BlissPoint Analytics

Occupation AtlasHome Appliance Repairers

O*NET · 49-9031.00

Home Appliance Repairers

Repair, adjust, or install all types of electric or gas household appliances, such as refrigerators, washers, dryers, and ovens.

Also called AC Window Unit Installer · AC Window Unit Servicer · Air-Conditioner Window Unit Installer (AC Window Unit Installer) · Air-Conditioner Window Unit Servicer (AC Window Unit Servicer) · Appliance Adjuster · Appliance Advisor · Appliance Installer · Appliance Mechanic
70 more

Appliance Repair Mechanic · Appliance Repair Service Consultant · Appliance Repair Tech · Appliance Repair Technician (Appliance Repair Tech) · Appliance Repairer · Appliance Service Technician · Appliance Tech · Appliance Technician (Appliance Tech) · Appliance Worker · Automatic Washer Mechanic · CAT · Certified Appliance Service Technician · Certified Appliance Technician (CAT) · Cooking Appliance Repair Technician · Electric Appliance Installer · Electric Razor Mechanic · Electric Shaver Mechanic · Electric Stove Installer · Electric Stove Mechanic · Electric Tool Repairer · Electrical Appliance Mechanic · Electrical Appliance Repairer · Electrical Appliance Servicer · Electrical Mechanical Technician · Field Service Representative · Gas Appliance Adjuster · Gas Appliance Installer · Gas Appliance Mechanic · Gas Appliance Repairer · Gas Appliance Servicer · Gas Technician · Handyman · Home Appliance Dryer and Washer Mechanic · Home Appliance Installer · Home Appliance Technician · Home Appliance Washing Machine Mechanic · Home Appliances Mechanic · Household Appliance Installer · Household Appliance Mechanic · Household Appliance Repairer · Household Appliances Service Technician · Household Refrigeration Mechanic · Household Refrigerator Mechanic · Maintenance Technician · Microwave Household Appliances Technician · Microwave Tech · Microwave Technician (Microwave Tech) · Propane Service Technician · Range Mechanic · Refrigeration Maintenance Tech · Refrigeration Maintenance Tech (Refrigeration Maintenance Technician) · Refrigeration Technician · Refrigerator Repair Technician · Repair Man · Repair Technician · Residential Appliance Repair Technician · Room Cooler Installer · Service Tech · Service Technician (Service Tech) · Sewing Machine Mechanic · Stove Installer · Stove Mechanic · Vacuum Cleaner Mechanic · Vacuum Cleaner Repair Person · Vacuum Cleaner Repairer · Vacuum Repairer · Washing Machine Installer · Washing Machine Repairer · Window Air Conditioner Installer · Window Unit Air Conditioning Mechanic

Job Zone 2 — Some Preparation NeededHolland code RCI35 skills on file

Compare with another occupationCompare with Electronic Equipment Installers and Repairers, Motor Vehicles

Job Zone

  1. 1
  2. 2
  3. 3
  4. 4
  5. 5

Zone 2: Some Preparation Needed

Some preparation. Usually a high school diploma, some previous work-related skill or experience, and a few months to a year of training with experienced workers.

Job Zone is O*NET's rating of how much education, experience and training an occupation typically needs — a property of the work, not of anyone doing it.

Occupational interest profile

RCIRealistic · Conventional · Investigative — the three strongest interests, in order

  • R Realistic7.00
  • C Conventional4.84
  • I Investigative2.33
  • S Social1.63
  • E Enterprising1.36
  • A Artistic1.16

RIASEC (Holland) interests on O*NET's 0–7 scale: what the work draws on, not what any individual prefers. Hover a row for what each dimension means.

Education and experience

The education level respondents say the job requires, and the most common answer for experience and training.

