What You Need to Know About Musical Instrument Repairer or Tuner
Musical Instrument Repairer or Tuner Job Description Repair percussion, stringed, reed, or wind instruments. May specialize in one area, such as piano tuning.
A Day in the Life of a Musical Instrument Repairer or Tuner
- Refinish and polish piano cabinets or cases to prepare them for sale.
- Cut out sections around cracks on percussion instruments to prevent cracks from advancing, using shears or grinding wheels.
- Stretch drumheads over rim hoops and tuck them around and under the hoops, using hand tucking tools.
- Refinish instruments to protect and decorate them, using hand tools, buffing tools, and varnish.
- Deliver pianos to purchasers or to locations of their use.
- Disassemble instruments and parts for repair and adjustment.
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Things a Musical Instrument Repairer or Tuner Should Know How to Do
When polled, Musical Instrument Repairers and Tuners say the following skills are most frequently used in their jobs:
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
- Tone Regulator
- Brass Instrument Repair Technician
- Accordion Tuner
- Pipe Organ Installer
- Luthier
Job Opportunities for Musical Instrument Repairers and Tuners
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. There will be an estimated 700 positions for Musical Instrument Repairer or Tuner per 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.
How Much Does a Musical Instrument Repairer or Tuner Make?
The typical yearly salary for Musical Instrument Repairers and Tuners is somewhere between $22,700 and $59,020.

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 & Technology 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:
Becoming a Musical Instrument Repairer or Tuner
What education or degrees do I need to become a Musical Instrument Repairer or Tuner?

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

Musical Instrument Repairers and Tuners Sector

The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.

References:
Image Credit: Phasmatisnox via CC BY 3.0
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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