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Life As a Musical Instrument Repairer or Tuner

Position Description Repair percussion, stringed, reed, or wind instruments. May specialize in one area, such as piano tuning.

Musical Instrument Repairer or Tuner Responsibilities

Strike wood, fiberglass, or metal bars of instruments, and use tuned blocks, stroboscopes, or electronic tuners to evaluate tones made by instruments.
Inspect instruments to locate defects, and to determine their value or the level of restoration required.
Assemble and install new pipe organs and pianos in buildings.
Align pads and keys on reed or wind instruments.
Deliver pianos to purchasers or to locations of their use.
Shape old parts and replacement parts to improve tone or intonation, using hand tools, lathes, or soldering irons.

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Things a Musical Instrument Repairer or Tuner Should Know How to Do

Below is a list of the skills most Musical Instrument Repairers and Tuners say are important on the job.

Repairing: Repairing machines or systems using the needed tools.

Troubleshooting: Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.

Quality Control Analysis: Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.

Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

Judgment and Decision Making: Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.

Time Management: Managing one’s own time and the time of others.

Types of Musical Instrument Repairer or Tuner

Reed or Wind Instrument Repairer
Fretted Instrument Repairer
Metal Reed Tuner
Harp Regulator
Pipe Organ Technician

Musical Instrument Repairer or Tuner Employment Estimates

There were about 8,300 jobs for Musical Instrument Repairer or Tuner in 2016 (in the United States). New jobs are being produced at a rate of 1.2% which is below the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 100 new jobs for Musical Instrument Repairer or Tuner by 2026. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 700 job openings in this field each year.

The states with the most job growth for Musical Instrument Repairer or Tuner are Tennessee, Iowa, and Florida. Watch out if you plan on working in Kansas, Massachusetts, or Connecticut. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.

Average Musical Instrument Repairers and Tuners Salary

The salary for Musical Instrument Repairers and Tuners ranges between about $22,700 and $59,020 a year.

Musical Instrument Repairers and Tuners who work in New Mexico, Vermont, or New Jersey, make the highest salaries.

How much do Musical Instrument Repairers and Tuners make in each U.S. state?

State	Annual Mean Salary
Alabama	$31,480
Arizona	$33,500
California	$41,720
Colorado	$34,990
Connecticut	$37,900
Florida	$30,710
Georgia	$49,330
Illinois	$49,720
Indiana	$31,930
Iowa	$42,540
Kansas	$32,320
Kentucky	$36,630
Louisiana	$33,890
Maryland	$41,030
Massachusetts	$37,850
Michigan	$32,970
Minnesota	$36,670
Mississippi	$34,750
Missouri	$35,990
New Jersey	$43,000
New Mexico	$87,200
New York	$39,200
North Carolina	$35,720
Ohio	$33,250
Oklahoma	$39,220
Oregon	$32,710
Pennsylvania	$40,620
South Carolina	$38,840
Tennessee	$38,550
Texas	$39,300
Utah	$36,990
Vermont	$52,020
Virginia	$36,480
Washington	$43,000
West Virginia	$35,470
Wisconsin	$36,590

What Tools do Musical Instrument Repairers and Tuners Use?

Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Musical Instrument Repairers and Tuners may use on a daily basis:

How to Become a Musical Instrument Repairer or Tuner

What education is needed to be a Musical Instrument Repairer or Tuner?

How Long Does it Take to Become a Musical Instrument Repairer or Tuner?

Who Employs Musical Instrument Repairers and Tuners?

Musical Instrument Repairers and Tuners work in the following industries:

References:

Image Credit: Phasmatisnox via CC BY 3.0

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