What is a Watch Repairer?

Occupation Description Repair, clean, and adjust mechanisms of timing instruments, such as watches and clocks. Includes watchmakers, watch technicians, and mechanical timepiece repairers.

A Day in the Life of a Watch Repairer

• Fabricate parts for watches and clocks, using small lathes and other machines.
• Clean, rinse, and dry timepiece parts, using solutions and ultrasonic or mechanical watch-cleaning machines.
• Adjust timing regulators, using truing calipers, watch-rate recorders, and tweezers.
• Disassemble timepieces and inspect them for defective, worn, misaligned, or rusty parts, using loupes.
• Record quantities and types of timepieces repaired, serial and model numbers of items, work performed, and charges for repairs.
• Order supplies, including replacement parts, for timing instruments.

Things a Watch Repairer Should Know How to Do

Below is a list of the skills most Watch Repairers say are important on the job.

Repairing: Repairing machines or systems using the needed tools.

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

Operation Monitoring: Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.

Equipment Maintenance: Performing routine maintenance on equipment and determining when and what kind of maintenance is needed.

Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Other Watch Repairer Job Titles

• Clock Repairer
• Time Clock Mechanic
• Repair Technician
• Watchmaker
• Pallet Stone Inserter

Watch Repairer Job Outlook

In the United States, there were 1,800 jobs for Watch Repairer in 2016. There is little to no growth in job opportunities for Watch Repairer. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 100 job openings in this field each year.

The states with the most job growth for Watch Repairer are Washington, Colorado, and Florida. Watch out if you plan on working in Nebraska, Indiana, or Ohio. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.

How Much Does a Watch Repairer Make?

Watch Repairers make between $23,240 and $68,500 a year.

Watch Repairers who work in Michigan, Missouri, or Oregon, make the highest salaries.

How much do Watch Repairers make in different U.S. states?

What Tools & Technology do Watch Repairers Use?

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

• Microsoft Excel
• Microsoft Word
• Microsoft Office
• Word processing software
• Intuit QuickBooks
• SAP software
• IBM Lotus Notes

How to Become a Watch Repairer

Are there Watch Repairers education requirements?

What work experience do I need to become a Watch Repairer?

References:

• Bureau of Labor Statistics
• College Factual
• O*NET Online

Image Credit: Phasmatisnox via CC BY 3.0

More about our data sources and methodologies.