Electronic home entertainment equipment installers and repairers, also
called service technicians, repair a variety of equipment,
including televisions and radios, stereo components, video and audio disc
players, video cameras, and video recorders. They also install and repair home
security systems, intercom equipment, satellite television dishes, and home
theater systems, which consist of large-screen televisions and sophisticated
surround-sound audio components.
Customers usually bring small, portable equipment to repair shops for
servicing. Repairers at these locations, known as bench technicians,
are equipped with a full array of electronic tools and parts. When larger, less
mobile equipment breaks down, customers may pay repairers to come to their
homes. These repairers, known as field technicians, travel with a
limited set of tools and parts, and attempt to complete the repair at the
customer’s location. If the job is complex, technicians may bring defective
components back to the shop for thorough diagnosis and repair.
When equipment breaks down, repairers check for common causes of trouble,
such as dirty or defective components. Many repairs consist simply of cleaning
and lubricating equipment. If routine checks do not locate the trouble,
repairers may refer to schematics and manufacturers’ specifications that
provide instructions on how to locate problems. Repairers use a variety of test
equipment to diagnose and identify malfunctions. Multimeters detect short
circuits, failed capacitors, and blown fuses by measuring voltage, current, and
resistance. Color-bar and dot generators provide onscreen test patterns, signal
generators to test signals, and oscilloscopes and digital storage scopes to
measure complex waveforms produced by electronic equipment. Repairs may involve
removing and replacing a failed capacitor, transistor, or fuse. Repairers use
handtools such as pliers, screwdrivers, soldering irons, and wrenches to replace
faulty parts. They also make adjustments to equipment, such as focusing and
converging the picture of a television set or balancing the audio on a
surround-sound system.
Improvements in technology have miniaturized and digitized many audio and
video recording devices. Miniaturization has made repairwork significantly more
difficult, because both the components and the acceptable tolerances are
smaller. For example, an analog video camera operates at 1800 revolutions per
minute (rpm), while a digital video camera may operate at 9,000 rpm. Also,
components now are mounted on the surface of circuit boards, instead of plugged
into slots, requiring more precise soldering when a new part is installed.
Improved technologies have lowered the price of electronic home entertainment
equipment, to the point where customers often replace broken equipment instead
of repairing it.
Most repairers work in well-lighted electrical repair shops. Field
technicians, however, spend much time traveling in service vehicles and working
in customers’ residences.
Repairers may have to work in a variety of positions and carry heavy
equipment. Although the work of repairers is comparatively safe, they must take
precautions against minor burns and electric shock. Because television monitors
carry high voltage even when they are turned off, repairers need to discharge
the voltage before servicing such equipment.
Electronic home entertainment equipment installers and repairers held about
43,000 jobs in 2002. Most repairers worked in electronics and appliance stores
that sell and service electronic home entertainment products or in electronic
and precision equipment repair and maintenance shops. About 1 electronic home
entertainment equipment installer and repairer in 4 was self-employed, more than
4 times the proportion for all installation, maintenance, and repair
occupations.
Employers prefer applicants who have basic knowledge and skills in
electronics. Applicants should be familiar with schematics and have some
hands-on experience repairing electronic equipment. Many applicants gain these
skills at vocational training programs and community colleges. Training programs
should include both hands-on experience and theoretical education in digital
consumer electronics. Entry-level repairers may work closely with more
experienced technicians, who provide technical guidance.
Field technicians work closely with customers and must have good
communication skills and a neat appearance. Employers also may require that
field technicians have a driver’s license.
Various organizations offer certification for electronic home entertainment
equipment installers and repairers, including ACES International, the Custom
Electronic Design and Installation Association, the Electronic Technicians
Association International, and the International Society of Certified
Electronics Technicians. Repairers may specialize in a variety of skill areas,
including consumer electronics. To receive certification, repairers must pass
qualifying exams corresponding to their level of training and experience.
Experienced repairers with advanced training may become specialists or
troubleshooters, helping other repairers diagnose difficult problems. Workers
with leadership ability may become supervisors of other repairers. Some
experienced workers open their own repair shops.
Employment of electronic home entertainment equipment installers and
repairers is expected to grow more
slowly than the average through 2012, due to decreased demand for repair
work. In addition to job openings arising from employment growth, some will also
result from the need to replace workers who retire or who transfer to higher
paying jobs in other occupations requiring electronics experience. Opportunities
will be best for applicants with hands-on experience and knowledge of
electronics.
The need for repairers is expected to grow slowly because home entertainment
equipment is less expensive than in the past. As technological developments have
lowered the price and improved the reliability of equipment, the demand for
repair services has slackened. When malfunctions do occur, it often is cheaper
for consumers to replace equipment rather than to pay for repairs.
Employment growth will be spurred somewhat by the introduction of
sophisticated digital equipment, such as DVDs, digital televisions, and digital
camcorders. So long as the price of such equipment remains high, purchasers will
be willing to hire repairers when malfunctions occur.
Median hourly earnings of electronic home entertainment equipment installers
and repairers were $13.08 in 2002. The middle 50 percent earned between $10.20
and $17.00. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $8.18, and the highest 10
percent earned more than $21.48. In 2002, median hourly earnings of electronic
home entertainment equipment installers and repairers were $12.73 in electronics
and appliance stores and $11.99 in electronic and precision equipment repair and
maintenance.
Suggested citation: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S.
Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2004-05
Edition,
Electronic Home Entertainment Equipment Installers and Repairers
, on the Internet at http://www.bls.gov/oco/
ocos187.htm
(visited May 19, 2004).