  • Less than a High School Diploma8%
  • High School Diploma or the equivalent69%
  • Post-Secondary Certificate20%
  • Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree3%
Related work experience
None (34%)
On-site or in-plant training
Over 6 months, up to and including 1 year (29%)
On-the-job training
Over 6 months, up to and including 1 year (24%)

Typically associated skills

All 35 O*NET skills, most important first. Importance (1–5) says how much a skill matters here; level (0–7) says how much of it the work calls for, with O*NET's example of a nearby level. Neither is a proficiency rating of a person.

  • Repairing3.93.9Level 4 looks like: Replace a faulty hydraulic valve
  • Critical Thinkingbasic3.83.3Level 4 looks like: Evaluate customer complaints and determine appropriate responses
  • Troubleshooting3.63.6Level 4 looks like: Identify the circuit causing an electrical system to fail
  • Equipment Maintenance3.63.1Level 4 looks like: Clean moving parts in production machinery
  • Quality Control Analysis3.53.6Level 4 looks like: Assess new parts for precision and accuracy to specifications
  • Operations Monitoring3.53.3Level 4 looks like: Monitor machine functions on an automated production line
  • Speakingbasic3.53.0Level 2 looks like: Greet tourists and explain tourist attractions
  • Active Listeningbasic3.43.1Level 4 looks like: Answer inquiries regarding credit references
  • Complex Problem Solving3.13.0Level 2 looks like: Lay out tools to complete a job
  • Reading Comprehensionbasic3.12.9Level 2 looks like: Read step-by-step instructions for completing a form
  • Judgment and Decision Making3.03.0Level 2 looks like: Decide how scheduling a break will affect work flow
  • Time Management3.03.0Level 2 looks like: Keep a monthly calendar of appointments
Show the other 23
  • Equipment Selection3.02.9Level 2 looks like: Select a tool to adjust a loose part on a bicycle
  • Service Orientation3.02.9Level 2 looks like: Ask customers if they would like a cup of coffee
  • Installation3.02.4Level 2 looks like: Install a new air filter in an air conditioner
  • Operation and Control2.93.0Level 2 looks like: Navigate the settings on an office printer to print on both sides of the paper
  • Monitoringbasic2.92.9Level 2 looks like: Proofread and correct a letter
  • Active Learningbasic2.92.3Level 2 looks like: Think about the implications of a news article for job opportunities
  • Coordination2.82.8Level 2 looks like: Schedule appointments for a medical clinic
  • Social Perceptiveness2.82.8Level 2 looks like: Notice that customers are angry because they have been waiting too long
  • Writingbasic2.82.8Level 2 looks like: Write down a guest's order at a restaurant
  • Persuasion2.82.1Level 2 looks like: Solicit donations for a charity
  • Systems Analysis2.62.1Level 2 looks like: Determine how loss of a team member will affect the completion of a job
  • Management of Personnel Resources2.52.1Level 2 looks like: Encourage a coworker who is having difficulty finishing a project
  • Instructing2.32.5Level 2 looks like: Instruct a new employee in the use of a timekeeping system
  • Negotiation2.32.1Level 2 looks like: Present justification to a manager for altering a work schedule
  • Systems Evaluation2.32.0Level 2 looks like: Determine why estimates for the time to complete a task are overly optimistic
  • Learning Strategiesbasic2.12.1Level 2 looks like: Learn a different method of completing a task from a coworker
  • Mathematicsbasic2.12.0Level 2 looks like: Count the amount of change to be given to a customer
  • Management of Material Resources2.11.8Level 2 looks like: Reserve a room for a management meeting
  • Management of Financial Resources2.01.3Level 2 looks like: Use available funds to buy office supplies and record the amount of the purchase
  • Operations Analysis1.91.6Level 2 looks like: Select a printer for an office
  • Technology Design1.91.0Level 2 looks like: Adjust exercise equipment for use by a customer
  • Sciencebasic1.81.3Level 2 looks like: Conduct standard tests to determine soil quality
  • Programming1.60.6

Tasks

24 core · 5 supplemental

What people in this occupation do, as O*NET records it, core tasks first by importance (1–5).

