Electronics Maintenance & Repair

Types of Degrees Electronics Maintenance & Repair Majors Are Getting

The following table lists how many electronics maintenance and repair graduations there were in 2020-2021 for each degree level.

Education Level	Number of Grads
Basic Certificate	4,342
Undergraduate Certificate	1,746
Associate Degree	1,646
Bachelor’s Degree	36

What Electronics Maintenance & Repair Majors Need to Know

People with careers related to electronics repair were asked what knowledge areas, skills, and abilities were important for their jobs. They weighted these areas on a scale of 1 to 5 with 5 being the highest.

Knowledge Areas for Electronics Repair Majors

This major prepares you for careers in which these knowledge areas are important:

• Computers and Electronics - Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
• Customer and Personal Service - Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
• English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
• Mechanical - Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
• Engineering and Technology - Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.

Skills for Electronics Repair Majors

The following list of skills has been highlighted as some of the most essential for careers related to electronics repair:

• Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
• Repairing - Repairing machines or systems using the needed tools.
• Operation Monitoring - Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
• Troubleshooting - Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.
• 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.

Abilities for Electronics Repair Majors

As you progress with your electronics repair degree, there are several abilities you should pick up that will help you in whatever related career you choose. These abilities include:

• Near Vision - The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
• Problem Sensitivity - The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
• Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
• Finger Dexterity - The ability to make precisely coordinated movements of the fingers of one or both hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble very small objects.
• Arm-Hand Steadiness - The ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.

What Can You Do With a Electronics Maintenance & Repair Major?

People with a electronics repair degree often go into the following careers:

Job Title	Job Growth Rate	Median Salary
Electric Motor, Power Tool, and Related Repairers	6.9%	$42,840
Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment	2.3%	$58,110
Geothermal Technicians	8.2%	$39,320
Radio Mechanics	5.5%	$54,890
Radio, Cellular, and Tower Equipment Installers and Repairers	5.5%	$54,890
Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers	14.2%	$47,190
Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers	1.5%	$58,280

Who Is Getting an Associate’s Degree in Electronics Maintenance & Repair?

Electronics Maintenance and Repair runs middle of the road when it comes to popularity, ranking #21 out of all the trade school majors we track. In 2021, about 1,646 graduates completed their associate’s degree in this field. This major tends to be male dominated. About 92% of recent graduates are men.

Racial-Ethnic Diversity

At the countrywide level, the racial-ethnic distribution of electronics repair majors is as follows:

Race/Ethnicity	Number of Grads
Asian	68
Black or African American	159
Hispanic or Latino	400
White	869
International Students	21
Other Races/Ethnicities	129

Geographic Diversity

Americans aren’t the only ones with an interest in Electronics Repair. About 1.3% of those with this major are international students. The most popular countries for students from outside the country are:

• Saudi Arabia
• Zambia
• Turks and Caicos Islands
• British Virgin Islands
• Bahamas

How Much Do Electronics Maintenance & Repair Majors Make?

Salaries According to BLS

Electronics Repair majors often go into careers where salaries can range from $40,880 to $56,340 (25th to 75th percentile). This range includes all degree levels, so you may expect those with a more advanced degree to make more while those with less advanced degrees will typically make less.

To put that into context, according to BLS data from the first quarter of 2020, the typical high school graduate makes between $30,000 and $57,900 a year (25th through 75th percentile). The average person with a bachelor’s degree (any field) makes between $45,600 and $99,000. Advanced degree holders make the most with salaries between $55,600 and $125,400.

Amount of Education Required for Careers Related to Electronics Maintenance & Repair

Some careers associated with electronics repair require an advanced degree while some may not even require a bachelor’s. In general, the more advanced your degree the more career options will open up to you. However, there is significant time and money that needs to be invested into your education so weigh the pros and cons.

How much schooling do you really need to compete in today’s job market? People currently working in careers related to electronics repair have obtained the following education levels.

Education Level	Percentage of Workers
Less than a High School Diploma	3.2%
High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)	41.1%
Post-Secondary Certificate - awarded for training completed after high school (for example, in agriculture or natural resources, computer services, personal or culinary services, engineering technologies, healthcare, construction trades, mechanic and repair technologies, or precision production)	30.9%
Some College Courses	7.2%
Associate’s Degree (or other 2-year degree)	13.6%
Bachelor’s Degree	2.7%
Post-Baccalaureate Certificate - awarded for completion of an organized program of study; designed for people who have completed a Baccalaureate degree but do not meet the requirements of academic degrees carrying the title of Master.	0.2%
Master’s Degree	0.0%
First Professional Degree - awarded for completion of a program that: requires at least 2 years of college work before entrance into the program, includes a total of at least 6 academic years of work to complete, and provides all remaining academic requirements to begin practice in a profession.	1.2%
Post-Doctoral Training	0.0%

Online Electronics Maintenance & Repair Programs

In the 2020-2021 academic year, 392 schools offered some type of electronics maintenance and repair program. The following table lists the number of programs by degree level, along with how many schools offered online courses in the field.

Degree Level	Colleges Offering Programs	Colleges Offering Online Classes
Certificate (Less Than 1 Year)	0	0
Certificate (1-2 years)	231	5
Certificate (2-4 Years)	28	0
Associate’s Degree	229	2
Bachelor’s Degree	0	0
Post-Baccalaureate	0	0
Master’s Degree	0	0
Post-Master’s	0	0
Doctor’s Degree (Research)	0	0
Doctor’s Degree (Professional Practice)	0	0
Doctor’s Degree (Other)	0	0

Is a Degree in Electronics Maintenance & Repair Worth It?

The median salary for a electronics repair grad is $44,710 per year. This is based on the weighted average of the most common careers associated with the major.

This is 12% more than the average salary for an individual holding a high school degree. This adds up to a gain of about $96,200 after 20 years!

Trades Related to Electronics Maintenance & Repair

You may also be interested in one of the following majors related to electronics repair.

Major	Number of Grads
Vehicle Maintenance & Repair	56,514
Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation & Refrigeration	19,594
Heavy/Industrial Equipment Maintenance	8,717
Precision Systems Maintenance	1,932
Mechanic & Repair Tech (Other)	1,267
Mechanics & Repairers	391
Energy Systems Maintenance and Repair Technologies.	122

References

*The racial-ethnic minorities count is calculated by taking the total number of students and subtracting white students, international students, and students whose race/ethnicity was unknown. This number is then divided by the total number of students at the school to obtain the racial-ethnic minorities percentage.

• College Factual
• College Scorecard
• National Center for Education Statistics
• O*NET Online
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
• Usual Weekly Earnings of Wage and Salary Workers First Quarter 2020

More about our data sources and methodologies.