Watch and Clock Repairers: Salary, Job Outlook & How to Become One (2026 Parent Guide)

Watch and Clock Repairers fall under the Installation, Maintenance, and Repair category in the U.S. occupational classification. Watch and Clock Repairers earn a median salary of $60,690 per year, ranking in the top 47% of all U.S. occupations. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects -1.1% job growth through 2034, projected to lose jobs through 2034. 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 watch and clock repairers earn?

The median annual wage for watch and clock repairers is $60,690. That puts watch and clock repairers at #380 on the BLS ranked list of all U.S. occupations by median pay. This salary is above the U.S. median for individual workers and reflects a stable, credentialed occupation. 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.

Is watch and clock repairers a growing career?

The 10-year outlook for watch and clock repairers is -1.1%, projected to lose jobs through 2034. Employment is projected to move from approximately 1K positions in 2024 to 1K in 2034, a net change of 0K. A declining outlook does not mean the field is disappearing; it means automation, demographics, or substitution effects are shrinking the pool of openings. Students entering a declining field should plan for adjacent skills that transfer to growing roles.

What do watch and clock repairers do every day?

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

1. 1.Order supplies, including replacement parts, for timing instruments.
2. 2.Test and replace batteries and other electronic components.
3. 3.Clean, rinse, and dry timepiece parts, using solutions and ultrasonic or mechanical watch-cleaning machines.
4. 4.Disassemble timepieces and inspect them for defective, worn, misaligned, or rusty parts, using loupes.
5. 5.Estimate repair costs and timepiece values.
6. 6.Demagnetize mechanisms, using demagnetizing machines.
7. 7.Adjust timing regulators, using truing calipers, watch-rate recorders, and tweezers.
8. 8.Oil moving parts of timepieces.

Top skills for watch and clock repairers

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

What education does my child need to become watch and clock repairer?

Watch and Clock 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.

Related careers your child might also consider

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• Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers
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• Signal and Track Switch Repairers
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• Electrical and Electronics Installers and Repairers, Transportation Equipment
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• Avionics Technicians
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• Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians
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Common questions parents ask about watch and clock repairers