  1. Bill customers for repair work, and collect payment.4.5
  2. Observe and examine appliances during operation to detect specific malfunctions such as loose parts or leaking fluid.4.5
  3. Trace electrical circuits, following diagrams, and conduct tests with circuit testers and other equipment to locate shorts and grounds.4.4
  4. Replace worn and defective parts such as switches, bearings, transmissions, belts, gears, circuit boards, or defective wiring.4.4
  5. Talk to customers or refer to work orders to establish the nature of appliance malfunctions.4.4
  6. Refer to schematic drawings, product manuals, and troubleshooting guides to diagnose and repair problems.4.4
  7. Disassemble appliances so that problems can be diagnosed and repairs can be made.4.3
  8. Service and repair domestic electrical or gas appliances, such as clothes washers, refrigerators, stoves, and dryers.4.3
  9. Provide repair cost estimates, and recommend whether appliance repair or replacement is a better choice.4.3
  10. Respond to emergency calls for problems such as gas leaks.4.3
  11. Reassemble units after repairs are made, making adjustments and cleaning and lubricating parts as needed.4.2
  12. Record maintenance and repair work performed on appliances.4.2
Show the other 17
  1. Test and examine gas pipelines and equipment to locate leaks and faulty connections, and to determine the pressure and flow of gas.4.2
  2. Maintain stocks of parts used in on-site installation, maintenance, and repair of appliances.4.1
  3. Instruct customers regarding operation and care of appliances, and provide information such as emergency service numbers.4.1
  4. Contact supervisors or offices to receive repair assignments.4.1
  5. Light and adjust pilot lights on gas stoves, and examine valves and burners for gas leakage and specified flame.4.1
  6. Observe and test operation of appliances following installation, and make any initial installation adjustments that are necessary.4.0
  7. Level refrigerators, adjust doors, and connect water lines to water pipes for ice makers and water dispensers, using hand tools.4.0
  8. Set appliance thermostats, and check to ensure that they are functioning properly.3.8
  9. Level washing machines and connect hoses to water pipes, using hand tools.3.8
  10. Install appliances such as refrigerators, washing machines, and stoves.3.8
  11. Clean and reinstall parts.3.6
  12. Clean, lubricate, and touch up minor defects on newly installed or repaired appliances.3.6
  13. Conserve, recover, and recycle refrigerants used in cooling systems.4.4
  14. Install gas pipes and water lines to connect appliances to existing gas lines or plumbing.4.0
  15. Take measurements to determine if appliances will fit in installation locations, performing minor carpentry work when necessary to ensure proper installation.3.6
  16. Measure, cut, and thread pipe, and connect it to feeder lines and equipment or appliances, using rules and hand tools.3.4
  17. Assemble new or reconditioned appliances.3.2

Knowledge

Bodies of knowledge the work draws on.

