For people who fix things
The appliance trade needs people who can figure things out.
Repair companies are turning away work because they cannot find technicians. If you can read a diagram, use a meter and think a problem through, there is a place for you.
A trade short of hands
Pay varies widely by region; many metro areas run well above the national median.
The opening
Fewer techs, more appliances, harder repairs
Experienced technicians are retiring faster than new ones arrive, and few trade schools teach appliance repair anymore. At the same time, appliances have become harder to diagnose. A modern washer has a variable-speed motor drive, several sensors and a control board running its own software.
That combination leaves repair companies with full schedules and empty trucks. For a capable person, it means steady demand and the choice of working for a company or for yourself.
Who this suits
You might be the person they are looking for
Appliance repair rewards a particular kind of mind. See how many of these sound like you.
You read drawings
A wiring diagram or an exploded parts view makes sense to you, and you can find your way around one.
You think in three dimensions
You can picture how parts fit and move before you take the panel off.
You trust the meter
You would rather measure than guess, and you know what a reading tells you.
You work through problems in order
You rule out the simple causes first and do not throw parts at a problem.
You are comfortable on your own
Most calls are one person, one appliance and a customer waiting for an answer.
You are good with people
You work in kitchens and laundry rooms, and the customer is usually standing right there.
Find out where you stand
A free multiple-choice quiz covering electrical basics, meter use, diagrams, mechanical sense, diagnosis and safety. About fifteen minutes.