Career comparison
Musical Instrument Repairer vs. Watch Repairer
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Watch repairers earn more at the median ($67,230 vs. $46,420), while musical instrument repairers usually get to work faster (1–3 years of training of training). Musical instrument repairers repair, tune and build musical instruments. Watch repairers clean, repair and restore watches and clocks.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Musical Instrument Repairer | Watch Repairer | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $46,420 ($22.32/hr) | $67,230 ($32.32/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $31,220 – $71,600 | $34,240 – $109,990 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +1.9% (slower than average) | -0.3% (little or no change) |
| Openings per year | 600 | 100 |
| Typical entry education | High school diploma or equivalent | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Training time | 1–3 years of training | 1–2 years of training |
| Key credential | RPT | WOSTEP |
| Work setting | Repairers work in shops, music stores, schools and homes.. | Watch repairers work at clean benches in shops, jewelers and service centers.. |
What each job does
Musical Instrument Repairer
- Tune pianos
- Repair brass and woodwinds
- Set up guitars
- Replace pads and strings
- Fix cracks
Watch Repairer
- Disassemble movements
- Clean and oil parts
- Replace springs and gears
- Regulate timing
- Replace batteries and crystals
How they’re similar
Both careers involve hands-on work, creative work, working independently, and indoor work. They sit in different fields, arts, media & design and mechanics, maintenance & manufacturing, but share transferable skills such as patience and patience.
Which should you choose?
Choose musical instrument repairer if…
- I love music
- I have a good ear
- I like fine detail work
Choose watch repairer if…
- I love watches
- I have steady hands
- I’m very patient
Still torn? Take the Musical Instrument Repairer fit quiz and the Watch Repairer fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, musical instrument repairer or watch repairer?
Watch Repairers earn more at the median: $67,230 versus $46,420 for musical instrument repairers, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Musical Instrument Repairers typically train faster (1–3 years of training) than watch repairers (1–2 years of training).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects musical instrument repairers to grow +1.9% from 2025–35, compared with -0.3% for watch repairers.