  • Customer and Personal Service4.14.7Level 4 looks like: Be responsible for 10 children at daycare
  • Mechanical4.04.4Level 4 looks like: Replace a valve on a steam pipe
  • Administration and Management3.43.2Level 4 looks like: Monitor progress of a project to ensure timely completion
  • Administrative3.43.8Level 4 looks like: Type 30 words per minute
  • Computers and Electronics3.44.2Level 4 looks like: Use a computer to format a document
  • English Language3.42.9
  • Sales and Marketing3.22.9
  • Engineering and Technology3.03.1Level 4 looks like: Design a custom office chair
Show all 33
  • Mathematics2.92.9
  • Education and Training2.73.0Level 4 looks like: Lead a quality improvement seminar
  • Economics and Accounting2.51.8Level 1 looks like: Answer billing questions from credit card customers
  • Personnel and Human Resources2.42.3Level 1 looks like: Fill out a medical claim form
  • Transportation2.42.0Level 1 looks like: Ride a train to work
  • Psychology2.31.9Level 1 looks like: Monitor several children on a playground
  • Design2.22.0Level 1 looks like: Draw a straight line 4 3/16 inches long
  • Geography2.21.9Level 1 looks like: Know the capital of the United States
  • Physics2.22.2Level 1 looks like: Use a crowbar to pry open a box
  • Chemistry2.12.1Level 1 looks like: Use a common household bug spray
  • Production and Processing2.12.0Level 1 looks like: Put a computer back into its packing materials
  • Public Safety and Security2.11.7Level 1 looks like: Use a seatbelt
  • Foreign Language2.01.0Level 1 looks like: Say "please" and "thank you" in a foreign language
  • Law and Government1.81.2Level 1 looks like: Describe the length of a U.S. presidential term
  • Telecommunications1.80.8Level 1 looks like: Send an email
  • Communications and Media1.71.1Level 1 looks like: Write a thank you note
  • Building and Construction1.61.3Level 1 looks like: Choose the proper type of wood for adding a deck onto a house
  • Biology1.50.8Level 1 looks like: Feed domestic animals
  • Sociology and Anthropology1.50.8Level 1 looks like: Identify two cultures in a story as being different
  • Food Production1.3—
  • Philosophy and Theology1.2—
  • Therapy and Counseling1.2—
  • Medicine and Dentistry1.1—
  • Fine Arts1.0—
  • History and Archeology1.0—

Abilities

Enduring capacities the work calls for.

  • Arm-Hand Steadiness3.93.6Level 4 looks like: Thread a needle
  • Finger Dexterity3.83.8Level 4 looks like: Attach small dials to audio equipment on an assembly line
  • Manual Dexterity3.83.4Level 4 looks like: Pack oranges in crates as quickly as possible
  • Near Vision3.83.3Level 2 looks like: Read indicators on the dashboard of a car
  • Oral Expression3.83.1Level 4 looks like: Give instructions to a lost motorist
  • Problem Sensitivity3.83.1Level 4 looks like: Notice from a subtle difference in a client's mood that something is bothering them
  • Oral Comprehension3.63.3Level 4 looks like: Understand a coach's oral instructions for a sport
  • Extent Flexibility3.33.6Level 4 looks like: Reach for a box on a high warehouse shelf
Show all 52
  • Information Ordering3.33.0Level 2 looks like: Follow the correct steps to make change
  • Visualization3.33.8Level 4 looks like: Follow a diagram to assemble a metal storage cabinet
  • Deductive Reasoning3.13.0Level 2 looks like: Know that a stalled car can coast downhill
