Occupation · SOC 49-9063
Musical Instrument Repairers and Tuners
Repair percussion, stringed, reed, or wind instruments. May specialize in one area, such as piano tuning.
Median wage
$45,320
$30,130–$73,430
Projected growth
—
—
Annual openings
—
per year
Employed (US)
5,730
Job Zone 3
Typical preparation
Medium preparation
Stackable credential programs
5 mapped
Core skills
Quality Control AnalysisRepairingTroubleshootingCritical ThinkingJudgment and Decision MakingService OrientationComplex Problem SolvingReading Comprehension
Knowledge areas
Customer and Personal ServiceMechanicalFine ArtsEnglish Language
Technology & tools
Analytical or scientific software
Representative tasks
Adjust string tensions to tune instruments, using hand tools and electronic tuning devices.Compare instrument pitches with tuning tool pitches to tune instruments.Play instruments to evaluate their sound quality and to locate any defects.Adjust the neck angle on fretted instruments.
Competency framework
Skill expectations by proficiency level.
emerging
Basic hand tools and electronic tuning devices — identify and use under direct supervision to adjust string tensions on acoustic instruments in a repair shop setting.Instrument disassembly procedures — follow step-by-step protocols under guidance to safely take apart woodwind or brass instruments for routine inspection.Visual defects and structural damage — recognize and document common issues such as cracked bodies, broken keys, and worn pads during supervised inspection tasks.Reference pitch from a tuning fork or electronic device — compare against instrument output to identify gross tuning discrepancies under instructor direction.Replacement parts such as strings, felts, and bridge components — install following written repair guides and under close technician supervision in a shop environment.Reassembly sequences — execute basic steps using hand tools, adhesives, and clamps under direction after completing supervised disassembly tasks.Musical instrument terminology and component names — apply correctly when communicating observations to supervising technicians in a vocational or apprenticeship setting.Customer service protocols — follow established scripts and shop procedures to greet customers and document instrument intake information under staff guidance.Personal protective practices and workshop safety rules — observe and apply consistently during all bench repair activities in a supervised training environment.Simple lubrication tasks for valves and slides — perform using shop-approved lubricants following a posted maintenance checklist under direct technician oversight.
developing
String tension adjustments and electronic tuning routines — perform independently on a range of fretted and bowed instruments to achieve accurate intonation in a production repair shop.Instrument sound quality and playability — evaluate by playing or test-bowing to identify tone defects and actionability issues without requiring supervisor input on familiar instrument families.Woodwind pad replacements and key alignment — carry out using hand tools and heat sources with reduced oversight, following established shop standards for seal and action height.Worn or damaged parts such as bridges, nuts, and valve felts — select appropriate replacement components and fit them to specification using hand and power tools in a shop environment.Reassembled instruments — test and verify against quality benchmarks after repair, using listening evaluation and mechanical checks before returning to customers.Instrument value and restoration scope — assess during intake inspections and communicate findings and cost estimates clearly to customers with limited supervisory review.Brass instrument soldering repairs — execute on water keys and seam cracks using soldering irons and appropriate flux in a well-equipped repair bench setting.Repair documentation and work-order records — maintain accurately and consistently for each job processed, supporting shop inventory and billing workflows.Old and replacement parts — shape using hand tools and bench lathes to improve tone response or correct intonation on moderately complex instruments.Troubleshooting workflows — apply systematic diagnostic thinking to identify the root cause of playability complaints across familiar instrument categories in a customer-facing repair environment.
proficient
Full-scope instrument inspections across multiple instrument families — conduct autonomously to determine defect locations, restoration requirements, and monetary value in a professional repair shop or museum context.Complex intonation problems on orchestral strings, woodwinds, and brass — diagnose and resolve independently using advanced listening skills, precision measuring tools, and electronic analysis software.Non-routine structural repairs such as cracked instrument bodies, collapsed soundboards, and re-necking — plan and execute with high craftsmanship standards using hand tools, lathes, and custom-fabricated parts.Custom part fabrication from raw materials — perform using lathes, files, and soldering irons to produce replacements that are no longer commercially available, restoring historical or high-value instruments.Complete disassembly, overhaul, and reassembly cycles on complex mechanisms — manage for instruments such as pipe organs, pedal harps, or grand pianos without reference to standard protocols.Tonal and acoustical improvements — achieve by selectively reshaping bridges, bores, and reeds based on player feedback and scientific listening evaluation across a broad instrument portfolio.Technical instrument specifications and manufacturer service literature — interpret and apply in full to inform repair decisions on professional-grade and vintage instruments.Analytical or scientific software for pitch and waveform analysis — utilize independently to quantify tonal defects and validate repair outcomes on complex acoustic systems.Customer consultation on high-value restoration decisions — lead with professional authority, presenting detailed condition assessments and repair-versus-replacement recommendations in a shop or gallery environment.Time and workflow management across a multi-instrument repair queue — execute autonomously to meet promised delivery dates while maintaining quality standards in a high-volume independent or institutional shop.
advanced
Shop-wide repair standards, quality control criteria, and best-practice procedures — develop and implement across all instrument families to define excellence benchmarks for the entire technician team.Junior and mid-level repair technicians — mentor and train systematically in diagnosis, hand-tool skills, and customer service, accelerating their development within a vocational or commercial repair organization.Instrument acquisition, appraisal, and restoration strategy — direct at an organizational level for museums, orchestras, or large dealerships managing significant collections of historical and professional instruments.Complex, multi-stage restoration projects on rare or historically significant instruments — lead from initial condition assessment through final tonal validation, coordinating specialists and external conservators as needed.Technical knowledge base and continuing education curriculum — design and update for a repair department or trade school program, integrating advances in acoustic science and materials technology.Supplier and manufacturer relationships — manage strategically to secure high-quality parts, negotiate pricing, and influence product design improvements that benefit the broader repair profession.Business systems including estimating, pricing models, and service-line development — establish and refine for a repair operation, aligning technical capabilities with financial sustainability goals.Industry standards and best practices — contribute to through participation in professional associations, peer publications, or trade conference presentations representing the organization's technical expertise.Quality audit processes — oversee across all outgoing repair work, applying deductive reasoning and systematic review to catch systemic errors and drive continuous improvement in a multi-technician shop.Innovation in repair techniques and tool applications — champion by evaluating emerging technologies such as 3D-printed parts or digital tuning analytics and integrating proven advances into organizational workflows.
Also known as
56 alternate job titles map to this occupation.
Accordion RepairerAccordion TunerBand Instrument Repair Technician (Band Instrument Repair Tech)Band Instrument RepairerBanjo RepairerBow RepairerBrass and Wind Instrument RepairerBrass Instrument Repair Technician (Brass Instrument Repair Tech)Fretted Instrument RepairerFretted String Instrument RepairerGuitar BuilderGuitar InspectorGuitar Repair Technician (Guitar Repair Tech)Guitar RepairerGuitar Technician (Guitar Tech)Harp RegulatorInstrument BuilderInstrument Repair Technician (Instrument Repair Tech)Keyboard Instrument RepairerKeyboard Instrument TunerLuthierMandolin RepairerMetal Reed TunerMusical Instrument MechanicMusical Instrument Repair Technician (Musical Instrument Repair Tech)Organ FixerOrgan InstallerOrgan Pipe VoicerOrgan PreservationistOrgan TunerPercussion Instrument RepairerPercussion Instrument TunerPiano InspectorPiano MechanicPiano RegulatorPiano Technician (Piano Tech)Piano TunerPiccolo MechanicPipe Organ InstallerPipe Organ Mechanic