Home/Careers/Electric Motor, Power Tool, and Related Repairers
installation-repair

Electric Motor, Power Tool, and Related Repairers

Repair, maintain, or install electric motors, wiring, or switches.

Median Annual Pay
$49,230
Range: $34,590 - $74,520
Training Time
6 months to 2 years
AI Resilience
🟡AI-Augmented
Education
Post-secondary certificate

📋Key Responsibilities

  • Inspect and test equipment to locate damage or worn parts and diagnose malfunctions, or read work orders or schematic drawings to determine required repairs.
  • Reassemble repaired electric motors to specified requirements and ratings, using hand tools and electrical meters.
  • Measure velocity, horsepower, revolutions per minute (rpm), amperage, circuitry, and voltage of units or parts to diagnose problems, using ammeters, voltmeters, wattmeters, and other testing devices.
  • Repair and rebuild defective mechanical parts in electric motors, generators, and related equipment, using hand tools and power tools.
  • Lift units or parts such as motors or generators, using cranes or chain hoists, or signal crane operators to lift heavy parts or subassemblies.
  • Record repairs required, parts used, and labor time.
  • Disassemble defective equipment so that repairs can be made, using hand tools.
  • Adjust working parts, such as fan belts, contacts, and springs, using hand tools and gauges.

💡Inside This Career

The electric motor repairer services motors and power tools—diagnosing electrical and mechanical problems, rewinding coils, replacing components, and restoring the electric equipment that industry depends on. A typical day centers on repair work. Perhaps 75% of time goes to repair: diagnosing problems, disassembling equipment, rewinding motors, replacing parts, testing repairs. Another 20% involves customer interaction—explaining problems, providing estimates, discussing options. The remaining time addresses parts management and shop maintenance.

People who thrive as motor repairers combine electrical knowledge with mechanical skill and the diagnostic ability that troubleshooting requires. Successful repairers develop expertise in motor construction while building the precision that rewinding and assembly demand. They must determine whether repair is economical. Those who struggle often cannot diagnose problems efficiently or find the shop work monotonous. Others fail because they cannot achieve the quality that motor performance requires.

Motor repair represents specialized electrical service, with repairers maintaining the motors and power tools that power industry and construction. The field has contracted as replacement costs declined but continues serving industrial and specialized equipment. Motor repairers appear in discussions of electrical trades, equipment repair, and the workers who service electric motors.

Practitioners cite the problem-solving and the shop environment as primary rewards. Diagnosing motor problems is intellectually engaging. The shop work is varied and independent. The specialized skills are valued. The work saves customers money. The equipment variety provides interest. The entry is accessible with training. Common frustrations include the declining demand and the competition. Many find that motor replacement has reduced repair demand. The shop can be dirty and noisy. Pricing competition is intense. Some motors aren't worth repairing. The work requires physical strength for heavy equipment.

This career requires electrical training and motor expertise. Strong electrical knowledge, mechanical skill, and diagnostic ability are essential. The role suits those who want specialized electrical repair work. It is poorly suited to those wanting growing fields, uncomfortable with shop environments, or preferring clean work. Compensation is moderate for specialized repair work.

📈Career Progression

1
Entry (10th %ile)
0-2 years experience
$34,590
$31,131 - $38,049
2
Early Career (25th %ile)
2-6 years experience
$40,440
$36,396 - $44,484
3
Mid-Career (Median)
5-15 years experience
$49,230
$44,307 - $54,153
4
Experienced (75th %ile)
10-20 years experience
$61,160
$55,044 - $67,276
5
Expert (90th %ile)
15-30 years experience
$74,520
$67,068 - $81,972

📚Education & Training

Requirements

  • Entry Education: Post-secondary certificate
  • Experience: One to two years
  • On-the-job Training: One to two years
  • !License or certification required

Time & Cost

Education Duration
0.5-2 years (typically 1)
Estimated Education Cost
$3,000 - $20,000
Community college:$3,990
Trade school:$10,000
Source: college board (2024)

🤖AI Resilience Assessment

AI Resilience Assessment

Low Exposure: AI has limited applicability to this work; stable employment prospects

🟡AI-Augmented
Task Exposure
Low

How much of this job involves tasks AI can currently perform

Automation Risk
Low

Likelihood that AI replaces workers vs. assists them

Job Growth
Stable
+3% over 10 years

(BLS 2024-2034)

Human Advantage
Moderate

How much this role relies on distinctly human capabilities

Sources: AIOE Dataset (Felten et al. 2021), BLS Projections 2024-2034, EPOCH FrameworkUpdated: 2026-01-02

💻Technology Skills

Diagnostic equipmentMicrosoft OfficeInventory trackingWork order systems

Key Abilities

Finger Dexterity
Problem Sensitivity
Near Vision
Manual Dexterity
Arm-Hand Steadiness
Information Ordering
Deductive Reasoning
Inductive Reasoning
Visualization
Visual Color Discrimination

🏷️Also Known As

AC/DC Rewinder (Alternating Current and Direct Current Rewinder)Armature RewinderArmature Winder RepairerAuto Generator Starter Rep (Automotive Generator Starter Representative)Automotive Starter RepairerBattery and Charger TechnicianBattery ChargerBattery InspectorBattery MechanicBattery Repairer+5 more

🔗Related Careers

Other careers in installation-repair

🔗Data Sources

Last updated: 2025-12-27O*NET Code: 49-2092.00

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