  • Written Comprehension3.13.0Level 2 looks like: Understand signs on the highway
  • Control Precision3.03.1Level 4 looks like: Adjust farm tractor controls
  • Flexibility of Closure3.03.0Level 2 looks like: Detect that your phone is ringing while at a concert
  • Fluency of Ideas3.02.8Level 2 looks like: Name four different uses for a screwdriver
  • Inductive Reasoning3.03.0Level 2 looks like: Decide what to wear based on the weather report
  • Multilimb Coordination3.03.0Level 2 looks like: Row a boat
  • Selective Attention3.03.0Level 2 looks like: Answer a business call with coworkers talking nearby
  • Speech Recognition3.02.8Level 2 looks like: Recognize the voice of a coworker
  • Static Strength3.02.9
  • Trunk Strength3.03.0Level 2 looks like: Sit up in an office chair
  • Visual Color Discrimination3.03.3Level 4 looks like: Trace electrical circuits marked by various colored wires
  • Written Expression3.02.9
  • Auditory Attention2.92.8Level 2 looks like: Listen to a lecture while people nearby are talking
  • Originality2.92.1Level 2 looks like: Use a credit card to open a locked door
  • Perceptual Speed2.92.9Level 2 looks like: Sort mail according to ZIP codes with no time pressure
  • Speech Clarity2.92.8
  • Time Sharing2.92.9Level 3 looks like: Watch street signs while driving at 30 miles an hour
  • Category Flexibility2.83.0Level 3 looks like: Classify flowers according to size, color, and smell
  • Far Vision2.82.3Level 2 looks like: Read a roadside billboard
  • Hearing Sensitivity2.83.6Level 4 looks like: Diagnose what's wrong with a car engine from its sound
  • Stamina2.82.4Level 1 looks like: Walk 1/4 mile
  • Number Facility2.62.5Level 3 looks like: Calculate a discounted price
  • Depth Perception2.52.3Level 2 looks like: Merge a car into traffic on a city street
  • Mathematical Reasoning2.42.1Level 1 looks like: Determine how much 20 oranges will cost when they are priced at 5 for 4 dollars
  • Speed of Closure2.42.1Level 3 looks like: Recognize a song after hearing only the first few notes
  • Gross Body Coordination2.32.1Level 2 looks like: Get in and out of a truck
  • Reaction Time2.12.1Level 2 looks like: Start to slow down the car when a traffic light turns yellow
  • Response Orientation2.12.1Level 2 looks like: When a doorbell and phone ring at the same time, quickly select which to answer first
  • Wrist-Finger Speed2.12.0Level 2 looks like: Use a screwdriver to twist in a screw
  • Dynamic Strength2.02.0Level 2 looks like: Use pruning shears to trim a bush
  • Gross Body Equilibrium2.01.9Level 2 looks like: Stand on a ladder
  • Memorization2.02.1Level 1 looks like: Remember the number on your bus to be sure you get back on the right one
  • Night Vision2.01.4Level 2 looks like: Read street signs at dusk (just after sunset)
  • Peripheral Vision2.01.5Level 2 looks like: Keep in step while marching in a band
  • Rate Control2.01.9Level 1 looks like: Ride a bicycle alongside a jogger
  • Sound Localization2.01.5Level 2 looks like: Listen to a sound system to determine which speaker is working
  • Spatial Orientation2.01.1Level 2 looks like: Use the floor plan to locate a store in a mall
  • Glare Sensitivity1.91.4Level 2 looks like: Drive on a familiar road on a cloudy day
  • Explosive Strength1.61.3Level 2 looks like: Hit a nail with a hammer
  • Speed of Limb Movement1.60.8
  • Dynamic Flexibility1.1—

