems, using ammeters, voltmeters, wattmeters, and other testing devices.
  7. 7.Lift units or parts such as motors or generators, using cranes or chain hoists, or signal crane operators to lift heavy parts or subassemblies.
  8. 8.Adjust working parts, such as fan belts, contacts, and springs, using hand tools and gauges.

Top skills for electric motor, power tool, and related repairers

O*NET ranks these as the most important skills for this occupation, on a 1–5 importance scale derived from worker surveys.

Repairing
4.1
Equipment Maintenance
3.9
Troubleshooting
3.9
Quality Control Analysis
3.8
Critical Thinking
3.8
Equipment Selection
3.8
Complex Problem Solving
3.6

What education does my child need to become electric motor, power tool, and related repairer?

Electric Motor, Power Tool, and Related Repairers typically enter the field through a formal apprenticeship, technical certification, or vocational training program — a strong fit for teens who prefer hands-on learning over traditional college. For parents helping a teen prepare, the highest-leverage step before junior year is identifying colleges and programs that feed reliably into this occupation — Solyo's college search lets parents filter by major and admissions data side by side.

Actual education levels of working electric motor, power tool, and related repairers

Based on O*NET surveys of incumbents — what people in this job actually have, not what employers list as required.

Post-secondary certificate
39.2%
High school diploma
30.9%
Associate's degree
19.8%
Some college courses
8.3%
Less than high school
1.9%

Related careers your child might also consider

How parents help teens explore careers like this

Solyo helps parents map a teen's interests to specific careers, then back to the colleges and majors that lead there. Salary, outlook, and education data come from BLS and O*NET — the same sources high school counselors use — but presented for the parent's planning lens, not the student's exploration view.

Common questions parents ask about electric motor, power tool, and related repairers

What is the median salary for electric motor, power tool, and related repairers?

The median annual salary for electric motor, power tool, and related repairers is $53,990 according to the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics data.

Is electric motor, power tool, and related repairers a growing career?

BLS projects +3.4% growth for electric motor, power tool, and related repairers from 2024 through 2034, which is average growth projected to grow at roughly the US average.

What education does my child need to become electric motor, power tool, and related repairer?

The typical entry path requires an apprenticeship, technical certification, or postsecondary training, plus any state licensure or certification specific to the role. Programs that align well with this career can be filtered inside Solyo's college search.

What careers are similar to electric motor, power tool, and related repairers?

Related occupations within the Installation, Maintenance, and Repair category share education paths and skill profiles, so they're a useful starting set when a teen is uncertain. The "Related careers" section below lists nearby options.

Salary data sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment Statistics program. Skills, tasks, and education distribution from the O*NET database. Job outlook from the BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034 release.