Work activities

Kinds of activity the work is made of.

  • Getting Information4.13.6Level 4 looks like: Review a budget
  • Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment4.13.2Level 4 looks like: Drive an 18-wheel tractor-trailer
  • Performing for or Working Directly with the Public4.14.6Level 4 looks like: Sell shoes in a crowded shoe store
  • Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge4.15.1Level 4 looks like: Keep current on changes in maintenance procedures for repairing sports cars
  • Handling and Moving Objects4.05.8
  • Making Decisions and Solving Problems4.03.9Level 4 looks like: Select the location for a major retail store
  • Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events3.83.7Level 4 looks like: Judge the suitability of food products for an event
  • Performing General Physical Activities3.84.6Level 4 looks like: Paint the outside of a house
Show all 41
  • Communicating with People Outside the Organization3.63.9Level 4 looks like: Present information to potential clients about available services
  • Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment3.64.0Level 4 looks like: Change the oil on a tractor
  • Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials3.52.7
  • Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates3.42.9
  • Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work3.43.5Level 4 looks like: Plan and adjust a personal to-do list according to changing demands
  • Processing Information3.43.3Level 4 looks like: Calculate the adjustments for insurance claims
  • Analyzing Data or Information3.33.0Level 4 looks like: Determine the interest cost to finance a new building
  • Documenting/Recording Information3.32.6
  • Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings3.34.0Level 4 looks like: Test electrical circuits
  • Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships3.23.9Level 4 looks like: Maintain good working relationships with almost all coworkers and clients
  • Repairing and Maintaining Electronic Equipment3.23.9Level 4 looks like: Make repairs by removing and replacing circuit boards
  • Scheduling Work and Activities3.22.8
  • Training and Teaching Others3.23.1Level 4 looks like: Teach a social sciences course to high school students
  • Judging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or People3.03.1Level 4 looks like: Determine the value of property lost in a fire
  • Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information2.92.5Level 1 looks like: Estimate the size of household furniture to be shipped
  • Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards2.92.7
  • Working with Computers2.92.3Level 1 looks like: Enter employee information into a database
  • Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others2.82.9
  • Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others2.82.0Level 1 looks like: Interpret a blood pressure reading
  • Selling or Influencing Others2.82.6
  • Thinking Creatively2.82.7
  • Developing and Building Teams2.72.0Level 1 looks like: Encourage two coworkers to stick with a tough assignment
  • Monitoring and Controlling Resources2.72.6
  • Coaching and Developing Others2.62.7
  • Developing Objectives and Strategies2.62.4Level 1 looks like: Plan the holiday schedule for an airline workforce
  • Performing Administrative Activities2.62.1Level 1 looks like: Complete routine paperwork
  • Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others2.62.6
  • Guiding, Directing, and Motivating Subordinates2.52.4Level 1 looks like: Work occasionally as a backup supervisor
  • Providing Consultation and Advice to Others2.42.2Level 1 looks like: Work in a position that requires little advising of others
  • Controlling Machines and Processes2.32.2Level 1 looks like: Operate a cash register
  • Drafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and Equipment2.32.3Level 1 looks like: Specify the lighting for a work area
  • Staffing Organizational Units2.21.7Level 1 looks like: Work in a position that has minimal staffing requirements
  • Assisting and Caring for Others2.11.7Level 1 looks like: Help a coworker complete an assignment

Work context

The conditions most characteristic of the work, on O*NET's 1–5 context scale.

  • Telephone Conversations4.9
  • Contact With Others4.8
  • Deal With External Customers or the Public in General4.7
  • Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams4.7
  • Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls4.6
  • Freedom to Make Decisions4.5
  • Frequency of Decision Making4.4
  • Importance of Being Exact or Accurate4.2
  • In an Enclosed Vehicle or Operate Enclosed Equipment4.2
  • Determine Tasks, Priorities and Goals4.1

Technology

12 tools

Software used in this work. In demand: among the tools job postings for this occupation name most. Hot: often named in job postings across the economy.

Hot (5)

  • Microsoft Excel
  • Microsoft Office software
  • Microsoft Outlook
  • Microsoft Windows
  • Microsoft Word
Other tools (7)
  • dESCO ESC
  • Intac International Wintac
  • Parts database software
  • RazorSync
  • Route mapping software
  • ServiceMax
  • Web browser software

Related occupations

O*NET's own list of the occupations most related to this one, closest first.

  1. Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers
  2. Electric Motor, Power Tool, and Related Repairers
  3. Industrial Machinery Mechanics
  4. Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment
  5. Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door
  6. Outdoor Power Equipment and Other Small Engine Mechanics
  7. Electrical and Electronics Installers and Repairers, Transportation Equipment
  8. Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics
  9. Engine and Other Machine Assemblers
  10. Electronic Equipment Installers and Repairers, Motor Vehicles

ESCO equivalents

From the official ESCO–O*NET crosswalk, strongest match first. A broader occupation takes in this one; a narrower one is a part of it.

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This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license; O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. ESCO occupations and skills are from the European Commission's ESCO classification, and the occupation crosswalk is the official ESCO–O*NET mapping by the ESCO Secretariat with USDOL/ETA. This service uses the ESCO classification of the European Commission. BlissPoint Analytics has modified all or some of this information: skill, task and descriptor ratings are rounded to one decimal, and ESCO occupations show Job Zone and interests copied from a crosswalked O*NET occupation. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.